While most people understand the importance of hydration, sunscreen and gentle cleansing, they don't think about exfoliation. Exfoliation can help bring out a fresh, radiant look to your skin and help unclog pores. Celebrities like Christie Brinkley swear by exfoliation for beautiful, youthful-looking skin.

The very outer layer of your skin is actually dead skin cells. Your skin creates new cells underneath and the old ones on the surface slough off on their own. This occurs all the time whether you notice it or not. When this dead layer builds up your skin starts to look dull. You may also find you are more prone to breakouts. Getting rid of these skin cells will bring newer cells to the surface. (Men exfoliate every day when as they shave.)

To exfoliate, you can choose one of these methods: chemical or abrasive. Chemical exfoliants usually contain some form of mild acid, such as alpha hydroxy or salicylic acid. The acids work to slough off the dead skin cells. These come in different strengths and can be applied on their own, or with a physical exfoliatiant. It best to start with low concentrations of a chemical exfoliatant when you do this at home.

The best kind to buy is something that is not necessarily popular, but known to contain natural ingredients such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). Some exfoliating products are all-natural and contain papaya and apricot. to exfoliate. Usually, if you can't pronounce it, you don't want to apply it to your skin.

Natural products are always the key to healthy skin care. Do a patch test first. If using a new exfoliating product, as with any new facial product, test it out before applying it to your entire face. Apply a little to your chin or neck and wait a few minutes to see if you have adverse reactions. Tingling is normal for products containing alpha hydroxy.

Abrasive exfoliants are cleansers that contain finely ground matter, such as ground botanicals, jojoba beads or groundnuts. The use of the abrasive will physically remove the dead skin cells. These little "beads" can come in many different sizes and the type you choose will depend upon the application. Finer particles are used on your face, so as to exfoliate gently. Start your exfoliation with clean skin. Wet the skin with warm water and apply the exfoliant. Rub gently in circles with your fingers, avoiding the under eye area, as this skin is too delicate. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Apply a toner to help balance the pH of your newly exposed skin cells. Follow this with a moisturizer.

Your skin may tingle for a few minutes after the application, especially for your first couple of times. After that, your skin will become used to it. Your skin should not burn! Exfoliation only needs to be done once or twice a week. Since you have exposed new skin cells to the surface, it's critical that you use sunscreen. Exfoliate at night as opposed to morning. Avoid morning because your skin remains sensitive after exfoliating and you don't want to expose your new layer to the harsh pollutants outside.

You can buy an exfoliant, or you can make your own. Some great home ingredients include ground oats, cornmeal, yogurt, honey or buttermilk. A mixture of ground oats and yogurt would be a combination of an abrasive and chemical (oats for the abrasive and the lactic acid in the yogurt is the chemical). Or you could use a rough washcloth or cleansing cloth as part of your daily routine. If you want to continue just using your daily cleanser use exfoliating gloves in conjuction with it. This is recommended if you have sensitive skin and use a cleanser designed for your skin type.

If you do go with the glove, find one that is gentle, and be sure that it is a facial glove. Some gloves are body exfoliants, and these would be too harsh for your delicate face. Just remember to be gentle to your skin no matter which method you choose, especially if you have acne, rosacea or sensitive skin.

Avoid over exfoliating! Our skin should be treated as delicate as we desire it to look. If you begin to notice ongoing irritation to your skin, switch products or cut back on exfoliating. What you're using may be too harsh. One way to tell is if your skin is unusually drier than normal, or you notice more wrinkles all at once.

(FYI: I use a Clarisonic Facial Brush, which I absolutely adore, along with a  cleansing gel for sensitive skin on a daily basis. I follow up with a mild glycolic acid gel at night. As a result, I have very few breakouts and my skin looks great.)