To exfoliate simply means to remove the superficial dead layers of skin cells and debris also known as keratin. Exfoliants are usually chemicals that break the bonds between some of these keratin layers and help shed away dead skin. When done on a regular basis, this prevents clogging of the pores and stimulates healthy skin growth and thicker dermis (the healthy layer of skin underneath the keratin). Exfoliation is, without a doubt, the most important step in any good skin care regimen.

Healthy skin is composed of a number of layers that are constantly evolving. Overall skin thickness is maintained as the
layers "talk" to each other by what is known as a "feedback loop." Essentially, when one layer becomes thicker the other layers will thin out.

When we are young, the healthy dermis layer of skin remains thick and healthy due to the growth of new skin cells (known as collagen production). However, as we age, the dead keratin layer tends to thicken. Due to the feedback loop, this keratin buildup results in a decrease of collagen production and subsequent thinning of the dermis layer.

The net result of keratin increase and dermis decrease is what you may experience as "sensitive skin" that is easily irritated and damaged. Having sensitive skin is simply an indicator of having unhealthy skin.
 

Skin damage can manifest itself in a variety of ways including lines and wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone, pore size change, lack of luster and a general rough texture. As skin damage occurs, aging and environmental factors release free radicals and cause excess keratin buildup. As we've learned, this causes a negative feedback loop where new collagen production decreases and thins the healthy layer of dermis. This in turn, causes the keratin to thicken even more!

How can we break this vicious cycle? The answer is exfoliation. Exfoliation breaks up the keratin layer and stimulates the production of collagen in the dermis, thereby replenishing and rejuvenating the skin.
 

There are two basic types of exfoliation - mechanical and chemical.

Mechanical exfoliation includes dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, shaving and scrubbing. All these procedures require physical force. Some do-it-yourself mechanical exfoliants, such as microbeads and microspheres, claim to provide "gentle exfoliation." This is a contradiction in terms. To succeed, mechanical exfoliation must be forceful. Such "gentle" products will simply not apply enough pressure to stimulate healthy collagen production.

One great example of mechanical exfoliation is shaving. Have you ever wondered why mens' skin in the beard area is nearly always in better shape than other facial areas such as the forehead or under the eyes? The answer is exfoliation. Men mechanically exfoliate every time they shave, thereby rejuvenating that area of their skin.

Chemical exfoliation, such as a "face peel" uses acid-based agents to dissolve away the keratin. Doctors usually use Phenol or Tri-Chloro Acetate Acid (TCA) for peels in their office. Retin-A and AHA's (alpha hydroxy acids) are used for prescription strength exfoliants. Over the counter exfoliants usually involve alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid, citric acid or lactic acid, usually in reduced strength. LEXLI AloeGlyC™ is a chemical exfoliant that contains glycolic acid.

Acids work because they contain free hydrogen ions that break keratin bonds. Unfortunately, these ions also promote inflammation and burning (we will discuss how LEXLI AloeGlyC™ addresses this problem later). Most skin care companies don't use chemical exfoliants for this very reason.
  

The power of any chemical exfoliant is measured by the level of acidity or pH level. To be effective, the pH level of the product must be below the skin's normal pH level of 6.5. Keep in mind that pH levels are calculated on a logarithmic scale. That means when we go from 3 to 2, for instance, we are not going down by a factor of one, but instead, by a factor of 10.

• Over-the-counter exfoliants typically have a pH level between 3.7 - 5.

• Physician dispensed exfoliants for home use range between 3.0 - 4.0.

• Doctor's office peels have a pH of 2.0 or lower.

• Our LEXLI AloeGlyC™ exfoliant has an effective pH level between 2.1 - 2.3.
 

Most over-the-counter and physician dispensed exfoliants are water-based. When you make a water-based product like Retin-A, you cannot effectively control the negative effects of the acid. To make the product safe, you need to reduce acidity (higher pH) in order to minimize inflammation. As you can see, there is a trade-off between safety and effectiveness in water-based products.

Since the water base gives rise to this trade-off, you might think of trying a different base. Simple, right? Yet nearly all exfoliants (including physician dispensed) are water-based. You can verify this yourself by checking the list of ingredients on the back of skin care products. By law, ingredients must be listed in order of concentration. If the first ingredient is water, stated in any manner, the product is water-based.

Aloe Vera - In LEXLI AloeGlyC™, the high concentration of Aloe Vera immediately begins to soothe and heal the skin even as the Glycolic acid activates the exfoliating process.

Aloe is a natural anti-inflammatory and much more. It has been scientifically shown to penetrate tissue and work as an effective anesthetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent. Note that not all aloe is created equal. For LEXLI AloeGlyC™ we use only IASC certified, pharmaceutical grade, bio-active, inner-fillet aloe that is processed within 4-6 hours of harvesting.

Glycolic Acid - A natural constituent of sugar cane, Glycolic Acid is a commonly used exfoliator. It provides controlled and predictable removal of surface skin cells with minimal side effects. When using Glycolic Acid, sun avoidance and daily use of sunscreen are recommended.

Vitamin A - Considered an "anti-aging" substance, Vitamin A prevents dryness associate with heat, pollution, seasonal change, and other environmental factors. It strengthens the skin's basic support structure and has anti-wrinkling characterstics. Vitamin A has been used to treat stretch marks, burns, and age spots.

Vitamin C - The tiny beads in LEXLI AloeGlyC™ contain Vitamin C, a powerful anti-oxidant that protects the skin from free radicals and prevents damage on the cellular level. It is believed that Vitamin C helps your skin look younger, longer and while assisting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.

LEXLI AloeGlyC™ is made from the finest Pharmaceutical Grade ingredients. Pharmaceutical Grade means the ingredients are 100% pure. Product ingredients are classified into five quality grades. In descending order, they are pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, reagent and technical.

Skin care products typically use Cosmetic Grade ingredients, with Pharmaceutical Grade usually reserved for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Pharmaceutical Grade ingredients do show up in upscale treatment-quality skin care products that are usually recommended and sold by physicians and professional aestheticians.

Due to safety concerns, most companies who sell exfoliants shift the whole curve to the left. This means that a typical exfoliant is not strong enough to hurt anybody (except in rare instances), but is useless for most people and effective for only a few.

LEXLI AloeGlyC™ breaks this trend. Through its patented combination of ingredients, it has been formulated to be as safe as the less powerful exfoliants, but have maximum impact on the broadest spectrum of people possible. This is illustrated in the graph below