Exfoliate or Cleanse First: What Really Works for Your Skin
When it comes to exfoliate or cleanse first, the order of your skin care steps determines whether you’re helping your skin or damaging it. Also known as skin care sequence, this isn’t just a trend—it’s science-backed hygiene that affects everything from breakouts to sensitivity, especially in Dubai’s dry, dusty air. Most people assume scrubbing away dead skin is the key to glow, but if you do it before cleaning, you’re grinding dirt and oil into your pores. That’s not exfoliation—it’s irritation waiting to happen.
Your skin has a natural barrier, made of oils and proteins, that keeps moisture in and germs out. If you skip cleansing and go straight to a scrub, you’re not removing grime—you’re smearing it around. Think of it like washing your hands before using soap: you wouldn’t rub a loofah on dirty palms and call it clean. The same logic applies to your face. skin cleansing, the process of removing surface impurities with a gentle cleanser. Also known as facial washing, it’s the essential first step that lets your exfoliant work properly. Cleansing lifts away sweat, pollution, sunscreen, and makeup. Only then does exfoliation, the targeted removal of dead skin cells to reveal smoother skin. Also known as skin resurfacing, it becomes effective and safe. In Dubai’s climate, where dust settles on skin and AC dries it out, skipping this order can lead to redness, clogged pores, and even breakouts.
Some products claim to be "cleansing scrubs"—but even those work best when used after rinsing off heavy makeup or sunscreen. And if you’re using a chemical exfoliant like AHAs or BHAs, you absolutely must cleanse first. These acids penetrate better on clean skin, and applying them over dirt can cause stinging or uneven results. Even in luxury spas like Blue Star Arabic Spa, where body scrubs and hammams are popular, professionals always start with a rinse or cleanse. The goal isn’t just to feel smooth—it’s to keep your skin healthy long-term. If you’ve ever felt a burn after a scrub, or noticed more blackheads after exfoliating, it’s likely because you skipped the cleanse.
There’s one exception: if you’re doing a deep exfoliation like a body scrub before a hammam session, you might rinse off first with warm water to open pores, then scrub. But even then, you’re not skipping cleansing—you’re prepping. The rule stays the same: clean before you slough. Your skin doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be clean before it’s stripped. And that’s the difference between glowing skin and irritated skin.
What you’ll find below are real questions from people in Dubai who’ve been confused by conflicting advice—from whether to scrub before a massage, to how often to exfoliate in dry heat, to what happens when you combine scrubs with steam rooms. No fluff. No marketing. Just clear answers based on what works for actual skin, in real life, in this city.
