What is the purpose of an exfoliant in skin care?

The primary purpose of an exfoliant in skin care is to smooth rough skin by removing dead skin cells from the surface. This process helps promote cell turnover, which reveals fresher and healthier skin underneath. Exfoliation can improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin, making it look more vibrant and youthful.

While hydration, enhancing skin color, and UV protection are important aspects of skin care, they are not the main functions of exfoliating products. For instance, hydration is typically achieved through moisturizers, enhancing skin color may be the role of products like bronzers or tinted moisturizers, and UV protection is provided by sunscreens. Exfoliation, however, specifically targets the removal of dull, dead skin layers, thereby improving the skin's smoothness and texture.