verb
exfoliate
eks-FOH-lee-ayt/eksˈfəʊlieɪt/
To remove or shed thin layers from a surface.
She gently exfoliates her skin to remove dead surface cells.
Etymology
“Off” and “leaf” originally described stripping away leaves. The verb came to describe shedding a surface in thin, leaf-like layers, providing the image behind removing dead cells from the skin.
In context
simply washing your face is helping remove that top dead layer and exfoliate the skin
More examples
- Use a soft washcloth to exfoliate your legs.
- Over time, exposed rock exfoliates in thin sheets.
- Exfoliating too often can irritate your skin.
Forms
exfoliate · exfoliates · exfoliated · exfoliating
exfoliation noun — The removal or shedding of surface layers.
exfoliant noun — A substance that removes dead skin cells.