Exfoliating is an essential step in any skincare routine. It sloughs off dead skin cells and unclogs pores while leaving your skin fresh and glowy. You could be using the nicest skincare products in the world,

but if you're not exfoliating on the regular, those fancy serums, creams, etc. might not be living up to their potential because you've got a lot of dead skin cell buildup.

Not to mention, starting your exfoliating routine early will have your future self thanking you. "Exfoliating young skin serves mostly to keep skin glowing and blemish-free," says Suneel Chilukuri, MD, of Refresh Dermatology. "As a teenager and young adult, your body naturally has more cellular turnover and often greater sebum production. Natural cell turnover slows with age, which results in pigmentary changes (sun spots), fine lines, and dryness. Some would say exfoliating becomes even more important at this stage to keep stimulate new cell growth and healthier skin."