Body scrubs are incredibly accessible and can be made up of just about anything these days, from salts, to coffee, to clay. Depending on the level of exfoliation you desire or your favorite scents, there is an exfoliating scrub for everyone.

They are also incredibly beneficial for your skin. From smoothing away dry patches, to calming and keeping clogged pores or ingrown hairs at bay. Body scrubs exfoliate the body to allow fresh new skin to shine through.

Body scrubs vary in coarseness and depth of scrub. From fine and gentle to coarse and almost chunky. But what are the best body scrubs? 

Due to their versatility of ingredients and coarseness levels, choosing the right body scrub for you will come down to personal preference, skin type, and problem area needs. 

However, we’ve laid out all the info you need to know how to properly scrub different areas, as well as our personal favorites we recommend! 

Heels & Elbows

We always, always get asked about heels first. For problem areas like heels and elbows, use a coarser scrub or buffer. These help to reduce inflammation and smooth out dry, cracked skin.

Our top recommendation for this are Spongellé’s Pedi Buffers! In delicious scents like Sugar Dahlia and Coconut Verbena, you can cleanse and buff all in one for over 30 washes! 

Directions:

1. Soak your feet in warm water.
2. Remove one foot at a time from the warm water, scrub into your toes and pay extra attention to your heels--the heels are what need this the most!
3. Place the foot back into warm water while scrubbing the second foot.
4. Let feet soak in warm water for 20 to 30 minutes to relax muscles and remove toxins and impurities from feet.
5. Pat dry and massage with your favorite foot cream to lock in moisture. 
6. Store the container in your fridge for the best results and allow the scrub to come to room temperature before use.

All-Over Scrub!

Our favorite all-over scrubs right now are our very own Spongellé Botanica Collection. Infused with nourishing ingredients like rosehip, green tea, and hibiscus extracts, you can use these wash-infused buffers throughout your entire body for an all-over cleansing, nutrient-filled scrubbing! 

1. In the bath or shower, dampen your skin with warm water.
2. Start at the very top of your body, (even your face), and work down your decolleger, chest, arms, stomach, back, and legs. Make sure you do some scrubbing around your feet, too!
3. Rinse your body in warm water.
4. Rinse again and gently towel dry.
5. Apply a deep penetrating body butter or soufflé to lock in moisture and smooth skin.

Lip Scrub

Sugar scrubs are gentle and great for the lips or tender areas of skin. They can be made of fine white sugar or coarse brown sugar depending on the level of scrubbing penetration needed to deal with problem areas. They can also be used on other areas of the skin like the face and hands for a gentle, moisturizing, and very delicious scrub.

How to make a simple sugar scrub for your lips at home:

• Brown sugar 3 tbsp
• Coconut oil 1 tbsp
• Local Honey 1 tbsp

1. Mix all ingredients together in a small plastic container.
2. Wet your lips with a little warm water. 
3. Gently rub a small amount of the sugar scrub in a circular motion into the lips. 
4. Leave on the lips for five to ten minutes. 
5. Use a washcloth and warm water to gently remove the scrub from your lips.
6. Apply your favorite chapstick or lip balm to lock in moisture.
7. Put the lid on the container and store it in your fridge. Let scrub come to room temperature before the next use.

Coffee Scrub

Using finely ground coffee as the main exfoliant, these scrubs are invigorating and help keep inflammation and puffiness at bay while increasing blood circulation. 

Simple all over coffee scrub:

• Dry Finely Ground Coffee beans ½ cup
• Coconut oil (melted) ½ cup
• Vanilla extract ten drops
• Warm water as needed

1. In a ceramic or plastic bowl, melt your coconut oil.
2. Add in coffee, and ten drops give or take of vanilla extract.
3. Mix in warm water till slushy consistency.
4. Starting with your legs just above your knees, massage scrub gently into thighs, paying attention to any areas of cellulite or stretch mark scars.
5. Move around massaging gently all over your bum cheeks, adding more warm water as needed.
6. Move up and massage the scrub into the tummy, making sure to pay attention to old stretch mark scars.
7. Allow the scrub to rest on the skin for five to ten minutes before using your hands and warm water to rinse, making sure all of the scrub has been removed from the skin.
8. Follow up with a toasty coconut or warm vanilla scented moisturizer and a hot creamy cup of coffee.

Clay and Mineral-Based Scrubs

These scrubs are made of ground volcanic rock, bentonite clay, or kaolin clay and naturally remove impurities from the skin while polishing away dead skin cells.

Simple Clay Mask and Scrub for your face:

• Kaolin or bentonite clay 2 tbsp (can be found at local health food stores) try kaolin for dry or sensitive and bentonite for oil skin.
• Camomile or dried lavender 2 tbsp
• Warm water as needed

1. Using a non-reactive bowl like ceramic or plastic, mix together your ground herbs and clay.
2. Add warm water till paste forms. Add more water as needed as the clay is very absorbent, and you’ll want it to slide smoothly over your face to give good coverage.
3. Once your entire face is covered, allow the clay to dry completely.
4. Once dry, dampen the entire face with warm water and gently massage the mask into the skin in a circular motion.
5. Pay special attention to the space between your brows, your nose, and cheeks.
6. Rinse your face well with warm water and gently pat dry.
7. Finish with your favorite serum, followed by a deep moisturizing overnight face cream.

Herbal

Gentle and relaxing, these scrubs are made of crushed or mortared herbs like rosemary, lavender, camomile, marjoram, and lemon balm. Herbs are naturally full of antioxidants and clear out clogged pores while reducing stress.

Simple DIY Herbal Scrub for body:

• Ground Lavender 1 tbsp
• Ground Chamomile 1 tbsp
• Ground Calendula 1 tbsp
• Ground Almond Meal 3 tbsp
• Coconut (melted) or avocado oil ½ cup

1. In a plastic container, mix all ingredients together.
2. Starting with your toes, massage in a circular motion over heels and ankles, calves, thighs, tummy, arms, chest, and back. 
3. Allow the scrub to rest on the body for five to ten minutes before thoroughly rinsing.
4. Follow with a deep moisturizing and relaxing body lotion or soufflé.

Microbead Scrub

Now outlawed in the United States for the extremely negative environmental impact, microbeads are made of plastic and can be very abrasive to the skin.

Fortunately, this scrub cannot be recreated at home and should be avoided on the shelves to help preserve our fresh drinking water and keep pollution out of our oceans.

Each of these scrubs can have a beneficial impact on our skin and faces. The right scrub for you will come down to skin type, skin issues, and which process you enjoy the most. We suggest giving them all (well all except microbeads, which we simply included for educational purposes) a try. That way, you can find out which scrubs feel the best on your skin and help you with your problem areas.

Just remember to hydrate after every single exfoliation, or you might just end up looking like an alligator instead of smooth as silk. Moisturize those bodies, ladies, and you’ll have beautiful, glowing skin for many seasons and years to come!

Sources:

https://www.urbancompany.com/blog/beauty/body-scrub-benefits/

https://www.totalbeauty.com/content/article/body-scrubs-101

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/why-you-shouldnt-use-microbead-soap/