1. What is a Body Scrub?
A body scrub is an abrasive substance mixed with water, soap, or oil that is used to exfoliate the entire body removing all those pesky dead skin cells. With regular use, body scrubs promote cell regeneration and moisturize your skin leaving it happy, healthy, and glowing.
Body scrubs have the added bonus of cleansing the skin while also exfoliating, unlike its counterpart, the body polish.
Body scrubbing is a full-body exfoliating treatment that you can do yourself in the comfort of your own home without paying the hefty price tag of visiting a spa or even leaving your house.
Body scrubs are usually made up of a pomace, like ground almond or sea salt or even sugar. Though they can be made out of plastics and these should be avoided if at all possible to protect your skin and the environment. This abrasive pomace is what does all the work in removing the old dead skin cells from your top layer of skin, revealing fresh, new, vibrant skin underneath.
2. How Do Use a Body Scrub?
Using a body scrub is simple. We’ll break it down step-by-step so you can get a feel for the process.
- Start with a warm shower. Warm, but not hot water helps open up the pores and soften the skin before scrubbing. If you are using an oil-based body scrub, it can be helpful to lather up and clean your body before exfoliating. This makes sure you are wet from neck to toe and have a clean canvas. You don’t want to be rubbing the sweat and grime of the day into your freshly open pores.
- Next, redirect the water out of the way, but leave it on to create steam. It should not be pointing right at your body, and you can keep whatever scrub you are using in place.
- Then, scoop a small handful of body scrub. Working in sections, massage gently, but thoroughly massage the scrub into your body using a loofah, washcloth, or sponge. You can simplify steps one and three if you invest in a body wash infused body scrubbing buffer like the fresh Freesia Pear!
- Working from the bottom of your body, concentrate on the areas that need the most love: heels, ankles, knees, and elbows. These areas can have a faster skin cell turnover rate because of their constant stretching and bending of the skin. Be sure to exfoliate around your underwear and bra lines. Pesky grime and sweat can get embedded in these areas, and body scrubbing is an effective way to get them in ship shape.
- Next, redirect the showerhead back at your body, and using your hands, make sure you’ve removed all residual grit from your skin. Any leftover body scrub can irritate if it stays on your skin. It could get rubbed in by your clothing and create redness or even micro-tears in the skin.
- Dry your body thoroughly with a clean, dry, preferably cotton towel.
- Finally, cover your entire body with a moisturizing lotion so you can coat those happy new cells with a burst of hydration and smooth out the skin.
3. What is the Best Body Scrub for My Skin?
There are so many scents and combinations of body scrubs created for individual skin types and preferences on the market. Even homemade scrubs are available and can be created in your kitchen from on-hand, everyday use ingredients.
Choosing the right scrub is going to be up to your personal preference and should be focused around your skin type.
- Oily - If you have oily skin, you may want to choose a body scrub paired with a gentle cleanser to help clear any extra oil from your pores and follicles.
- Dry - If you have dry skin, an oil-based body scrub can help hydrate those fresh skin cells right at the source and even penetrate deeper into the skin now that those pesky dead cells are removed.
- Sensitive - If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to find a very light scrub or even a chemical scrub that won’t be too abrasive on your delicate skin. If you have sensitive skin, always do a test section before using a product on your entire body. However, most people’s bodies are not as sensitive as their faces when it comes to products, so you can be a little more flexible with what you test out on your skin.
4. How Often Can I Use a Body Scrub?
You can use a body scrub up to three to four times a week. However, most experts suggest starting out with one time a week and working your way up to additional scrubs. An exfoliation routine is only helpful if your skin responds well to the treatment.
If you have sensitive skin, you should most definitely scrub less often and skip a few days or even a week between your scheduled body scrubs. This gives your skin time to recover from a new treatment that creates a new environment on the top layer of your skin.
Scrubbing every single day is a very, very big no, no, and not suggested. Even though regular body scrubbing is good for our skin, the skin still needs time to recover from this type of treatment, and we want to leave the natural oil barrier intact.
Scrubbing too often could have reverse effects and increase dryness instead of replenishing moisture.
However, there are so many benefits to using a body scrub correctly and regularly.
5. What Are the Lasting Effects of a Body Scrub on Your Skin?
- Regular exfoliating promotes happy, healthy, younger-looking skin by removing the old skin cells.
- Exfoliating is like a mini message and is a great stress reliever. Massaging an exotic oil into your skin can be an incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating experience for your mind and body.
- Exfoliating helps prevent ingrown hairs and pesky blemishes and red spots. Body scrubbing lifts dirt and sweat from the pores and, over time, keeps pores clear and clean so that the hairs can grow naturally. It can even help prepare your legs and armpits for a smoother shave.
- Finally, exfoliating with a body scrub revitalizes your skin. After a while, the layer of built-up skin cells begins to make the skin look dull and feel rough, especially on areas like the elbows, knees, and heels.
6. Can I Damage My Skin With a Body Scrub?
The simplest answer to this question is yes, if you don't scrub the right way. If you use the wrong product for your skin or over scrub and exfoliate too harshly, you can cause lasting damage to your skin.
Over scrubbing can remove the natural protecting layer of oil that our body creates to help waterproof and protect our skin from harsh environmental elements naturally. This layer can take months or even years to repair if it is damaged.
Scrubbing too harshly can create micro-tears that let in infection and weaken the skin. These micro-tears aren’t only uncomfortable, but they are often paired with red, dry skin that is prone to cracking and can be embarrassing.
Massaging gently in an upward circular motion is the key to the best body scrub of your life. The particles in scrubs are created to do their jobs under very little pressure, and so gentle movements are much more effective than harsh scrubbing. This ensures that you are caring for your skin and not hurting it in the process.
7. How to Choose a Body Scrub That is Right For You
Choosing the right body scrub can be a real chore, but the things to remember are your skin type, your personal skin needs, and personal preferences.
Here are some final tips when shopping for your next body scrub or exfoliant, and you’ll be well on your way to fresh, healthy skin!
- All-in-one products are an easy solution to hydrate and refresh skin on the go. Our lives are busy, and adding in a long, drawn out scrubbing process to our shower routine can make or break our morning schedule. All-in-one products remove this time-suck by combining your cleansing routine and your exfoliation routine into one simple tool.
- You may have a sensitivity to fragrance or different ingredients, so reading the label or purchasing a product you know is made with natural, eco-friendly ingredients is going to save you some uncomfortable showers.
- A subscription exfoliant service can save you the hassle of knowing when it’s time to throw out your current scrub and reinvest. Spongellé’s subscription model sends a buffer right to your door on a predetermined schedule so you can keep your routine clean, healthy, and ongoing.
A body scrubbing routine can seem daunting at first, but the benefits of regular body scrubbing outweigh any purchasing decisions or research you may need to do before getting started. Dry, dull skin can be a distant memory when you commit and employ the steps and tips we highlighted for you in this post!
Who wouldn’t want the most brilliant skin they could accomplish simply by incorporating a body scrub into their routine?
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/body-polishing#recipes-and-products
https://www.byrdie.com/the-right-way-to-apply-a-body-scrub-345699
https://www.urbancompany.com/blog/beauty/body-scrub-benefits/
