How To Use Body Scrubs Perfectly For Soft And Smooth Skin

What Is A Body Scrub?

A body scrub is an exfoliant that mechanically removes dead skin cells and other impurities from your body with its abrasive action. The exfoliating action stimulates the skin cells and enhances their regeneration, making your skin softer and smoother. Scrubbing your body regularly can prevent the growth of ingrown hair and decongest the pores.

For optimum results, it is crucial to choose a body scrub that is suitable for your skin type – whether your skin is dry, oily, or sensitive.

Types Of Body Scrubs

1. Sugar Scrubs

Sugar body scrubs are mild and more suitable for people with sensitive skin. The sugar grains with rounded edges are gentle on your skin and help in physical exfoliation. Sugar acts as a natural humectant and can replenish skin moisture, preventing dryness.

Quick Tip

Mix sugar with honey or lemon and apply it on your face and body for naturally glowing skin.

2. Salt Scrubs

Salt scrubs are one of the widely used body scrubs. Salt is an excellent exfoliator and can remove dead and hard skin from your body. A salt scrub is perfect for people with oily skin as it helps strip excess oil without being harsh. Salt scrubs usually contain magnesium and sulfate, which help reduce inflammation and detoxify the skin (1).

Gem, a blogger shares her journey of finding a solution for keratosis pilaris through a DIY body scrub. She discusses the main ingredients for body scrubs—salt and sugar. Observing the changes, she mentions, “I noticed that the back of my left thigh felt much softer and smoother, the bumps were a bit less noticeable too (i).” She further adds, “This DIY scrub recipe has worked wonders for my legs.”

Did You Know?

Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used salt water to clean and detox the skin.

3. Scrubs With Grains And Nuts

These body scrubs contain oatmeal, walnuts, or ground almonds. Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe rough and dry skin (2). It also keeps the skin moisturized. Walnut shells and ground almonds exfoliate the skin and make it appear brighter. However, they are abrasive, and you should use them with caution.

4. Coffee Scrubs

Coffee scrubs are another popular body scrub option that many swear by. The caffeine content in coffee not only exfoliates the skin but also protects it against UV radiation (3). Anecdotal evidence suggests that coffee can help minimize cellulite, age spots, and fine lines. Beauty enthusiasts also swear by its skin brightening effects, which help reduce the appearance of pigmentation, dark circles, and sun tan.

5. Herbal Scrubs

Herbal body scrubs are made from natural plant-based ingredients like grapefruit, lemons, green tea, and cranberry. They help rejuvenate and soothe your skin, enhance skin metabolism, and delay premature aging (4). You can try these scrubs if you have irritated skin or are looking for a skin detox.

6. Avocado Scrub

An avocado scrub is a nourishing exfoliant that harnesses the power of natural ingredients to rejuvenate the skin. This scrub is enriched with vitamins C, E, and niacin and is made with a mixture of mashed avocado and gentle exfoliants like sugar or salt. Though more research is required into this, it is accepted that the creamy texture of avocado provides deep hydration, while its natural oils offer a moisture-rich treatment, leaving the skin feeling soft and supple after use.

7. Coconut Oil Scrub

Coconut oil scrub is a hydrating exfoliator that combines the moisturizing benefits of coconut oil with natural exfoliants such as sugar, salt, or even ground oats or coffee. Coconut oil is lauded for its high content of fatty acids that may deeply nourish the skin. This type of scrub not only exfoliates but may also leave a protective barrier of moisture that may help to repair dry skin (5).

Note: Do a patch test before using these scrubs to ensure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use a body scrub the right way.

How To Use A Body Scrub

Step 1: Soak yourself in the shower for a few minutes. This will soften your skin and make dead skin removal easy.
Step 2: Apply the body scrub, starting from your feet, and then work your way up.
Step 3: Gently massage the scrub on your feet, legs, belly, and hands in circular motions. You can also use a long handle bath brush to apply the scrub to your back.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with water. You may use a mild soap after scrubbing your body.
Step 5: Apply body oil or a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and soft. If you have sensitive skin, use aloe vera gel for a soothing effect.
Step 6: Repeat this process twice a week for the best results.

Note: Be careful not to use body scrubs frequently. Over-exfoliation can strip the natural oils of your skin and make it dry.

Now, let’s explore some benefits of adding body scrubs to your weekly routine. Scroll down!

Benefits Of Body Scrubs

1. Even Tone Your Skin

One of the lesser-known benefits of using body scrubs is that they even out your skin tone. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and makes your skin smoother in the process. It promotes cell turnover, and you may notice a visible improvement in skin radiance. Using a body scrub regularly can also help lighten dark patches on your elbows or knees.

2. Unclog Pores

Whether it is excess oil, dirt, or pollutants, a good body scrub will remove the debris stuck in your pores. It helps decongest your pores, which helps curb bacterial growth on your skin and combat acne. Body scrubs can also prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

3. Remove Blackheads

You can use a body scrub with green tea, tea tree oil, or aloe vera extracts to reduce stubborn acne and get rid of blackheads on your skin. This will eventually lead to clear and healthy skin.

4. Ensure Better Absorption Of Skin Care Products

Since a body scrub removes dead cell buildup, it can prep your skin to absorb skin care products better. This, in turn, boosts the efficacy of skin care formulas and helps enhance the overall health of your skin.

Find out how often you should scrub your body in the next section.

How Often Should You Use A Body Scrub?

You must use a body scrub not more than twice a week. Massage your skin with the product gently without being too harsh. After the first few weeks, you will notice your skin turning soft, radiant, and youthful-looking.

Body scrubs are essential to keep your skin smooth and boost its health. However, you may want to avoid using them in certain scenarios. Here’s when you should stay away from a body scrub.

When Should You Not Use A Body Scrub?

• If your skin is irritated and you are experiencing rashes or inflammation.
• If you have sunburns.
• If your skin has become extremely dry and flaky.
• If your skin has open wounds, bruises, and cuts.
• If you have any allergies.

As stated before, you should not go overboard with a body scrub. If you have acne or insect bites, limit the use of exfoliants to once a week.

The following section will answer more of your queries regarding the usage of body scrubs in various cases.

Do You Use Body Scrubs On Wet Or Dry Skin?

Depending on the type of scrub, you may either use it on wet or dry skin. If you have oily skin, apply the scrub on dry skin. This will help get rid of excess oil without making your skin break out.

For sensitive and dry skin types, it is always good to use a cream-based hydrating scrub on wet skin. It can help retain the natural oils of your skin and keep it moisturized.

Body scrubs are also useful for manicures and pedicures. Read on to find out why and how to use it for the best results.

How Do You Use Body Scrubs Before Manicure And Pedicure?

A relaxing body scrubbing session before a manicure or pedicure will make your spa treatment last longer. It will also help your skin absorb the skin care products better, resulting in softer hands and feet for an extended period. Use the body scrub, focusing more on your hands and feet. Massage the hard skin of your ankles, heels, and wrists. Rinse with lukewarm water and apply moisturizer to your damp skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I use a body scrub before or after I shave?

You can shave after using a body scrub to achieve the best results. Exfoliation unclogs pores and removes dirt, which leaves your skin smooth and soft. This helps you achieve a smoother shave and reduce the risk of razor bumps.

Can I put body scrub on my lips?

No, avoid putting body scrub on your lips because the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive. You can either buy or make a lip scrub at home.

Do body scrubs help with body odor?

Yes, using body scrubs can remove dead skin and keep odor-causing bacteria at bay.

1. Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15689218/
2. Colloidal oatmeal: history, chemistry and clinical properties
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17373175/
3. Caffeine’s mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23075568/
4. Skin Care with Herbal Exfoliants
   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224892687_Skin_Care_with_Herbal_Exfoliants
5. Body scrub containing virgin coconut oil coffee grounds (Coffea arabica Linn) and carbon active coconut shell (activated carbon Cocos nucifera L) as a moisturiser and a skin brightener
   https://www.aseestant.ceon.rs/index.php/scriptamed/article/view/30814

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations. She graduated as a top ranker from Dr. D.Y.Patil College of Ayurveda and Research Centre , Navi Mumbai, and is a specialist in Panchakarma therapies. She believes that Ayurveda...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to skin, hair, and beauty propelled her to pursue a career in writing....more