Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is a Face Scrub?
- What is a Body Scrub?
- How Often You Should Really Use Scrub?
- Things to Keep in Mind while Exfoliating your Face and Body
- In a nutshell
- FAQ’s
Introduction
Deciding when and how much to exfoliate your face and body? Everyone has different concerns and needs, so it eventually comes down to what is good for you. On a general note, you should be using a scrub for your face and body three times a week, maximum!
While enzyme exfoliants are gentle and can be used everyday, physical scrubs should be used weekly.
Exfoliation is key in removing unwanted dead skin, oil and dirt from the pores. But it's like loud music at a party, you enjoy and feel energized but then it gets deafening. Similarly, exfoliation helps make your skin glow bright but too much can cause skin damage.
In this blog, we'll walk you through what face and body scrubs are, how they suit each skin type and how often to use them so that they stay beneficial.
What is a Face Scrub?
A Face Scrub is essentially a skincare product that is used for exfoliating the skin. It contains small grainy particles that are made of ingredients like sugar, coffee grounds or walnuts. These particles help remove dead skin cells, oil, dirt and all the impurities collected on the surface of the skin. Face Scrubs are physical exfoliants that improve skin texture and complexion.
What is a Body Scrub?
Similar to face scrubs, body scrubs are made to serve the body’s needs. They exfoliate the skin and rejuvenate it. Containing more or less the same ingredients as face scrubs, Body Scrub has a gritty texture that gets rid of accumulated dead skin cells, sweat, oil and other impurities from the body. It physically smoothes and softens the skin and makes it more radiant.
How Often You Should Really Use Scrub?
Face
Face scrubs contain fine exfoliating particles like sugar, rice powder or fruit enzymes that are gentle on the delicate skin of our face. They also contain AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) & BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) which are mild chemical exfoliants.
Face Scrubs also generally contain moisturizing elements that are helpful in preventing the skin from getting dry after exfoliation and nourish the skin. Face scrubs help unclog pores, reduce the appearance of blackheads, and leave the skin feeling soft and refreshed.
Face scrubs are smooth and soft to the touch to avoid harshness to the face. They come in either creamy or gel-like formulations that are easy to use.
Dry Sensitive skin - Sensitive skin needs soothing and non abrasive formulas so you should use enzyme-based scrubs or chemical exfoliants like lactic acid, once a week.
Normal skin - You can opt to use light exfoliants like glycolic acid with small granules twice a week.
Oily Acne prone skin - More frequent exfoliation helps prevent excess oil production and clogged pores so use stronger exfoliants twice a week. Make sure not to over exfoliate.
Body
Compared to Face exfoliators, scrubs for the body contain larger and coarser particles such as sugar, coffee grounds or walnuts. These are way more abrasive, suitable to exfoliate the thick skin on our body.
They are rich in nourishing oils and butters like coconut oil, shea butter or olive oil. Some may also include fragrances for an enhancing scent experience.
Body Scrubs are grainier and thicker to the touch that ensure effective exfoliation. They come in paste-like or buttery formulations to help spread it all over the body.
Dry Sensitive skin - Sensitive skin is prone to irritation so use a mild, non-abrasive scrub with soft exfoliants like sugar once a week.
Normal skin - You can opt to use a scrub with salt, sugar or coffee grounds twice a week as it helps maintain a smooth skin.
Oily Acne prone skin - Oily skin benefits from more frequent exfoliation so use scrubs with salt, sugar or tea tree oil twice to thrice a week. Make sure not to over exfoliate.
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Things to Keep in Mind while Exfoliating your Face and Body
Key things to remember when choosing to exfoliate your face and body are:
- Choose a gentle scrubs for the face and more abrasive scrubs for the body
- Understand your skin type before buying or using a face and body scrub
- Scrub your skin while applying little pressure and in circular motions
- Stick to exfoliating once or twice a week. Over exfoliating can prove harmful to your skin
- Use face and body scrubs in your evening care routine as it will allow your skin to repair overnight
- Don't forget to apply a moisturizer post scrubbing
In a nutshell,
Exfoliation is essential when done in moderation. The number of times you exfoliate each week depends on your skin type and what you’re trying to achieve. Remember to choose gentle scrubs for the delicate skin of your face and more abrasive scrubs for your body’s thick skin. Understand your skin's needs and stick to a balanced routine. With the help of this blog you can now enjoy the benefits of exfoliation without any harm.
FAQ’s
Is it OK to use scrubs everyday?
No, it is not okay to use scrubs everyday. Frequent exfoliation can strip the skin of its natural oils causing dryness and irritation. Scrubbing 2-3 times a week is more than sufficient.
Can I exfoliate 2 days in a row?
Exfoliating 2 days in a row can be excessive for sensitive and dry skin types. Adjust your scrubbing routine based on what it needs and how your skin reacts.
Is rubbing dead skin off bad?
No! Removing dead skin cells is a good thing and should be done often. You should take caution while scrubbing and be gentle on your skin. Aggressive scrubbing can damage or irritate the skin.
Does scrub remove tan?
Yes! Scrubs help fade tan by removing the dead layer of skin revealing a new, radiant skin. Scrubbing can gradually remove tanned skin.
Should I exfoliate morning or night?
It is recommended to exfoliate at night as it allows the skin to repair itself through the night. It also helps remove the days build up leaving your skin fresh.
