What is a body scrub?

Do you want silky smooth skin that just glows? And is so soft and supple that even water just simply glides off. Then a body scrub is just the thing you need. Similar to facial scrubs, but meant for the entire body, they not only help to smoothen out the skin’s texture by way of gentle exfoliation, but also rejuvenate it, making it look radiant and blooming. 

So if you’re interested to know more about body scrubs, what they are, and how to choose and use one, keep on reading!

What is a body scrub?

A body scrub is a physical exfoliant that is usually either salt or sugar-based. The abrasive ingredients when rubbed into the skin help to remove dead skin cells from your skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple and nourished.

Difference between a body scrub and an exfoliant?

Exfoliation is any chemical or physical method of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, and the product used to do so is called an exfoliant. The use of a body scrub falls under the category of a physical method of exfoliation, and works similar to other methods such as dry brushing. 

On the other hand, chemical exfoliation uses acids like salicylic acid and lactic acid to break down and slough away the dead skin cells. Exfoliating ingredients such as papaya extract are also often found in your everyday cleanser to help regenerate and rejuvenate the skin on a daily basis, like the the Leovard Multicleanser, but sometimes your skin needs a little bit of extra scrubbing, and that’s where a facial and body scrub comes in. 

What is the difference between a body scrub and facial scrub?

It’s just skin, right. So what could possibly be the difference? Well, there’s plenty. And to be able to choose the most well-suited scrub for your body, it is first essential to know the difference between your facial skin and the one on the rest of your body. 

Your skin is made up of several layers and while you have almost the same types of skin from head to toe, the skin on your face and neck is much more thin as compared to the skin on the rest of your body. 

As a result, the scrub that you use for your face should be far more gentle and also contain soothing ingredients to counter any possible inflammation and irritation. Facial scrubs are thus designed keeping in mind the sensitive and vulnerable nature of the skin on the face and while they will effectively do the job of exfoliation, they will not be too harsh or stripping. 

In comparison a body scrub targets the thick skin on the rest of your body, for example your legs. It often has larger chunks to fight the tougher skin and calluses on the less sensitive parts of the body, making it smoother and silkier after use.

Benefits of using a body scrub

The exfoliating action of the scrub will:

• Help prevent ingrown hair. 
• Make the hair removal process easier.
• Allows the skin to absorb moisturizer and other skincare better.
• Help unclog pores, making the skin smooth and even.

Choosing the best scrub for your body 

There are many good scrubs in the market, each with different ingredients meant to cater to different skin types and needs. Knowing which products are needed for your particular skin can make way for consistent yet effective skincare. For example, if you want to have smoothness and want to enhance your skin's firmness then you need to get yourself a body scrub that will help you achieve that. 

For acne prone skin opt for a scrub that contains active ingredients like glycolic or salicylic acid. While the former works wonderfully if you have oily skin, the latter more so if your skin is sensitive or dry. If your skin is dry and can use a little bit of extra moisturizing, a scrub with moisturizing oils is also a great option. If your skin is tough and rough, larger granules will help you achieve a thorough scrubbing. Finer granules make for a mild scrub and can be used for frequent exfoliation.

How to use a body scrub?

By following some very simple steps you can achieve that soft and smooth skin.

Step 1

Start with taking a warm shower and allow your skin to become drenched with water before applying your scrub. Avoid scrubbing dry skin or it will become irritated.

Step 2

Apply your scrub on your legs, arms, feet and torso using a circular motion. You should not scrub for any longer than 30 to 45 seconds.

Step 3

Rinse off the scrub and pat dry your skin. Always use any hydrating moisturiser after using your scrub, as this will ensure that your skin doesn’t get too irritated. The Leovard Multicream makes a great choice. 

Takeaway 

Our skin is a perpetually regenerating organ, meaning that new cells are constantly replacing old cells at the surface. The skin regenerates entirely every 45 to 60 days. Using a body scrub will speed up the process of sloughing off the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin revealing the vibrant and youthful skin underneath and make you fall in love with yourself.