You may have an exfoliating product in your skincare routine that you use on your face, but what about your body?
Read on to learn more about exactly why exfoliating the entire body is important, as well as the best body scrubs.
What Does a Body Scrub Do?
Body scrubs are a form of physical exfoliation.
That means it can help clear away dead skin cells and other debris on the surface of the skin.
Benefits of Using a Body Scrub
There are many benefits to using an exfoliating body scrub, including the following:
- Reveals smooth and soft skin, especially in spots that are prone to a more dry or rough texture
- Allows a body moisturizer to better penetrate the skin, leading to more moisturized skin
- Promotes skin cell turnover to reveal brighter and more youthful skin
- Prevent ingrown hairs
How to Use a Body Scrub
Adding a body scrub to your routine is simple.
- In the shower, gently massage the body scrub into your skin in circular motions.
- It may be used all over, but particularly focus on rougher areas or places where you are prone to ingrown hairs.
- Follow up with a water-soluble gel soap to ensure all of the scrub has been removed.
Be sure to use lukewarm water to avoid irritating or causing dry skin after showering.
8 Best Body Scrubs
If you are looking to add some exfoliation to your routine, these are the best body scrubs available:
1. Best Overall: Dove Exfoliating Body Scrub
Best Overall Body Scrub
Dove has created one of the best body scrubs. This budget-friendly option not only exfoliates, but also moisturizes and nourishes dry skin, since it is formulated with a moisturizing cream. The whipped and creamy body scrub has a macadamia and rice milk scent.
2. Best Exfoliating Body Scrub: Visha Skincare Sugar Shrink Body Scrub
Best Exfoliating Body Scrub
If you need some serious exfoliation, this body scrub from Visha Skincare is the product for you. Sugar crystals work to gently but effectively exfoliate dry and dead skin cells. It is also infused with caffeine and antioxidants that rejuvenate the skin, as well as grape seed and avocado oils to moisturize. This body scrub is free of parabens, sulfates, fragrances, and gluten, and is also cruelty-free.
3. Best for Dry Skin: Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub
Best Body Scrub for Dry Skin
This is one of the best body scrubs for those dealing with dry skin. It contains organic shea butter, which is known for moisturizing and protecting the skin’s barrier. Additional moisturizing ingredients include evening primrose oil, safflower seed oil, avocado oil, and macadamia oil. To exfoliate, this scrub contains sugar grains, which gently clear away dead and damaged skin.
4. Best for Ingrown Hairs: Brooklyn Botany Arabica Coffee Body Scrub
Best Body Scrub for Ingrown Hairs
This scrub is particularly great for areas where you are prone to ingrown hairs. It contains high-quality coffee grounds that work to naturally but powerfully remove dead skin cells from the skin. There is also dead sea salt for an extra boost of exfoliation. In addition to these natural physical exfoliators, the formula is made with coconut oil, which moisturizes the skin. The formula is free of parabens, sulfates, and alcohol, and is all-natural and vegan.
5. Best Sugar Body Scrub: Tree Hut Brown Sugar Shea Sugar Scrub
Best Sugar Body Scrub
Sugar scrubs are excellent, as they are gentle on the skin and don’t create quite as much of a mess as coffee scrubs do. If you’re looking for a product with sugar, this option from Tree Hut is one of the best body scrubs for you. It is made with raw brown sugar, which gently polishes the skin. The formula also contains a variety of conditioning and moisturizing oils, including pistachio oil, safflower seed oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, and macadamia seed oil.
6. Best Natural: pureSCRUBS Premium Organic Body Scrub
Best Natural Body Scrub
Those who want to take a more natural approach to their body scrub should try this product from pureSCRUBS. It contains 100% natural and organic ingredients, and uses exfoliating dead sea salt. The formula also has a variety of moisturizing and replenishing natural ingredients, such as aloe vera, argan oil, shea butter, vitamin E, and coconut oil. In addition to being all-natural, the formula is cruelty-free.
7. Best for Men: O Naturals Men's Exfoliating Activated Charcoal Dead Sea Salt Scrub
Best Body Scrub for Men
While anyone can use any of the mentioned body scrubs and get great results, this product is particularly great for men. It contains activated charcoal, which works to detoxify and remove impurities from the skin. The formula also has a hydrating blend of oils that moisturize and replenish the skin, including jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and peppermint oil.
8. Best for Sensitive Skin: pureSCRUBS Premium Organic Body Scrub - Unscented
Best Body Scrub for Sensitive Skin
This is one of the best body scrubs for those with more sensitive skin. It has the same formula as the natural pureSCRUBS product mentioned above, and contains sea salt and a variety of moisturizing ingredients. However, this particular product is created without fragrances, so it won’t irritate sensitive skin.
How to Make Your Own Body Scrub
While you are able to conveniently purchase one of the best body scrubs online, you can also create your own formula at home.
Start by choosing an exfoliating ingredient, such as salt, coffee grinds, or sugar. Next, simply mix equal parts of your exfoliator of choice with coconut oil. Once mixed, store in an air-tight container to protect the formula.
Can You Use Body Scrubs on Your Face?
While you can use scrubs on your face, it's not preferred. This is because body scrubs are typically more abrasive and aren’t suitable for the more delicate skin on the face.
Instead, exfoliate your skin using a chemical exfoliant.
AHA and BHA products are excellent for gently but effectively exfoliating the skin.
FAQs
How often should you use a body scrub?
Start by using one of the best body scrubs one to two times per week. After a few weeks, you may want to work your way up to every other day, if it seems necessary. If you find you experience dryness or irritation, scale back your usage.
How long does a homemade body scrub last?
If properly protected, a homemade body scrub will last around 6 months. It is important to keep it in an airtight container to preserve the oil and prevent contaminants from getting in. You should also be careful to avoid getting water in the formula while showering.
Can you make a body scrub with epsom salt?
Yes, the coarse texture of epsom salt makes it an excellent tool for creating a body scrub at home. Simply mix equal parts epsom salt and coconut oil, and then store your mixture in an airtight container.
The Bottom Line
Exfoliation is important for keeping skin smooth and soft, and preventing ingrown hairs.
Whether you’re using one of the best body scrubs mentioned above or creating your own, a body scrub is an excellent addition to your full body skincare routine.
