When we say skincare, we usually think about taking care of the face alone.

But did you know that your body deserves the same attention you give to your face?

Just as we regularly moisturize and exfoliate our face, so should we do the same for our body! In fact, that’s exactly why there are countless body products in the market — from body creams and body butters to body scrubs, there’s a skincare product out there for every body concern you may have. 

Of all of those, though, we’re going to be focusing on body scrubs today. 

Join us here at Lionesse as we talk about what body scrubs are, what they do, the benefits they bring to the skin, and how best to use them.

What is a Body Scrub?

A body scrub is a type of physical exfoliator — that is, a skincare product that mechanically sloughs away the dead skin cells on top of the skin. This is usually done by mixing grainy ingredients, such as salt or sugar, with an oil or gel base, then applying this mixture to the skin. However, there are also body scrubs that are water-based or even powder in form.

When it comes to the Lionesse Body Scrub, we’ve gone with a sea salt-based formula. However, we’ve also mixed some diamond powder into our scrub, not only for its gentle exfoliating properties, but also because of the way in which it leaves the skin looking noticeably brighter.

Because they can scrub away dead skin cells right away, body scrubs leave the skin feeling smooth and soft, as it reveals healthier-looking skin underneath the dead skin cells.

In fact, ancient Egyptians were the first to use body scrubs for this specific reason. With a host of benefits offered to the body, it’s no wonder that using a body scrub is a skincare practice that has persisted until the present time.

Benefits of Using a Body Scrub

Because body scrubs are physical exfoliators, they will certainly let you derive the same benefits that exfoliation does to the skin! If you’ve had an amazing time using exfoliating products on your face (people say that the Lionesse White Pearl Facial Peeling is a transformational facial exfoliant!), well, think about how great it will feel to exfoliate your body. 

For instance, body scrubs help with ensuring that your dead skin cells are shed regularly to leave you feeling smoother. Without regular exfoliation, your skin can look dull and flaky; but by incorporating body scrubs to your routine, you can be sure to help reveal skin that looks bright and radiant.

That’s just the general gist, though! Here’s a comprehensive list of the benefits a quick body scrub can do to you and your body:

Your Skin Looks Clearer and Smoother

One of the best things you can get from using a body scrub is the benefit of clearer-looking skin. By removing dead skin cells, you’re less likely to deal with breakouts.

But wait — there’s more.

Regular exfoliation is also great for skin concerns like chicken skin and an uneven-looking skin tone. It’s also the secret to smoother-looking skin, as you slough off the dead skin cells that keep your skin looking dull!

Your Skin Looks Brighter and More Radiant

Regular exfoliation is the secret to the youthful, vibrant glow to your skin. It’ll leave your skin looking noticeably brighter.

Aside from that, body scrubs help in making your complexion look more even. This is perfect if you’re concerned about having dark spots in your body that don’t match the rest of your skin tone. For instance, if your knees or elbows are a bit too dark, exfoliating will certainly help in making them look lighter.

You Prevent and Get Rid of the Appearance of Bumps

Exfoliating is one of the best practices before and after a shave… and the best way to gently exfoliate your body is through the use of body scrubs!

Regular exfoliation is key towards preventing the visibility of razor bumps from occurring on areas you typically shave. This is especially true if you like shaving your legs, or other areas with hair! Body scrubs also help with the appearance of dark spots, and even with existing ingrown hairs. With the top layer of your skin effectively exfoliated, your ingrown hair can grow properly out of the follicle, rather than inwards.

What’s more, exfoliating a few days before a shave can certainly help with making hair removal easier. The oils in body scrubs make the hair softer.

You Get to De-Stress

A final benefit of using body scrubs is its ability to help you de-stress. Using a body scrub is a time you get to spend for yourself. The slow, massage-like method of using body scrubs also helps for a relaxing experience.

Sounds exciting, right? Using a body scrub can really be a great experience, especially if you’re confident that the scrub you’ll be using will do its job well

If you’re sold on adding a body scrub to your routine, but are still unsure where to look for one, worry not! You can never go wrong with Lionesse’s Salt Scrub. Made with finely ground diamond powder, this gentle body scrub will get rid of your flaky skin and other impurities, all without damaging your skin.

The Correct Way to Use a Body Scrub

Now that you know why you should use a body scrub, let’s move on to how exactly you should use it.

Using body scrubs sounds like such a simple task — and it is! Still, there are a few things you may want to remember as you venture into incorporating body scrubs on your weekly routine.

Prepare and Cleanse Your Skin

It’s best to use a body scrub once your skin is already free of dust and dirt that may have accumulated on your skin already. This way, the scrub can work its magic of cleansing more effectively!

So, make sure that you shower with lukewarm water and you finish using soap or a body wash prior to using your body scrub. It’s also best to use lukewarm water to soften your skin and prime it for exfoliation. Don’t use hot water, though — hot water may be too harsh to the skin, so best keep it at lukewarm temperature!

Apply the Body Scrub

Once your skin is thoroughly cleansed and primed, it’s now time to use your body scrub. Don’t keep the water running while scrubbing, as you don’t want the body scrub to be washed away before it can even do its magic!

To apply, simply scoop a dollop of scrub onto damp skin, and then scrub it gently into the skin using circular motions. Body scrubs, such as the one from Lionesse, are typically formulated to be non-abrasive to the skin, but scrubbing them in too harshly or vigorously can still damage your skin. Your exfoliator will work just fine, even if you don’t rub it in too hard.

It’s also good to start scrubbing from the ends of the body (e.g., toes or fingers), and then make your way to the heart. Of course, make sure to cover all areas of your body, down to the soles of your feet. Also pay attention to problem areas like your elbows and knees, which tend to have thicker skin!

Rinse

Once you’re done scrubbing every nook and cranny of your body, it’s time to rinse it off using lukewarm water. During this process, pay careful attention to removing the scrub on your body, especially on areas where it can easily get stuck—at the back of your knee or your groin area, for instance. You’d want to make sure to wash it all off to avoid any risk of irritating your skin.

Moisturize

The body scrubbing experience doesn’t end when you completely rinse off all of the scrub from your body. The last step in exfoliating your skin is to moisturize it. And no, this isn’t a step you’d want to skip!

Exfoliation can strip your skin of moisture, so it’s imperative that you moisturize after using a body scrub. 

If you still don’t have a go-to lotion, body butter, or moisturizer, now’s the time to invest in one. You may want to check out Lionesse’s Body Cream if you’re looking for a gentle product to moisturize the skin and keep it soft and radiant. If you want something even thicker, you can check out this Body Butter by Lionesse, too! 

How Often to Use a Body Scrub

With all the good benefits that physical exfoliation promises, you might be tempted to use your body scrub daily. It probably wouldn’t hurt to use them all the time, right?

Sadly, that isn’t the case. Too much of anything can hurt you, and that certainly applies to exfoliation as well!

Because the skin is delicate, using a body scrub every day might irritate it and even damage it immensely. So, it’s best to use your body scrub sparingly.

If it’s your first time using body scrubs, it’s best to start using it just once a week to make sure you don’t irritate the skin. Once you build some tolerance, you can increase your frequency of use to twice or thrice a week at most.

For moments like this, it’s best to know what exactly your skin needs, and to listen to that. If you have sensitive skin and feel like once a week is doing enough for you, you can definitely stick with that. If you don’t see results, you can increase frequency of use to one that feels best for your skin.

This part requires a bit of trial and error, as our individual skin is different. Body scrubs typically come with instructions on how often they should be used. That can be your benchmark, and then you can experiment depending on what works for you.

If your chosen body scrub uses more abrasive materials such as nut shavings, however, you may want to use it less frequently in a week or change it up completely.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it!

We’ve always been paying attention to our face that we often tend to neglect our body, but we hope this article has explained well enough why it’s time for us to start taking care of the skin on our body, too! You’ll find that there are a lot of benefits you can enjoy by simply giving your skin a bit more attention.