Should You Use Body Scrub Every Day?

If you're looking for an easy, all-natural way to exfoliate your skin, then you've probably considered adding a body scrub to your bathroom. However, does that mean body scrubs are safe to use every day? Before you open your first bottle of body scrub, you've got to check out the research we've done on how often you should use it.

You shouldn't use a body scrub every day, especially if you have sensitive skin. Daily body scrub sessions could aggravate your skin and even cause problems like redness and excessive dryness. Plus, daily exfoliation may thin your skin's outer layer, which will increase the risk of wrinkles. Even when your skin is super dry, most beauty experts recommend using an all-natural body scrub no more than three times per week.

Since everyone has different skincare needs, it's difficult to say how often you should use a body scrub. Indeed, you may have to change how often you exfoliate depending on your skin type, the product you're using, or the time of year. Hopefully, the tips below should help you determine your ideal body scrub schedule.

Should You Use A Body Scrub Every Day?

You shouldn't add a body scrub to your daily shower routine. Since these products are literally scrubbing dead skin cells, they are mildly abrasive. Even if you're using a body scrub with ultra-fine sugar particles, it is still a bit rough on your skin. You need to give your skin plenty of time to heal between sessions for the best results.

Also, the more you use a body scrub, the more likely your skin will secrete oil in an attempt to prevent further damage. This could increase the risk of acne or general skin redness, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Another reason you shouldn't use a body scrub every day is that it could thin your skin's top layer. Thinner skin means you'll have a far greater chance of developing wrinkles—and that's exactly what we want to avoid!

While everyone has unique skincare goals, you'll typically do fine using a high-quality body scrub about two to three times per week. Be sure to monitor how your skin feels after each session to determine whether you should add or subtract scrubbing sessions.

For a more detailed explanation of why daily exfoliation isn't necessary, be sure to watch this video:

By the way, please remember there's a big difference between body scrubs and shower gels. If you'd like to learn more about this topic, be sure to check out our post entitled, "Should You Use Shower Gel Every Day?"

What Are The Benefits Of Body Scrub?

Although we may not shed like snakes, that doesn't mean our skin is static. Indeed, recent scientific research suggests we shed our outer skin layer approximately every two to four weeks. However, as we get older, it's far more common for dead skin cells to stay at the top way longer than we'd like them to. That's where body scrubs come in handy.

Technically, a body scrub is an exfoliant, which means it helps naturally speed up the removal of dead skin cells. The obvious benefit of using a body scrub is that it promotes soft, youthful-looking skin. Body scrubs are also great for removing itchy patches, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and supporting detoxification.

How Do You Apply A Body Scrub?

Although every manufacturer has different instructions, here's a basic method for applying a body scrub:

• Wash your skin in warm (but not hot!) water for about five minutes.
• Use your preferred shampoo, conditioner, and soap before applying a body scrub.
• Turn off the shower water.
• Apply your body scrub in gentle, circular motions all around your body (excluding the face).
• Wash off your body scrub with warm water.
• Turn off your water and pat dry with a towel.
• Use a skin-safe moisturizer to lock in the healing benefits.

Since every scrub brand may have slightly different recommendations, we'd recommend reading your product's label before trying it for the first time.

How Many Minutes Should You Scrub Your Body?

There's no set timeframe for how long you should use a body scrub, but most people settle for about 10 minutes. You want to give your skin enough time to absorb any healing minerals in your scrub, but you also want to wash away those dead skin cells relatively quickly.

You could read our article on the "Average Time For A Steam Shower" for more info on how long you should stay in the shower.

What Happens If You Don't Exfoliate?

You don't need to exfoliate to have glowing skin, but chances are Mother Nature could use a helping hand! Few among us are fortunate enough to have goddess genetics. Heck, even many Hollywood celebs claim they use exfoliation to get their stunning looks.

If you don't exfoliate a few times per week, chances are you'll notice more acne, ingrown hairs, and overall less smooth skin. As we get older, it's also more common to develop wrinkles if we don't exfoliate regularly.

Does Exfoliating Damage Your Skin?

As long as you don't overdo it, using a body scrub should not damage your skin. Quite the contrary, regular exfoliation sessions should improve your skin's overall health and appearance.

Please remember that gentler is better when applying your body scrub. Use about a dime-sized amount of body scrub and apply it to one area in circular patterns. As long as you follow this simple strategy no more than three times per week, you should notice lovely skin after a few sessions.

Can You Use A Body Scrub On Your Face?

You should never use a body scrub on your face unless the product's manufacturer says it's OK.

Generally, body scrubs are more abrasive than creams designed for your face. Since our facial skin is delicate, body scrubs could easily aggravate this layer. Indeed, if you constantly use a body scrub on your face, you may notice unwanted symptoms like skin redness, excessive dryness, or wrinkles.

Thankfully, there are plenty of exfoliating lotions that work phenomenally on your face. Be sure to look for products explicitly made for this delicate skin layer.

Find out more on this Amazon link.

What's Better: Salt Or Sugar Body Scrubs?

Salt and sugar are the most common exfoliants in all-natural body scrubs. While both of these compounds do a great job smoothing the skin, there are a few pros and cons customers should know before making a purchase.

First off, salt scrubs are more abrasive than sugar scrubs, which means they may not be the best choice for folks with sensitive skin. However, the rougher edges on salt particles help dramatically increase blood circulation and soften tough patches like your heels. Plus, salt has way more healing minerals versus sugar.

Find out more on this Amazon page.

On the flip side, sugar scrubs tend to seep into your skin better than salt, which is excellent for moisturization. Plus, since sugar particles aren't as sharp as salt, they tend to feel nicer while you're applying them. If you struggle with extra sensitive skin, then sugar scrubs may be right for you.

Click this Amazon link for more info.

However, even if you use a soothing sugar scrub, you should apply a skin-safe moisturizer after your body scrub session. Adding a generous layer of coconut oil will help your skin naturally rehydrate and repair.

Find out more on this Amazon link.

Give Your Body A Good Scrub—Just Not Every Day!

Using a body scrub is a simple and relaxing way to take care of your skin. Just be careful not to break out that bottle of body scrub every day. For the best results, limit your body scrub use to about two to three times per week. For more specific guidance, please check your product's recommended usage or contact your manufacturer directly.