Article by BR Tabatha
This week we're all about scrubbing - so we thought we'd bring you a quick BR guide to one of the most useful but underrated beauty products - scrubs.
Why should I get my scrub on?
Scrubs are a way to exfoliate your body by using rough grains to smooth away dead skin cells and hard skin build up. Other than the smooth skin you can expect these benefits from giving your skin a regular scrub; acne prevention, minimising the appearance of pores and they're also amazing for boosting circulation and can help even skin tone over time! Generally you'll use them on damp skin and rinse away with water.
Exfoliating is often used to prep the skin for another treatment, for example you'll often exfoliate before applying fake tan or having a mud or wrap treatment. Exfoliating can also be really beneficial to those that suffer from ingrown hairs.
But of course - there's a whole range of scrubs to choose from, depending on the area of the body and what you need to scrub away, so you could find yourself overwhelmed when picking out your next scrub. But never fear, we've got you covered!
Buy or make?
The great thing about scrubs, are that they are truly a beauty product for all budgets. You can buy gorgeous scrubs packed full of scrummy ingredients or make you own using as little as two ingredients!
Types of Scrub:
Salt scrubs combine fine yet quite coarse salt with a cream or oil. The benefits include the fact that salt disolves so you're not left with gritty bits after you've rinsed!
Sugar scrubs are used in the same manner as salt scrubs - it can be really nice to pair them with sweet almond oil, but you can use olive oil! Sugar scrubs make delicious lip scrubs!
Fruit can be used in a number of ways. Fruit enzmye have a natural exfoliating effect. Seeds and pits can be crushed to create coarse grains that can be mixed with fruit oils to create a scrub. You'll need to rinse well as the seeds will not dissolve!
Loofah you know your favourite loofah? Slather yourself in your favourite body butter or cream and loofah away for a thorough scrubbing! Be sure to rinse your loofah well after!
Coffee scrubs are THE scrub of the moment. Why? Well we're guessing it's the anti-cellulite claims! The caffiene in coffee scrubs have an affect when applied directly to the skin - they cause it to tighten and deliver lots of anti-oxidents. So while you might not be getting rid of cellulite for good, you're going to be visibly reducing the appearance of the dreaded orange peel! And you can make an effective one yourself using your own coffee grounds!
How often should I scrub?
If your body scrub has round exfoliating beads you can scrub 2 to 3 times a week. If you're using a coarse scrub, like the ones listed above, aim for a good weekly scrubbing!
When shouldn't I scrub?
You should never scrub open wounds or sores, nor irritated skin. If your skin is sensitive you'll want to use a gentle scrub with minimal pressure.
So there you have it, our very quick guide to body scrubs - are you a body scrub fan? How often do you scrub and what kind do you use? Do you buy your scrubs or make them? Get chatting below!
I use a body shop fruit scrub about once a fortnight and body brushing (dry-cloth rubbing) in between. I find that the grain in the scrub irritates my navel piercing if any bits are missed (and I have had that for over a decade eeep). Maybe a salt of coffee one might be a better option for me.