Body Scrubs Vs Body Lotion: Which One Will Nourish Skin Better
Body scrubs: Known for exfoliating away dead skin, dirt, oils, and other residues.
Body lotion: Known for moisturising and creating a protective barrier on the skin.
It’s comparing apples and oranges, right? Well, yes, sort of.
These two types of products perform very differently, however since everyone’s skin behaves differently, you might be surprised to learn which product will benefit your unique skin more!
So, while they work in two different ways, the ultimate goal is the same: promote skin health!
THE CASE FOR BODY SCRUBS
Exfoliation is the mechanical removal of particles from the skin’s surface that we don’t want. It’s a safe and effective process that you can easily add to your skincare routine - as long as you’re doing it properly!
The Good
Scrubbing away lingering debris on the skin is beneficial for a few reasons:
Promotes new skin cell growth and cell turnover
Encourages more resilient skin to grow
Reduce body acne
Reduce discolouration and hyperpigmentation
Reduce and prevent stretch marks
Reduce and prevent razor bumps
Make dull, dry skin look and feel healthier
Wow! Regularly exfoliating the body with a sugar scrub, salt scrub, coffee scrub, or nutshell scrub (depending on your skin type) can improve the quality of your skin.
The Caveats
Routine exfoliation is best for skin that doesn’t feel raw or irritated after scrubbing. If it does, make sure you are exfoliating properly! You may need to stop altogether if you have very sensitive skin, inflamed acne or other skin conditions, or open wounds.
For some very sensitive skins, exfoliation can be too harsh, even if you are as gentle as possible. To avoid problems, make sure you learn about your skin type before adding exfoliation to your routine!
Best For
Scrubs are best for normal skin, acne-prone skin, preventing ingrown hairs, and dry skin.
BODY LOTION BENEFITS
Moisturising is just about an integral part of any skincare routine, for the body and face. Using an effective body lotion or body cream means that the skin will be protected from drying out as well as be a fortified barrier against dirt and germs.
The Good
Soaking the skin with body cream regularly is beneficial:
Adds nutrients into the skin to promote cell health
Increases skin elasticity
Prevents skin from drying out
Balancing body oil production
Keeps skin more resilient against mild damage
Protects the body from viruses, bacteria, microbes, fungi spores, and other foreign substances
Reduces wrinkles, stretch marks, and cellulite
If you were uncertain of the reason to have body cream as part of your skincare routine, hopefully, you now know why it’s so highly recommended!
The Caveats
Some people with very sensitive skin may find it difficult to find body creams that they do not have a reaction to. Some body acne may respond negatively to additional oils being added to the skin. If your lotion has a strong scent, it may cause headaches in you or in others nearby.
If you use too much, it can even show up on your clothes since the skin was not able to absorb all of it.
Best For
Dry skin, sensitive skin, and even oily skin can all benefit from moisturising with body lotion.
WHY NOT BOTH?
Luckily, if you think both options sound good for you, you do not need to make the difficult decision of this-or-that. Adding both exfoliation and moisturisation to your skincare routine is not only possible, it’s recommended!
Scrubbing once a week or so in the bath or shower, followed by gently patting the body dry and then immediately adding moisturiser is like a complete spa treatment for your skin.
When you scrub, you remove the unneeded layer of residue on the skin, exposing new cells that can absorb topical nutrients better than older, tougher skin.
The water from the bath hydrates the new skin, the oils and other nourishing ingredients in the scrub help to rejuvenate the skin, and then adding the body cream locks in the residual moisture and body scrub nutrients. That’s a win-win-win!
Choose scrubs and body creams that are right for your skin type, use them regularly and properly, and you’ll see just how much healthier you can make your skin!
