Body Scrub Before or After Shower: What’s Best?

A body scrub is a great pick in a skin care routine as it provides exfoliation to the skin which assists in clearing out the accumulated dead skin cells from the skin surface and gives a more even tone and smoother look on the skin.

However if you are confused about whether you should scrub before or after shower? Then you are not alone in this.

Plenty of people are also confused about this but for most people using scrub during the shower works best. As warm water helps in softening the outermost skin and reducing the friction for exfoliating particles and preventing any micro tears or abrasive skin injuries.

Therefore in this guide we will talk about what a body scrub does, should you use scrub before or after a shower, best time to scrub and bad scrub habits you should which will help you to clear your doubts regarding when to use body scrub and which ensures best results and avoid unnecessary skin related problems.

What Does a Body Scrub Do?

A body scrub is an exfoliating skin care product that is specially formulated to totally remove the dead skin cells from the skin surface. Most physical scrubs contain micro exfoliating particles such as salt, sugar and other exfoliating products which glides over the skin to loosen and remove dead cells.

With time, exfoliation can make your skin look softer, smoother, even texture and a more refreshed look. It also helps in improving absorption of skin care products which will give better results.

However, exfoliation does not mean rubbing the skin harshly or using traditional scrubs which contain sharp, edged particles as these can totally cause skin damage. Body scrub that contains gentle exfoliating ingredients and massaging in circular motions with light pressure is best.

Should You Use Body Scrub After or Before a Shower?

The easy answer to this question is to use the body scrub during the shower particularly when your skin is wet or cleansed.

Rinsing your skin with warm water helps in softening the outermost layer of the skin which makes the exfoliation process easier without the need of extra pressure.

A proper routine would look like this:

• Wet Your Skin
• Cleanse
• Body Scrub
• Rinse off with lukewarm water
• Apply moisturizer on the skin

By following these you will get the maximum benefits of exfoliation and allowing you to properly wash off the dead skin cells and scrub residue from the skin.

Why not Scrub Completely Before Showering?

While using body scrub on a completely dry skin is not totally wrong, however it can lead to abrasive injuries. As the dry skin has more friction which means we have to apply more pressure to spread the exfoliating particles.

If you are someone who is having sensitive or dry skin, then rubbing a traditional scrub which contains exfoliating particles will totally contribute to micro tears or skin related injuries and cause burning, redness and irritation.

Wet skin provides some lubrication which allows the particles to spread more easily and you do not need to put extra pressure while body scrubbing.

Best Time To Use Body Scrub?

For most people, using the scrub during or at the end time of the shower is the best time.

Start by wetting your skin with lukewarm water and then gently cleanse the skin with a sulphate free body wash to remove dust or other impurities.

Now take a small amount of body scrub on the hands and fully spread it all over the skin and start massaging the skin softly and focus on areas such as elbows, knees and ankles where dead skin cells accumulate commonly.

Clear off the scrub residue with lukewarm water and properly dry the skin with a clean towel. At last, put on hydrating and soothing moisturizer to properly lock in moisture.

Common Scrub Mistakes You Should

Scrubbing in the right way matters because many people make bad scrub mistakes which totally ruins their skin’s protective barrier. That’s why you should these following mistakes:

• Scrubbing too often is the most common mistake that people make. They think that more exfoliation means better and faster results, but in reality it withdraws skin oil and causes micro tears on the skin.
• Putting too much pressure during body scrubbing does not mean you will get better results. In fact, too much stress can totally lead to abrasive skin injuries.
• Scrubbing the skin before going outside is also a big blunder that many people make. As scrub removes the outer layer of skin, new skin cells are sun sensitive and are more susceptible to get instant tanning.
• Forgetting moisturizer after exfoliating the skin is a big mistake that people make. Exfoliation also strips skin natural oil along with removing dead skin cells and avoiding moisturizer can totally leave the skin intensively dry.

Body Scrub For Different Skin Types

Considering your skin type is also important to avoid any unnecessary skin related problems:

• For Dry or Sensitive Skin: They should look for a lactic acid based scrub as it is more gentle than other ingredients and provides the benefits of exfoliation without causing any damage.
• For Oily or Acne Prone Skin: Salicylic acid based face scrub is a great option as it is proven to remove the excess oil and trapped materials from the skin pores.
• Combination or Dull Skin: Glycolic acid scrub works best for them as it helps in removing the excess oil and dead skin cells which reveals a fresh and glowing skin.

Conclusion

Using the scrub at the right time is important to get the benefits of exfoliation and avoiding any unwanted skin related problems. For most people, using scrub during the shower is the best time as water helps in reducing friction which makes it easier to spread the particles without any added pressure.

Moreover, understanding about what a body scrub is and common scrubbing mistakes that one should avoid will totally help you to get better results without any unnecessary skin problems.