Most of us want to achieve healthy and glowing skin which is why a body scrub is a valuable addition in your skin care routine. It aids in removing the accumulation of dead skin cells and other surface impurities from the skin which reveals the fresh and glowing skin underneath. But there is a fine line between exfoliating your skin and overdoing it.
Plenty of people make many common body scrub mistakes like over exfoliating or using the wrong scrub which actually damages the skin barrier and resulting in dryness, irritation, redness or increased skin breakouts. The good news?
Most of these mistakes are easy to avoid. Therefore in this blog we go over the common mistakes people make during body scrubbing and tips to exfoliate the skin in the right way which help you to avoid these mistakes and protect your skin from any unnecessary damage.
Mistakes That Damage Your Skin
These are the many common mistakes that people make which actually result in damaging the skin barrier and causing skin related problems.
1. Scrubbing Too Hard
Many people think that rubbing the scrub hardly on the skin will give us better results but in reality it does not. Applying too much stress while scrubbing the skin will create micro tears on the skin which entirely destroys the skin barrier and makes the skin more prone to skin related issues.
Using light pressure while scrubbing the skin in a circular motion for 30-45 seconds is generally best, gives best results without causing any skin harm.
2. Using the Scrub Too Often
While exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells from the surface, the skin has the natural ability of shedding dead skin cells without any help. Scrubbing the skin way too often can actually interfere with this natural process.
Using a scrub daily or several times a week may lead to over exfoliation for dry or sensitive skin. This makes your skin dry or irritated.
For that reason, experts generally recommend exfoliating the skin 1 or 2 times a week as it supports the shedding process without causing over-exfoliation.
3. Using a Harsh Scrubbing Particles Scrub
There are many scrubs in the market but not all of them are suitable for every skin type. Because some physical scrubs contain rough, sharp and edged exfoliating particles which if rubbed against the skin will cause micro tears, irritation particularly for people with dry or sensitive skin.
This is why you should pick a scrub while going through the ingredient list. For example lactic acid body scrub is a more gentle exfoliant which removes the surface impurities without causing any unwanted irritation or skin damage.
4. Not Considering Your Skin Type
Your skin type matters the most while picking the body scrub. But many people ignore their skin type while picking the scrub and using the scrub which does not suit your skin type will leave the skin feeling uncomfortable.
That’s why you can consider the following tips to pick the scrub which suits your skin type.
- Dry or Sensitive Skin: Their skin is more delicate which is why a lactic acid body scrub is a solid option as it is more gentle than other exfoliants and provides the same benefits.
- Oily or Acne Prone Skin: Their body produces extra oil, that’s why a salicylic acid scrub is a great option as it helps in removing the excess oil and surface impurities which prevent clogged pores.
5. Scrubbing Immediately After Shaving
Shaving physically scrubs the skin surface and acts as a mild exfoliant. Following it with scrubbing can totally damage the skin barrier which can result in redness, burning and micro tears.
That’s why it is better if you do shaving and scrubbing on alternate days as it helps in avoiding both the activities in the same session and prevent unwanted skin related issues. Moreover, listen to your skin and avoid areas that feel sensitive after shaving.
6. Forgetting Moisturizer
Even though exfoliation clears out the dead skin cells and other impurities from the skin surface and temporarily leaves the skin smoother. But if you skip moisturizer after exfoliation then you might feel dry or flaky skin.
That’s why after exfoliating the skin put on a gentle and hydrating moisturizer on the skin within 60 seconds to properly lock in moisture and avoid skin dryness.
In a moisturizer, look for ingredients such as ceramides or glycerin which attracts moisture onto the skin surface and strengthens the skin’s protective barrier.
Right Way to Exfoliate the Skin
Even the best body scrub will damage the skin if it is not used in the proper way. That’s why proper technique matters. Follow the expert tips to correctly scrub the skin:
- The first step is to properly soak the skin by spending 5-6 minutes in a warm shower that softens the outer skin.
- Now apply a small amount of body scrub on the wet body parts.
- Use light pressure in a circular motion while scrubbing the skin and let the particles do their work.
- Avoid sensitive skin areas like open cuts or freshly shaved skin.
- Wash thoroughly with warm water to clear the scrub residue and gently dry the skin with a clean towel.
- Immediately apply a hydrating and non-comedogenic moisturizer on the skin to seal moisture.
The Bottom Line
Exfoliation is a solid pick for that glowing skin as it aids in removing the assembled dead skin cells and other contaminants from the skin surface and reveals the fresh and glowing skin. However sometimes people often indulge in many common mistakes while body scrubbing which results in totally damaging the skin barrier.
That’s why it is important to have the understanding of common mistakes people make such as forgetting moisturizer on scrubbing too hard as it helps the people to avoid these mistakes and get better results. Moreover proper technique is also important while scrubbing the skin to remove the surface impurities without causing unwanted skin problems.
