To scrub or not to scrub
Scrubs and exfoliants are used on both the face and body. The jury is out on what the difference is, but my take is that scrubs are more textured, used more enthusiastically and therefore more suitable to your body; whereas exfoliators are gentler and more suitable for your facial skin.
But what should you choose and how should you do it?
Ingredients - many scrubs and exfoliants are derived from natural ingredients - sugar, salt, nut kernels. As a rule of thumb, these are best suited to body scrubs, and are usually too harsh for the face. The particles tend to be quite hard, scratching delicate facial skin, and can also strip all the natural oils in the face.
If you have sensitive skin on your body, don't choose anything too harsh. It's better to experiment with a more gentle scrub and build up than end up with sore, over stimulated skin.
How to apply a body scrub - the best time to do this is in the shower. Wet skin allows the scrub to move more easily. Use circular movements and move down the body from the chest to the feet. If you suffer with oiliness or spots on your back, a very common problem, then you can get somebody to apply scrub to this area only before you get in the shower - in other words to dry skin.
Rinse thoroughly and then wash your body. I recommend a moisturising shower gel. When you have dried off make sure you apply body lotion.
If you fancy using self tan, exfoliating properly is a must before applying fake tan. It ensures a better result with more even coverage.
Frequency - there are varying opinions on this, with some saying you should do it every day. I feel that is too much, but recommend two or three times per week.
Body brushing - you could supplement your body scrub by dry brushing your body before your shower on days when you are not using a scrub.
Facial exfoliation - this is an important part of your beauty regime. Exfoliating will remove dead skin cells, encouraging regeneration, and leave your skin smoother, brighter and more glowing. It is suitable for all skin types, you just need to choose the right product for your skin.
If you have oily, acne prone skin, don't be tempted to use hard body scrubs - you will do a lot of harm to your face. Don't over exfoliate either - again you will strip all your natural oils and potentially increase oiliness and spots.
How to use a facial exfoliator: Always apply to wet skin. Cleanse your skin first then apply the exfoliator, using small circular movements, avoiding the very delicate eye area. Make sure you pay attention to easily forgotten areas like around the nose and the jaw line.
Frequency - start with once per week and build up. Generally, two to three times per week is sufficient. That said, my most popular product - O2 Scrub from Germaine de Capuccini is gentle enough to be used daily, should you wish to.
In terms of product choices, there are literally thousands of options available, so experiment to find the right ones for you. You can probably narrow it down by checking out smells and precluding any that don't float your boat. Try squeezing a little on the back of your hand and rubbing it in - again discard any that don't feel nice to you - but remember it will be far gentler when the skin is wet.
If you would like any further advice on body brushing, or using scrubs and exfoliators, please contact me.