Exfoliation is a technique that allows you to get rid of dead cells that have accumulated on the surface of the skin. These cells can be responsible for the appearance of imperfections. A scrub helps the skin to regain its softness and suppleness, to stimulate the blood microcirculation of the body as well as the face and to stimulate cell regeneration. This process is generally done weekly, depending on the type of skin. However, to properly exfoliate the surface of the skin, it is essential to adopt the right technique.
How To Use a Scrub?
Published on August 8, 2024, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 4 min of reading
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What Type of Exfoliation Should I Use?
Exfoliation consists of getting rid of the dead skin that accumulates on the epidermis as a result of tissue renewal. This common practice can be carried out according to two types of processes, namely the mechanical scrub with grains and the chemical or enzymatic scrub without grains.
Mechanical exfoliation consists of eliminating dead cells through the use of a grainy ingredient. The latter can be synthetic agents such as polyethylene beads or natural agents such as the rind of nuts. The size of the grains can vary according to the use of the care. For the body, the scrub with large grains such as sugar or salt is appropriate. On the other hand, for the face, fine grain scrub is recommended.
Chemical exfoliation uses acid-based treatments from fruits or plants, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid. It can also be an enzymatic scrub made up of exfoliating agents derived from fruit enzymes such as papain, bromelain or ficin.
How To Use a Facial Scrub?
To ensure its effectiveness, the facial scrub should be applied to clean and slightly damp skin. Unlike the skin of the body, the skin of the face is quite fragile and delicate. Therefore, it is essential to use gentle movements to avoid damaging it. Moreover, exfoliation must be adapted to the type of skin (dry, normal, combination, oily, mature or sensitive). For example, for normal to oily skin, it is advisable to use a gentle scrub with fine and natural grains to avoid aggressing your skin. However, for dry, sensitive or mature skin, choose an exfoliating care with fruit acids, which does not require rubbing.
In the case of a granular scrub, pour a dab of exfoliant into the palm of your hands and spread it over your clean, damp skin using circular movements to dislodge dead cells. There is no need to rub to avoid irritating the skin. When applying the scrub, proceed from the inside to the outside, insisting on the T-zone while avoiding the sensitive eye area, and moving down to the neck and chest. To finish, rinse the scrub with clear water, dry with a clean sponge towel and apply a mask or moisturizer to protect the skin. For the chemical scrub, the process is different: apply 3 to 4 drops of your scrub to the face and neck in circular motions, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. After each scrub, don't forget to apply a moisturizing face cream to moisturize the epidermis and repair the hydrolipidic film weakened by the treatment.
How To Use a Body Scrub?
A body scrub can be done once or twice a week to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. This procedure also stimulates blood microcirculation and prevents the formation of ingrown hairs. To succeed, the skin must be prepared. This preliminary action guarantees the effectiveness of the exfoliant. It consists in cleaning the body. Once your skin is clean, you can apply the scrub. To do this, place a small amount of scrub in the palm of your hand and spread it in circular motions from the lower part of the body to the chest, avoiding the genital area. Finish by rinsing with clear water. For a complete body scrub, you should expect to spend 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, apply a body care product, adapted to your skin type, after each scrub to restore the protective film of the epidermis.
