Use a body scrub on damp skin, in the bath or shower, and massage it in with slow circular motions before rinsing it away. For most skin, once or twice a week is enough; some formulas suggest up to three times. Afterwards, pat the skin dry and apply a body moisturiser or body oil while it is still slightly damp. Before self tanning, scrub a day or so ahead so the colour has a smooth base to sit on. Below is each step, with the scrubs and aftercare we would choose.
What Does a Body Scrub Do?
A body scrub is a physical exfoliant. Small grains, such as sugar, salt or finely powdered shells and stones, are held in a base of oil, butter, cream or gel. As you massage, the grains help lift away the dry, dull surface skin that builds up on the body, and the base leaves a soft, comfortable feel behind.
Acids such as AHAs exfoliate without grains; our guide AHA and BHA: Exfoliating Acids Explained covers that side of exfoliation.
Sugar or Salt?
Sugar grains are rounded and dissolve slowly in warm water, so a sugar scrub tends to feel softer as you work it in. Salt grains are usually firmer and more angular, and give a more noticeable polish. Whatever the grain, the oils and butters around it decide how the skin feels once you have rinsed.
Rituals' The Ritual of Sakura Renewing Body Scrub uses sugar as its exfoliating base, with rice bran, camellia and jojoba oils and a delicate cherry blossom scent; the house suggests it once or twice a week. Tree Hut's Blue Lagoon Shea Sugar Scrub pairs sugar with shea butter, red algae and Dead Sea minerals, for use two to three times a week. Soap & Glory's Flake Away Body Scrub combines both grains, sugar and sea salt, with peach kernel fragments in a base of shea butter and sweet almond oil.
Fine Grains and Mineral Particles
Some scrubs use grains that do not dissolve: powdered shells, seeds or stones. They give an even, steady polish and suit rougher areas such as elbows, knees and heels.
Eudermin's Volcanic Stone Exfoliating Body Cream uses perlite and quartz, both of volcanic origin, in a cream with coconut and sunflower oils; the house suggests it one to three times a week and asks you to avoid broken or irritated skin. Biovène's Blueberry Vitamin C Aloe Vera Smoothening Polish Body Scrub combines walnut shell powder and sugar with blueberry extract and aloe vera. If you prefer a bar, Velandia's Body Scrub Soap is an olive oil soap with pumice, and Dr. Tree's Detox Wakame & Cocoa Butter Exfoliating Solid Body Wash contains argan shell powder, wakame extract and cocoa butter, and is made for sensitive skin.
- Volcanic Stone Exfoliating Body Cream
- Blueberry Vitamin C Aloe Vera Smoothening Polish Body Scrub
- Body Scrub Soap
- Detox Wakame & Cocoa Butter Exfoliating Solid Body Wash
Cream, Gel and Foaming Scrubs
If you would like exfoliation to be part of your everyday wash, a cream, gel or foaming scrub is the gentler route. The grains are held in a texture that cleanses as it polishes.
Payot's Rituel Douceur Melt-In Body Cream Scrub has a soft, creamy texture with pistachio and sweet almond, for use one to three times a week. Anne Möller's Body Scrub Gel-Mousse turns from gel to a light mousse as you massage, with marine water and goji extract. Teaology's Radiance Butter Shower Scrub cleanses and exfoliates in one step, with a chai tea infusion and olive seed powder in a butter texture. Elancyl's Energising Foaming Scrub works into a lather, with apricot seed powder and ivy extract, and is formulated for normal skin.
- Rituel Douceur Melt-In Body Cream Scrub
- Body Scrub Gel-Mousse
- Radiance Butter Shower Scrub
- Energising Foaming Scrub
How to Use a Body Scrub
- Start with damp skin. Water lets the scrub glide, so the grains polish rather than drag.
- Take a small amount for each arm or leg, and add more only if you need it.
- Massage in slow circular motions, working upwards from the ankles. Spend a little longer on elbows, knees and heels, and go lightly over softer areas.
- Keep body scrubs away from the face; facial skin is thinner, and a face exfoliant is made for it.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then pat the skin dry with a towel rather than rubbing it.
How Often Should You Use One?
For most skin, once or twice a week is a sensible place to begin. The instructions on your own scrub are the best guide. If your skin feels tight, warm or sensitive afterwards, scrub less often or choose a creamier formula. More is not better: too much exfoliation leaves skin feeling uncomfortable rather than smooth.
Do not use a scrub on broken, sunburnt or irritated skin, or straight after shaving or waxing. If your skin is sore, or a reaction does not settle, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
What to Apply Afterwards
Freshly exfoliated skin takes a moisturiser beautifully. Apply your body moisturiser or body oil within a few minutes of stepping out, while the skin is still slightly damp, and smooth it over the body with long strokes.
Clarins' Moisture-Rich Body Lotion is made for dry skin, with shea butter and raspberry water. Roger & Gallet's Fleur de Figuier Body Lotion is a lightweight lotion with shea butter and apricot kernel oil, in a pump bottle, carrying the Fleur de Figuier scent. Rituals' The Ritual of Ayurveda Nourishing Rich Body Oil brings sweet almond oil and Indian rose to a rich body oil. Topicrem's Ultra Hydratant Body Milk, with glycerin and beeswax, is made for dry and sensitive skin.
- Moisture-Rich Body Lotion
- Fleur de Figuier Body Lotion
- The Ritual of Ayurveda Nourishing Rich Body Oil
- Ultra Hydratant Body Milk
Before Self Tanning
Self tanner develops on the surface of the skin, so it settles most evenly on skin that is already smooth. Scrub a day or so before you apply it, paying attention to knees, elbows, ankles and wrists, where dry skin can catch more colour. On the day itself, apply your self tanner to clean, dry skin, and wash your hands afterwards. A self tan gives colour, not sun protection, so your usual sunscreen still belongs on top on bright days.
Comodynes' Pre-Tanning My Radiance Scrub is made for exactly this step, with sugar crystals, rice starch, shea butter and tiaré flowers in coconut oil. St.tropez's Purity Self Tan Mousse is a lightweight, water-based mousse with a non-transfer finish. Bondi Sands' Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk Self Tanner builds colour gradually and is smoothed on like a body moisturiser, with aloe vera. Clarins' Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster is a concentrate: a few drops mixed into your usual body cream give a gradual glow.
- Pre-Tanning My Radiance Scrub Body Scrub
- Purity Self Tan Mousse
- Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk Self Tanner
- Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster Self Tanner
The Routine at a Glance
- Once or twice a week, on damp skin, in the bath or shower.
- A small amount, massaged in slow circles from the ankles upwards.
- Rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Moisturiser or body oil while the skin is still slightly damp.
- Before self tanning, scrub a day or so ahead.
If you change only one thing, make it the moisturiser that follows: the scrub smooths the skin, and the cream or oil you apply straight afterwards keeps it feeling soft.
