Why Body Scrub Is A Must-Have Treatment In Spring
It is that time of year again when a chilly and windy day is followed by a day that feels like summer. Usually after the winter I have serious sun cravings, so even if it is a bit windy or cold I just sneak out for a few minutes to soak my skin in those warm and energizing rays like a lizard.
Today is another windy Sunday morning so I decided to take advantage and get ready. I cannot stop touching my skin as I´ve just done my full body scrub. I love that feeling - clean, glowy, new and baby soft. And it is the way to start the summer right.
I´m sure you´ve heard about the importance of a body scrub. And maybe you get them regularly every week or two.
You know what? Honestly I don´t think it´s the case.
It is one of those things we know it´s good for us, but somehow, we just forget or are too lazy to do it. Like to have a green juice in the morning (well I manage to make those every day so yay for me :-)
So, what is it that’s so great about body peelings?
It´s like a tidy up for the skin.
Our skin seems like a pretty simple organ, but if you dig deeper, you'll find out that it's actually made up of a few different layers and different kinds of skin cells. The outer layer of your skin that you see and feel and with which you sense the world is called the epidermis.
A thin layer called the basement membrane separates the epidermis from the lower layer of the skin, called the dermis. The dermis is composed of proteins, like collagen and elastine, which support the skin and make it strong and flexible. Under the dermis is the hipodermis, which is largely made of fat for insulation and support of the upper layers.
Skin cells die daily (anywhere from 11,000-23,000 skin cells an hour) and it usually takes about 27 to 30 days before new skin cells reach the top layer of the skin. Finally they are replaced by new skin cells. The process slows down as you get older, but it never stops.
Skin cells grow and divide in the basement membrane. From here, the new cells get pushed up into the epidermis. Once in the epidermis, the cells no longer receive blood or nutrients. They begin the slow process of dying and sloughing off to be replaced by yet more new cells. Your outermost layer of skin is nothing but dead cells.
Are you visualizing the process? If you are a fan of holistic health, you probably start to see the connection and it makes you think… all the logical benefits are starting to be clearer and here are my conclusions:
I don´t want to have a thick layer of dead cells covering my body. This layer is like a shield that doesn't let my beautiful, firming, moisturizing lotion do its job, so basically I´m wasting my money without any significant results.
If all the vital processes are happening in my dermis - the 2nd layer, rubbing my skin will improve and wake up the circulation, so more nutrients and oxygen are delivered through the blood stream. It will make my new skin cells healthier and stronger, so the skin will look fresher and more youthful.
If I get my tan without previous body peeling, it will stick to my dead cells and as they are sloughing off, my tan will be uneven and won´t last long. It is logical that a body scrub is a must have treatment at the beginning of the holidays. On the other hand, a high-quality sun screen is a must and the sun exposure has to be shorter as the new cells are sensitive and I can get burnt easily.
Basically, it is a great time saver, I get the perfect tan in a shorter time!Exfoliation helps to prevent breakouts. When the pores get clogged with dead skin cells, oils from the skin can get trapped beneath the surface causing pimples. Regular peeling will leave my skin spot free.
NOW ALL THIS SOUNDS REALLY GREAT, BUT HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD PEELING?
There is a vast ocean of products out there, but many of them are not even good for you.
When I get confused, the best thing is to use common sense - what are the essential components for a body peeling? Basically, all the ingredients can usually be found in your kitchen. And if it is edible, it is good for you.
Let’s start with the foundation - salt or sugar?
Both are a good option and dissolve a bit during the use, converting the scrub into a polish, perfecting your skin. Sugar is softer as the particles are more rounded and dissolve quicker.
The sharp angles of sea salt granules make them a strong exfolliant (don’t bother with table salt – the refining process removes its beneficial properties).
Because it’s more abrasive, choose salt for scrubbing notoriously dryer areas of your body – feet, elbows, knuckles and legs. The finer the salt you get, the better the results. The exfoliating component needs to be abrasive enough to achieve this but not too strong that they will damage healthy skin.
Sea salt also draws toxins out of the body and acts as an anti-inflammatory for sore muscles.
Now we need to add a moisturizer. You can opt for olive oil or coconut in case of very dry skin. And my secret tip is to add greek yogurt. Lactic acid work like enzymatic peeling and helps to dissolve the dead cells, calms down any irritation of the skin and leaves it baby soft.
If you decide to buy a body scrub product, try to go for all natural ingredients and read the labels. Not all body scrubs are good for you or the environment. Some body scrubs contain harmful chemicals and even use small plastic beads as the exfoliating agent. You want a natural body scrub that won't harm you and that is eco- friendly. Body scrubs are washed off, go down the drain and end up in the environment so be conscious of the footprint you leave behind!
And keep in mind, that a body scrub is too rough to use for your face. You need something much softer.
OR GET IT DONE BY PROS.
You can always convert this routine into a ritual and avoid the struggle of trying to do the peeling on your back evenly. You can just add a full body scrub to your regular massage or facial every couple of weeks and the best results are guaranteed.
We always prepare a personalized mixture according to your skin type and level of dryness using pure ingredients from BABOR - the finest mineral salt, blended massage oil of your choice and milk bath moisturizing lotion.
All delivered to your place, no need to drive anywhere.
Wishing you a great summer and the best tan ever;-)