Goodbye roughness, hello super soft limbs
As it probably took a lot of experiments to get just right, we’re sure (like us) you’re completely devoted to your skincare routine. From deciding between overnight serums (a hyaluronic acid serum? A niacinamide serum? Both?!) and trying to get into the habit of at-home facial massage, our efforts can often solely focus on the neck up. But what about from the neck down?
Looking after the skin on our body is important for the same reasons it’s important to look after the skin on our face: it can help it to feel smoother and softer and give it a radiance boost, too. No matter the season, keeping your skin exfoliated and hydrated is key, whether you’re prepping for a summer glow or combating seasonal dryness. The best place to start for softer and smoother limbs is always a body scrub! Here’s why.
What do body scrubs & exfoliators do?
Body scrubs are mechanical exfoliants. This means that they physically buff away dead skin cells using ingredients such as sugar and salt (compared to chemical ones that use exfoliating acids) to reveal softer skin underneath. Some are even hardy enough to help remove the rough skin that can blight your heels and elbows.
What’s more, by providing a quick dose of exfoliation, they prep limbs perfectly for the rest of your bodycare, whether it’s a luxurious body cream, moisturiser, serum or oil. You may find that they glide on all the more easily.
How do you choose a body scrub?
Although there are many wonderful exfoliating body scrubs on the market, they tend to fall into three categories: salt scrubs, sugar scrubs and coffee scrubs. Salt scrubs tend to be the most abrasive, making them glorious for getting rid of particularly rough skin. Due to their smaller particle size, sugar scrubs, on the other hand, are a lot less abrasive and subsequently better for more sensitive areas of skin and coffee scrubs offer an excellent level of exfoliation. But many body scrubs are in fact a mixture to provide a range of benefits!
How often should you exfoliate your body?
Unsurprisingly, it’s better to limit salt scrub usage to about once a week, but both sugar scrubs and coffee scrubs can be used up to three times a week. If you’ve got sensitive skin though, go easy and start with a once a week application and see how your skin gets on.
What’s the best way to exfoliate your body?
After washing in the bath or shower, apply a generous scoop to your entire body and then rub it in using small, circular motions. (If you shave, this can also be a smart move to minimise the risk of ingrown hairs before you grab your razor). Leave on for a few minutes to reap the benefits (which might be moisturising and exfoliating if your chosen scrub includes a gorgeous blend of oils), then wash off with warm water. Your skin will now be more receptive to body lotion, should you want to put any on!
8 of the best body scrubs & exfoliators
So, what’s the best body exfoliating scrub to invest in? Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately if you’re an indecisive sort of person), there are loads to choose from. Whether you need yours to be vegan or of great value, we’ve got a selection of real gems here – plus some amazing body creams, oils and serums to apply afterwards.
Best body scrub for dry skin
Try: Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub
• Size: 300ml
Say goodbye to dry, dull skin and hello to silky smoothness! Packed with shea butter, sweet almond oil and apricot seed powder, this scrub gently buffs away rough patches while leaving your skin feeling nourished and refreshed. A must-have for your self-care routine!
Best energising body scrub
Try: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub
• Size 220g
Bring the spa to your shower with this ultra-luxurious body scrub! Infused with the iconic Cheirosa ’62 scent, it gently exfoliates while nourishing your skin, leaving it irresistibly smooth, soft and glowing. A treat for your senses and your skincare routine!
Best body scrub for fake tan prep
Try: Bondi Sands Coconut and Sea Salt Body Scrub
• Size: 250g
We’d go so far as to say it was foolish to apply fake tan without having used an exfoliating body scrub beforehand, but it has to be the right one! Formulated with a number of natural exfoliants from sea salt and Australian sand to coconut husk and walnut shell, this scrub removes dead skin cells and impurities without leaving the oily residue typical of many body scrubs that would make your tan streaky!
Best body scrub for glowing skin
Try: Luna Daily The Everywhere Exfoliator with AHAs
• Size: 180ml
Say hello to smoother, softer skin with this gentle, triple-action exfoliator! Packed with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), it works wonders on dry skin, bumps, and ingrown hairs, giving you the smoothest skin yet. Perfect for daily use, it’s your new skincare essential for a flawless finish!
7 of the best winter bodycare products to complete your routine
It would be a shame to miss out on really reaping the benefits of exfoliating body scrubs by not indulging in a few glorious body moisturisers, wouldn’t it? Especially when winter leaves your skin drier than ever!
Best body cream for dry skin
Try: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
• Size: 56.7g
Treat your skin to 24-hour hydration with this award-winning moisturiser! Packed with nourishing ingredients, it not only delivers intense moisture but also strengthens your skin barrier, leaving you with smoother, healthier skin all day long. A must-have for your skincare routine!
Best vitamin C body serum
Try: Boots Vitamin C Brightening Body Serum
• Size: 180ml
We’re used to putting a vitamin C serum on our faces to combat dullness, so why not our bodies? Well, maybe we just hadn’t encountered the right product until this came along. We’re in love. Who said you couldn’t have bright, glowing skin in winter?
Best hyaluronic acid body cream
Try: CeraVe Moisturising Cream
• Size: 454g
Give your skin the hydration it craves with this dermatologist-approved formula! Infused with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, it provides deep, long-lasting moisture, helping to restore and maintain your skin’s natural barrier. Perfect for daily use to keep your skin soft and smooth.
Best body cream for sensitive skin
Try: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M
• Size: 400ml
There’s nothing worse than skin so dry that it drives you to scratching to soothe the itch, a completely unnecessary act with this body cream. It’s formulated with anti-irritation thermal spring water, niacinamide, glycerin and shea butter to restore the skin's barrier function and minimise flakey flare-ups.
Best multi-tasking body mask
Try: NATURIUM KP Body Scrub & Mask
• Size: 226g
This 3-in-1 exfoliator is perfect for smoothing rough, bumpy skin. It combines pumice, a natural exfoliant that buffs away dead skin cells, with jojoba esters, which gently moisturise and soften your skin. Plus, it features alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs) to brighten and exfoliate, beta hydroxy acid (BHAs) to clear pores and control oil, and polyhydroxy acid (PHAs), a gentler exfoliant that also hydrates while it exfoliates. Your skin will feel smoother, softer, and more refined with every use!
Best value body cream for dry skin
Try: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture Fast Absorbing Body Lotion
• Size: 400ml
There’s loads to celebrate about this body cream: the moisturising glycerin, its affordable price and the fact that it absorbs quickly, meaning that you won’t have to loiter around for ages before getting dressed.
For even more skin-loving body care products, check out our full range here. Ready for your softest, smoothest skin yet?
