Before exfoliating, it's often best to soak your skin in warm water, either during a shower or bath. Warm water helps soften dry skin, which helps body scrubs do their job most effectively.
There's no hard and fast rule to whether you should scrub or cleanse first. We recommend trying out both orders and then going with what suits your skin best. Either way as long as you are cleansing and exfoliating according to your skin type, you can achieve a deep clean for your most beautiful skin.
It depends on what type of exfoliator you're using. If you're using a physical exfoliator scrub, which uses something like coffee grounds or sugar as an exfoliant, it's best to use on wet skin. But, if you're using a chemical exfoliant peel or serum, generally they're applied on dry skin.
It is generally better to exfoliate dry skin, as exfoliating wet skin can be too harsh and cause skin irritation. Exfoliating dry skin helps to loosen dead skin cells and remove them more effectively, allowing for a smoother and softer complexion.
There are a few general rules to follow, though. 1) It's good to exfoliate at night in order to encourage skin repair while you sleep—but if you use harsh and irritating ingredients like retinol at night, opt for exfoliating in the morning. 2) Watch out for red, irritated skin and little bumps.
Most dermatologists recommend simply using your hands to lather your body wash and exfoliate because it's hygienic and isn't as likely to cause injury to the skin, according to Westbay.
The “black stuff” when you rub your skin is nothing but dead cells, dirt and surface grime. It comes off due to friction caused by rubbing your skin.
Ideally, on the days that you exfoliate, you should cleanse first to unclog pores, then exfoliate to remove dead cells, and follow it with a rich, healing moisturizer (and sunscreen if you elect to exfoliate in the morning).
Using a natural body scrub to exfoliate your skin with a brush, sponge, or glove is the most effective method to get rid of dead skin cells from the surface of your body. Thoroughly scrubbing the skin, gets rid of the skin's dead cells, and promotes blood flow.
Soak in Warm Water
Before exfoliating, it's often best to soak your skin in warm water, either during a shower or bath.
Dry, sensitive skin
For people with dry or sensitive skin, exfoliating twice a week is the maximum frequency dermatologists recommend. You may want to exfoliate only once a week or even every other week if you use products that can cause dryness and irritation, such as retinoids.
“Start by soaking your feet for at least 15 minutes in warm to hot water,” Correa says. “This softens the nails, making them easier to manage, and is especially important for those dealing with nail fungus, which can harden your nails.”
The sebum produced by the sebaceous glands can cause dead cells to stick together. These clumps of dead skin can lead to clogged pores and a buildup on the skin's surface. In addition, excess oil production can also prevent exfoliating acids from doing their job correctly.
If a person squeezes or 'extracts' a sebaceous filament, a white or yellow worm-like structure may ooze out. Or, the filament may not produce anything. Trying to extract sebaceous filaments can injure the skin and cause scarring. It can also damage and stretch the pore, making it appear bigger.
A Korean body scrub, or seshin, is a traditional exfoliation treatment performed in Korean bathhouses. Using textured mitts, the skin is vigorously scrubbed after a steam or soak to remove dead skin cells and reveal smooth, rejuvenated skin.
When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.
Antimicrobial Silicone Body Scrubber
Why we love it: Why do dermatologists recommend silicone scrubbers over loofahs? “Silicone scrubbers are generally thought to be gentle on skin, fast-drying, easy to clean, and more resistant to bacterial growth than other materials,” says Dr. Camp.
“The best practice is to avoid over-scrubbing because you want to maintain a healthy and intact skin barrier,” Dr. Khalifian notes. Going too hard can leave your skin red and irritated. Use it after cleansing, and always follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration.
There are long-term benefits to exfoliation, too. For one, long-term exfoliation can help increase collagen production. If you want to avoid wrinkles for as long as possible, then collagen is definitely something you want more of in your skin.
It depends on the product you're using and the ingredients. Generally, chemical exfoliants are applied to dry skin and then washed off with warm or cold water. If you're using a physical exfoliant on your body in the shower, exfoliating wet skin is much easier.