Next time you exfoliate your bod in the shower, instead of wetting your skin first before you get down to it, try applying your scrub to your skin while it’s still dry, with the shower turned off. Then, after rubbing your little heart out, turn on the water and rinse.
Sooo, why would anyone do it this way?
LOL! Good question… No, but seriously, I think I get a better, more intense scrub when I scrub while my skin is dry. My skin feels softer and squeakier clean than when I scrub while it’s wet.
The first time I heard about doing it this way was at a spa years ago, but, wouldn’t you know it? After getting home, I promptly forgot.
But I remembered after seeing it mentioned recently in a magazine. I think it was this month’s Allure… There’s an article in there about multitasking and getting the most out of your shower time.
Anywho, I did it last night with three different exfoliating scrubs. I hopped in the shower (with the water off) and used one of the scrubs on my arms, one on my torso and the other one on my legs. Then I stood there for few minutes scrubbing everything south of my neck.
Doop-da-doo…
After I turned on the water and rinsed, my skin felt smooth as a baby’s bottom — smoother, I feel, than it would have had I used the scrubs on wet skin.
And I’m sure I also ended up using less product.
By the way, the three scrubs I tried last night were…
- Tree Hut Vanilla & Honey Gentle Oatmeal Scrub ($7.99) — This gentle, non-abrasive creamy scrub smells faintly of yummy oatmeal cookies. Mmm… Oatmeal cookies…
- Soap & Glory Flake Away ($15) — This highly moisturizing, fragrant scrub (the strong scent reminds me of the old Dior Miss Cherie, which I loved) contains shea butter, sugar and pretty big scrubby bits, so it’s a little more intense than the Tree Hut Gentle Oatmeal Scrub. It also leaves behind a slightly oily residue.
I really like this one. It did the business, and my skin felt soft and great.
- Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub for Smooth Skin ($38) — This creamy concoction has medium-sized scrubby bits made from natural bamboo fibers and a very faint, almost imperceptible peach scent.
It also did a great job. Plus, I didn’t have to use much, and it didn’t leave behind an oily residue.
Have you been using any good scrubs lately? And do you usually use them on wet skin or dry? Inquiring minds want to know…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The Honest Company Lavender and Vanilla Sugar Scrub is amazing! I try to get wet, use it, then wash it off. So I guess while showering?
That sounds like it smells really good! Does it leave the tub slippery after you rinse off?
It’s not as bad about that as other products I use!
That’s exactly the same way I feel about the Soap & Glory one that I use, lol. I ended up ditching all the slippery ones because my balance has been so off ever since I got pregnant. I’m afraid of slippingn in the tub!
Anything from the body shop or Bliss I am into. However I’m kinda picky in that I don’t like anything that leaves a residue, it makes me break out. I’d rather just apply lotion after. I will definitely try it dry next time! I’m also thinking about getting a body brush for “dry brushing” I heard Gwenyth Paltrow talking about it in an interview. Like her or not, that woman does not age!
The Bliss Scrubs are lovely. Have you ever tried the Blood Orange one? There’s also a matching lotion. They both smell so good!
I’ve heard of dry brushing but haven’t tried it yet because I’m ticklish. I think it sounds very effective though. If you find a goos brush let me know!
No I haven’t tried the orange one yet but I saw it at TJMaxx the other day and I’m kicking myself for not getting it…might have to go back!
My favourite scrub is Soap & Glory Sugar Crush – it smells like a tropical cocktail to me! The Clarins one you used in this post would be my second pick – I’ve never tried them dry though! Good tip!
I’ve tried that Soap & Glory one and yum! It smells so good. If you can try the Bliss one too. The Blood Orange scent is delicious.
I’m freaking loving the new Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub! It’s really unique in that it starts out as a powder, and then is “activated” by water. If you use less water, it’s more grainy for a stronger exfoliation, or you can add a lot of water to make it more of a foam. Either way, baking soda is a natural exfoliant and it leaves my skin soooo soft!
I have yet to find a good scrub here in Japan. All the products here seem to err toward gentle, and I need a little more oomph!
You gotta try dry brushing. It feels amazing, doesn’t tickle at all & is very invigorating! It’s supposed to help rid the body of toxins too.
I started dry brushing, which you do on dry skin (as the name would suggest) and my skin feels baby soft.
I’m totally craving vanilla and honey oatmeal now! Sounds like a really lovely scrub.
I usually try to avoid scrubs because of the slippery shower issue but, in this weather, the appeal is strong to lift the ban! I love the clever comment on the Soap & Glory lid. 🙂 Hope you’ve been having a good week!
I love scrubs!!
Ooo, I really like this idea! This dry winter air has done a number on my skin so exfoliating would do me some good. I like an intense scrub, so I’m putting the Soap and Glory one on my list. Thanks for the recommendations!
My Jealous Coffee Body Scrub is my favourite. Sometimes I’ll shower even if I don’t really need to just because I want to use it. I use it all over, including my face. I haven’t tried in on dry skin but you know I’m gonna have to now.
I’ve been using a Boots Botanics mango sugar scrub which smells amazing but leaves a very thick oily residue on the skin (I kind of like it because it’s like I’m waterproofed and can lollygag in the lava hot water for a few minutes without destroying my skin in the winter, haha,). But of course that means it’s leaving a film in the shower too. We have this old, small, not terribly level tile shower so it’s not so that slippery. But during the warmer months, it attracts ants from outside (it’s in an outer wall) so I have to wash the shower floor right away (which of course I have no interest in doing!). That Tree Hut scrub sounds right up my alley! Especially being in a tube, tiny shower with very little storage makes tubs especially annoying to juggle.
OMG! I needed to read this sooooo bad! I use a St Ives facial brightening scrub daily & I apply it to my wet face & I also use (on a less regular basis) an Aveeno pomegranate body scrub, again, on wet skin. I love the finer texture of the St Ives & have been looking at body scrubs with a similar texture for my next body scrub, specifically Tree Hut, in fact. Somehow, I’ve never before heard that it’s best to apply them on dry skin; I’ll be doing that for sure!
I love a good scrub but I’m really sold on the Salux towel!
I don’t think it ever occurred to me to *not* use a scrub while dry. It’s just easier to me to get product out – and the product will last longer if it’s not exposed to water – when I’m dry. I usually use scrubs that are packaged in tubs, so I’m trying to be careful not to let any kind of bacteria in or something. Currently loving a scrub by SheaMoisture, which is basically my favorite brand for moisturizing products lately.
(I scoffed at exfoliating until a few months ago, when I’d get out of the shower and my super-dry skin would be rubbing off on my towel. It was so gross! So now I exfoliate for nice and smooth skin that doesn’t ball up and shed old skin cells after my shower.)