Body Scrub Bliss
I went to a spa yesterday for a massage (big shocker) and for their featured full body polish. Most spas offer some kind of body polish; whether it’s a dry brush, manual scrub or exfoliating mask and as mundane as it seems it never disappoints. Unlike other more invasive treatments, body scrubs are inoffensive, practical and basic. Yet, there’s hold outs…why? I thought I’d spend a little time on this vanilla spa service and take you to spa 101 class. To start, here are the basics you should know:
- Body scrubs intended purpose is to smooth the skin and remove the top, dead layer. I assure you even if you take the best care of your face there’s a whole lot more of you that regularly goes without TLC.
- Again, I will make a case for allowing a professional to perform your scrub down. Even the most seasoned yogis couldn’t possibly get every inch of themselves; and while I will enlist the help of my husband to apply scrub to my back at home (horribly haphazardly btw) the even distribution and pressure is best handled but someone experienced.
- With sugar or salt based scrubs there’s a built-in safety net. It’s difficult to over scrub as the sucrose or salt crystals literally dissolve at a certain point and thus the exfoliation comes to an end automatically.
- Exfoliation helps reveal, brighter skin, refines pores, minimizes breakouts and it’s an integral step in your journey to even tone/texture. Out of sight out of mind was not meant to be applied to your back…just ask swimsuit season beach goers.
- Once the body scrub has done its job it creates the perfect canvas for whatever comes next. Spray tans go on evenly, body oils are soaked up to relive parched skin, cremes and moisturizers with beneficial ingredients are utilized more efficiently.
- It feels…amazing. Sensation wise its up there in the top ten- for those who are sensitive, easily overstimulated or touchy about the abrasive feeling it’s so easy to control the pressure. An experienced spa tech can utilize different stroke patterns to help ease your sensitivities, if you opt to apply it yourself than you have total control. It goes without saying….be wary of any cuts or wounds on your body especially with a salt scrub.
- One last thing; don’t forget the often-neglected areas of our bodies. As unsexy as it sounds your arm pits deserve love too. Not to mention your inner thighs, back of neck, and groin area. After all these places produce sweat and oil just like the rest of our bodies, and oftentimes never see the light of day. There’s even specially-designed scrubs for the scalp to remove buildup. Save these step for at home if you wish…you won’t regret it.
