Have you ever had a spa scrub (or used a scrub from a bath and body store)? There’s something just absolutely heavenly about the way you feel. Personally, I’m lucky to have a friend that’s an organic aesthetician, so I get a professional quality scrub absolutely every opportunity I get. After all, sugar and salt scrubs are natural exfoliatesthat not only make your skin feel soft and smooth, but they also open your pores so that you skin can do what it’s supposed to do – Get rid of nasty toxins and prevent your body against infection.
However, sometimes our schedules just don’t mesh – We’re both self-employed, sometimes that can get a little hectic. Lucky for me, it’s super easy to make sugar and salt scrubs yourself (I’ll post a couple of super basic anyone-can-do-this recipes at the bottom of this article so you can see for yourself). So when I can’t make it in to visit a professional, I can still get (completely organic!) professional quality care at home.
It did occur to me though that not everyone knows which scrub to use when – or why for that matter – which spawned the idea for this article. So here’s the difference between them, plus a few recipes you can easily follow so that you can make and start using your very own! Trust me – You’re going to love the way you feel when you’re finished exfoliating.
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But Wait! You Already Have A Walnut/Apricot Shell Exfoliate, Right?
That’s all well and good if all you’re wanting to do is exfoliate. But if you’re looking for something that’s really going to take your skin to the next level as far as a glow is concerned, these are what you want.
Because salt and sugar scrubs both naturally dissolve while you’re using them, they actually end up gradually morphing into a polish while you’re exfoliating your skin, perfecting it to a whole other degree!
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Not to mention that most of the apricot/walnut shell exfoliates that you buy at the grocery store are loaded with all kinds of parabens and other things you probably don’t want to be absorbing through your skin. I assure you that after using one or more of these scrubs just once, you’ll throw out whatever it is you’d been using to that point.
So What’s The Difference?
Which one is the right one to use? Well, the answer is that it really depends on what area you’re focusing on:
First of all, if you’re going to use a salt scrub you’re going to want to make sure that it’s been made with some kind of sea salt – Table sale is absolutely useless here (in addition to – you know – everywhere else). Sea salt helps draw toxins from your body and can act as an anti-inflammatory if you suffer from sore muscles.
Because the edges of sea salt granules are relatively sharp, the scrubs are pretty strong exfoliates and should be reserved for the dryer areas of your body – Your elbows, heels, legs, knuckles, etc. Stay away from any sensitive areas with a salt scrub and avoid using it altogether if you have any skin abrasions unless you’re ready to deal with a lot of stinging.
Sugar scrubs can be made with table sugar as well as with unrefined sugar. Table sugar granules are rounder than those of sea salt which makes them perfect for use on the face as well as other sensitive areas on your body. It makes a great mild scrub since it dissolves rather quickly in water and it leaves your skin feeling super soft.
If you’d like an extra special treat the next time you’re in the bath, exfoliate your skin with some brown sugar scrub (recipe to follow) – The smell is absolutely divine and will linger on your skin (and in your washroom) for hours.
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Unrefined cane sugar is slightly more abrasive than table sugar, but it’s still not as irritating to your skin as a salt scrub can be – It can be used all over your body to keep it soft and smooth, but you should avoid using it on your face (especially if you have sensitive skin).
How Often Should You Use Them?
Again – It really depends. A sugar scrub can be used two or three times a week if you’d like since it’s not very abrasive, but you should stick to using a salt scrub no more than once a week to avoid irritating your skin.
Now that you know what they’re really for and when to use them, here are a few recipes you can make yourself so that you can start polishing your skin to perfection as soon as today:
Powdered Sugar
Take your favorite oil (coconut, almond, jojoba, olive, etc.) and put a little bit of powdered sugar in it (also known as icing sugar) – If you don’t happen to have any all you need to do is put some granulated table sugar into a food processor for a minute or two). Add a touch of your favorite flavored extract or essential oil if you’d like (completely optional, but some of them carry some pretty incredible benefits themselves). Massage the paste into your lips for a minute and then lick it off – Your lips will be incredibly smooth.
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Have a banana laying around in the kitchen that’s too brown to eat? Great! You can make it into a sugar scrub that will make you skin feel and smell amazing when you’re finished using it!
Mash the banana in a bowl (leave it more on the chunky side, add two or three tablespoons of granulated sugar and some vanilla extract or your favorite essential oil (again – Optional, but definitely worth it. Do your homework). When you’re in the shower, pat and massage the mixture all over your body then rinse off with warm water. Strawberries work as well, especially if you’re looking for a more abrasive exfoliate.
Brown Sugar
This one is hands down my favorite – Not only does it smell amazing (even for hours after using it), but it can actually be eaten (and really isn’t half bad in coffee). Simply mix equal parts of your the natural oil of your choice (I use coconut, of course) and brown sugar, add a little vanilla, and enjoy your ride to scent heaven.
I don’t actually use salt scrubs at home usually – The sugar scrubs seem to work just fine for me and smell good enough that I have no reason to stray from them.
That said, here’s an amazing sounding lavender salt scrub from Queenie and the Dew that’s sure to help you relax after a stressful day.
Alternatively, if you need a salt scrub that’s going to energize you after a particularly busy day, after a particularly hard workout, or something that’s going to help you get going in the morning, mix equal parts of sea salt and your favourite oil and add at least 1Tbsp of orange, lemon, and/or lime zest (1Tbsp total, not each).
These recipes will not only make your skin happy, they’ll also make your bank account happy (The average scrub goes for around $30)! If you make your own body scrub, feel free to share your recipes in the comments section!
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