Do You Scrub or Just Bubble?

​Did you know that your skin accounts for about 15% of your body weight with the thickest skin being on your feet and the thinnest being on your eyelids? Every 28 days, your skin renews itself and every minute, you shed about 30,000 dead skin cells. Our bodies are so amazing at how they take care of themselves, however there’s always more we can do to help them run more efficiently. Being our largest organ, the skin does a lot for us so it’s important that we keep it in good shape.

The dark days of Canadian winters seem to have eluded us somewhat this year and already, it’s starting to feel kind of like spring! The moisture that spring brings, however, has not yet arrived (at least in Winnipeg) and dry, flaky skin is still an issue. The good news is, there’s an easy way to take care of that! Exfoliating. Many people just hop in the shower and use their bubbly body wash to get a quick clean, which is great, but that doesn’t remove any of the dull, dead skin cells that an abrasive scrub would!

Why Exfoliate?
When you use a scrub, you’re helping to remove the dead skin cells from your epidermis (the top layer of your skin), which means you’ll have a happy glow as your new skin isn’t being covered up anymore. Pile-ups of dead skin can lead to acne as your natural oils have nowhere to go when they get trapped under old skin cells and end up clogging your pores. Fine lines and wrinkles also become more noticeable. Exfoliating helps with this! You’ll also notice that your skin feels more smooth after exfoliating – oolala! Finally, all the other products that you spend your hard-earned money on to keep yourself looking gorgeous are more easily absorbed as they don’t have to soak through layers of dead skin first.

How Often?
No more than 2-3 times per week for the average person. If you’re older or have more sensitive skin, you might do it less so you’re not irritating your skin. If you have oily skin, 3 times a week might be necessary as you get more of a build-up.

With What?
Salt or sugar scrubs are a great, all-natural way to sluff off the old and make way for the new! On damp skin, they’re still abrasive and combined with other natural exfoliants like ground up walnut shell powder or various seeds, they do a fabulous job. On your face, you should not be using salt/sugar/seeds as they are too abrasive for delicate facial skin. Instead, opt for products with jojoba beads, clays, oats, honey, or other more powdery substances. These ingredients are more mild while still getting the job done.
As with cleansing, exfoliating is easy, necessary, and it leaves you smelling and feeling great. If scrubbing is not a part of your weekly skin care routine, it’s time to include it!

Have a great week!
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Love, Ash XO