Exfoliation is an essential facet of any skincare regimen. It’s how we shed dead cells to reveal the healthy, glowing fresh skin beneath. What’s more, the act of scrubbing stimulates the skin, improving circulation. Exfoliation can restore your skin’s youthful glow. However, skin care experts have long debated the materials we use for exfoliation. Fortunately, scrubs that use environmentally damaging microbeads are disappearing. For most of us, the choice comes between salt and sugar scrubs. But which is more beneficial to your skin?
The Salty Truth
Many swear that salt scrubs are the proper way to exfoliate. After all, we all know how good salt water is for the skin. Plus, it’s a naturally occurring substance, so what harm can it do?
Indeed, salt scrubs can be beneficial to the skin. Salt has many attributes which can help your skin in multiple ways;
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Salt is rich magnesium, essential to flush away the toxins that can cling on. Magnesium can also reduce inflammation and puffiness.
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Sea salt contains a host of other naturally occurring minerals that can aid circulation and restore your skin’s youthful glow.
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Raw sea salt comes in large, jagged, harsh granules that can help to remove hardened dead skin from problem areas like heels.
All good stuff, right? To be sure, there are many benefits to using salt-based scrubs, but they also come with some caveats. The harsh and coarse nature of salt also brings with it specific hazards, primarily if you use salt-based scrubs more than once a week:
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Jagged salt granules can create micro-tears in your skin which may cause scarring.
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Salt can dehydrate your skin when used frequently. Dehydration can lead to dryness and irritation.
So, while you can use salt scrubs to benefit your skin, they are best avoided for sensitive people. We certainly don’t recommend using salt scrubs on your face. Salt scrubs have their place, but you should reserve them for patches of persistently dry, rough or tough skin.
Sugar Scrubs: A Sweet Alternative
Sugar scrubs, on the other hand, offer a wealth of benefits for your skin without any potential hazards. If you’re looking for a sweeter alternative that you can use more often without worrying about negative consequences, sugar scrubs are the way to go.
Let’s take a look at why sugar is a sweeter option than salt.
A Gentle Touch
Sugar-based scrubs are far less abrasive than their salty counterparts and dissolve more quickly in water. Since sugar granules are smaller and rounder, they are less harsh on the skin and are not liable to scar. Sugar makes it a much better alternative to those with sensitive skin or for sensitive areas. On that note:
You Can Use Sugar On Your Face
Anyone who’s attempted to use salt scrubs on their face knows the unpleasant stinging sensation that follows. They also know that the use of salt scrubs on the face can lead to micro-scarring and drying.
Sugar only needs to be rubbed gently into the skin. You don’t even need to let it dissolve it; you can wash it off. Sugar gives you healthy, naturally glowing skin without any of the risks.
You Can Use Sugar Scrubs Regularly
Do you find that your skin starts to look dull and lifeless after a few days? Using salt scrubs more than once a week can exacerbate the problem, leading to dryness and irritation. Sugar based scrubs, on the other hand, can be used up to 3-4 times a week.
Sugar Is Full of Nutrients
Okay, so sugar is just empty calories when we eat it. When we apply it to our skin, however, we benefit from many minerals. Scrubs that use unrefined cane sugar contain essential minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are nourishing to the skin. They also include glycolic acid which many see as the holy grail of exfoliation. They can reduce inflammation, scar tissue and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while restoring your skin’s natural glow
So, the next time you’re choosing a scrub for your skin, remember that while salt based scrubs are great for areas of persistent hard skin, sugar-based scrubs are gentler and more nourishing, making them highly recommended for regular use.
At Coastal Massage we offer a wide range of treatments using nourishing sugar-based scrubs. Come on down and see how we can breathe new life into your skin!
