Buffed Bods
Smoother skin is in your reach with the right body scrub.
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A good body scrub can leave you feeling all fresh and clean, but there are medicinal benefits to the ritual as well.
“Aside from the exfoliation and moisturizing effects, body scrubs improve the circulation of blood and lymph to the skin’s surface, to invigorate, even out skintone, and help fight cellulite,” explains Los Angeles dermatologist, Dr. Ava Shamban, and author of “Heal Your Skin”.
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Most scrubs consist of mildly abrasive particles. They can be botanical (enzyme), mineral (salt) or synthetic (buffing beads) and all are suspended in a hydrating cleansing base.
For best results, pull one out once or twice a week to slough off the top layer of dead skin cells. Dial it back a bit during the colder winter months when skin tends to be drier. And if you’re self-tanning, a scrub-down is the perfect prep step to ensure flawless color application.
When choosing a scrub, Shamban recommends naturally-derived granules and ingredients so you can take advantage of the vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that will penetrate and nourish skin cells. Beware of large, sharp particles (common in seed scrubs) that can irritate and scrape fragile skin.
And keep your skin type in mind when choosing blends. “Fruit enzyme-based scrubs such as citrus and pineapple work best for oily skins, milky and cream-based scrubs like avocado are great for dryer individuals, and oatmeal is soothing for sensitive types,” says Shamban.
QUIZ: Do You Baby Your Skin?
Check out ten of today’s most sensorial skin-smoothing scrubs.
In The Buff: Top 10 Body Scrubs
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Courtesy of Soap & Glory.
Courtesy of Bayberry Naturals.
Courtesy of Dr. Dennis Gross.
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Nuxe Fondant Body Scrub, $28
This rich, cream-based scrub is a treat for dry skin types because it exfoliations without any irritating abrasion. Orange zest, lychee stone extract and walnut shell powder are tempered by almond and orange flower. Coconut oil protects and replenishes the skin barrier.
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Soap & Glory Pulp-Friction Foamy Fruity Body Scrub, $20
We’re suckers for this bubble gum-pink tube that smells as sweet as it looks. The clay formula encapsulates pumice, fig seed powder and vitamins A, C and E for a thorough scrub that leaves skin scented with citrus notes of yuzu, orange oil and pomelo. The formula is paraben, sulfate, phthalate and petrochemical-free.
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Bayberry Naturals Tumeric & Citrus Clarifying Body Scrub, $32.
If you’re plagued by stubborn body breakouts, the antibacterial ingredients in this all-natural scrub (which include grapefruit, turmeric and neem), help soothe inflammation. Sea salt and citrus sloughs away dead skin cells so pigmentation from previous breakouts heals faster. The vegan formula contains no dyes or artificial fragrances to irritate acne-prone skin.
This product is available at our sister site, BeautySage, where we only sell products that work!
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Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrubs, $13
Choose from soothing honey and shea, refreshing mango and orange or restorative cranberry and pomegranate blends that polish with natural crystals derived from sugar and ground almond. Aloe leaf juice and shea butter layer skin in moisture. A dose of lactic acid adds additional, gentle exfoliation.
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Bliss FatGirlScrub, $38
With its high concentration of Himalayan pink sea salt (60 percent!), this salty scrub stimulates circulation and helps to reduce fluid retention. A cooling peppermint finish leaves skin feeling tightened. Follow up with a cellulite-reducing contour cream afterwards.
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Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Antioxidant Enzyme Buff, $138.75
Triple digits may seem like a pretty penny for a body scrub, but this oversized 90 ounce jar contains detoxifying sea salts from the Dead Sea, and an intense concentration of botanical extracts and essential oils such as safflower seed, grape seed, evening primrose, lavender and macadamia. Berry seeds provide exfoliation, while antioxidants like blueberry and bitter orange peel provide anti-aging oomph.
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