*I can not guarantee any results, I am not a doctor or medical professional. Any facts, details & recommendations are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any diseases or illnesses. 

To be able to understand what a Sugar Scrub is, you first need to know what a scrub is in general. Scrubs are something you rub on your body that have an exfoliant to help to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin revealing smooth skin underneath. They can open and clear your pores, remove dirt and debris, and cleanse the skin of excess oil. They can also stimulate and encourage local blood circulation, which brings warmth to the surface area and helps the body remove toxins. They can be quite invigorating and can leave you with a healthy glow!

There are many different types of scrubs. There are facial scrubs, lip scrubs, salt scrubs, whipped sugar scrubs (or just sugar scrubs), foot scrubs, and even coffee scrubs. They can contain many different ingredients, such as sugar, salt, poppy seeds, cranberry seeds, jojoba beads, and coffee grounds.  They can also contain pretty additives like citrus peels or rose buds.  A lot of scrubs are made with some kind of carrier oil (almond oil, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, etc) and/or butter (shea, mango, cocoa, etc). Learn about the benefits of some of these ingredients here:

Whipped Sugar Scrub
A Whipped Sugar Scrub (or just Sugar Scrub) is a type of body scrub. The ‘scrub’ part of it mainly comes from sugar but can also include various other ingredients such as poppy seeds, cranberry seeds, jojoba beads, pumice sand and more. Whipped Sugar Scrubs are different than a facial scrub, as the skin on your face is a lot more sensitive and can’t handle how rough a sugar scrub can be, unless specifically made for that purpose. These are generally made with some kind of carrier oil to help soothe and moisturize the skin. Some even contain glycerin, so it helps cleanse the skin too!

How do you use it? I would recommend using it 1-2 times per week depending on your skin type. Exfoliation can be harsh on the skin, and over-exfoliation can damage the skin. You don’t want to overly strip the skin of moisture, or compromise the skins barrier. Grab a small amount and gently massage with circular motions, then rinse well.

Facial Scrubs
A Facial Scrub (or polish) is often used as an exfoliator at the start of your skincare routine. It is great in helping to remove dirt and make-up and for loosening and removing dead skin cells on your face. When choosing a scrub, it is very important to make sure you choose one that is made specifically for the face, as it is much more delicate than other parts of your body. Some ingredients commonly used in facial scrubs are oatmeal, ground almonds, clays, superfine sugar, fruit seeds, and jojoba beans. It is not recommended to use any scrubs with salt, most sugars, walnut shells or anything that may be coarse, as these can cause microscopic tears in your skin, which instead of helping smooth your skin it can cause damage and inflammation. Normal sugar is usually too harsh, but there are sugars like the Rapadura sugar, which is very soft and silky and actually contains some of the enzymes that help remove dead skin cells, giving a brighter complexion.

How do you use it? Like sugar scrubs, facial scrubs are best used only 1-2 times per week. Some people apply these scrubs by hand or on a cosmetic pad. Use a small amount and gently massage the face in regular circular motions ensuring the whole face is covered. After using your scrub, rinse and moisturize your face.

Salt Scrubs
Salt scrubs are more rough than sugar scrubs because of their abrasive texture, so they are excellent for rougher areas of the body, such as hands or feet. They are not recommended to be used on the face because salt can have very jagged edges that can create micro-tears in your skin. Some salt scrubs do contain salt that is very finely milled to avoid this issue but it can still be harsh. Some popular salts you may see in salt scrubs are sea salt, table salt, dead sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, epsom salts, and more. Each type of salt has different benefits to using them, such as stimulating skin cells, exfoliating, softening, moisturizing, cleansing and detoxifying.

Even though salt scrubs are better used on the body, I would not recommend them if you have sensitive skin, psoriasis, eczema, razor burn, or any types of scratches or wounds. Just from personal experience, I used a salt scrub on my legs after shaving and it did not feel good!

Coffee Scrubs
Who knew coffee could be used in scrubs? These are actually one of my favorites! Coffee is actually great for your skin! It has anti-oxidative properties that can help reduce inflammation. Caffeine is often used in anti-cellulite products because it can prevent excessive accumulation of fat in cells and increase the blood circulation. Coffee scrubs are made with coffee grounds, but can also include other exfoliants as well. Some coffee scrubs are also known to contain coffee butters (made from real coffee seed oil), caffeine extracts, or coffee fragrances.

Emulsified Scrubs
Emulsified scrubs are typically gentle exfoliating products that slough off dead skin to help reveal your soft and supple skin. These are made a little different as they have some kind of emulsifier added while it’s being made. The emulsifier helps the oils and butters blend better, creating a cream-type effect and making them a little easier to rinse off. Because the oils and butter are emulsified, the oils shouldn’t separate and pool on the top (or bottom) of the scrub.

Lip Scrubs
This doesn’t fall under body scrubs, but using a scrub on your lips is just as important as using one on your body. Lip scrubs are important in preventing dry, chapped lips. They are often made with an exfoliant (such as sugar), and some kind of carrier oil.. The exfoliant helps to gently remove dead skin cells from your lips, improving the health and appearance of your skin. The carrier oil can help to hydrate your lips, helping create the radiant appearance.

Using a lip scrub has many benefits.
-It can make it easier to apply makeup. If your lips are cracked or dry, your lipstick probably won’t look as good. Using lip scrubs help create soft, smooth lips making it the perfect base for applying lipstick. With a smoother base, lipstick will look better for longer.
-Having dry, chapped lips can be uncomfortable! These scrubs help remove dead skin cells, dry skin, and flaky skin. Exfoliated lips can help allow your lips to lock in more moisture, making your lips feel more comfortable. They can give your lips a nice, smooth, and hydrated feel.
-Lip scrubs can be helpful in removing lipstick! Some lipsticks are meant to stay and are a pain to try and remove. The exfoliant component helps to scrub off the hard to remove lipstick, while exfoliating at the same time.

How do you use a lip scrub? Using your finger, spread a small amount of the lip scrub on your lips. Gently exfoliate by rubbing your lips together. Once you’re done, wipe off any remaining scrub and then follow up with your favorite lip balm to make sure your lips stay moisturized! Just like with any other exfoliant, too much can be bad for your lips. I would recommend using only 2-3 times per week.

Why should I use a scrub? What is its purpose?

Scrubs are meant to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliating is a technique or combination of techniques to remove dead cells from your skin. It speeds up the natural process of the shedding of the outer layer of skin. The number one benefit of using a face or body scrub is that skin instantly feels smoother and silkier. It can be very helpful in preventing ingrown hairs. A scrub also allows other products like moisturizers or serums to penetrate the skin better (I’ve even heard it helps self-tanners). This is because exfoliating can remove the surface layer of dead skin cells, which can limit how much of the active ingredients in your skincare products get through.

You can use a scrub before a leg wax to remove dead skin cells and make the removal of the hair easier, before a body wrap or mud treatment to help open the skin’s pores and prepare it for the treatment, before applying self-tanners because it creates a smoother skin texture so it can help provide a more even false tan.

During the hot summer months, your skin can become dry and flaky, scrubs can help give skin a silky, luminous glow. Although it is not recommended to use a scrub on sunburnt skin! Ow! And it can be used as part of your facial routine (recommended only 1-2x per week) to brighten and even your skin tone, or before using a face mask.

HOW TO USE SCRUBS
Place some of the scrub in your hand and gently scrub your body in a circular motion. You can even use a loofah mitt or exfoliator glove as well. They can be used before or after shaving, I usually prefer after to help prevent ingrown hairs.

Depending on the scrub, it may be sensitive to temperature, especially if it contains any kind of butters or waxes, so if it melts you can place it in the refrigerator for a bit and it will harden back up. If you find your scrub has become too hard, scoop a little in your hand and put your hand under the water, once the water hits the scrub it will be a lot easier to rub in.

Store in a cool, dry place.

Disclaimer: Please read the ingredient list to check for allergy information. Products may come in contact with other common allergens. Use this product at your discretion. If any negative reaction occurs, please discontinue use and consult a physician. Gore-geous Skincare is not liable for any negative reactions to the products.