Who doesn’t want model-like spotless skin? Everybody does. Models spend lavishly to undergo the high maintenance of their bodies and skin. It is central to their job. Nonetheless, you can also get that clean and clear skin from the comfort of your home. A simple duty of exfoliating the skin once in a while goes a long way to help you achieve this goal. Exfoliator or scrub, which one should you go for? Let us examine this in our Exfoliator VS Scrub article today.
Many of us confuse the two of them as being one. No! Exfoliators and scrubs are not the same. While you get the outcome of clean skin, they differ concerning their composition, uses, side effects, etc. Well, let’s get started!
Exfoliator VS Scrub | What Is The Difference?
Shedding up unclean skin is one of the most pivotal tasks in our daily skincare routine. Not only does this allow us to remove all the dead skin cells, but also gives a fresh breath to our outer appearance. Exfoliators and scrubs help us to rub off the old layer of the skin.
Certainly, there are some differences between the two. Before we head on to that, let us quickly see why exfoliating our skin is so necessary.
We get the benefits of:
- Unclogged pores.
- Erased dead skin cells.
- Instant glow on the skin.
- Lesser chances of ingrown hair.
- Better penetration of skincare products.
Exfoliator VS Scrub | In Particular
To be particular, let us delve into them one by one.
SCRUB
Generally, the scrub is a creamy textured skin care product composed of tiny exfoliation particles. It causes friction while being rubbed onto the skin to peel the dry and dead skin particles. Micro grains like salt or sugar (in a scrub) polish the skin after getting rubbed against it. Moreover, you may add scrub into your basic skincare routine of cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. The body scrub is a mechanical exfoliant, as they remove the old and dry outermost layer of skin with abrasive elements, like sugar or salt.
HOW TO USE IT?
On Face
Facial scrubs can be used after cleansing. Take a coin-sized amount of facial scrub into your palms and add 2-3 drops of water to soften it. Then, rub gently on your face and even it out. Remember to wet your face earlier for the application to turn out smoothly. Massage well in a circular motion for 30-45 seconds. Going harsh with it may cause microtears, so keep it slow and gentle. Rinse off at last with lukewarm water.
On Body
After rinsing the skin with warm water, take a small amount of body scrub in your hand. Gently rub it on the skin in small circular motions. Employ your hands or use an exfoliating glove. After 30 seconds of rubbing, rinse it again with lukewarm water. Follow up with any cleanser, and shave if you want to. Lastly, pat your skin dry, and apply a moisturizer.
PROS
- Easy to apply.
- Gentler on the skin than exfoliators.
- Sloughs the decayed dead skin cells.
- Stimulates skin cell turnover to give off brighter, and smoother skin.
CONS
- May disrupt your skin barrier temporarily.
- May cause the skin to dry out by stripping off the moisture.
- Large particles of scrub (say, apricot and walnut) cause micro-tears in the skin leading to infections.
Next up in the line is the exfoliator, so let us look into it as well.
EXFOLIATORS
As the name suggests, exfoliators help in exfoliating the skin by discarding off the old skin layer just like the scrub. There are two types of exfoliators. Mechanical or physical exfoliators and
chemical exfoliators. The first one encompasses scrub as an exfoliating agent. Loofahs, exfoliating mitts, pumice stones, and body brushes are the tools that help in physical exfoliation.
Chemical Exfoliation employs chemicals like hydroxy acids, retinol, and some other enzymes to remove the dead skin from your body. AHAs and BHAs form the composition of chemical exfoliators. AHAs have water-soluble acids that are derived from sugary fruits. Acids such as Tartaric, Citric, Malic, and Glycolic can be found in AHA exfoliators. On the other hand, the oil-soluble BHAs go deep into the skin to dry out oil and dead skin cells. They unclog the pores and are ideal for oily to acne-prone skin. If you have dry skin, try using mild exfoliators with ingredients like glycolic acid.
HOW TO USE IT?
On Face
Cleanse your face and fully dry the skin using a face towel. Apply the chemical exfoliant as directed on your package. Then rinse off after a few minutes.
On Body
Most of the chemical exfoliators are applied directly to the skin and work best in the shower. The directions to use are mentioned on the package.
Pros
- Gentler on the skin than scrubs.
- Improves skin tone and reduces dullness.
- Chemical exfoliators suit people with sensitive or dry skin.
- Lesser chances of irritated skin as chemical exfoliators don’t remove skin manually, as may be overdone in scrubs.
Cons
- AHAs may cause sun sensitivity increasing the chances of sunburn. Wearing sunscreen every day when using AHAs exfoliation is thus advised.
Exfoliator VS Scrub | Resemblance & Difference
The similarities between Exfoliators and Scrubs are what perplexes people. Both of them resemble in their function of ditching old skin cells to lay the way for newer, and brighter skin. Pores that clog impurities within them get removed in the process of exfoliation. Thus, giving you a softer, lighter, and cleaner skin. Using them 1-2 times a week makes way for an enlivened epidermis.
The dissimilarities between the exfoliator and scrub are clear-cut. A scrub is made up of sugar or salt (or some other grains like rice, or oats), whereas some exfoliators contain acids. Scrubs may come under mechanical or physical exfoliators. While exfoliators have both physical and chemical elements. Scrubs are a bit stronger in nature.
Closure
Look at all the reasons and apprehensions above to come to a point to choose between the two. Depending on your skin type, choose between gentler exfoliators or a slightly stronger scrub. BHAs (like salicylic acid) may be helpful to your acne-prone skin. AHAs (like glycolic acid) have antimicrobial elements that may help with dry skin type.
Just to remind you once, don’t overdo the exfoliating process. Avoid using them near the eye, or any wounded areas. After exfoliating, hydrate your skin well with a moisturizer or any moisture-binding serum.
This is an overview of exfoliator vs scrub. I hope all your doubts are now cleared. If anything remains to be addressed, comment below. We will reach out to you as soon as possible.
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