Pass the Salt, Everyone's Obsessed with Salt Scrubs

By now, we’d hope you know the importance of regular exfoliation in your skin care routine. Sloughing off dead skin cells is the key to maintaining smooth, soft skin—and who doesn’t want that? Of course, there’s more than one way to exfoliate. Aside from dry brushing and sugar scrubs, you may have heard through the beauty grapevine about salt scrubs. Wondering what the deal is with sea salt scrubs and other salt scrub varieties? Read on to learn everything you need to know about this mechanical exfoliant.

WHAT ARE SALT SCRUBS?

Salt scrubs, as we mentioned above, are a type of mechanical exfoliant that can be used to slough away the buildup of dead skin cells, with the salt granules working to exfoliate your skin. The result? Smooth, supple skin! There are different types of salt scrubs, as they can be made with different types of salt. Common salts used for exfoliating include Himalayan salt, sea salt, Epsom salt, kosher salt, dead sea salt, and even table salt. Typically, salt scrubs are used to exfoliate your body rather than your face.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SALT SCRUB AND A SUGAR SCRUB?

Speaking of salt scrubs being used on the body, that happens to be the major difference between salt scrubs and sugar scrubs—besides, you know, one scrub using salt as its exfoliant and the other using sugar. Typically, sugar scrubs can be used on both your face and body thanks to their gentle formula, which melts onto your skin. Salt scrubs are primarily used solely for body exfoliation, as the exfoliation they provide can be more intense.

HOW TO USE A SALT SCRUB IN YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Ready to add a salt scrub to your skin care regimen? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to exfoliate your body with a salt scrub.

STEP #1: CLEANSE YOUR SKIN

Hop in the shower and lather up with a body wash, then rinse with lukewarm water.

STEP #2: SLOUGH AWAY

Whip out your salt scrub and get to work! To use, apply the scrub onto your skin, then gently massage the scrub over your body in circular motions to slough away dead skin cells.

STEP #3: SHAVE IF YOU WANT

Want extra smooth skin? This is your cue to shave away—if you want—and get rid of any unwanted body hair.

Editor’s tip: To ensure you get the perfect, clean shave, take notes from our article, How to Shave Your Legs Like a Pro.

STEP #4: RESTORE HYDRATION

Last but not least, just as it’s important to restore moisture in your complexion after exfoliating your face, you’ll want to hydrate your body post-exfoliation. Reach for a nourishing body lotion to moisturize your skin from head to toe.

6 TIMES TO USE A SALT SCRUB

Phew—we’re almost done with our lesson on salt scrubs! If you’re wondering when you should use a salt scrub in your regimen, we know a few noteworthy occasions.

Use a salt scrub when…it’s summertime. Hot weather typically calls for dresses, shorts, and other clothing items that tend to show a lot of leg. Put your best leg forward by exfoliating with a salt scrub for smooth, supple skin.

Use a salt scrub when…you go on vacation. Speaking of showing leg, if you’re headed on a vacay to a tropical island, using a salt scrub may be worth your while. Slough away!

Use a salt scrub when…you have a hot date. Having smooth skin is sure to give you an instant boost of confidence, which can seriously come in handy when tackling nerves before a first date.

Use a salt scrub when…you have a girls’ night out. While using a salt scrub is a great confidence boost, you don’t need a date to use one! Get ready for a night with your gal pals by using a salt scrub.

Use a salt scrub when…you want to indulge in some self-care. Sometimes taking the extra step of exfoliating with a new skin care product is just what you need to feel pampered. Spend a little extra time on you!

Use a salt scrub when…you want to fake tan. Fake it ‘til you make it, right? If you plan to use self-tanner, use a salt scrub to exfoliate your body beforehand.

Next up: Let’s talk more about hair removal. Head over to our article, Sugaring vs. Waxing: A Hair Removal Guide, for an intro to hard waxes and sugaring.