Face and body scrubs: 8 things you need to know!

Your best friend swears it's the game-changer for your skincare routine, but you don't even know what it is? Here's an in-depth look at scrubs : when to use them and which treatments to pair them with, which scrub to choose based on your skin type, and when to absolutely avoid them.

But first, what you need to know is...

1 - What is a scrub and what is it used for?

A scrub is a gel or cream product, for the face or body, enriched with slightly abrasive granules to be massaged into the skin and then rinsed off. It's a truly ancient beauty practice, known since ancient Greece, where it involved rubbing the body with grape seeds. Rooted in the ancient tradition of the hamman (Turkish bath), it was performed using a horsehair glove and natural oils.

Specifically, the scrub serves to:

Deeply cleanse the skin;
Remove makeup residue and smog;
Eliminate dead cells and promote cell renewal;
Unclog pores;
Prepare the skin for subsequent treatments such as hydrating masks, anti-aging serums, etc.;
Improve skin oxygenation;
Limit the formation of blackheads and small pimples.

Furthermore, it removes the superficial layer of the skin, making it particularly suitable for obtaining an even and long-lasting tan .

A scrub is the ideal product if you want glowing skin , free of blemishes or imperfections like pimples or blackheads. If your skin is particularly dry, dull, and stressed, it's definitely time to tone and brighten it with a scrub and a great moisturizer!

2 - How to choose the ideal scrub?

As with all cosmetic products, it's best to choose a scrub based on your skin type and the type of post-scrub treatment you'll be using. Particularly gentle scrubs, with small grains, are less abrasive and are therefore generally suitable for all skin types.

The Biancamore Scrub made with buffalo milk and sugar It's so gentle that, even if you don't have rosacea or other skin conditions, it can be used on both the body and face. The sugar, in small granules, has an exfoliating and antiseptic effect, while the buffalo milk deeply hydrates, helping to restore the skin's hydrolipidic layer (thanks to natural hydrating factors that prevent water loss).

3 - How to make the scrub?

Since it's an easy-to-use cosmetic product, you can easily make a face and body scrub at home! The first thing you need to know is that the scrub should be applied to skin without makeup, so if you're using a facial scrub, you'll need to remove your makeup first.

Here's how to scrub properly:

Apply the scrub to damp skin (even in the shower);
For the face, avoid the eye contour and instead massage the oilier areas such as the nose;
You can use the scrub all over your body (except in your intimate areas), focusing on your elbows, heels, knees and on the areas where the discolouration is most evident;
Whether it's a face or body scrub, you can massage against the blood circulation to stimulate it;
Remember not to massage too hard!
Use warm water to remove the scrub.

After using the scrub, you can proceed to moisturize your skin .

If it's a body scrub, use the cleanser suitable for your skin to rinse and after patting dry with a towel, use a moisturizer or toner .

If you're using a facial scrub, after gently drying your skin, you can apply a face mask, serum, or cream suited to your skin type.

If you have dry skin, we recommend finishing the treatment with Biancamore Face Cream with buffalo milk : rich in natural hydrating factors, such as lactobionic acid, it deeply hydrates and protects the skin from external agents, preserving the effect of the scrub.

4 - When and how often is it advisable to scrub?

Although scrubbing is ageless, it is especially recommended after the age of 30. The reason is simple: the cell renewal process slows down as we age, and exfoliation with a scrub becomes essential to help keep skin youthful !

That said, you can scrub when:

The skin is particularly undertone and stressed;
You feel the need to cleanse your skin deeply;
You have skin discolorations due to tanning;
You have excess dead skin (for example after summer);
You have blackheads and small pimples on your skin.

Scrubbing doesn't need to be done all the time: once a week is enough for normal skin , once every two or three weeks for more delicate skin.

5 - When NOT to scrub?

As gentle as the scrub may be, there are some small contraindications for this product too.

Scrubbing should absolutely not be done:

If the skin is damaged, has burns, erythema, frequent or ongoing herpes;
On dry skin;
If you suffer from acne with papules and pustules because the inflammation would increase;
If the skin is very fragile or prone to rosacea, because it could break the capillaries;
If you need to wax less than 48 hours later, to avoid putting too much stress on your skin.

6 - What is the difference between a scrub, a peel, and a gommage?

Now that you know everything there is to know about scrubs, let's move on to the next level: what's the difference between a scrub , a gommage, and a peel ? Don't panic! All you need to know is:

The scrub has a very fine grain that is only slightly abrasive, so it has a more gentle exfoliating effect than a scrub. Despite being gentler, the scrub can also be used no more than once a week;
Peeling , on the other hand, exfoliates the skin with a combination of chemical and physical exfoliating ingredients. This refines the skin texture and accelerates cell turnover. Since it's more abrasive than scrubbing, it's best to use a peel at least once a month.

This is why the choice between gommage, scrub and peeling depends greatly on the type of skin and the result you want to achieve.

7 - There are also lip scrubs!

One last thing you should know? Scrubs are also a great help for dry, chapped lips! Lip scrubs are ideal for eliminating unsightly and annoying flakes, nourishing and toning your lips.

If your skin isn't particularly sensitive, our Sugar and Buffalo Milk Scrub can also be used on your lips: its texture is fine and delicate, and its hydrating effect is ensured by lactobionic acid! Even with a lip scrub, it's important to complete the treatment with a highly hydrating treatment, such as using a cocoa butter.

If you prefer a gentler scrub and perhaps want to make it at home with just a few natural ingredients, here's a highly hydrating DIY lip scrub !

8 - The scrub is also suitable for men!

Exfoliation is good for your skin...even men's! Regular scrubbing helps boost the sebum production of men's skin, which is more prone to blemishes than women's. Plus, facial scrubs help soften the skin and make shaving easier...for a truly flawless result!

Ready for the scrub?

Now that you know everything about scrubs, all you have to do is take some time for yourself and start pampering your skin!