Long
gone are the days of using bar soap to clean every inch of
our skin. Body washes, cleansers, shampoos, and scrubs hit
the market several years ago and are now available in
every type and fragrance imaginable. But, before hitting
the shower or bath with just any old product, it’s a good
idea to learn as much as you can.
Body
Washes
Body
washes, also known as body shampoos and body cleansers,
are aptly named, as they are essentially detergents for
the body. These solutions are good for any skin type and
are much better than bar soaps, which can be irritating to
the skin. Body washes are just as effective, but are much
less drying, because they actually have moisturizing
properties. In fact, most body washes contain oils that
stay on your skin, providing an emollient benefit. Other
ingredients, such as vitamins, amino acids, and proteins
may also be incorporated into these cleansers. Though
these ingredients often get washed down the drain before
they have a chance to work on your skin, they don’t hurt.
However, many people do not like the moisturizing film
that these products leave behind. If you are one of those
people, you can use a regular body wash and follow-up with
a gentle moisturizer.
Body
Scrubs
Exfoliating the skin on your body unclogs pores, helps the
skin to absorb moisture, and removes dead skin cells,
allowing healthier skin cells to emerge. When exfoliating
your skin, you can use various methods, such as loofahs
and specially formulated AHA or BHA products. Before using
loofahs, however, you should be aware of the dangers they
pose. Because they hang in the shower or bath without
being cleaned, they provide the perfect breeding ground
for bacteria. Scrubbing a blemish or another skin injury
with a loofah could be dangerous to your health. To avoid
loofahs, you can use a clean, soft washcloth and a body
scrub. Washcloths are gentle and can be washed after every
use. There are also many different body scrubs on the
market to choose from. Most contain oils and other water-binding
agents to help moisture the skin while removing dead
cells. When choosing a body scrub, look for these
ingredients. Most importantly, be gentle while you are
exfoliating. Though the skin on the body is can handle an
occasional scouring, you can damage your skin by being too
rough.
