If You Don't Exfoliate Now - You'll Hate Yourself Later

from bath and body

Soaps and cleansers scrub away everyday dirt, but exfoliation actually improves the health of the body's skin. It stimulates blood flow to the skin, helps the circulatory and lymphatic systems release waste, and gets rid of built-up skin scales that can clog pores and lead to ingrown hairs. Exfoliating softens and smoothes the skin, makes it easier to absorb moisturizer, gets rid of flakiness, relieves itchiness, and, over time, results in healthier-looking skin.

For all these reasons, it's a good idea to exfoliate the entire body (except for the face) at least once or twice a week. Washcloths, loofahs, sea sponges, silk mitts, exfoliating soaps, dry brushes, bath salts, or body scrubs will all help you get the job done. In a pinch, you can even use a gauze square or some cheesecloth.

Nothing feels more luxurious than an all-over rubdown with a big, floppy sea sponge and a simple bar of sweet-smelling soap. Sea sponges exfoliate without harshness, because they're soft and extremely absorbent. Moisten the sponge, soap it up, and rub it gently, in circular motions, beginning at the bottoms of your feet and heading north toward your knees and elbows, stopping at the neck. The only problem with sponges is that you can't sterilize them. Because soap residue and dead skin remain in the sponge, it's important to wash and dry a sponge well after each use and replace it every couple of months.

with sponges is that you can't sterilize them. Because soap residue and dead skin remain in the sponge, it's important to wash and dry a sponge well after each use and replace it every couple of months.

Dry-brush your skin with a natural-fiber brush before a bath or shower once or twice a week, and your skin will be so naturally soft and healthy, you won't need a moisturizer. "Dry-brushing eliminates the need for remoisturizing because it stimulates the circulatory system and keeps bringing fresh nourishment to the skin through the blood," says Deborah Evans of the PGA National Resort and Spa. "Exfoliating also allows the body's oils to surface and moisturize the skin naturally."

If you prefer, you can exfoliate with a loofah (or sisal) instead of a dry brush. (Sisal is rougher, but effective if you're prone to ingrown hairs.) Loofahs work especially well on elbows, knees, and heels to remove rough, scaly dead skin cells—they're usually too harsh for other parts of the body, but not if you've got tough skin. Unlike the dry brush, the loofah should be used wet. Stand in the tub (or move out from under the nozzle if you're in the shower). Apply soap or shower gel (if you prefer it) to the wet loofah, and rub the loofah over your body in gentle circular motions.

After you exfoliate, make sure to rinse, rinse, rinse to wash all those bits of dry skin away. First wash with a warm shower, then rinse with cool water.