{"id":5082,"date":"2025-09-05T11:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T16:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/?p=5082"},"modified":"2025-09-05T11:15:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T16:15:04","slug":"sugar-scrubs-for-soft-smooth-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northwestpharmacy.com\/healthperch\/sugar-scrubs-for-soft-smooth-skin","title":{"rendered":"Sugar Scrubs for Soft, Smooth Skin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scrubs are items or compounds designed to cleanse and exfoliate the skin<\/a>. Cleansing the skin involves removing dirt, grime, sebum and other oils and secretions, makeup, and other contaminants. Exfoliation means removing the dead and old skin cells from the outermost layer of skin (the \u201cepidermis\u201d) to promote new skin cell growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Scrub the Skin?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scrubs can leave the skin temporarily red and sore. So why do it? When washing the skin with soaps and facial washes, most of the dead skin cells are not removed, and the pores are not completely unplugged or cleansed. The result can be dry skin with clogged pores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exfoliation obtains a deeper cleanse and removal of dead skin cells, and unplugs blocked pores by removing the keratin plugs (keratin<\/a> is a type of protein found on the skin). In this way, exfoliation helps to improve the skin\u2019s smoothness and texture, moisture, color, and health, and enhances the skin\u2019s ability to absorb and retain moisturizers. Exfoliation is also beneficial for preventing or reducing acne<\/a> and slowing the aging process<\/a> of skin, including the development of lines and wrinkles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical Versus Mechanical Exfoliation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of exfoliation scrubs: chemical and mechanical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical exfoliation<\/a> involves using some kind of an abrasive to remove the dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. This may be by using an abrasive item, such as a pumice stone, but when it comes to facial scrubs, mechanical exfoliation is more commonly performed using tiny abrasive particles suspended in a carrier oil or cream. Due to the delicateness of the skin, facial scrubs are usually made with a relatively fine and mild abrasive. Sugar scrubs are an excellent example of a fine-particle, mild abrasive (sugar) used for the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical exfoliation<\/a> involves using acids or enzymes (proteins that initiate a chemical reaction) to dissolve dead skin cells and their attachments to the skin so that they can be easily washed away. Chemical exfoliation is the basis of \u201cchemical peels.\u201d Examples of chemical exfoliants include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs, such as glycolic acid) and retinol (vitamin A). Chemical exfoliation preparations<\/a> are available over the counter in weaker formulations, and much stronger versions are applied in treatments by medical professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugar Scrubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sugar scrubs are made from any sugar, which provides the particles for mechanical exfoliation. A variety of sugar types and sources can be used, and they are usually dissolved in a \u201chumectant<\/a>.\u201d Humectants are moisturizers; they deliver moisture to the skin and serve the dual purpose of acting as a carrier for the exfoliant. They may also contain an essential oil or other ingredient to supply a fragrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugar scrubs are especially notable because they are easily made in the home. You don\u2019t need high-tech microbeads or any other unusual ingredients. For example, here is a recipe suggested by Lisa Le<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n