Should I Use an Exfoliating Body Wash?

Battling dry skin, bumps, or uneven skin texture? You may be missing a key step in your grooming routine: an exfoliating body wash.

Here’s everything you need to know about body exfoliator scrub products, the ingredients in the best exfoliation body scrub, and how to use one to get results.

What's the Point of Body Exfoliation? 

Your skin is constantly shedding and renewing itself. In fact, you shed 30,000-40,000 skin cells every single hour and almost a million cells over a 24-hour period. Impressive!

How can this present a problem for your grooming routine? Without proper exfoliation, some of those dead cells remain stuck to the surface of your skin, creating: 

• Dull, drab looking skin 
• Dry skin 
• Flakes 
• Irritation
• Bumps 
• Breakouts 
• Redness 

And all the lotion in the world won’t be able to resolve these issues if you’re not properly removing those dead skin cells. But the best exfoliating body wash will help. providing you with: 

• Clearer skin with less congestion 
• Fewer fine lines and wrinkles 
• Improved skin texture and tone 

Proper exfoliation also allows your skin to better absorb moisturizing products as well as any active ingredients that you apply (like vitamin E to repair skin and protect against free radical damage, for example).  

But what does proper exfoliation entail, and what exfoliating ingredients should you look out for in the best exfoliation body scrub for men?

Key Body Exfoliation Ingredients

There are two main types of exfoliation: chemical and physical.

Chemical exfoliation uses enzymes or acids like AHAs or BHAs to unglue the bonds that hold dry cells to your skin. This provides even, gentle exfoliation, particularly if you use a gentle AHA like glycolic acid. One concern to be aware of is that chemical exfoliation can sometimes leave your skin sensitive to the sun, which is a problem if you’ll be spending time outdoors.

Physical exfoliation, on the other hand, uses textured ingredients to physically scrub away dry, dead skin. Overly harsh ingredients can cause irritation. So naturally gentle scrubbing particles are best, regardless of skin type.

Ingredients in the Best Exfoliating Body Wash 

Salt, nut shells, synthetic beads, and other physical exfoliators found in low quality scrubs are excessively rough. They look downright jagged under a microscope. 

When you scrub your skin with this kind of ingredient, micro-tears (or small cuts in the skin) are formed that cause damage and leave you vulnerable to: 

• Bacteria 
• Acne 
• Skin irritation
• Allergies 
• Surface-level inflammation 

That’s why such harsh ingredients should be avoided. Instead, we recommend small, round, gentle exfoliating particles that won’t cause tears or cuts in the skin. It’s also the reason you’ll find these ingredients in our Exfoliating Body Wash:

Bamboo

Bamboo powder is one of the best-for-your-skin physical exfoliant options. Its ultra-fine texture and high concentration of natural silicon improve skin elasticity, provide anti-acne benefits, and optimize collagen synthesis.

Pumice 

Finely ground pumice stone is round, gentle, pH neutral, and naturally abundant -  making it an ideal ingredient in the best exfoliating body wash.

Charcoal 

Though not a true “physical exfoliant,” charcoal is a purifying ingredient that contributes to the effectiveness of your exfoliating body wash. It works like a magnet, attracting dirt and grime to its surface. These particles are then washed away. 

The best part? It does this without stripping your skin of its natural oils, so you get clean and clear without irritation.

Salicylic Acid 

It’s OK that your physical exfoliant has some chemical help – as long as it’s not the most prevalent ingredient in the formula. And for an exfoliating body wash, salicylic acid is just right. 

Salicylic acid is a BHA that works similarly to glycolic acid, ungluing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and evening skin tone. But unlike glycolic acid, salicylic acid is an oil-soluble molecule. So it gets past your sebum and deeper into the skin, offering a more thorough cleansing and exfoliating experience.

How to Use an Exfoliating Body Wash Properly

Regular use of a gentle, effective exfoliating body wash is better for your skin than harsh products with high concentrations of abrasive ingredients. But for most guys, using one every day would be overkill. It all depends on your skin type and needs.

We recommend that you start by exfoliating just a few times per week. Check to see how your skin reacts, then adjust your frequency accordingly. Your goal is to have bright, clean, smooth skin. Exfoliate less often if you notice any dryness or irritation. 

Our Exfoliating Body Wash can be used every other day in combination with a non-scrubbing product like our Invigorating Body Wash.

After drying off from your shower, follow up with our Deep Moisture Body Lotion to ensure that your freshly exfoliated skin stays fully hydrated and smooth.