Salt Scrubs vs. Sugar Scrubs

If you're looking to treat yourself to an at-home spa day or update your skincare routine so you can achieve smooth and bright skin all over your body, look no further than a salt or sugar scrub. These exfoliators will cleanse your body and remove dead and dry skin. You can treat yourself to luxurious scents and watch your skin transform from dull to glowing with either scrub. 

Benefits of Salt Scrubs vs. Sugar Scrubs

Body scrubs are a longtime favorite in the beauty community to achieve soft skin and a radiant glow. With many online recipes and plenty of brands offering scrubs, they're easy to find and use. Deciding which scrub is better for you is a different matter. 

The difference between sugar and salt body scrubs is more than their ingredients. Although both can exfoliate, one is gentler for sensitive skin and the other has benefits beyond exfoliating. It is best to always look at the use and components to determine which product will work for you. 

Salt Scrubs

Salt scrubs can detox and exfoliate your skin but are harsher than sugar scrubs and could leave sensitive skin feeling dry if you use the wrong salt. You can enjoy fresh and restored skin when you find the right salt scrub. 

The benefits of salt scrubs include:

• Detoxing abilities: Salt removes toxins from your body.
• Reducing inflammation: Mixing salt with oils can repair tired skin.
• Toning capabilities: Salt restores skin and tones it at the same time.
• Giving you a rosy glow: The friction between your body and the salt leaves a rosy glow afterward.
• Anti-aging abilities: Your skin becomes firmer after a salt scrub, making you look younger.

When looking for salt scrubs, try to find ones that use pink Himalayan, Epsom or sea salt — these salts have minerals that can benefit the skin. 

Sugar Scrubs

A sugar scrub is another type of exfoliator. Sugar scrubs are gentler on your skin and better for your face and other sensitive areas than salt scrubs. However, unrefined sugar scrubs are harsher, and you should only apply them to your body. 

The benefits of sugar scrubs include:

• Being gentler: Sugar is less abrasive than salt and better for sensitive skin.
• Supplying water: Sugar scrubs help draw water into the skin.
• Creating a tan: Exfoliating with sugar before sun- or self-tanning help your tan last longer.
• Producing even skin: Sugar brightens and smoothes your skin.
• Depositing minerals: Natural sugars can deposit minerals into your skin that keep toxins out.

Rubbing scrubs into your skin in circles is less abrasive than rubbing back and forth. If you have sensitive skin, make sure you don't push too hard to avoid irritation. 

Salt and Sugar Scrub Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a first-time user of body scrubs, it's understandable to have a few questions. Deciding which scrub is best for which areas and understanding your skin type will be the best way to determine which scrub you should invest in. 

Which Scrub Should You Choose?

Both scrubs have incredible capabilities that make them great additions to your weekly self-care routine. Determining which scrub is better is a matter of personal preference. If you have sensitive or dry skin, you may find sugar scrubs are better because they feel gentler on your skin and are less likely to cause irritation. However, if you want a way to detox and exfoliate, you may find that salt scrubs work better for you. 

What Does a Salt or Sugar Scrub Do?

Salt and sugar scrubs exfoliate your body. Salt scrubs work great on tough skin, and your elbows, feet and heels are excellent places for a salt scrub — the scrub will work over those dry areas and restore your skin. Sugar scrubs are good all over because they're gentle and will soften your body and face. 

Are Body Scrubs Good for Your Skin?

Body scrubs have many benefits for your skin as long as you use them correctly. When you use them on a routine schedule, your skin will get a beautiful glow, your pores will stay clean and free and you'll feel soft and delicate all over. 

These scrubs even your skin tone and brighten that top layer. By removing the dead and dry pieces, your skin can absorb moisture better, feel much smoother and look much brighter. Additionally, using a scrub can help prevent those pesky ingrown hair and razor bumps. 

Which Scrub Is Good for Dry Skin?

If you have dry skin, you should use a sugar scrub instead of a salt scrub. Salt scrubs are dehydrating by nature, and they can cause skin irritation for people who have sensitive skin. Although they detox and exfoliate, they also remove the top layer of skin. For those with sensitive skin, salt scrubs may remove more than the top layer or create minor cuts that leave them uncomfortable or irritated. 

You should avoid over-exfoliating with either scrub, especially if you have sensitive skin. You don't need any other exfoliator after using a body scrub because you'll be doing the same thing twice, which will not be good for your skin. Using your scrubs once or twice a week should be enough to keep your skin smooth.

Is a Sugar Scrub Rough for the Face?

Regular sugar scrubs are likely too harsh to use on your face, and you could create dryness, irritation, redness and scratches if you use the wrong kind of sugar scrub on your face. A gentle face scrub is ideal for facials because these products have much tinier particles that are much less abrasive. 

Are Exfoliators and Scrubs Different?

When you exfoliate, you use a tool or product to remove any dead skin on your body. Exfoliating can help prevent dry patches, flaky areas and acne and make your skin glow, giving you a perfect vibrant sheen. 

Physical exfoliators include items like a sponge, loofah or body brush that create friction on your skin. A cleansing scrub is a physical or mechanical exfoliator. The little particles in scrubs remove dead particles and polish your skin. However, there are also chemical exfoliators. This kind of exfoliator renews your skin by removing the top layer and getting rid of excess oil. What comes as a result is more evenly pigmented skin.

Shop Body Scrubs From Basin

Basin uses only the best ingredients to create luxurious self-care products. Our all-natural beauty and bath products are fragrant, fresh and fun and allow you to pamper yourself every time you open them. At Basin, our products have no parabens, alcohols or mineral oils. They are cruelty-free because we want to deliver high-quality products that make you feel good and allow you to enjoy your self-care experience. 

Shop Basin body scrubs and feel the nourishing effects of our natural, fresh and uplifting sugar and salt scrubs that leave you feeling smooth, moisturized and clean.