Scrub a dub dub: when it comes to revealing fresh, new skin, natural exfoliants are the best choice—for you and the environment

Once confined to beauty spas, body scrubs now crowd health food store shelves. Easy to choose and use, you don't need to be an aesthetician to enjoy this luxurious body treatment--or to get great results.

"Applying a body scrub on a regular basis while showering or bathing will slough off dead, dry skin to reveal radiant, soft and smooth skin," says Susie Calvez, author of seven beauty books and founder of Face Works Day Spa in Richmond, Virginia.

Although using a scrub is self-explanatory--careful, don't overdo--deciphering its ingredients might not be so simple. Many conventional body scrubs include petrochemical-based agents, such as mineral oil, and potential carcinogens, like parabens.

Natural scrubs use ingredients such as sea salt, sugar and nutshells to exfoliate. In addition to choosing the right exfoliant, it's important that your scrub contain moisturizing ingredients, such as honey or oatmeal, to protect and hydrate the newly exposed cells, Galvez says. See the natural ingredients list at right for what best suits your skin type.

So the next time you shower, open up that jar of invigorating scrub and polish off your body to reveal the fresh layer beneath. D

COLLECTIVE WELLBEING BAMBOO/FENNEL SEED BODY SCRUB uses fennel to cleanse and bamboo as a natural deodorant.

SUNSHINE SPA TANGERINE HERBAL SALT SCRUB uses almond, grapeseed and apricot kernel oils to moisturize skin.

PURE HAPA HANALEI SWEET & SOUR SUGARCANE BODY SCRUB mixes brown sugar with macadamia nut and sunflower oils to improve skin's texture.

AUBREY ORGANICS NATURAL SPA INVIGORATING BODY POLISH uses sea salt, safflower oil and aloe vera for a clean, fresh scrub.

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natural ingredients list

scrubbers

apricot kernerls: Rich in vitamin A, which is vital for healthy skin. Perfect for rough spots, elbows, backs, heels and thicker skins. Note: Nutshells and fruit kernels can have jagged edges so they aren't ideal for sensitive skin.

sea salt: A natural exfoliant for normal skin that contains marine extracts and minerals that help revitalize the skin.

sugar: A gentle exfoliant ideal for sensitive skin since the grains have smoother edges than salt grains.

soothers

honey: A moisturizer and skin softener that nourishes and heals normal skin.

nut and seed oils: Almond, hazelnut and sunflower oils are often used to soften and hydrate skin: ideal for dry skin.

oatmeal: A gentle grain that moisturizes skin and soothes and reduces inflammation for sensitive skin types.

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