The benefits of body scrub, plus our top product picks

The benefits of body scrub

Need a good scrub down? While we know that facial exfoliation is part of our daily beauty routine, a body scrub provides a variety of benefits. From helping our moisturizer absorb better, to increased relaxation, incorporating a grainy friend into our soap and shower routine, could be the best kept secret.

“The skin is the largest organ in our body, and a body scrub is like giving a treat to it,” says Carlos Calvo Rodriguez, Spa Manager Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. “A good scrub stimulates blood circulation, helps drain lymph nodes, and detoxifies your body internally.”

Whether at home, or being taken care of by a professional, a proper scrub application needs to have firm, pressure. “It’s best to always scrub upward, and concentrate on tough spot areas like elbows, knees, feet, and the back of the neck,” says Rodriguez. Using a dry brush before, also helps to stimulate circulation, whether at-home or in a professional setting.

Can’t make it to the spa? We’ve rounded up the best body scrubs for an at-home scrub experience.

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish

Need a little sugar? This scrub is lightly sweet, gentle, and made with pure brown sugar. The soft grainy texture provides a less harsh exfoliation process, leaving skin ready for anything.

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, $76, available at Sephora

Lush Rub Rub Rub

Take your champagne into the shower with this mimosa scrub wash. The sea salt is the main attraction, providing extra exfoliation, like taking a dip in the ocean and sitting in the sun afterward.

Lush Rub Rub Rub, $21, available at Lush

Spa Fit Smoothing Refining Body Scrub

Need a boost? This scrub features lemon and grapefruit, and leaves skin invigorated, and smooth. The citrus is great in the morning, waking up all of our senses.

Spa Fit Smoothing Refining Body Scrub, $22, available at The Body Shop

Soapwalla Almond Luxe Body Polish

Need a scrub that’s good enough to eat? This natural scrub uses food-grade and consciously sourced ingredients, like almond oil to put moisture back into even the most sensitive of scales.

Soapwalla Almond Luxe Body Polish, $28, available at The Detox Market

Caudalie, Crushed Cabernet Scrub

This scrub, takes its muse from a glass of wine, the kind we love to have resting on the side of our bath. The strong texture restores tired skin back to its former glory.

Caudalie, Crushed Cabernet Scrub, $38, available at Sephora

Our favourite spa scrub treatments

When choosing to see a professional, we love to take it to the spa. An expert applying a body scrub helps to reach parts of the body that we may not always be able to grab in the shower, or tub. This kind of treatment gets every last bit, while providing us with a luxurious escape.

The Four Seasons Spa, Toronto features a Scrub bar, where tired bodies can go to rejuvenate and unwind. The Snowbird Ruby Red Grapefruit Scrub uses ground walnut shells, and grapefruit essential oils to transport guests to a tropical paradise. The ultimate in luxury, this 30,000 square foot spa features 17 treatment rooms to accomplish your needs. Location: 60 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.

Rainspa, Montreal – With a 2,500 square ft. oasis, Rainspa features three different in-house body scrubs from sugar based, to sea salt to slough away dead skin and promote skin renewal. The final process includes application of marine-extract cream for skin softer than a mermaid. Location: 55 rue St-Jacques, Old Montreal, Quebec.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Vancouver – The CHI Skin Polish is their signature scrub made with mineral salts and oils, and promises to help free-flow the energy chi in the body. The spa focuses their namesake on ensuring that all services focus on unleashing the chi in the body, to prevent diseases and promote wellness. Location: 1128 West George Street, Vancouver, B.C.