If you’re exfoliating regularly, you’re already doing more for your skin than most people. But as you choose your go-to shower products, it helps to know the difference between body polish and body scrub. The one you reach for depends on whether your skin’s craving hydration or a deep cleanse.

Body polish and body scrub have a lot in common. They use similar ingredients, and both target dry patches, cellulite, scars, uneven skin tone, and ingrown hairs. You’ll likely reach for both of them after too much summer sun or simply to plump and hydrate your skin. But before you settle on your go-to shower products, there are key differences between body polish and body scrub. Here’s what you should know…

 

Body Polish vs. Body Scrub: Is There a Difference?

The main difference between a body scrub and a body polish really comes down to what they do for your skin. A scrub’s job is to deeply cleanse and exfoliate, while a polish leans more into hydrating and moisturizing. They often share similar ingredients and benefits, but the name usually gives away which skin concern they’re designed to focus on.

 

Exfoliating agents

Sugar and salt are the most common agents used in natural exfoliants. A body scrub will likely use a higher volume of this ingredient than a body polish, since its main goal is to cleanse the skin and remove dirt and dead skin cells. You’ll still find sugar or salt in your body polish, but not as much. We prefer to use sugar as our exfoliating agent, since the crystals are less abrasive and won’t cause microtears (which can irritate the skin barrier).

 

Key ingredients

The key ingredients found in body polish and body scrub are similar. In a scrub, you’ll find primarily sugar with a moisturizing oil like jojoba oil and a few essential oils. In a body polish, you’ll find the same ingredients but with more moisturizing properties. For example, our body scrub is tallow-based and includes shea butter, green tea, seabuckthorn oil, and vitamin C to hydrate and restore the skin barrier.

 

Skincare results

The body polish vs. body scrub debate isn’t about which product is better (they both have their own benefits). What really matters is what’s best for your skin. If your skin is well-moisturized but needs a deep cleanse, go for the body scrub. If you have skin barrier disruption and dry patches, we recommend body polish.

The Benefits of a Body Scrub

A body scrub is designed to exfoliate first and moisturize second. It’s best to use your body scrub for a deep cleanse and to regenerate skin cells. It’s common to use body scrub on all skin types, but people with sensitive skin need to take more care.

 

Deep cleanse

The high concentration of exfoliating ingredients make your body scrub the best product for a deep cleanse. Focus on areas where you have dark patches, cellulite, ingrown hairs, or dead skin cells, and gently massage the product into your skin.

 

Regenerate skin cells

Since a body scrub is more abrasive, it can help regenerate skin cells. Think of it as a lighter (and more natural) version of a chemical peel. Use the scrub on your whole body, particularly on stretch marks and scars (as long as there’s no broken skin), and massage in a circular motion to improve blood flow. After your shower, finish with a body oil or tallow balm to give your skin the nutrients it needs to rebuild.

 

Reduce ingrown hairs

If you’re prone to ingrown hairs or razor burn, both body polish and body scrub products can help. Gently apply to your legs, armpits, and bikini line to exfoliate. Then, apply your regular shaving products. Since a body scrub removes dead skin cells, you should get a closer shave with fewer bumps and burns.

 

How to Use Your Body Scrub

Scoop out your scrub and apply it directly to clean skin. It’s best to apply it in a circular motion to encourage blood flow (which supports skin healing, too). Use it on stretch marks, scars, cellulite, dry patches, and anywhere you plan to shave. Once finished, rinse off the excess scrub. Since body scrubs are more abrasive, it’s best practice to apply a moisturizer like body oil or tallow after you get out of the shower.

 

The Benefits of a Body Polish

A body polish is designed to moisturize first and exfoliate second (the opposite of a body scrub). It’s best for sensitive skin and deeply restorative after long pool days, summer sun exposure, or simply to plump and rehydrate the skin. Body polish is safe for all skin types and great for dry and mature skin.

 

Deep hydration

Each ingredient found in body polish is focused on deep hydration. The added exfoliating agent (usually sugar) helps get that hydration deep into your pores. Ingredients like shea butter, green tea, and grass-fed tallow get deep into your skin barrier and leave your skin feeling plump and moisturized for days after application.

 

Even skin tone

This is your go-to product for cellulite, stretch marks, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. Regular use should improve circulation, support lymphatic flow, and reduce the appearance of rough patches and dullness. You’ll also notice fewer razor bumps and less keratosis pilaris over time.

 

Sensitive-skin friendly

Body polish is known for being tough on dead skin cells but gentle on sensitive skin. There’s a lower concentration of exfoliants and higher concentration of moisturizer, so your skin isn’t exposed to the same level of abrasiveness. It’s safe to use a body polish more regularly than a scrub, too, since the exfoliation is a bit lighter.

 

How to Use Your Body Polish

Always apply body scrub directly to clean skin. It’s best to polish the skin in a circular motion to encourage blood flow and lymphatic drainage. Use your polish on dry areas, stretch marks, cellulite, scars, uneven spots, ingrown hairs, and anywhere you plan to shave. Once finished, you can gently rinse off the polish, but most of it should have dissolved into your skin. It’s best not to use soap or body wash after this, since it could wash away moisturizing ingredients.

 

The Skincare Product of the Summer: Our Tallow-Based Body Polish

Summer is for tan lines, dips in the ocean, and plenty of pool days. But these activities can be hard on your skin. That’s where intentional moisture comes in. And what better way to do it than with natural ingredients, like 100% grass-fed tallow and shea butter? The first of its kind, our tallow-powered body polish is deeply restorative, safe for sensitive skin, and helps rehydrate the skin after summer.

Ready, Set, *Polish*