Exfoliating is the first step to beautiful summer skin. As the sun gets warmer, you pull out the tank tops, shorts, skirts and sandals but then you realize that winter has been pretty tough on your skin. It doesn't do much good to whine about getting older or looking for jobs in better climates. (I know, I've tried!)

It's simply time to start using exfoliating soaps or body scrubs as part of your skin care routine. That glowing smooth skin of your younger days is really still there, it just needs a little push to shine again. Okay, so the word, exfoliation, sounds pretty painful and maybe even time consuming but it's not either of those things. Body scrubs and exfoliating soaps can be a great excuse for time to pamper yourself while you mentally plot out a fun!

How do you get summer ready skin by exfoliating?

Body scrubs and exfoliating soaps are a luscious way to smooth your skin all over! Exfoliating with a body scrub is actually a gentle way to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and glowing. Depending on the type of body scrub and your type of skin, you can use a body scrub in the shower or bath at least once a week at home. Very popular at health spas, all over body scrubs do not have to be an expensive or time consuming skin treatment. We are taught that it is essential to exfoliate the face to unclog pores and even out skin tones but its just as important to clear away the surface of our whole bodies the same way.

Exfoliating Soaps - What exactly are they?

Exfoliating soaps contain ingredients that naturally scrub away that top layer of dead skin cells. Oatmeal, kaolin clay or finely ground pumice can be found in exfoliating soaps but make sure there are also moisture rich ingredients to nourish your newly exposed skin. Soaps that have shea butter, soybean oil, jojoba oil or cocoa butter blended in will give a great spa experience right at home.

Body Scrubs - Which works better?

Most body scrubs fall into two categories - salt scrubs and sugar body scrubs. Body scrubs can be applied by hand, of course but you can also use a loofah sponge and body brushes along with the body scrubs to help with the job of sloughing away that unwanted top layer of skin.

Salt scrubs boost the circulation to your skin and are coarser, with more exfoliating power than sugar-based scrubs. Sugar scrubs are perfect for sensitive skin because sugar is more gentle than salt. Both remove dead skin cells, slough away dirt and toxins while giving your skin a revitalized, healthy glow. An added benefit of sugar scrubs is the anti-aging properties of sugar. Because sugar produces glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that has been used for centuries to rejuvenate skin, sugar scrubs give your skin a younger glow and appearance naturally.

Exfoliating with a body scrub can be done dry or wet. If you have sensitive skin, avoid salt scrubs or dry bathing and start out your exfoliating routine at once a week.

Be careful - don't be too vigorous with the body brushes or loofah sponges to avoid irritated skin. It's often not the scrub itself that irritates but what we use when exfoliating or the frequency of using the scrub. Natural body scrubs often work fine without extra "tools of the trade" - simply using a clean bath cloth or your hands will do the job nicely!

If you have very dry or sensitive skin, remember to only use sugar scrubs applied to damp skin to avoid over-drying or irritating your skin. AND...don't forget to follow up your facial treatment or body polish routine with a moisturizer to match your skin type.

Now, Get ready for Summer