Exfoliating soap is a skin care product that is used to clean the skin and also remove dead skin cells. There are two basic kinds of this soap. One kind is used for the face and is usually made with a finer, gentler exfoliant. The other is used on the body and may be made with a rougher, larger-grained exfoliant. The most intense type of this soap is the kind that is intended specifically for use on the feet as this type contains an exfoliant that is supposed to help slough away the dead skin cells that make up callouses.
There are a number of kinds of materials that can be added to soap to give it an exfoliating quality. In some kinds of exfoliating soap, loofah fibers are mixed in to the formula. Other natural products that are used as exfoliants in this kind of soap are seaweed, crushed apricot pits, and oatmeal. Sometimes synthetic beads or fibers are used as an exfoliant.
The face is not the only part of the body that can benefit from exfoliation. Skin all over the body can benefit from exfoliation to reveal new, refreshed skin. Exfoliation on certain parts of the body, such as the back and shoulders, can help to reduce body acne. For those who happen to be very flexible, exfoliating soap can just be rubbed over these areas and then rinsed clean in the shower. For those who are not so flexible, the soap can be rubbed onto the head of a scrubber with a handle and then rubbed over the back and shoulders.
There are many uses for exfoliating soap. Some women find that regularly using it on their legs can help to reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs that result from shaving. It can also help to slough dead skin cells off of rough hands. It can also help to remove dirt that is deep in the skin and under the fingernails. For this reason, exfoliating soap is regularly used by mechanics and gardeners.
After using exfoliating soap, it is a good idea to moisturize the skin. Although the skin may be healthy and glowing after having the dead skin cells sloughed away, it needs to be kept healthy and fresh with moisturizer or body oil. It is best to apply the moisturizer when the skin is still warm from being washes as it will absorb the hydration well in this state.