Salt scrubs are often touted as the more natural alternative to sugar scrubs. But is this really true? Have you ever wondered what makes a scrub better than another? In your opinion, is sugar or salt better for body scrubs?

Let's explore the difference between salt scrub and sugar scrub, their respective benefits, and which one might be right for you!

Salt scrubs have been used for years by healers who knew that it had healing properties. Today we know that these properties come from minerals like magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine and calcium - all of which improve skin elasticity.

Salt also has antibacterial qualities so it can help clear up any body acne while exfoliating away dead skin cells at the same time.

Sugar scrub has been around for centuries, but has gained more traction recently with the rise of DIY beauty products and home spa treatments. The word scrub can be traced back to the Spanish verb "escurrir" which means "to rub away."

When sugar is mixed with oil or lotion it creates a rich texture that exfoliates dead skin cells from your body when rubbed on. Sugar scrubs have been used by many cultures for various purposes such as foot soaks, face masks and body exfoliation.

Both salt and sugar scrubs are considered manual exfoliants and work by sloughing off dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin while also stimulating blood circulation due to their natural properties as an exfoliant.

Just the act of removing this layer of dull, dead skin gives it an immediate look of improvement. That's because this top layer of skin is dehydrated, so it often flakes and cracks.

It's important to choose a scrub with emollients that contain oil, as these hydrate best trapping moisture in the skin. Once you've removed this dehydrated layer of skin, you've made way for better penetration of these oils to be absorbed into the skin.

In A Girl's Gotta Spa!'s salt scrubs, we use sunflower and safflower seed oil as they contain a high level of linoleic acid, which improves skin barrier function.

Salt and sugar scrubs basically achieve the same goal - exfoliation. However to determine which is better, that all depends on your skin type and if you have any underlying conditions contributing to your skin health.

Sugar is best for sensitive skin as the granules are finer providing a gentler polish of the top layer. This also goes for the elderly whose skin is thinner.

Salt is better for normal to really rough dry skin, especially when it is due to a skin issue like psoriasis, keratosis pilaris or from an overall health issue, like diabetes.

Whichever you choose, being consistent with your body care routine is key in keeping skin healthy and soft.

Let us know in the comments, which you prefer.