There are a lot of questions when it comes to body care. For instance, do I really need a body scrub? Or, how do I create an effective body care routine? Today, we’re here to answer a major one: Should I exfoliate before or after shaving? And does it even matter? (Spoiler: it sure does). Ahead, find out why exfoliation is so important when shaving your legs, the step it should be in your routine, and more.
Why You Need to Exfoliate
Let’s back up a bit. Why do you need to exfoliate at all? Exfoliation removes dry, dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, leaving it soft and silky. It also has tons of added benefits.
- Softens skin: Removing the buildup of dry, dead skin cells instantly reveals a softer layer underneath.
- Unclogs pores: Exfoliating helps remove dirt, oil, and other impurities from inside the pores, minimizing their appearance and even reducing blackheads.
- Gives skin a glow: That top layer of dead skin cells tends to have a duller appearance. Exfoliating gives skin a natural radiance.
- Helps with product absorption: Removing dead skin cells allows skin care products and their active ingredients to penetrate more effectively. In other words, exfoliating regularly helps your skin care products to work better. Who doesn’t want that?
- Improves skin tone: In some cases, exfoliation can help even skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
- Prevents ingrowns: Exfoliating can also help prevent the occurrence of ingrown hairs after shaving or waxing. Which leads us to…
Do You Exfoliate Before or After Shaving?
Bottom line: You should exfoliate before shaving. Exfoliating is essential prep for your skin. It removes dead cells, excess oil, and product buildup, reducing the risk of inflammation and redness after shaving. (Not to mention, all that stuff can clog your razor and make it less effective, which nobody wants!)
Put simply, exfoliating before shaving helps you achieve a closer shave and the smoothest result while minimizing the risk of nicks, bumps, and razor burn.
You should not exfoliate immediately after shaving. Shaving itself exfoliates the top layer of skin, which will be sensitive post-shave. “Many of the typical exfoliants could burn following shaving and your skin may appear red and angry—it's best to avoid that," Sarah Allen, MD, a board-certified Internal medicine physician and co-founder of The Skin Clique tells Southern Living.
Instead, wait a couple of days until your skin is less sensitive, then go for it. Exfoliating will make it easier for the hair to come through—meaning you'll be less likely to get ingrowns.
What Type of Exfoliant Should I Use?
Exfoliants are categorized as either physical or chemical. Physical exfoliants, like body scrubs, contain small granular components you can see, such as sugar, salt, or beads, to slough off dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliants use—you guessed it—chemicals to loosen dead skin cells. Products containing AHAs like lactic and glycolic acids, and BHAs like salicylic acid, fall into the latter category.
They both have their benefits, but we prefer a scrub before shaving for quick results. You also can use soap and a body-scrubbing tool like a loofah to help gently buff away dead skin cells.
How To Create A Shaving Routine
Now that we’ve covered whether you shave or exfoliate first, the next thing to tackle is how to exfoliate before shaving. Here’s our guide to getting the smoothest skin––no irritation invited.
Step 1: Cleanse your skin in warm water
The first thing to consider is your water temperature. Go for warm water rather than scorching hot. It will still feel comfortable on your skin, but won’t be over-drying. Then, use a gentle, moisturizing body wash to cleanse and prep skin for exfoliation. So far, so easy, right?
Step 2: Exfoliate
After you’ve cleansed from head to toe, the next step is to exfoliate. Although the skin on your body is more resilient than the skin on your face, you don’t want to scrub too hard. Instead, use light, circular strokes to gently remove those dull, rough patches.
Step 3: Rinse well
Say goodbye to all that buildup. Make sure to remove the body scrub or body wash from your skin with a thorough rinse. You can also use a washcloth or loofah to help (just be sure to replace it regularly).
Step 4: Shave
Now, for the main event. Using a shave cream, shave gel, or highly moisturizing body wash like Brazilian Play Body Wash is key. Don’t use a plain bar of soap or—gasp!—nothing at all. That will further dry out skin and can cause irritation.
The razor you use is up to you. There are razors with a single blade or as many as five. You’ll always want to use a sharp blade and replace it often. It may sound counterintuitive, but a dull blade is far more likely to cause nicks and cuts.
After shaving, be sure you clean your razor well, removing soap and hair debris. Then position it in an upright position to allow it to drain well. Always store it in a dry place to reduce rust between showers.
Step 5: Moisturize
Immediately after you get out of the shower, it’s time to moisturize. This will seal in hydration and leave skin feeling super-soft for longer. After all that smoothing, buffing, and shaving, using a hydrating body cream like our best-selling Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream with fast-absorbing cupuaçu butter will feel like such a treat!
Step 6: Exfoliate again…after a couple days
Again, exfoliating immediately after shaving is a big no-no. The newly revealed layer of skin is too sensitive for exfoliation, and you could experience stinging or irritation. But after about two days, you can absolutely exfoliate again. In fact, doing so will help remove dead skin, making it easier for the hair to come through.
