Scrub or Wash? Which Is Right for Your Skin?

Washing your face is the first step in your skincare regimen. Lather, rub your face, rinse. Simple enough. But there is one major question fundamental to results. Wash or scrub?

In our playbook, washes and scrubs are not an either/or proposition. Each has a specific and necessary role in maintaining healthy skin and a radiant glow, and the best regimens include both.

A wash cleanses the surface of the skin, removing dirt, oil, and makeup. Some washes include alpha-hydroxy acids to help loosen dead skin cells. Some have anti-inflammatory or antibacterial to help control acne. They may have antioxidant and hydrating ingredients as well. The best washes do more than just cleanse. They support healthy cell function and a resilient skin barrier.

A scrub does all those things, plus it clears dead skin cells by exfoliating the skin. Scrubs are formulated with the same ingredients—antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating—and are bolstered with scrubbing granules to lift away dead skin cells and surface debris. This exfoliating quality helps jump-start cell renewal and optimize the performance of the next regimen steps.

A wash can be used every day. Scrubs can be used every day as well. You can alternate days if your skin is sensitive. If you have acneic skin, you should use a scrub daily to keep skin free from pore-clogging dead cells and to allow antibacterial agents to reach down into the pore. Which are best for your skin? 

Dry, sensitive, mature skin?

Your wash: Cleansing Milk

A lipid-rich, creamy wash fortified with antioxidant grapeseed oil to hydrate, protect skin from free radical damage, and stimulate cell repair. It calms inflammation and redness and strengthens the skin barrier.

Your scrub: Buffing Grains Exfoliating Cleanser

The perfect hydrating scrub to add to your regimen a couple of times a week. It can be used on its own, but mixing it with Cleansing Milk is our favorite way to get the advantage of exfoliation with the benefit of your targeted wash.

Normal or combination skin?

Your wash: Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser

This gentle anti-inflammatory and antioxidant cleanser removes impurities and helps to regulate sebum. The superabundance of bioactive polyphenols in green tea protects cells from free radical damage and support healthy cell function.

Your scrub: Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Exfoliating Scrub

The ultimate healthy cleanse for face and body is intensified with the addition of exfoliating granules. Defend against acne, aging, and irregular pigmentation with antioxidant, free-radical fighting strength in a fresh, hydrating scrub.

Oily, acne-prone skin? 

Your wash: 3% BP Acne Wash

The essential acne fighter reaches into the pore to kill acne bacteria, peel away impactions, reduce inflammation, and help heal the skin. Use daily to prevent and control acne.

Your scrub: BP 3% Exfoliating Cleanser

The king of cleansers for mild to severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide releases oxygen into the pore to kill bacteria, while biodegradable microbeads clear cellular debris to peel out impactions.

Sensitive, oily, acne-prone, or discoloration issues?

Your wash: Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Wash

A gentle, multi-tasker that harnesses antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and melanin-inhibiting ingredients for the ultimate clearing and brightening cleanse. Good for face, body, and scalp in all skin types and tones.

Your scrub: Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

Clear surface debris, kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, control pigment, and strengthen the skin barrier without irritating or stripping the skin. The magic of mandelic acid with the muscle of exfoliating granules.

All of Vivant’s scrubs use smooth, sustainable, bio-degradable microbeads that are friendly to the skin and the planet.