Exfoliating regularly helps keep your skin fresh and supple, and an all-natural loofah sponge provides excellent, chemical-free, manual exfoliation. Loofah scrubbers originate as the natural fibers in gourds from the Luffa cylindrica plant, and they can be quite stiff and abrasive when new. If you plan to exfoliate your face and body, you may want to use more than one sponge. Choose a smooth loofah -- one with finer fibers -- for your face and neck, and pick a coarse loofah for your body and feet. Soak new loofahs in hot water before use to soften the fibers. If a loofah seems too stiff, soak it in hot water and break it in by initially scrubbing tough areas such as your feet or knees to help soften the fibers.
Facial Exfoliation
Wet your loofah in hot water and squeeze it to soften it before use. Apply your choice of facial wash or soap to the loofah -- use a small handful of facial wash or liquid soap, or rub the loofah a few times with a bar of soap.
Rub your face and neck gently with the loofah, moving it in small circles over your skin. Apply slight pressure, pressing just enough to remove dead skin cells without damaging your skin. Avoid the eye area and any particularly sensitive areas, such as around the nose. Take particular care with the decolletage and chest area.
Rinse completely and gently pat dry your skin with a soft, clean towel.
Body Exfoliation
Apply soap or body wash to a coarser loofah. Scrub your body, using a circular motion. Press just hard enough to loosen dead skin cells. Besides cleaning away sloughing skin cells, a loofah is sometimes used in massage therapy as it invigorates the skin, stimulating circulation, which aids in the development of new skin cells.
Pay particular attention to areas of your body with rough skin, such as elbows, knees and feet. Repeated use of a loofah reduces dry skin or callouses in these areas, allowing softer, smoother skin to surface. Use a soft washcloth instead of a loofah to cleanse tender areas.
Rinse your body completely, and pat your skin dry with a soft towel. To discourage the growth of bacteria, mold or mildew, rinse the loofah, squeeze out excess water, and hang it to dry