The exact origin of the shower loofah is unknown, but sometime in the 20th century the loofah began making a regular appearance in showers around the world as a way to exfoliate the skin.
The loofah has evolved considerably over the years. Now you can find all-natural loofahs made from renewable resources, which is great for mother earth, but we've also learned that loofahs are a really inefficient and less-than-clean way to scrub those dead skills. In some cases loofahs have even led to bacteria infections (yikes!).
The good news is there are plenty of better ways to exfoliate your skin and feel squeaky clean after your shower routine. Here's why we recommend ditching the loofah and what we recommend using instead.
Loofahs are a bacteria breeding ground
Most people leave their loofahs in the shower after use, which makes it the perfect environment for mold to grow. Loofahs are also made of a very porous material which is a great way to absorb bacteria from your skin. Combined with a moist environment and the potential for mold means every time you re-use your loofah you're spreading bacteria rather than getting squeaky clean.
There's a better way to exfoliate your skin
Loofahs are actually too rough for our delicate skin. Using a loofah or harsh chemicals on the skin may lead to microscopic tears that could eventually result in premature aging and long-term damage to the skin. We recommend using all-natural body scrubs made from salt or sugar, combined with essential oils. You can make them at home using household products or you can shop our soap bars that are locally made with love.
Use Your Hands or a Washcloth instead
It sounds counterintuitive to use your hands when your goal is to exfoliate the skin, but swapping out your usual bath soap for an exfoliating body bar that contains salt or sugar scrubs means you can toss the loofah or washcloth altogether and virtually eliminate the risk of damaging your skin. If using your hands is not your jam, we recommend using a washcloth but remember to wash it regularly in hot water to remove bacteria.