What Exactly is a Body Polish?

If you have never heard of a body polish, you are not alone. It may not be as recognized as other cosmetic treatments; but it is still very popular throughout the world. So, what exactly is a body polish? Well, a body polish is a spa treatment that exfoliates and hydrates your skin, leaving it smooth and supple (soft). It is not a massage; rather it is more like a facial for your body. A body polish may consist of materials like: sugar, rice, coffee, salt, and/or chopped pecans. One or more of these materials are mixed with massage oils to provide a soothing, aromatic experience. When the polish consists primarily of salt, it is called a salt scrub, or sea salt scrub.

Once your skin has been thoroughly exfoliated, you will be instructed to shower. Following the shower, your esthetician (skin specialist) or spa technician will apply nourishing oils, lotions, and/or creams (moisturizers) to your freshly scrubbed skin. It is important to consult your physician before scheduling body polish. If you are interested in learning more about body polishes you have come to the right place. This article will explain what a body polish, and provide you details on the sessions.

Body Polish Sessions

At the beginning of the body polish session, you will enter a “wet room.” This room resembles an extremely large shower, complete with a drain and tile floor. The esthetician or spa technician may offer you disposable, water-proof undergarments. He/she should leave the room to allow you to undress. Once you are ready the specialist or technician will return. You will then be instructed to lie down face down on the cloth-covered massage table. Some spas offer a “wet table” specially designed for a body polish. A Vichy shower rests above the “wet table.” This type of set-up is quite nice because you do not have to get up to shower once the polish has been applied.

The skin specialist or skin technician will initiate the process by gently exfoliating the skin on your back, arms, legs, and feet. The parts of your body not being worked on will be covered with a sheet or towel. Once finished, the specialist or technician will ask you to step into the shower to rinse the exfoliants off of your body. If this treatment is being performed on a “wet table,” the specialist or technician will turn on the Vichy shower or take a handheld shower head and rinse you off. This type of treatment typically costs between $75 and $100, per hour, depending on the spa. Moreover, it usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete the massage.

Considerations

It is important to note that some spas do not have a shower in the room where the body polish is being performed. In this case, the skin specialist or spa technician removes the polish (exfoliants) from your body with slightly damp, steamed towels. Although body polishes are offered without other treatments, most polishes accompany body wraps (i.e. mud or seaweed). Moreover, some people combine a body polish with a deep tissue massage. Exfoliants can be abrasive and uncomfortable, therefore, if you experience any degree of discomfort, alert your specialist or technician so that he/she can change the materials.

References:

Brown, A. (2014). Body polish: What is A body polish? About Travel. Retrieved from http://spas.about.com/od/bodytreatments/a/polish.htm

Wisegeek. (2014). What is a body polish? Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-body-polish.htm