No. A loofah is surface exfoliation: its fibers sweep away the dull, dead cells on the very top layer of your skin, and that's it. Microneedling is a medical procedure in which a device with tiny needles punctures the skin, and the American Academy of Dermatology says it belongs in the hands of a board-certified dermatologist. Rubbing a loofah harder doesn't move it any closer to microneedling. It only irritates your skin.
I bring this up because the comparison comes up more than you'd think. A rough texture feels like it's "doing something deep," so it's tempting to believe that the scratchier it feels, the more it works. With a loofah, the opposite is true.
What does a loofah actually do?
A loofah is a dried gourd, the fibrous skeleton of a plant in the cucumber family. When you move it over wet, soapy skin, the fibers lift off cells that were already on their way out. Skin feels smoother afterward, and it can look a little brighter because that dull top layer is gone. Everything happens on the surface. Nothing goes into the skin.
I explain the plant itself, and how the loofah ends up in some of my bars, in what loofah soap is and how to use it.
What is microneedling, then?
The AAD describes it as a medical treatment that uses tiny needles to puncture the skin. Dermatologists do it in their office, with sterile tools, and they decide how deep to go. The pens and rollers sold for home use have shorter, duller needles that aren't meant to puncture the skin. And the AAD warns that using them at home can irritate the skin, and that pressing too hard can leave scars or discoloration (AAD).
So they're two different things for two different places. One is part of your shower. The other is part of a doctor's visit.
Can pressing harder with a loofah hurt my skin?
Yes. Leaning on the fiber leaves red, scratched patches, and the AAD notes that over-exfoliating leaves skin red and irritated. In some skin, especially darker skin tones, aggressive exfoliation can even leave darker marks behind (AAD). Let the texture do the work. If it stings, you're pressing too hard or going too often.
How do I use the loofah that comes with my Cleopatra soap?
The Cleopatra Loofah Soap is a round glycerin bar (120 g) with sweet almond and coconut oils, sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed collagen, and it comes with a separate biodegradable loofah. This is how I'd use them:
- On your face, use your hands. Lather the bar between your palms and wash with your fingertips. The AAD's face-washing advice says the same thing: fingertips, because a washcloth or a mesh sponge can irritate the skin (AAD).
- On your body, use the loofah. Wet it, rub it on the bar and move it in light circles over shoulders, arms, elbows and knees.
- Rinse both. No lather left in the fibers.
- Let them dry. The bar on a dish that drains, the loofah somewhere with air. A loofah that stays wet all the time isn't something you want on your skin.
The bar is the first step of the Cleopatra Facial Ritual Set, and it comes with the Cleopatra Hydrating Cream in the Cleopatra Skincare Mini Set. The whole routine, step by step, is in the Cleopatra routine, morning and night. For the face, the gentle polish in that ritual comes from the Dead Sea salt exfoliant, twice a week, not from the loofah.
Who shouldn't use the Cleopatra soap and loofah?
The Cleopatra line is made for dry or dehydrated skin that looks dull. It isn't for hypersensitive skin, and it isn't for skin that's irritated, broken or has active breakouts. If that's you right now, wait until your skin calms down. And the soap has sweet almond and coconut oils, so if you're allergic to either one, it's not for you.
A few more questions people ask
Is a natural loofah good for your skin?
On the body, used gently and kept clean and dry, it's a simple way to exfoliate. On the face, I'd rather you use your hands and leave the exfoliating to a gentle product a couple of times a week.
How often should I use the loofah?
A few times a week is plenty for most bodies, and less if your skin is dry. There's a longer answer in how often to exfoliate your body.
Can a loofah replace a microneedling session?
No, and nothing you rub on your skin at home can. If microneedling interests you, that's a conversation with a board-certified dermatologist.
Sources: AAD, Microneedling can fade scars, uneven skin tone, and more · AAD, How to safely exfoliate at home · AAD, Face washing 101. Dermapen is a trademark of its owner; it's mentioned here only as the name many people use for microneedling pens.
Cosmetic products. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.