'My skin has never been softer after using this $4 product.'

You probably already know I take my skincare seriously. But it doesn't stop at my face, because body care is just as important.

If I added up all the money I've spent on exfoliating loofahs, gloves, brushes, scrubs and overpriced grainy goops over the years, I'd probably have a mini heart attack. And yet, despite that small fortune, the chicken skin on my arms (aka keratosis pilaris or KP for short) and the ingrowns on my legs have never really budged.

WATCH: Erin Docherty and Emily Vernem chat about a viral trick to solve dry, cracked feet. Post continues below.

But during a late-night TikTok scroll through my very saturated feed of Korean beauty hacks, I stumbled across video after video of people raving about Korean exfoliating mitts.

@randomsymphony

Korean exfoliating mitts have my heart🛀 #exfoliation #koreanskincare #africannetsponge #skincare #dryskin

♬ original sound - Symphony

According to all the reviews online, not only do they make your skin feel baby-smooth, but they also help clear up KP, target ingrown hair, and even treat bacne. To say I was intrigued would be the biggest understatement of the year. 

But the selling points didn't stop there.

After a bit of Googling, I soon found out that they're cheap as chips, reusable and don't require any fancy body wash or extra products to work their magic, making them ideal for anyone with sensitive or reactive skin (hello, @ me). Plus, one exfoliating session per week is all you need with this mitt.  

Yes, I know I go on about Korean beauty (sorry!), but when something works, you can bet I'll be shouting it from the rooftops.

So, here's everything you need to know about Korean exfoliating mitts, and exactly what happened when I put them to the test.

@tressuni

Mutual confusion #koreanbodyscrubber

♬ original sound - Tressuni

What is a Korean exfoliating mitt?

The Korean exfoliating mitt has been a skincare staple in Korean households and public saunas (aka jjimjilbangs) for decades. Made from 100 per cent viscose fibres, it's designed for manual exfoliation and removes dead skin way more effectively than a regular loofah or scrub. They're also called 'Italy towel', thanks to the original viscose material coming from Italy. 

The material is super-lightweight and slightly abrasive, and they come in different colours based on strength:

• Pink: the least abrasive and is perfect for sensitive areas like the neck and chest

• Green: medium strength and is great for most skin types and general use

• Yellow: strong and is ideal for rougher areas like knees, elbows, feet and KP

• Blue: the most abrasive and best for very tough skin

Listen: The YouBeauty hosts discuss what Keratosis Pilaris is. Post continues below.

How do you use a Korean exfoliating mitt?

Here's how to get the best results from your mitt:

1. Jump in the shower and let warm-to-hot water run over your skin for 5–10 minutes. This softens the skin and loosens dead skin cells. Make sure not to use any soaps. You want clean, bare skin with no oily residue.

2. Step away from the water or turn it off. 

3. Put on the mitt and begin scrubbing. Use gentle, up-and-down strokes on your arms, legs, back and stomach. You should start to see little grey rolls of skin peeling away. Avoid your face and any sensitive areas.

4. Rinse off with your regular body wash and water to clean your skin.

5. Moisturise immediately after showering while your skin is still damp. Use a thick cream or body oil to lock in hydration. My favourite options are the L'Occitane Shea Butter Fabulous Oil 100ml ($55), the Go To Oil Over 120ml ($51), the Kiehl's Kreme de Corps 250ml ($77) and the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Fragrance Free body Lotion 1L ($18.99).

Where can you buy a Korean exfoliating mitt?

You can find these in-store at most Korean grocery stores, but the easiest way is online. I bought this five-pack on Amazon for $19.99, which works out to just $4 per mitt. 

Image: Amazon.

My honest review.

I'd heard rave reviews from my mum, grandma and many Korean beauty TikTokers, so my expectations were sky-high.

When my mitts arrived, I was surprised by how lightweight and thin they felt. I was honestly feeling a little sceptical at this point.

But I hopped in the shower, grabbed the pink mitt (the least abrasive) and got to work. At first… nothing. But about 15 seconds into gently scrubbing my arm… there it was. Dead skin. Rolling off. Like tiny crumbs. I kept going, scrubbing my arms, legs, stomach and back (well, as much as I could reach).

After scrubbing down my body, I then turned the water back on and continued with my regular shower routine. I could already feel my skin feel so silky smooth under the water. 

But the real sensation came when I stepped out of the shower. I don't even know how to describe it, but I just felt… lighter. Like I had shed a whole layer of skin. 

And the best part was that my skin didn't look red or irritated from all the scrubbing, unlike what it used to after a post-loofah or dry brush session. And I didn't even scrub hard because, like I mentioned earlier, it's all about the friction, not the pressure.

I then threw the pink mitt in the washing machine to give it a wash, ready for my next exfoliating session in a week's time. 

My skin has never felt this smooth! Image: Supplied.

The results.

It's been three weeks (meaning three uses), and the changes to my skin are just wild. I've now switched to the green mitt for more exfoliation, and use the pink one for delicate areas around my chest and neck. 

My KP has flattened. My legs are smoother. My ingrown hairs are basically non-existent. And my skin somehow feels hydrated, even after excessively long, hot showers.

Best of all? You can throw the mitts in the wash and reuse them over and over, which is way more hygienic than leaving a damp loofah or brush hanging in the bathroom. 

It works, it's cheap, it's hygienic, and it's satisfying to use.

Trust me, this might be the best $4 you'll spend. 

Have you tried a Korean exfoliating mitt before? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Feature image: Supplied.

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