The Korean "Italy towel" body scrub at home: how to do it without overdoing it
The green or red "Italy towel" (이태리타월) is the classic Korean exfoliating mitt. At the bathhouse it is done after a long soak; at home you can do a gentler version.
Home scrub, gently
- Soak in a warm bath or long shower for 15+ minutes
- Wet mitt, light pressure, long strokes
- Stop when skin turns pink — not red
- Rinse, then moisturise right away
- Once every 1–2 weeks is plenty
Poll
Tried an Italy towel?
Sign in to vote
0
A home version should feel like a light polish, not a jjimjilbang scrub-down. Soak in comfortably warm water for about 5–10 minutes, then step out and gently squeeze the mitt so it’s damp, not dripping. On wet skin, use short, easy strokes with minimal pressure; stop if skin gets hot, stings, or turns intensely red. You don’t need to see rolls of dead skin for it to “work.”
Keep it off the face, neck, freshly shaved skin, sunburn, cuts, and any irritated or inflamed spots. Rinse the mitt well and let it dry fully. Afterward, apply a plain moisturizer; skip acids, retinoids, and other exfoliating products that day. Once every 1–2 weeks is plenty to start, and less often if skin feels tight or tender. The towel’s color alone isn’t a dependable guide to how rough it is, so check the texture and go gently.