I heard that a foreign student was shocked when a Korean friend invited them to go to the bathhouse together. It was because there was a green towel in the friend's bag. "You scrub your body with that?" They said they asked. Koreans scrub off dead skin like this when autumn comes. ## Why Autumn, of All Seasons? Skin that has suffered through sweat and sun all summer gets rough on the surface. Once the weather turns dry, I think even creams put on top don't soak in well. That's how the order "first strip away, then replenish" came about. In the past, many homes made it hard to bathe for long in warm water, so soaking in a public bathhouse and scrubbing off dead skin became a natural habit. ## What to check before you head out - **Scrub towel**: You can buy one at markets, pharmacies, and supermarkets. It's made for rough scrubbing of the body, so my friends only use it on the body and use a gentle product separately on the face. - **Body scrub service**: Check on a map app or by phone whether the place offers scrubbing. It differs from place to place. - **Soak well first**: Soak in warm water first. Only when your skin is softened does the dead skin come off smoothly and hurt less. - **Skin condition**: Avoid it if you have wounds or red spots. Skin that has been scrubbed is sensitive even to the slightest irritation. - **Moisturizing cream**: I pack it so I can put it on right after I wash up. After the dead skin is scrubbed off, moisture evaporates from the skin quickly. ## It Looks Different Once You Know For Koreans, scrubbing off dead skin isn't just about being clean; it's a warm-up that evens out the texture of the skin. They believe moisturizer absorbs well only when it goes on top of that. If your friend pulls out a green towel, you'll understand why now, right?