If you are anything like us, by which we mean a skincare enthusiast, then you would be well aware of the importance of using a good exfoliator at least once a week, if not more. This little step in your skincare routine comes with a lot of incredible benefits, such as sloughing away dead skin, evening out skin tone and unclogging pores to name a few.
But if you think you need to dig deep into your pocket to buy expensive scrubs that are effective, then you are absolutely wrong. In this article, we are about to show you how to make your own face and body scrubs using ingredients that are already available in your kitchen. Yes, really!
Excited? Before we begin, let’s discuss some benefits of using a face and body scrub regularly.
- 1. Benefits of using a face and body scrub
- 2. DIY scrub recipes
- - Strawberry + oats scrub
- - Honey + coconut oil scrub
- - Yogurt + olive oil scrub
- - Turmeric + coconut milk scrub
- 3. How to use a scrub
- 4. FAQs about exfoliating scrubs
1. Benefits of using a face and body scrub
01. Sloughs away dead skin cells –
This is perhaps the most common, yet the most useful benefit of regular exfoliation. Dead skin build-up not only leads to your complexion looking dull and tired, but also causes problems like breakouts and uneven skin texture. By getting rid of the dead layer of skin, you can unveil a fresher and clearer complexion.
02. Boosts skin hydration –
By eliminating the stubborn, superficial layer of dead skin cells, exfoliators help your skin better absorb skincare products and show quicker results. This is a great way to give your skin a boost of hydration.
03. Deep cleanses pores –
Dead skin cell build-up leads to clogged pores, which in turn leads to acne. But a simple way to avoid this problem is to exfoliate your skin about twice a week. This will help draw out sweat, dirt, oil and gunk that has been trapped inside your pores and ensure that your skin appears clear and glowing.
04. Makes your skin glow –
If you find yourself constantly complaining about a dull and lacklustre complexion, then maybe it is time to incorporate a scrub into your skincare routine. Scrubbing not only helps in buffing away dead skin cells and clearing out your pores but also improves blood circulation in the area, thereby making your skin glow.
05. Prevents ingrown hair –
Hair removal treatments lead to ‘strawberry skin’ due to ingrown hair. But exfoliating your skin before indulging in any hair removal method helps get rid of the ingrown hair and ensures that you have smooth, soft and supple skin.
2. DIY scrub recipes
Now that you know the benefits of regularly exfoliating your skin, it is time to dive into some simple DIY recipes. These recipes use very few, easily available ingredients, and yet show incredible results. Additionally, since these recipes are completely natural, they are also safe to use on all skin types. So let’s check ‘em out!
- Strawberry + oats scrub
Start by grinding about four to five fresh strawberries to form a purée and transfer it to a mixing bowl. Grind about ¼ cup of oats and coconut milk, followed by a cup of raw sugar. Mix all the ingredients together until it forms a coarse mixture and apply it all over your face and body. Massage in gentle circular motions and rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Why this works – Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and prevent skin from aging prematurely. Additionally, enriched with vitamin C, strawberries improve collagen production and brighten dull skin. Ground oats help calm inflammation and soothe skin irritation, making this scrub ideal for sensitive skin as well. Lastly, the inclusion of coconut milk makes it an excellent source for delivering skin hydration.
- Honey + coconut oil scrub
In a mixing bowl, mix together half a cup of brown sugar (you can even replace this with regular white sugar), ¼ cup of coconut oil and two tablespoons of honey. Mix the ingredients and adjust the consistency by adding coconut oil if you think the mixture is too coarse.
Why this works – The antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of honey helps combat skin issues such as UV damage, dry and parched skin as well as minor skin infections. Coconut oil is an excellent remedy to nourish and condition your skin, while sugar helps slough away dead skin cells without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.
- Yogurt + olive oil scrub
Start by adding a tablespoon of fresh yogurt, ¼ cup of olive oil, a tablespoon of honey, along with ¼ cup of sugar into a mixing bowl. Combine all the ingredients together to get a coarse consistency. If you are using this scrub on your face, we recommend you add a bit more olive oil to make it less abrasive for the delicate facial skin.
Why this works – If you feel like your skin looks really dull, tired and lacklustre, then this yogurt and olive scrub is perfect for you. The lactic acid in yogurt helps to gently exfoliate your skin, retexturize it, as well as eliminate dullness. Olive oil and honey work as excellent moisturisers to eliminate dryness and add a subtle glow. Sugar helps remove the topmost layer of dead skin, ingrown hair and dullness to make way for new skin to come through.
- Turmeric + coconut milk scrub
In a bowl, take about two teaspoons of turmeric powder and add three tablespoons of sugar and coconut milk each. Mix all the ingredients together and adjust the consistency of coconut milk if you think the mixture is either too coarse or too yellow. Apply it all over your face and body, massage it in circular motions and wash it off with lukewarm water. Don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser after exfoliation.
Why this works – Turmeric has been used since centuries in India as a part of DIY beauty remedies. Its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties help cleanse your skin, buff away dead skin cells and reveal glowing skin. The anti-aging benefits of turmeric also ensure that your skin looks really soft, supple and glowing.
3. How to use a scrub
Step 01: Cleanse
Start by cleansing your face using the double cleansing method. This will help you get rid of makeup, oil, sweat and other impurities from the surface of your skin.
Step 02: Exfoliate
Next, take a little bit of scrub on fingers and gently massage it all over your face and neck in a gentle circular motion. This will not help to get rid of surface impurities and unclog pores, but also improve blood circulation in the area to make your skin glow.
Step 03: Rinse
After you have massaged your skin for about four to five minutes, rinse it off using lukewarm water. This is because lukewarm water is extremely gentle on the skin, and does not strip your skin off its natural oils, leaving it soft and supple instead of dry and parched.
Step 04: Moisturise
As the last step, apply a generous amount of your favourite moisturiser or body lotion immediately after rinsing the scrub, while your skin is still slightly damp. This will help seal the moisture into your skin as well as prevent the loss of essential vitamins and nutrients.
4. FAQs about exfoliating scrubs
Q. How often should you exfoliate?
A. If you have normal, dry or oily skin, then you should exfoliate your skin about three times a week. This will help get rid of surface impurities, keep your pores clean and prevent dead skin cell build-up. But if you have sensitive skin, then apart from using a gentler exfoliator, it would also be wise to restrict exfoliation to just one to two times a week to prevent skin damage.
Q. What do I do after exfoliating?
A. After exfoliating your face or body, it is really (and we mean REALLY) important to use a hydrating moisturizer or body lotion while your skin is slightly damp. This helps seal in moisture, as well as infuse the nutrients from the exfoliator into your skin. It is also a great way to prevent your skin from appearing dry, parched and irritated.
Q. Is it better to exfoliate in the morning or evening?
A. Since your body (as well as your skin) regenerates, repairs and rejuvenates itself in the night while you sleep, it is always a good idea to exfoliate your skin in the evening. Since you are mostly indoors in the night, this makes for a great time for your body to also soak up all the goodness from the scrub as well as the moisturiser, thereby ensuring that it works better and shows faster results.
Written by Urvi Dalal on Oct 29, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!