A homemade face scrub is a natural, affordable, and customizable alternative to store-bought exfoliators. Made with simple ingredients found in your kitchen, these scrubs are free of synthetic fragrances, harsh chemicals, and microplastics often found in commercial products. Learning how to make a face scrub at home gives you full control over what touches your skin—especially important for those with sensitive or acne-prone complexions.
Whether you're battling dryness, excess oil, or dullness, a DIY face scrub can help refresh your skin without breaking the bank. Plus, they're sustainable, easy to prepare, and can be tailored to your unique skin type.
01Benefits of Homemade Face Scrubs
Incorporating a homemade face scrub into your skincare routine has several benefits:
- Gentle Exfoliation – Natural exfoliants like oats and sugar slough off dead skin cells without irritation.
- Unclogs Pores – Removes dirt, oil, and impurities that cause breakouts.
- Improves Skin Texture – Leaves skin smoother and softer.
- Boosts Circulation – Stimulates blood flow for a healthy glow.
- Evens Skin Tone – Helps fade pigmentation and brighten dull areas.
- Prevents Acne – Clears out clogged pores and controls sebum production.
- Natural Ingredients – No harsh chemicals or synthetic additives.
- Customizable – Easily adjusted for different skin types and concerns.
- Cost-Effective – Uses budget-friendly, everyday ingredients.
- Eco-Friendly – No plastic microbeads or unnecessary packaging.
02Best Homemade Face Scrub for Every Skin Type
Below are DIY recipes tailored for specific skin types, including benefits, ingredients, and easy preparation steps.
1. Homemade Face Scrub for Oily Skin
Excess oil and clogged pores are common concerns for oily skin. These scrubs help balance oil while keeping skin clear and matte. These homemade face scrubs for oily skin help balance oil while keeping skin clear and matte.
A. Lemon & Sugar Scrub
Benefits: Brightens skin and controls oil. The natural acidity of lemon helps to gently exfoliate dead skin cells while tightening pores, reducing excess oil production. Sugar acts as a gentle abrasive that smooths the skin's surface without causing irritation. Together, they leave your skin feeling fresh, glowing, and balanced — perfect for oily skin types looking for a natural deep clean.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp honey
How to Make: Mix ingredients until well combined. How to Apply: Gently scrub for 1–2 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water. Use 2x/week.
B. Tomato & Rice Flour Scrub
Benefits: Removes tan and excess sebum. The natural enzymes and antioxidants in tomato help to brighten dull skin and fade sun-induced pigmentation, while rice flour gently exfoliates to unclog pores and absorb excess oil. This combo refreshes your complexion, leaving it clearer, smoother, and beautifully balanced.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp tomato pulp
- 1 tsp rice flour
How to Make: Mix to a paste. How to Apply: Apply in circular motions and rinse off after 5 minutes.
C. Multani Mitti & Rose Water Scrub
Benefits: Deep cleans and tightens pores. Multani mitti (Fuller's earth) is known for its excellent oil-absorbing properties, drawing out impurities and excess sebum from deep within the skin. Combined with soothing rose water, this scrub gently refreshes and calms the skin, leaving it soft, matte, and visibly tightened—perfect for oily and combination skin types.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp Multani mitti (fuller's earth)
- Rose water to form a paste
How to Make: Mix until smooth. How to Apply: Apply and scrub gently, then rinse. Use 1–2x/week.
For an added glow, pair your routine with the Simple Protect N Glow Vitamin C Brighten Clay Mask once a week—it offers a gentle detox while complementing your scrub routine.
2. Homemade Face Scrub for Dry Skin
Dry skin needs gentle exfoliation that doesn't strip away moisture.
A. Honey & Oatmeal Scrub
Benefits: Soothes and hydrates. Honey is a natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin while providing gentle antibacterial properties to calm irritation. Oatmeal acts as a soft exfoliant, removing dead skin cells without stripping natural oils, making this scrub ideal for sensitive or dry skin. Together, they leave your skin feeling nourished, smooth, and refreshed.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp ground oats
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp milk
How to Make: Blend oats, mix with honey and milk. How to Apply: Massage gently, rinse after 2–3 minutes.
B. Banana & Sugar Scrub
Benefits: Moisturizes and removes dead cells. Banana is rich in vitamins and natural oils that deeply nourish and hydrate the skin, helping to restore softness and elasticity. Sugar gently exfoliates to slough away dead skin cells, revealing a smoother, brighter complexion. This combination is perfect for refreshing dull, tired skin while keeping it moisturized and glowing.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp mashed banana
- 1 tsp brown sugar
How to Make: Combine into a thick paste. How to Apply: Use as a quick morning exfoliator.
C. Coconut Oil & Coffee Scrub
Benefits: Nourishes and revives dull skin. Coconut oil deeply hydrates and softens, while coffee grounds provide invigorating exfoliation that boosts circulation and helps reduce the appearance of dullness. Together, they brighten your complexion and leave your skin feeling refreshed, smooth, and energized.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp ground coffee
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
How to Make: Mix and apply on slightly damp face. How to Apply: Gently scrub, then wipe clean with a warm cloth.
If your dry skin needs a midweek boost, try the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Gentle Face Scrub—its rice-based formula offers soft, daily exfoliation without disrupting moisture balance.
3. Homemade Face Scrub for Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin calls for the mildest ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties.. Here are some of the homemade face scrubs for sensitive skin, you need to try.
A. Cucumber & Oatmeal Scrub
Benefits: Calms irritation, reduces redness. Cucumber's natural cooling properties soothe sensitive skin, while oatmeal gently exfoliates and helps restore the skin's protective barrier. This scrub refreshes and balances, leaving your skin calm, smooth, and comfortably hydrated.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp grated cucumber
- 1 tbsp ground oats
How to Make: Blend together. How to Apply: Apply gently in circular motions, rinse off with cool water.
B. Aloe Vera & Rice Flour Scrub
Benefits: Soothes while gently exfoliating. Aloe vera calms inflammation and hydrates the skin deeply, promoting healing and reducing redness. Rice flour offers a mild exfoliation that removes dead skin cells without irritation, leaving your skin smooth, refreshed, and balanced—ideal for sensitive and oily skin types.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
- 1 tsp rice flour
How to Make: Mix into a smooth paste. How to Apply: Use once a week to refresh skin.
C. Yogurt & Besan (Gram Flour) Scrub
Benefits: Cools and mildly exfoliates. Yogurt's natural lactic acid softens the skin and helps brighten dullness, while besan (gram flour) acts as a gentle exfoliant that removes impurities and excess oil. Together, they refresh your complexion, leaving it smooth, calm, and radiant.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tsp besan
How to Make: Stir well to combine. How to Apply: Let sit for a minute, then massage gently and rinse.
4. Homemade Face Scrub for Acne-Prone Skin
These scrubs focus on antibacterial and oil-controlling properties to keep acne at bay.
A. Tea Tree Oil & Clay Scrub
Benefits: Fights acne-causing bacteria. Tea tree oil is known for its powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce breakouts and soothe irritated skin. Combined with clay's ability to absorb excess oil and unclog pores, this scrub leaves your skin clearer, balanced, and refreshed.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp bentonite clay
- 1–2 drops tea tree oil
- Water to mix
How to Make: Combine to make a paste. How to Apply: Apply gently, let sit for 2 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
B. Honey & Cinnamon Scrub
Benefits: Natural antibacterial. Honey soothes and hydrates while its antibacterial properties help fight acne-causing bacteria. Cinnamon stimulates circulation and gently buffs away dead skin cells, revealing a brighter, clearer complexion with a healthy glow.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp oats
How to Make: Mix well. How to Apply: Use sparingly—1x/week max.
C. Turmeric & Yogurt Scrub
Benefits: Fades acne marks. Turmeric's natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help reduce redness and lighten dark spots, while yogurt's lactic acid gently exfoliates and nourishes the skin. Together, they brighten your complexion and promote a smooth, radiant glow.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp yogurt
- A pinch of turmeric
- 1 tsp rice flour
How to Make: Mix into a thick paste. How to Apply: Apply, massage, and rinse after 3 minutes.
Need a stronger exfoliating alternative? The LAKMĒ Vitamin C Brilliance Scrub is a salon-inspired formula that targets dullness and clogged pores while being gentle enough for acne-prone skin.
03Common Mistakes & Pro Tips
Avoid these common exfoliation errors to get the best results:
- Over-exfoliating (more than 2–3 times/week)
- Using coarse or sharp ingredients (like crushed walnut shells)
- Scrubbing too hard or for too long
- Not moisturizing after exfoliation
- Using scrubs on broken or irritated skin
Do's
- Alwayspatch test new ingredients
- Use freshly made scrubs
- Follow with a gentle clay mask like the Simple Protect N Glow one
- Choose ingredients based on seasonal skin changes
- Store DIY scrubs for no more than 2–3 days (refrigerated)
04Conclusion
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create the best homemade face scrub for your skin type, naturally and affordably. Whether you're looking for a glow boost, fighting breakouts, or just maintaining healthy skin, these DIY recipes allow you to treat your skin with care—without unnecessary chemicals.
Regular exfoliation, when done right, keeps your skin clear, smooth, and radiant. Remember to listen to your skin, patch test always, and let nature do the work.
05FAQs
How to make homemade face scrub?
Mix natural exfoliants like sugar, oats, or clay with hydrating ingredients like honey or yogurt based on your skin type.
What is the best homemade face scrub?
That depends on your skin type. For oily skin, lemon + sugar works great. For dry skin, oatmeal + honey is gentle and nourishing.
Can I use a homemade face scrub daily?
No. Most scrubs should be used 1–2 times a week. Over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier.
