Recently I was asked if I knew of any recipes for DIY face scrubs. The idea that we can make half of what we buy for our skin simply from what we have at home seemed like an interesting prospect. Think about how much unnecessary plastic and chemicals we could cut out of our daily lives by swapping to natural skincare remedies. It can be fun and cheaper too.
So what are the basics for your own face scrub? Firstly if you are keeping your scrub for later use make sure to keep in an airtight container (please feel free to use an old jar) and inspect it regularly to check it hasn't gone off. As you are exfoliating your skin, salt or sugar is the standard ingredient alongside an oil to hold your mixture together. Some people like to add a fruit or veg of their choice as well. Alternatively honey and oats are another extra that you can add. It all depends on what you are looking for to help your skin.
Sugar is a less abrasive exfoliant than salt and if you have particularly sensitive skin brown sugar is the best option. Salt is an effective exfoliant as it is good at removing impurities as well as dead skin. I am more inclined to use a salt scrub over a sugar scrub because I find it fresher. What about the oils? You can use olive oil, avocado oil, extra virgin coconut oil and almond oil to name a few. I don't like using coconut oil but that's because it's mostly used for it's motorising properties and not what I am looking for out of a scrub (but that might be what suits you). Olive, coconut and almond oil have been said to have natural antibacterial properties which help keep your skin clear from bacterial caused breakouts. For hormonal breakouts, these methods might not be advised and you should consult a medical professional on what is best for your skin. Olive oil is an antioxidant and contains many vitamins such as vitamin E, it is also good for moisturizing your skin and won't clog up the pores you're trying to clean. Almond Oil is said to help improve your skin tone (and smells delicious), while avocado oil and coconut are great at moisturising and feel rich and luxurious.
What fruit can you use? Strawberry is good for oily and acne-prone skin, while cranberries and grapes have anti-ageing properties. Lemon tightens up your pores, brightens your skin giving you a natural glow (oranges and limes have similar properties). A word of warning about citrus fruits, a bit like when using citrus essential oils you must be careful when using it on your skin as it can cause photosensitivity which leads to redness so you should only use lemon on your skin for about 5 minutes before washing it off. It is recommended that you use face scrubs in the evening before bed but especially with this one to help prevent any irritation. Tomatoes help to promote and regenerate healthy skin cells because they contain potassium, and are known to be nourishing and lighten your skin. Finally, cucumber is often used to cool skin and tighten up pores. Therefore, if you have sensitive and dry skin this would be a good one to try.
You can try any combination of oils, exfoliants and fruit to suit what you think your skin needs all from what you have in your kitchen! I will provide some recipes if your not ready to just get creative yet and need some inspiration.
Recipes:
Lemon, Coconut and sea salt scrub:
1 cup of sea salt
1 cup of liquid coconut oil
zest of a lemon (add a bit of juice to your skin requirements)
Optional: zest of a lime.
Strawberry & olive oil scrub:
4 tablespoons of olive oil
5 tablespoons of powdered sugar
A handful of crushed strawberry's
Cumber & mint sugar scrub:
1/2 cucumber - sliced
3 1/4 cups granulated sugar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 loose tablespoons fresh mint leaves
Tomato & Olive Oil Scrub:
1 medium tomato
2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Make sure to add the salt/ sugar to your oil first before mixing in the mashed fruit. From here make sure your face is damp and apply the scrub in circular motions on your face. Gently wash off with warm water and pat dry with a face cloth.
Let me know what recipes you liked or made up in the comments section!
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