DIY Face & Body Scrub for Glowing Skin
May 28, 2013
Summer is just around the corner, which means it is time to show some skin. Say good-bye to dry, flaky skin and hello to radiant, refreshed skin that begs to be shown off. Using a few ingredients right in your home you can create natural at-home face and body scrubs that banish winter skin for good.
About Face
Using four central ingredients (baking soda, oatmeal, granulated sugar and coffee grounds) you can mix some truly terrific and beneficial facial scrubs depending on your skincare needs.
Sugar to nourish your skin? It might sound crazy, but using it as an exfoliant can soften skin and keep it smooth. Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar with ½ teaspoon of honey and add a bit of lemon juice. If it feels loose add more sugar. You can also use this on your whole body, just combine larger quantities. Use in the shower as it will be sticky. You can substitute brown sugar instead of granulated too.
Ground oatmeal can work wonders on the skin. It’s soothing, hydrating and can tackle many problems from acne to dry skin – and even heal a sunburn. Make a facial scrub by combining 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal with a ¼ teaspoon of salt. The salt acts as an exfoliant while the oatmeal feeds the skin. Add 1 teaspoon of water or olive oil to create a paste. Rub the paste into the skin in a circular motion and then let it sit for five to ten minutes. Rinse off. This scrub is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Body Work
Your morning cup of Joe can pull double duty when you use the coffee grinds as a body scrub. The caffeic acid in the grounds (wet) is an anti-inflammatory that can boost collagen. Mix 4 tablespoons of coffee grinds with 4 teaspoon of water or olive oil and it will moisturize AND exfoliate your skin at the same time.
A good salt scrub is one of the best ways to get skin silky smooth. For a body scrub, mix together a ½ cup of salt (can substitute with sugar) with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. It won’t keep more than a day so use it the day you make it. Rub into skin and rinse off. Skin is new, fresh and smooth.
If you want a body scrub that will last a longer time (think gifts!) try using coconut oil mixed with brown sugar. Stored in an airtight container, this scrub can last up to six months. Take 1 ¼ cups brown sugar (raw can be used too) and mix with 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and 15 drops of vanilla essential oil. Apply it to wet skin. It smells divine and rinses off easily, leaving behind glowing skin.
