Did you know you can make your own body scrub with simple ingredients like salt, sugar, or even coffee? A scrub is great way to exfoliate your skin and leave it feeling smooth - especially after a workout.
Exfoliation can be a great way to keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy.
A body scrub is a popular way to exfoliate your skin, and there are plenty of store-bought varieties to choose from. Or, you can make your very own homemade body scrub using ingredients you already have in your pantry.
Exfoliation with a body scrub, or with other types of products like a brush or loofah, can help boost the health and appearance of your skin in several ways.
It can leave your skin looking brighter because it removes the top layer of dead skin cells. It can also stimulate the production of collagen, which may help your skin stay firm and radiant.
Another benefit of exfoliation is that it can improve the efficacy of topical treatments. If you exfoliate your skin before applying a cream, for example, the cream will be able to penetrate more deeply instead of sitting on the surface.
In addition, massaging your skin with a body scrub can also be a wonderful way to relax and feel calmer, especially if you’re tired or stressed.
It’s usually easiest to apply a body scrub in the shower or bath. Gently massage the scrub into your skin in a circular motion and rinse it off thoroughly with warm water.
To make a DIY body scrub, keep the following items on hand:
spoons for mixing
mixing bowl
measuring spoons or cups
a carrier or base oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, or olive oil
sealed container to store the scrub in
a few drops of your favourite essential oils, if desired
With homemade body scrubs, it’s important to get the consistency right. You don’t want it to be too runny, which can make it hard to scoop into your hands, but you also don’t want it to be too crumbly.
Here are some of the most popular types of DIY body scrubs that are both beneficial to your skin and easy to make.
There’s some scientific evidence that caffeine may help diminish the appearance of cellulite. Coffee is a popular ingredient for many DIY body scrubs. The tiny granules are gentle on the skin, while still being effective at removing dead cells from the skin’s surface. And who can’t resist the aroma of a cup of coffee?
Ingredients
1/2 cup coffee grounds
2 tbsp. hot water
1 tbsp. coconut oil, warmed
Directions
1. Add the coffee grounds and hot water to a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.
2. Add the coconut oil. If needed, add more coffee grounds or more oil to get the consistency right.
3. When you’re satisfied with the consistency, spoon the mixture into a container.
Brown sugar is an inexpensive and accessible ingredient that also does a great job of exfoliating your skin.
Brown sugar is gentler on skin than sea salt or Epsom salt. This makes it an ideal ingredient for sensitive skin. The sugar granules might make your skin feel sticky, so be sure to rinse thoroughly after you’ve exfoliated.
Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil of your choice, such as coconut, jojoba, olive, almond, or grapeseed
essential oils (optional)
Directions
1. Combine brown sugar and oil in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly. If needed, add more sugar or oil to get the consistency right.
3. If desired, add one or two drops of your favourite essential oil, and stir it into the mixture.
4. When you’re satisfied with the consistency and fragrance of your scrub, spoon it into a container.
Salt has antibacterial properties that can be helpful for some skin conditions. Salt is also a preservative, so the sea salt scrub will be able to naturally preserve itself.
Because salt has no fragrance, you may want to add your favourite essential oils to your DIY salt scrub.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup oil of your choice
essential oils (optional)
Directions
1. Combine sea salt and oil in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly. If needed, add more salt or oil to get the consistency right.
3. If desired, add one or two drops of your favourite essential oil and stir it into the mixture.
4. Once you’re satisfied with the consistency and fragrance of your scrub, spoon it into a container.
Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Green tea may benefit your skin in several ways.
Green tea can easily be added to a homemade body scrub together with other nourishing ingredients.
Ingredients
2 teabags green tea
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Directions
1. Add teabags to hot water. Let the tea steep until it cools.
2. While the tea is cooling, add brown sugar to a bowl.
3. Add coconut oil and mix thoroughly with the sugar.
4. Once the tea has cooled, add it to the sugar mix. It’s important that the tea is cool so the sugar doesn’t dissolve.
5. If the mixture is too crumbly, add more coconut oil. If it’s too soggy, add more brown sugar.
6. When you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container.
Honey has antibacterial properties and also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that may help a variety of skin conditions.
Not only can honey help repair skin tissue and protect against UV damage, it may also help kill germs on the skin.
Honey can easily be combined with granules and oil to make a skin-nourishing body scrub. After massaging the scrub into your skin, be sure to rinse your skin off thoroughly to prevent stickiness.
Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp. honey
Directions
1. Add brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey to a mixing bowl.
2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, and add more coconut oil if it’s too crumbly.
3. Once you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container.
final note ..
DIY body scrubs are quick and easy to make, and an affordable option compared to store-bought scrubs.
These natural homemade exfoliants can be used to cleanse, soften, and nourish your skin. Always be gentle when exfoliating your skin, and use extra caution if your skin is sensitive or very dry.
Have some fun and try out different scrubs.