How to make simple DIY facial scrubs for every skin type: dry, oily, mature, and sensitive skin. Because dry skin is getting in the way of your glow.
Before you read further, stop and run the back of your hand across your cheek. Does it feel dry or a little scaly? If so, then it's time to exfoliate. As you age, skin turnover slows, and dead skin cells pile up and stay attached for longer and longer periods of time.
Not only will it make your skin appear dull, but those dead skin cells will insulate the deeper layers from absorbing the creams and serums you're using to prevent dry skin or aging. Things have a hard time penetrating the new skin below when old, dead skin cells are in the way.
Ideally, you should exfoliate about twice a week with a homemade face scrub. You can irritate skin by overdoing it, but a gentle scrub or peel will invigorate your skin and maximize the absorption of skincare ingredients while also gently stimulating cell renewal at the deepest layers. Plus, your skin will feel soft and smooth—even glowy.
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How To Make a Customized Homemade Face Scrub
We've shared the right way to exfoliate and how to chemically exfoliate with natural alpha-hydroxy acids, but physically exfoliating is easy, too. You can raid the cupboard and mix and match common kitchen ingredients for a customized face scrub (much like we did with customized body scrubs).
Basic recipe for a customizable at-home face scrub:
- 2 tablespoon exfoliant
- 2 tablespoon oil or liquid
- 1 teaspoon of a skin-enhancing ingredient
Instructions
1. Combine the above in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Wash face and apply scrub to damp skin with clean hands.
2. Gently massage into your skin for about a minute, starting with the jaw and working upward, but always avoiding your eye area. Rinse with lukewarm water.
3. Apply toner, then serum, and moisturizer or face oil.
4. This will yield one application and is best used immediately. Nighttime is the best time to exfoliate, so your skincare products can better absorb overnight.
Step 1: Choose the right exfoliant
Ground almonds
Ground raw almonds are great for mature skin and will leave your skin nourished and hydrated. The fine grains gently exfoliate, and the oil in the almonds smooths and provides skin with vitamins A and E [source].
Baking soda
Chemical-free, natural baking soda has a super fine texture that feels like a microdermabrasion at home. This easy cleanser is great for all skin types but works especially well on oily skin as it absorbs excess oil.
Ground rice
Asian women have used ground rice powder on their skin for ages to smooth complexions, lighten skin discolorations, and reduce wrinkles. That’s because rice grains contain loads of antioxidants [source].
Plus, I read in Giada De Laurentiis's book Feel Good Food that she cleans her face daily with ground rice and olive oil, and that girl's skin looks amazing!
Oatmeal
If your skin tends to be sensitive, you might want to check out the effectiveness of oats as a physical exfoliant. And the oats themselves have plenty of therapeutic properties when applied to the skin, and they contain saponins, soap-like molecules that have a cleansing action [source]. Use them whole or grind them up to gently unclog pores and soothe irritation.
Ground organic flaxseeds are another gentle but effective choice for exfoliation. Rich in anti-inflammatory and hydrating omega-3 fatty acids, they do double duty in preventing damage from free radicals.
And they contain vitamins A, C, and E, along with proteins and minerals—almost makes you want to leave it on for a while to soak up all of that goodness [source].
Step 2: Choose the right liquid
Egg whites
Egg whites are great for oily or aging skin, tightening and firming skin, and fighting off fine lines and wrinkles.
Yogurt
The lactic acid in yogurt exfoliates to reveal radiant skin while the fats and proteins plump up fine lines—so definitely go for full-fat versions [source].
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is great for keeping skin clear and healthy, not to mention what it’s best known for—reducing inflammation and pain [source].
Coconut oil
The fats in coconut oil moisturize while its lauric acid protects and softens skin. It's also an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and helps maintain a healthy pH level in the skin [source].
Step 3: Choose the right extras
Avocado
Avocado is full of good fats that moisturize dry skin. It's also rich in antioxidants, which are great at fighting the effects of aging [source].
Turmeric
Turn to organic, non-GMO turmeric for natural anti-inflammatories and antimicrobials when you want to beat breakouts and fade acne scars [source].
Parsley
Pick a bit of parsley to fade age spots and treat under-eye circles. It’s also great at fighting bacteria [source].
Honey
Raw honey kills bacteria, plumps skin, and acts as a humectant to draw in moisture and soothe skin. Use raw honey on red or irritated areas to calm inflammation and keep bacteria at bay [source].
Step 4: Mix up the scrub that fits your skin type
Dry Skin Scrub
Yes, you can—and should—exfoliate even if your skin is dry. Make sure you utilize the best available ingredients.
Buff off dead skin and let your fresh, new skin soak up the good fats in ground raw almonds, unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil, and fresh avocado.
Oily Skin Scrub
Let egg white tighten and tone while chemical-free natural baking soda and organic turmeric powder help regulate oil production and skin pH.
Mature Skin Scrub
Battle age spots with a combination of ground rice, yogurt, and parsley that will exfoliate and lighten discoloration when used regularly.
Sensitive Skin Scrub
Use when only gentle ingredients will do! Soothe skin with a combination of anti-inflammatory ingredients like organic oatmeal, aloe vera, and raw honey.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Lou says
100% shea butter from Ghana worked wonders for mt nephew
Nermin Botros says
Cld u pls tell me the exact quantities of the ingredients of the oily and sensitive skins scrubs
Melissa says
Aloe oil!
Its one wholeAloe leaf, take and cut the pokey points off, cube it in one inch cubes. Put it in a medium sauce pan cover. With the coconut oil...the one that stays liquid and simmer for 15 mins. Pour into a glass jar and leave over night. The next morning take out the aloe chunks and throw away. Store in an air tight jar. It keeps for up to 6 weeks.
Fish oil and Zinc supplements
Wash with Dr. Bronners baby or peppermint (cooling so be careful with little ones but helps calm it a lot)
Look into diet changes sugar normally flairs eczema up, so can wheat, gluten...etc.
Healthy fats and oil, fish, olive, avacado...etc.
If your not using the the oil above, make sure your wetting the area with water then immediately putting an ointment type of lotion on to seal in the moisture. My daughter has used neosporin eczema and ceravue.
Best of luck!!!
Ramona says
Have you ever tried the Aveeno creams? It seems to help my little brother, who also has eczema.
Mehak says
My nose nd my t zone area is pretty much oily which leads to breakout acne big bombs please recommend somthing to stop oil production
Dana says
Do I need to wash my face before using one of these scrubs?
Tata says
Usually it is recommended to have a clean face. I would say yes. I have worked in the beauty industry for 12 years. :)
Mary says
I hav a dry skin, i hav no almond, can i switch it wit oatmeal instead? And is there a particular measurement for this ingredients? Thank you.
Tara says
It looks like I am a volunteer question responder lol. I have an extensive background in the beauty industry and definitely feel comfortable saying YES oatmeal would totally work! She recommends 2 Tablespoons but you may try 1 to start since you're sensitive and add more if you are tolerating it well. I suggest grinding it up really well too. Nothing too abrasive, more powdery/ small bits of oatmeal. :)
Claudine says
What is the shelf life of the oatmeal/aloe/honey scrub. I bought the pure aloe Vera which is much runnier than I thought it would be. I guess I should have bought the gel but the gel at my store was not pure and had many other ingredients in it. Anyway, it made the recipe rather watery so I just added more oatmeal to suck up the excess. These seem like pretty fresh items so I'm wondering if I should keep the jar in the fridge? I made a 4oz tub of it.
Yoli says
What are their shelf life?
Tara says
If you are using anything with fresh produce like parsley I would recommend making just a one time use batch and making it as needed since it wouldn't stay fresh. Adding 500Iu's of vitamin E oil (it will tell you on the bottle how many IU's are in a drop so it may be only like 5 drops needed) will extend the shelf life of anything other than fresh produce. I'd say you're safe to keep it at minimum 12 weeks since there is no water in it. I'm not a pro on shelf life though. Turmeric comes in capsules often and is good for months, same with coconut oil, aloe & oatmeal so even combined I would say they are stable ingredients to keep for a while esp since none require refrigeration on their own. Use a spoon to get it out each time so you don't get water into your container and I'd say you could leave it in your bathroom for around 2-3 months but let your nose be your guide. If it were to spoil and you didn't know, since you're not ingesting it I don't think it would cause any harm to you it would just be pretty nasty looking LOL! Best of luck!
Patti says
Can you give instruction about how to make the rice powder or ground rice that you list as an exfoliant? Am I over thinking this one?
Rumi says
You wash store wash rice (organic one will be the best) wash it couple of time thoroughly under running water. Spread it over layered kitchen paper towels and let it air dry. Make sure that it has no hint of moisture at all, so to attain that keeping it for a overnight is a good option. Pulse it in mixer/grinder and keep it in air tight container.
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Melanie@Toots + Dill says
I've been using Lush facial masks for so long I forgot you can make them yourself!! This looks like such a fun thing to try with the possibility of amazing benefits!!! =)
Charlene says
This is a great post! I would love to try them all. And I just might! Thank you!