Exfoliation of the skin helps with blood circulation and the removal of the dead skin cells that can cause it to look dull and dry. Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it sheds dead skin cells at an alarming rate. But exfoliating is not a one-size-fits-all job! Your feet need different techniques and care than your face. Your hands are not the same as your lips. Read our tips on exfoliating your entire body – head to toe.

Exfoliation is essential to anyone’s skincare regimen, yet often the most hyped over-the-counter scrubs are costly and anything but chemical-free. The recipes below are not only all natural; they are cost-effective. Most importantly, they are fun to prepare in your own kitchen and leave you with tingly clean skin as a refreshing result!

 Exfoliating allows your freshest, most radiant skin to shine through. By using natural ingredients, you can cleanse and refresh your skin right at home. The low-cost of these ingredients helps save you money while still giving you an excellent beauty treatment.

 People with a problem skin can exfoliate, but gently and not too often, and if in doubt, please consult your licensed medical practitioner and/or dermatologist.  But for those amongst us that are fighting the aging battle (and for those not yet there) exfoliation of the skin, helps with blood circulation and the removal of the dead skin cells that can cause it to look dull and dry. Exfoliating can be done every 14 days, and in some cases weekly.

Here are a few homemade scrubs you may be interested in:

Natural exfoliating scrub with essential oil
Take 2 – 3 teaspoons raw oats (not the pre-cooked type) and crush into smaller bits either by hand or in a grinder. Mix the dry oats with pure honey and 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar until it forms a smooth mixture. Add more honey as needed. Then add 1 drop of basil oil to the mixture.

For a problem skin, you can replace the basil oil with tea tree oil to help the healing process along. After washing the face and drying it gently by patting with a towel, apply this sticky mixture in gentle circular movements. Avoid the eye area. Leave the mixture on for about 15 minutes and wash off with lots of tepid water.

Basic Cornmeal Scrub
This works best on a 2 to 3 day interval.
2 to 3 Tbsp. Cornmeal
Small amount of water
Mix the ingredients into a paste.
Using a circular motion, apply to face and gently scrub

Rose Almond Face Scrub
To brighten and soften skin.
1 tsp. rosewater
1/2 tsp. almond flour or finely ground almonds.
Mix into paste and apply.

Oatmeal Scrub
A stimulating, thoroughly cleansing 3-in-1 scrub!
Smooth’s, tones, and hydrates.1 Tbsp. ground oatmeal (use steel cut oats, not instant)
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. yogurt
Combine and apply.
Optional: let your scrub double as a mask! Let it sit a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Azuki Bean Scrub
Banish your blackheads. Especially effective for combination and oily skin types.
½ cup dried azuki beans
Grind beans. (Having a small coffee grinder set aside specifically for beauty recipes is a wise idea).
Add a little water to the mixture and apply.

Milk and Honey Scrub
Maximize or minimize its moisturizing effect at will.
Choose your dairy:
1 tsp. Skim Milk (Oily skin)
1 tsp. 2% Milk (Normal or combination)
1 tsp. Cream (Dry)
1 tsp. honey
1 tbsp. ground almonds

Banana Scrub
A very finely textured, delicious-smelling scrub. Can double as a mask.
2 tsp. mashed banana
2 tsp. rolled oats
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. honey

Honey Sugar Scrub
If you have ever used a body sugar scrub, you know how amazing they are. Work the same magic on your face!
1 tsp. of honey
1/2 tsp. of sugar (either cane or brown — both work well)Blend in bowl. Apply.
Rinse very thoroughly, as this recipe can be slightly sticky.