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Making your own skin care is rewarding and fun. Facial scrubs are easy to make at home because they use minimal ingredients (often found in your kitchen) and usually just a spoon and mixing bowl (some recipes call for a blender or coffee grinder).
In this article, we have compiled 15 of the best homemade facial scrub recipes so that there is something here for everyone! We are sure you will enjoy them 🙂
How to Exfoliate with a Facial Scrub
Facial scrubs help remove dead skin cells from the surface of our face, brightening your complexion and allowing for better penetration of your other facial products.
When creating an exfoliating scrub for the face, we need to remember to stick with gentle ingredients. Facial skin is more sensitive than the skin on the body, so a body scrub will usually be too strong for the face. Salt scrubs are too abrasive for the facial skin, instead, we use sugar, ground seeds, flours, and clays.
- Move in small, gentle, circular motions around your face, keeping your movements light.
- Rinse with lukewarm water. Hot water can irritate your freshly exfoliated skin.
- Pat face and apply a moisturizer. Exfoliation is drying to the skin, so this step is essential.
- Exfoliate only 2 – 3 times a week. If your skin gets red or flakey, you are overdoing it.
Homemade Facial Scrub Recipes
Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub
The acids in lemon help to brighten and even the skin tone.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup fine sugar
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp evening primrose oil
Directions and How to Use:
- Combine all the ingredients, so it forms a paste.
- Use a spoon to transfer mixture to an airtight jar.
- Label jar, date and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Use within three months.
- Apply to the skin in gentle, circular motions. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Mocha Sugar Facial Scrub
Coffee scrubs are very popular. They smell delicious and work at exfoliating dull skin. Coffee, cocoa powder, and nutmeg are all high in antioxidants.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fine sugar
- 1 tbsp ground coffee
- ½ cup macadamia nut oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ tsp nutmeg
Directions and How to Use:
- Combine all the ingredients, so it forms a paste.
- Use a spoon to transfer mixture to an airtight jar.
- Label jar, date and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Use within three months.
- Apply to the skin in gentle, circular motions. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Aloe Vera Facial Scrub
Aloe vera is calming and healing to the skin. Calendula offers exceptional skin repair.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fine sugar
- 2 tbsp aloe Vera gel
- 1 tsp chamomile essential oil
- 1 cup calendula oil
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix all ingredients well
- Transfer the now gritty paste to an airtight container using a spoon
- Label, date, and store in a cool place.
- Apply to the skin in gentle,
cicular motions. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Poppy and Yogurt Scrub for Sensitive Skin
Poppy seeds are coated in wax, making them a super gentle exfoliate.
Ingredients:
- ½ tsp Poppy seeds
- 1 tsp Yogurt
- ½ tsp Honey
Directions and How to Use:
- Put all the ingredients into a glass and stir well.
- Massage thoroughly into the skin, rinse off with lukewarm water.
- Store in the fridge. Lasts for about a week (1-3 applications).
Crystallized Honey Scrub
The natural crystallization of honey creates a perfect scrub ingredient.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp crystallized honey
- 1 tsp yogurt
- 1 tsp carrier oil
Directions and How to Use:
- Put the crystallized honey, yogurt, and oil into a glass and mix well.
- Gently massage into the skin with circular movements until the honey turns runny, then rinse off.
- Store in the fridge. Lasts for about a week (1-3 applications).
Clay and Honey Scrub
Clay and ground rice offer exfoliation and being minerals to the skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon apricot kernel oil
- 1 teaspoon castor oil
- 1 teaspoon honey (manuka, if possible)
- 4 teaspoons kaolin (white clay)
- ½ teaspoon ground rice or rice bran
- a few drops orange flower water, if needed
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix oil and honey in a small bowl.
- Add the clay and rice powder or rice bran and stir thoroughly.
- If the mixture is too thin, add more clay, if it is too thick, add a bit of orange flower water.
- This recipe is meant to be used right away, but if you have any leftover, you can store it in the fridge for a few days.
Brown Sugar Facial Scrub
A facial scrub that is as sweet as you are 😀
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp real vanilla extract
- ¾ tsp vitamin E oil
- ¾ cup of coconut oil
- 2 tbsps honey
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix all the ingredients except for the honey.
- Wet your face with warm water and apply the scrub. Exfoliate for a few minutes and then rinse off gently.
- Apply honey to the skin and leave on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off.
Skin Lightening Apple, Lemon and Milk Scrub
This recipe requires a blender or food processor. It offers skin lightening properties and is used as a mask and scrub.
Ingredients:
- 1 apple, peeled and cored
- Rind of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons powdered milk
Directions and How to Use:
- Puree the apple in a food processor, and then add the lemon and the milk. Blend well until smooth.
- This recipe makes enough product for two applications. If you want to make more, know that it must be stored in the refrigerator and used within one week.
- Apply all over the face avoiding eye area. Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse off with gentle, circular motions.
Baking Soda Scrub for Combination Skin
Baking soda is a fine-grained exfoliate. It can help cleanse the skin with it’s anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon coffee
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
Directions and How to Use:
- Combine everything in a bowl and mix well.
- Remove makeup and sunscreen from your face.
- Wash your face and pat dry.
- Apply the mixture to your skin and massage for 45-60 seconds.
- Leave on for a few minutes.
- Rinse scrub with lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply a moisturizer.
Papaya Enzyme Scrub
Balance an uneven or blotchy skin tone with papaya enzymes. The enzyme Papain from papaya acts as a chemical exfoliate, dissolving dead skin cells and encouraging new cell growth.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon papaya pulp
- 2-3 teaspoons ground oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon fine sugar
Directions and How to Use:
- Use a mortar and pestle to mix all the ingredients into a uniform paste.
- Allow the mixture to sit and thicken for about a minute.
- Lightly massage the mixture onto face and leave on for 5 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
Pineapple and Sunflower Scrub
Pineapple is another fruit containing enzymes that act as chemical exfoliates. This scrub will help even and balance your skin tone.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon fresh pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seed meal
- 1 teaspoon clay
Directions and How to Use:
- In a small bowl, combine ingredients to form a spreadable paste.
- Using your fingers, apply the scrub to your face and massage with gentle, circular movements.
- Leave on for 10 minutes then rinse off with cool water.
Exfoliating Aloe Vera Facial Scrub
Remove dead skin cells, cleanse the pores, and rejuvenate tired, dull skin with this simple scrub.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons ground oats
- ½ half teaspoon aloe vera gel
- pinch of salt
- pinch of turmeric
- enough lime juice to make a paste
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix everything together
- Scrub face gently and rinse off
Yerba Mate Scrub
Yerba mate is packed with nearly 200 bio-actives. This densely nutritious plant feeds your skin with antioxidants, minerals, amino acids, and moisture.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon ground yerba mate (if you can’t find yerba mate, you can substitute matcha green tea powder)
- 1 Tablespoon ground flax meal
- 1 Teaspoon honey
- ½ Teaspoon flax oil
- water as needed to thin the mixture
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix everything together in a small bowl. If you don’t have yerba mate powder or flax meal, you will need to grind these ingredients into a fine consistency.
- Apply to the skin in gentle motions, massaging it in.
- Allow to sit for 10 minutes and rinse off.
Javanese Lulur Facial Scub
This recipe is based on a 17th century royal body treatment used on brides-to-be before their wedding day.
Ingredients:
- 1/8 cup extra-virgin coconut oil
- 1/4 cup sweet almond oil
- 1.5 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
- 1/4 cup brown rice flour
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix coconut oil, almond oil, honey, and sesame seeds in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Scrape mixture into a mixing bowl and add sugar, brown rice flour, and turmeric. Blend with fork until well mixed.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 3 months.
- Apply to damp skin in small, circular motions.
- Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing off.
Sandalwood Coffee Scrub
Sandalwood is a powerful anti-aging ingredient. This scrub will exfoliate and tighten your skin.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ground coffee
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 Tablespoon sandalwood powder
- 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix everything in a small bowl.
- Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place.
- Use within 3 months.
Matcha Green Tea Facial Scrub
Green tea is packed with polyphenols and antioxidants to repair and protect your skin.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons matcha green tea
- 2 Teaspoons honey
- 2 Teaspoons rice powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon powder (not for sensitive skin)
- 10 drops jasmine essential oil
- Rose water as needed to thin the paste
Directions and How to Use:
- Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add honey and essential oils. Blend well.
- Add rose water in small amounts as needed to get the consistency you like.
- Store in a glass jar in the fridge.
- Apply to the skin in small circular motions.
- Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse off.
Where to Source Your Ingredients
Many of the ingredients included in the following recipes are found right in your kitchen, some of them however, may be ones you will need to purchase.
I want to be sure you are getting top quality ingredients for your skin care, and I get asked all the time, so I thought I would take a moment to tell you about some of the ingredients I use.
Essential Oils – for the best essential oils, I shop at Rocky Mountain Oils. You can read why I choose them here.
Carrier Oils – I recommend buying organic (if available), cold-pressed, and unrefined oils for skin care recipes. Look for oils in dark glass packaging with pump or dropper dispensers. I like Leven Rose on Amazon.
Sugar – I try to avoid white sugar, as it is bleached and most often made from GMO sugar beets, so instead I opt for raw cane sugar. You can’t always find raw cane sugar in a fine enough consistency, so I usually grind mine in a coffee grinder.
Clay – Look for high quality cosmetic clays. I have an article all about cosmetic clays with product recommendations, you can see here.
Aloe Vera Gel – I like this one from Amara Beauty on Amazon.
Honey – Manuka honey is the best honey for a facial scrub, but it can be costly. Look for raw honey that is locally produced if you can. If you have to buy online, I recommend Bee Harmony.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these recipes., Let us know in the comments if you like them! And leave any questions you may have in the comments below, we will gladly answer.
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