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How can I Make my Own Exfoliating Scrubs?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Exfoliating scrubs for the body are an excellent way to enhance skin nutrition and leave a layer of soft, healthy, glowing skin behind. Commercial exfoliating scrubs are readily available, but making your own is more cost effective and fun. While you make your own exfoliating scrubs, you can explore varied ingredients and different exfoliants to achieve the desired effects. Many suppliers sell spa ingredients at reasonable prices, and some ingredients can also be found at the local market.

The most crucial ingredient in exfoliating scrubs is, of course, the exfoliant. An exfoliant abrades the top layer of skin to remove dead skin, and also buffs and polishes the healthy fresh layers underneath. Depending on skin sensitivity, different exfoliants are more suitable than others. If your skin is delicate, exfoliants such as turbinado sugar, fruit seeds and fibers, coffee, or ground loofah are all excellent choices. If the skin is more robust, exfoliants such as salts, grains, or pumice are more appropriate. Salts can also help to restore the balance of minerals in the skin, depending on the source, and they also come in a wide range of grains from very thick to fine. More exotic exfoliants include ground walnut shells, shredded coconut, and ayurvedic herbs.

Turbinado sugar, which can be used to make a scrub.
Turbinado sugar, which can be used to make a scrub.

Once a base has been selected, the rest of the scrub can be created. To add color and texture, dried flowers and herbs can be used. Rose petals, orange rinds, rosemary, lemongrass, and sage are all excellent choices. In addition to providing color and smelling good, these herbs all have unique properties which can enhance skin health when included in exfoliating scrubs. Many Internet databases of herbs list their effects on the skin and general health. You can also include essential oils, which will make the scrub smell delicious and add aromatherapy to the experience.

Ground walnut shells can be used in homemade exfoliating scrubs.
Ground walnut shells can be used in homemade exfoliating scrubs.

Most exfoliating scrubs are suspended in oils such as grapeseed oil, and sometimes also have natural preservatives such as vitamin E oil added. Using a preservative is necessary if the scrub is going to sit on the shelf for a long time or if it includes unstable ingredients which may mold or rot. A scrub made from salt and essential oils will not need a preservative: a scrub with sugar and orange rinds would.

An exfoliating scrub.
An exfoliating scrub.

Exfoliating scrubs are limited only by your imagination. Many spas offer themed scrubs with imaginative names like Tropical Paradise or Chocolate Sensation. You can replicate these exfoliating scrubs at home with your own ingredients. For tropical themed exfoliating scrubs, think about tropical ingredients like shredded coconut, sugar, essential oils of mango or tangerine, and fruit fibers from mangos, papayas, and guavas. For chocolate exfoliating scrubs, you can use cocoa powder, grated chocolate, sugars, chocolate essential oils, and coffee for a mocha effect. Coffee should be used in moderation because caffeine can be absorbed through the skin. Other exfoliating scrubs could include soothing herbs like lavender and orange or a relaxing experience, or refreshing and invigorating ingredients like salt and essential oils of lime and mint.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

calabama71

@ofuregirl: Here is a concoction for a homemade exfoliator that works very well. For oily skin, mix 2 tbsp. of Bengal gram flour with a little lime juice and a couple of pinches of salt. It makes a thick paste and works great.

For normal to dry skin, mix 2 tbsp. Bengal gram flour with a little full cream milk and 1 tsp. of honey which also makes a thick paste.

Apply the paste that best suits your skin generously on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and rub off using circular motions. Rinse the remaining off with cool water.

Bengal gram flour can usually be found in whole food stores and some health food stores.

ofuregirl

Hello,

I would like to say that i like the article on How to make my own exfoliating scrubs, its an eye opener. But i still have some questions which i hope you will have answers to.

I have oily skin on my face and normal skin on my boby. What sort of ingredients should i use when making an exfoliating scrub for my face and body? Can i use the same ingredients for both or different ingredients each and what are these ingredients.

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    • Turbinado sugar, which can be used to make a scrub.
      By: HLPhoto
      Turbinado sugar, which can be used to make a scrub.
    • Ground walnut shells can be used in homemade exfoliating scrubs.
      By: dinostock
      Ground walnut shells can be used in homemade exfoliating scrubs.
    • An exfoliating scrub.
      By: kubais
      An exfoliating scrub.
    • Coffee beans can be ground up and used in an exfoliating scrub.
      By: Feng Yu
      Coffee beans can be ground up and used in an exfoliating scrub.
    • Lavender is a popular addition to scrubs.
      By: Kimberly Reinick
      Lavender is a popular addition to scrubs.
    • Tropical fruits like mangos can be used in exfoliating scrubs.
      By: volff
      Tropical fruits like mangos can be used in exfoliating scrubs.
    • Tangerines can give an exfoliating scrub a more tropical scent.
      By: hanabiyori
      Tangerines can give an exfoliating scrub a more tropical scent.
    • Essential oils can be added to a scrub.
      By: viperagp
      Essential oils can be added to a scrub.
    • Guavas may be used to make exfoliating scrubs.
      By: Yong Hian Lim
      Guavas may be used to make exfoliating scrubs.
    • Loofahs may be used to make exfoliating scrubs.
      By: higashi
      Loofahs may be used to make exfoliating scrubs.
    • Mint is an invigorating ingredient often found in exfoliating scrubs.
      By: margo555
      Mint is an invigorating ingredient often found in exfoliating scrubs.