Did you know...
... that, in the Middle Ages, old wine which contained tartaric acid as its active ingredient was used for exfoliating and rejuvenating the skin.When you gently massage the skin with a grainy scrub, it removes the accumulated dead skin, grime, dirt and excess oils, giving the skin a fresh, vibrant look. The massage also stimulates circulation, giving you that youthful glow. What's more, your skin feels amazingly soft and smooth.
You can exfoliate your skin every 2-3 days, though this varies for every skin type and the scrub being used. A person with oily skin can exfoliate more frequently, and those with sensitive skin must use a very gentle scrub, once a week. Excess scrubbing can cause irritation and redness. Also, scrubbed skin is more delicate and needs to be moisturized and protected from the sun. On exfoliated skin, applying a good sunscreen is an absolute must.
There are tons of scrubs in the market, for every skin type, condition and budget. But store-bought cosmetics may contain harmful ingredients and can be pretty hefty on the pocket too. So, we at Buzzle have provided recipes for some simple and easy-to-make scrubs.
Oatmeal and Almond Oil Scrub
Oats are gentle, soothing exfoliators with anti-inflammatory properties, and almond oil is rich in omega-fatty acids and Vitamin E; both of them are essential for healing and rejuvenating skin. Honey is a known anti-bacterial and will help retain moisture in your skin.
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Best suited for- Sensitive skin, Delicate skin, Skin with acne prone to dryness
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What you need- 1 tablespoon oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 3 teaspoon almond oil
Mix the oatmeal, honey and almond oil so you get a nice, thick paste. Make sure the oatmeal is grainy, but has no sharp particle that might scratch your skin. Wash the soap with a mild face wash and dab gently with a towel. Keep the face moist, but not dripping wet. Take some scrub on the palm of your hands and gently apply in a circular motion all over your face. Add a few drops of water if it feels too dry. Massage for 5 minutes and rinse with water. Pat dry and follow with a deep-moisturizing lotion.
Note - You can substitute almond oil with tea tree oil which is lighter and has anti-bacterial properties.
Sugar and Wheat germ Oil Scrub
Sugar is an excellent exfoliator which can be combined with lots of different oils and active ingredients to get the perfect scrub for your skin. Here I have used wheat germ oil - known for its anti-aging properties, and a few drops of lavender oil to get a calming and soothing effect - perfect for reliving stress and minimizing those frown-lines.
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What you need - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon glycerin
- 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
- 2-3 drops of pure lavender essential oil
First, make sure the sugar is not too coarse. Give it a very, very quick whiz through the grinder if you feel it's too coarse, just to reduce its size slightly. Mix all the ingredients together. Wash your face with a gentle face wash and dab your face dry. Apply the scrub in circular movements all over the face and neck. Massage the face for 5-7 minutes and leave the 'mask' on for another 10 minutes. Wash off with water and dab it dry. Follow with a good, rich moisturizer with cocoa butter or lanolin.
Note - You can also use this as a body scrub, but do increase the quantity of sugar and replace the glycerin with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil.
Strawberry and Sea Salt Scrub
Salt is another household ingredient that is excellent for sloughing off those dead skin cells. Combine it with strawberries to get a vitamin boost. Fuller's earth has been used since ancient times and is known to absorb excess oil, dirt and impurities.
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What you need- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons Fuller's earth
- 2 teaspoon olive oil or baby oil (approximately)
- 2-3 ripe strawberries
Take the sea salt in a bowl and mix it with Fuller's earth. Mash the strawberries and mix all ingredients together. Wash the face with your regular face wash and dab it dry. Take some scrub in your hands, if it feels too dry add more oil. Massage the scrub on your face for 7-8 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Apply a light moisturizer suitable for oily to normal skin.
Note - If Fuller's earth is not available, you may use rolled oats or cornmeal.
Coffee Body Scrub
Coffee has a skin-tightening effect and is known to reduce the appearance of cellulite significantly. It is also full of antioxidants and smells just wonderful. You can make this scrub with sugar or salt, anything will go well. Coconut oil, rich in essential fatty acids, is great for hydrating skin and grape seed oil will provide your skin with vitamin E.
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What you need- 2 tablespoons ground coffee
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or sea salt
- ½ tablespoon grape seed oil
- ½ tablespoon coconut oil
Mix all the ingredients together and let the sugar/salt soak up the oils. Add more oil if needed. Massage entire body with the scrub with particular attention to the problem areas - on your thighs, arms and back. Rinse off with warm water, pat the skin dry and follow with a good, moisturizing body lotion to seal in the antioxidants and vitamins.
Note - Vary the percentage of oil as per your skin type. Add more coconut oil if your skin is dry. If it is very oily keep the scrub light by increasing the grape seed oil content, but do not eliminate it completely. The coconut oil is needed for the scrub to glide smoothly and not scratch the skin.
Chocolate Body Scrub
This is a really simple, basic body scrub that will exfoliate your skin naturally, provide it with some antioxidants and make you smell divine.
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What you need- 4 teaspoons drinking chocolate or cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Mix all the ingredients together. Add more oil if sugar is not soaked thoroughly. Apply in the shower, on moist skin and massage gently till the sugar melts (approx. 5-7 minutes). Rinse off with warm water and apply a body lotion to get super soft, smooth skin.
Custom-make Your Scrub
For a tailor-made scrub for your skin or mood, combine an exfoliant and carrier oil. You may add any and as many other ingredients to your scrub, but don't use more than 3 essential oils at a time and don't use more than 5 drops of essential oil (combined or single).
Exfoliant - sugar, salt, cornmeal, rolled oats or oatmeal
Carrier Oil - coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, grape seed oil, baby oil
Essential Oil - lavender oil, vanilla oil, rose hip oil, rosemary oil
Extra Ingredients for dry skin - honey, banana, shea butter, cocoa butter
Extra Ingredients for oily skin - honey, strawberry, lemon/lime juice, orange peel
Make sure you buy all-natural ingredients, as chemicals, especially in essential oils, can cause irritation and allergies. Some people might also be allergic to cocoa or shea butter, so test a patch of skin before you use it.
