Getting rid of old, dry, dead skin cells is one of the major steps to having a beautiful, radiant and younger looking skin and the best way to do that, of course is to exfoliate! Let me ask you this, do you have any idea why you NEED to exfoliate? Well allow me to enlighten you. New skin cells are created in the skin’s inner layer (dermis). As they form, the old, dead skin cells are pushed to the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). These dead cells gradually flake off. But some of them hang on for too long, making your complexion look dull & rough and clogs your pores causing acne & other blemishes. This is where exfoliation comes in, it removes these dead cells. Most store-bought exfoliating products contain harsh chemicals and dozens of questionable ingredients that have unknown benefits. This is another reason why I think it’s absolutely necessary to make your own. Below are some ways to make a natural homemade scrub and the best part about it is that almost everything you need is right in your kitchen!
- Honey and baking soda scrub/mask
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
How to:
- Start with a dry face. Put honey and baking soda in a bowl and mix together thoroughly for a minute or two.
- Gently apply the honey mixture on your dry face and massage it in for a minute or so.
- If you want to use it as a mask, just leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
- Rinse your face a few times with warm water and pat dry.
NB: This is my personal favorite because honey has natural anti-bacterial properties and has been used for centuries as an effective skin treatment. Baking soda on the other hand is a gentle exfoliant and helps remove dead skin cells without causing much irritation.
- Lemon and Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
1/2 fresh lemon
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of organic honey
How to:
Mix together the lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl then add the honey and whisk quickly until the ingredients bind together into a medium-to-thick consistency. Combine the sugar and mix. If you sense that there isn’t enough sugar to get the scrubbing done properly, add a bit more. This is a personal preference. Apply to clean face in gentle, circular motions. Be cautious of using on open wounds, as lemon has a tendency to sting. Leave it on for 7-10 minutes and rinse with water.
NB: This scrub is ideal for people who suffer from breakouts and acne as all of the ingredients are highly beneficial to acne-prone skin. Lemon tightens pores and evens out the skin tone, sugar removes dead skin cells and cleans pores, olive oil heals acne scaring, and honey prevents future breakouts.
v Rice Scrub
Ingredients:
Bagged rice (brown, jasmine, etc)
Honey
Lemon
How to:
Grind the rice into smaller grains. Do not grind too much or you will get a powder. It needs to be small beads of rice for exfoliation.
Add honey to the rice. Mix to form a thick paste.
Cut a lemon in half and dip in rice mixture. Scrub the lemon on face before applying the rice mixture. If a lemon is not available, use clean hands.
Pat dry with a towel
Rinse off and be sure to repeat weekly.
- Green tea, sugar and honey scrub
Ingredients:
Green tea
Sugar
Honey
How to:
Brew a mug of green tea
Pour tea in a bowl and allow to cool
Add sugar until the mixture has a consistency that’s gritty enough to scrub your skin, but still wet enough to apply easily.
Stir in tablespoon of honey
Apply the scrub to a freshly washed face. Rub the scrub all over your face
Use a wet washcloth to remove the scrub, and splash cold water over your face when you’re finished.
NB: To store this scrub for later, put the mixture in a jar sealed with a lid. Keep it in a cool, dry place. It should last for several weeks. Green tea is said to have anti-aging effects when applied to the skin. It reduces wrinkles and blemishes, and even repairs scar tissue. If you’re using bagged green tea, go with plain tea, rather than flavored. This will give you a more concentrated result.
- Yoghurt scrub
Ingredients:
Unsweetened yoghurt
How to:
Wash your face with soap or cleanser and pat dry
Pour unsweetened yoghurt in a bowl
Apply it on your skin. Leave it for 15 minutes or more.
Pat dry with a towel
NB: The B6 in yogurt helps to stimulate blood flow, making your skin feel fresh and renewed
