There are thousands of types of body scrub out there; however, often, it’s hard to tell what’s in them and what benefits the ingredients you can make out give you – especially when they’re disguised behind an onslaught of chemicals that are ‘apparently’ good for our skin. With this, many people – including myself – are turning to homemade body scrub, where you know what you’re putting in your scrub and can, therefore, cleanse with peace of mind. Not to mention, I always find that you can make great scrubs using ingredients you have in your cupboard, which means there’s little effort involved.
Below, discover some of my favourite natural body scrubs, plus how to exfoliate correctly with them.
Peppermint Scrub
via Good Housekeeping
Ingredients
– 300g sugar
– 100ml olive oil
– 1 tbsp. peppermint extract
– Rind of one lime
If you’re a fan of tea tree and the invigorating glow you feel after using it, you’re going to love peppermint scrub.
To begin, combine sugar and olive oil. Then, add peppermint extract. The original recipe uses green food colouring; however, it may stain if used on the face, so I recommend adding the rind of a lime if you’d like extra ‘zing!’ while adding green for authenticity. Mix everything well; if the mixture seems too wet, add more sugar to thicken until you have a thick, paste-like consistency. To ensure longevity, store your homemade body scrub in an air-tight container such as a mason jar – an excellent gift, too.
If you’re not sure how to exfoliate properly, find out at the end of this article.
Rose Petal Scrub
via Inhabitat
Ingredients
– 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
– 1 cup coconut oil
– 1 tbsp. almond oil
– Petals from one rose (pink or red)
We all imagine what it’d be like to arrive home to find rose petals that lead to a hot bubble bath – this body scrub is a little like that, except you have to do it yourself (typical!).
You need to make your rose petal scrub a few days before you’d like to use it, but it takes just minutes. Pour coconut oil into a jar or container and add a handful of rose petals, followed by raw sugar. Stir the mixture and add almond oil, and mix it further until you have a paste-like consistency. When you’re ready to use the scrub, ideally after a few days, give it a good stir. The oils and petals should leave your skin radiant!
Coffee and Sugar Scrub
via Stylecraze
Ingredients
– 1/4 cup ground coffee
– 1/4 cup sugar
– 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
– 3 vitamin E capsules
Coffee is perhaps one of the best-known ingredients for body scrub out there, renowned for its enriching properties that help more than just get you out of bed in the morning. It’s rich in antioxidants, nourishes your skin and will leave you in a caffeine-rich haze – perfect if you’ve had a long day at the office.
To make your scrub, add ground coffee to sugar and olive oil, and mix well. Then, break three vitamin E capsules apart and add the contents to the mixture. Take a few minutes to stir the scrub well, so there aren’t any air pockets, and you should be left with a coarse paste. Just like that, your homemade body scrub is ready.
Lemon Olive Oil Scrub
via Annmarie Gianni
Ingredients
– 3/4 cup olive oil
– 3 cups granulated sugar
– Juice of one lemon
– Zest from two lemons
– 2 drops essential oil
If you suffer from oily skin, you can create a homemade body scrub that will help to keep your skin clear and moisturised without it being too oily and causing you to breakout.
First, combine olive oil and sugar and mix well. Then, add lemon juice and the rind of two lemons and, again, mix. Once you’re happy with the consistency of your scrub, add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil – if possible, choose something rich in vitamins, such as grapefruit or rosemary.
Lavender Sea Salt Scrub
via Genius Kitchen
Ingredients
– 1/2 cup sea salt
– 1/3 cup almond oil
– 2 vitamin E capsules
– 1 tablespoon dried lavender blossoms
– 8 drops lavender oil
Often, the best body scrubs are the simplest ones. For an almost-effortless homemade body scrub that smells fantastic and will leave your skin silky smooth thanks to its dry skin-combating properties, try making lavender sea salt scrub.
To begin, put your sea salt into a glass jar and add almond oil, starting with a little and adding more to reach the consistency you want – aim for a consistency that’s relatively thick but easy to spread, like a paste. Then, break open the vitamin E capsules and add the contents to the mixture, followed by the lavender oil and blossoms. Mix it all up, cover, and let it sit for an hour. After an hour, you can uncover your scrub and add more lavender drops if you want a stronger scent. If you’re happy, it’s ready to use.
How to Exfoliate
Many people don’t know how to exfoliate using a body scrub, but it’s quite simple. All you need to do is apply your scrub to damp skin, ideally while showering, and massage it into your skin in a circular motion. After a couple of minutes of scrubbing – not too hard – you can rinse the scrub off warm water. To close your pores after exfoliating, splash your body or face with cold water – this will protect your pores from bacteria.
There’s nothing quite like spending an evening in, exfoliating, and then relaxing in front of the TV with a cuppa – these homemade body scrub recipes will not only make your skin radiant, but the scent should also soothe you after a long day. Exfoliate a few times a week for the best results, but always be gentle to avoid skin irritation.
Looking for a makeup artist in London to make your skin radiant? Get in touch with KSAVI to book your appointment.