A key step to having radiant and younger looking skin is to get rid of dry and dead skin cells. And the best way to do that, naturally, is to exfoliate. The process enables new skin cells to breathe, relieving the epidermis of the dry outer layer that often inhibits nourishing growth. With ingredients that you already have on hand, you can have your face shining and refreshed. Making your own scrub is an inexpensive, eco-friendly and all-natural option. So what are you waiting for?
1. Sugar
Smells so good you’ll want to eat it (Credit/Flickr)
Sugar is one of the best natural exfoliants as the grains are small and rough, and, as such, ideal for removing dead skin. Mix a half-cup white or brown sugar with enough olive or grape-seed oil to make a paste and apply to the face in a circular motion. Let sit for 10 minutes then wash away with warm water.
2. Yogurt
Greek Yogurt is great for face masks because it can moisturise and soften the skin (Credit/NatureHacks)
Yogurt contains lactic acid, the same alpha hydroxy acid found in skin care treatments, only in milder form. Yogurt will also hydrate your skin as it exfoliates, so it is well suited to people prone to dryness. Apply plain yogurt to the face, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse.
3. Coffee
Now you can have your coffee any time of day (Credit/Pixabay)
Ground coffee is an effective exfoliant. The caffeine stimulates the skin and improves blood flow to the face, which is perfect for healthy cell turnover that makes us look radiant and bright. Gently massaging your skin with a coffee scrub will help slough off dead skin cells, revealing soft, glowing skin. You’ll want to use organic coffee beans for this, as coffee is among the most chemically treated food products in the world. Go online for tons of great coffee scrub ideas.
4. Honey
Add a few oats to the honey to gently remove dirt and oil (Credit/Wikihow)
Honey isn’t just good for sweetening your cup of tea, it also makes a sweet addition to your skin care routine. Raw honey promotes skin healing and regeneration while protecting from bacterial damage. It also calms inflammation and makes skin look more plump and smooth, which is similar to a moisturising sheet mask. Massaging raw honey onto damp skin will provide enough exfoliation without making skin more red or irritated.
5. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil might even replace all your expensive (and possibly toxic) beauty products (Credit/Pixabay)
One of the best things about using coconut oil for skincare is that it suits all skin types. So whether you have dry, oily, acne prone, ageing or sensitive skin, coconut oil can provide you many benefits. It’s also antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungal, making it a great choice for acne prone skin.
DIY Exfoliants | Featuring Priyanka Chopra
Many famous people prefer using DIY all-natural beauty recipes. In this video, actress Priyanka Chopra shares her best-kept homemade beauty secrets with VOGUE. If you want to learn how to make a yogurt hair mask, sea-salt lip treatment, and Ubtan body scrub, take a look!
Written By: Carol Beber