There are many face scrubs out there, but it’s hard to find precisely the right one to fit your skin type. It means that making a custom one to suit your skin’s needs is the way to go. They are easy to make, and since you don’t have to buy the ingredients, it is very affordable. It’s a win-win situation.
Be forewarned: that adding in fresh fruit will reduce the shelf life of your scrub, and you’ll want to keep it in the refrigerator—not your shower. Keep that in mind before whipping up a big batch.
Ingredients:
Exfoliant – sugar or salt
Vegetable oils – olive oil, safflower oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and extra virgin coconut oil
Fruits & Vegetables – Kiwis, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, tomato, cucumber
Dark air-tight containers – for storage
Choose your exfoliant – either sugar or salt. I recommend plain white sugar, brown sugar, and sea salt. Sugar is less abrasive than salt because it dissolves more easily. Brown sugar is the best for sensitive skin because it’s the softest. Salt exfoliates well and can help remove impurities and dead skin. And the sea salt also removes dead skin along with helping increase cell activity.
Select is your oil from the list –
These oils are excellent for your skin—olive oil, safflower oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and extra virgin coconut oil (my favourite!). To start, all these oils, except the avocado oil, are naturally antibacterial, which will help prevent any problems. Olive oil is good for dehydrated skin, and it won’t clog your pores. Safflower oil is a fatty oil that can help calm irritated skin and prevent clogged pores. Almond oil is fantastic because it can reduce UVB rays’ effects and improve skin tone. Avocado oil is extracted from the fruit’s pulp—not the seed—so it’s incredibly rich and will help your skin retain moisture. Finally, extra virgin coconut oil is packed with antioxidants and free radicals, which help prevent ageing. It’s one of our favourite multitaskers.
You can make a scrub with just an exfoliant and an oil. However, I recommend adding in one of the six fruits and vegetables. They each have properties that will help your skin even more. Kiwis can help brighten your complexion, and the seeds in the fruit pulp can act as mini exfoliants on their own. Strawberries are best for the evening and brightening your skin tone, and they are packed with vitamin C. Pineapple is best for acne-prone skin; it has an enzyme that helps dissolve dead skin cells. Tomato contains lycopene which can help protect skin from UV rays. Papaya has an enzyme called papain responsible for skin whitening, reducing unwanted hair, exfoliating dead skin, repairing ageing skin etc. And finally, cucumber can help reduce puffiness by reducing water retention.
Instructions:
1. Choose your container and measure your exfoliate so that the box is 3/4 full.
2. Measure out your oil. You’ll want a 2-to-1 ratio. So, twice as much salt or sugar as oil.
3. Combine oil and salt or sugar in a bowl and stir until just combined.
4. Add in the fruit or vegetable chopped as finely as you can get it and muddle the mixture together until just combined. You don’t want to mix it too much or the granules will start to dissolve.
To store your face scrub, either thoroughly clean out an old scrub container or buy a plastic container that has a lid insert like these. Believe us, it will help you keep your scrub fresh.
