Best Homemade Exfoliators: 5 DIY Face Scrubs and Body Scrubs

• Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from the skin’s surface for an improved appearance
• Homemade DIY exfoliators can effectively smooth both the face and body
• Exfoliation should only be performed 2–3 times a week to avoid irritating the skin

Regular exfoliation is key to keeping skin healthy and glowing. While there are a great number of commercial exfoliating products available, you can easily create effective homemade exfoliators for both face and body with just a few simple all-natural ingredients.­

Benefits of Homemade Exfoliators

Exfoliating removes the outermost layer of dead skin on your face or body. This process brightens and smooths skin while preventing blocked pores that can result in dullness, flakiness and acne breakouts.

Exfoliants fall into two categories. Chemical exfoliants are acids that dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells, causing them to break down and loosen from the skin’s surface. Mechanical exfoliants slough off dead skin through physical abrasion.

DIY exfoliants are a cost-effective alternative to commercial products. They can work both physically and chemically, depending on the ingredients you choose.

Homemade Exfoliating Face Scrub for Your Skin Type

A DIY exfoliator face scrub can easily be customized to your skin’s needs. The ingredients you choose can, for example, help control oil production in acne-prone skin or provide extra moisture for dry skin.

However, not all natural ingredients are necessarily beneficial for more delicate facial skin. White sugar, baking soda and crushed walnut shells are damaging, and therefore not suitable for any skin type. They can, however, be used safely on the rest of the body.

Similarly, although olive oil is often recommended as an ingredient to include in scrubs, it has been found to damage the stratum corneum, the skin’s protective barrier.

The following scrub recipes use common kitchen ingredients to address the needs of each skin type with science-based evidence.

Milk and almond scrub for normal skin

This scrub is both a physical and a chemical exfoliant, and is well tolerated by normal skin.

The finely ground almond meal helps slough off dead skin while milk contains lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that loosens the substance that holds dead skin cells, for a brighter, smoother appearance.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of finely ground almond meal
• 2 tbsp whole milk powder

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a container
2. Add a small amount of warm water to form a paste
3. Apply over the face using a circular motion, avoiding the eye area
4. Rinse off with lukewarm water and follow with moisturizer

Cinnamon and yogurt scrub for oily and acne-prone skin 

Physical exfoliation can irritate active acne blemishes. This scrub however, contains cinnamon, which is soft in texture and gentle for use on mild acne. 

If you have severe acne, use the yogurt on its own; the lactic acid provides gentle chemical exfoliation without any scrubbing required, and as a bonus, moisturizes skin without blocking pores.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp plain yogurt

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl
2. Apply to the face with your fingers, scrubbing in a circular motion and avoiding the eye area; alternatively, let rest without scrubbing if your skin is very inflamed
3. Wait 15 minutes, rinse with lukewarm water and follow with a moisturizer

Coconut oil, brown sugar and lemon scrub for dry skin 

The coconut oil in this scrub provides extra nourishment for dry skin. It contains antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties and improves skin barrier function. Coconut oil can be replaced with jojoba or almond oil for similar benefits. Lemon juice has lightening properties to reduce hyperpigmentation and can also thicken the skin.

Don’t exchange the brown sugar for white or raw; brown sugar has softer granules and is therefore safer than other types of sugar for use on the face.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1–2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Combine oil and lemon juice in a bowl
2. Add brown sugar and stir until you reach a thick, gritty consistency
3. Apply the mixture over the face, scrubbing in a circular motion and avoiding the eye area
4. Wait 10–15 minutes, then use a wet washcloth to gently remove the scrub
5. If you have very dry skin, apply a moisturizer; for some people, the oil residue from the scrub will offer adequate hydration

Colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera face scrub for sensitive skin

Colloidal oatmeal is oatmeal that is ground into a very fine powder. It is known to help restore the stratum corneum, which is usually compromised in sensitive skin. The superfine particles can also gently exfoliate.

Colloidal oatmeal is available at pharmacies; you can also make your own at home by grinding plain, regular oatmeal into a fine powder in a spice grinder.

Aloe vera gel has been demonstrated to reduce redness, a common symptom of skin sensitivity. If you have an aloe vera plant, extract the gel by cutting off a leaf at its base and squeezing out the gel. Otherwise, you can purchase 100% aloe vera gel at a pharmacy.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup colloidal oatmeal
• 2–3 tbsp aloe vera gel

Directions

1. Combine colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera gel thoroughly to form a thick paste
2. Apply all over the face in a circular motion, avoiding the eye area
3. Wait 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water
4. Follow up with a moisturizer

DIY Exfoliating Body Scrubs

The skin on the body is thicker and less sensitive than facial skin. It can therefore tolerate body scrubs containing larger, rougher granules to slough off dead skin. The oil in the scrubs help deeply hydrate and smooth typically dry areas such as elbows and knees.

Almond oil and sea salt scrub

While sea salt is too coarse to be used on the face, it is an effective ingredient in a body scrub. After you rinse off the scrub, skin will feel soft and smooth due to the almond oil.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mineral sea salt
• 1/4 cup almond oil
• 1–2 drops essential oil of your choice (optional)

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl, adjusting quantities as necessary to create a paste
2. Apply in a circular motion over the entire body, excluding the face
3. Rinse off in the shower and apply body lotion to damp skin

Honey and sugar scrub

Honey is beneficial for all skin types. It contains antioxidants to fight the signs of aging and has antibacterial properties that can help treat body acne. Honey also smooths and hydrates the skin without adding excess oil, making it appropriate for both dry and oily skin.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2–3 tbsp unpasteurized honey

Directions

1. Combine both ingredients to form a thick paste
2. Apply in a circular motion over the entire body, excluding the face
3. Rinse off in the shower and apply a body lotion or cream to damp skin

Coffee scrub

Coffee grounds are another effective exfoliator for the body. Evidence suggests that coffee grounds can reduce the appearance of cellulite, but further research is needed to support this claim. The caffeine in coffee is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels and may tighten the skin’s appearance. 

If you have dry skin, add a few tablespoons of jojoba oil, coconut oil or almond milk to this scrub to deeply moisturize your skin.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ground coffee
• Hot water

Directions

1. Pour coffee grounds into a small bowl
2. Add hot water a little at a time until the mixture forms a thick paste
3. Add 2 tbsp oil of your choice for dry skin (optional)
4. Apply in a circular motion over the entire body, excluding the face
5. Rinse off in the shower and follow up with a body lotion

Best Way to Use Your Homemade Exfoliator

Follow a few general guidelines to help you reap the most benefits from your exfoliation routine.

Exfoliate your face and body once or twice a week only; doing so more often can damage your skin’s natural protective barrier.

Exfoliate in the evening; this way you can apply a nourishing moisturizer afterward and give your skin time to regenerate while you rest.

Do not exfoliate if you have open cuts, inflamed acne lesions or sunburn.

Takeaway

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells by physically scrubbing or chemically loosening and dissolving your topmost layer of skin. Homemade exfoliators are easy to prepare with natural ingredients and are a cost-effective alternative to commercial products.

The scrub you choose should be customized to your skin’s needs. For dry skin, opt for an exfoliant with coconut oil for extra moisture; sensitive skin will benefit from aloe vera to soothe irritation.

Avoid using facial scrubs with rough granules such as crushed nut shells or white sugar, which can damage the skin of the face. These ingredients are better suited to use on the body, which has thicker skin.