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Just like all of us, you belong to one of the two teams – you either love the way exfoliators buff away your skin’s sins or you fear the hardworking scrubs (ouch) would damage your skin’s barrier. If it’s the latter, you have yet to get your hands on a good scrub that can spell good news for your skin sans snagging it. After all, face scrubs have evolved beyond the use of abrasive exfoliants, so you can drop the idea of them being ‘too rough’ on your skin and get closer to achieving baby-soft skin.
Benefits Of Exfoliating
When it comes to scrubbing, remember two things: ‘less is more’ and ‘coddle your skin’. Translation? Limit scrubbing your face to twice a week and always follow it up with a layer of moisturiser to make up for the loss of moisture during the process. Here’s how regular scrubbing works wonders for the skin.
- Exfoliation allows better absorption of the subsequent products in your skincare routine thereby, ensuring the products work to their optimal best. Scrub away your beauty woes with our exfoliation guide.
- Regular facial cleansers are not equipped to draw out impurities and bacteria trapped in your skin pores. This is where the zealous scrub comes into the picture and frees your skin completely from bacteria, sweat, oil, and dirt.
- Do you look at the mirror and wonder at times ‘Where did all that glow go?’ Well, you probably didn’t notice the gradual build-up of dead skin cells which makes your complexion dull and robs it of its glow. This can be avoided with weekly scrubs to buff away dead skin cells.
- How often do you hear the lady at the salon mention your ingrown hair during waxing? If the answer is too often, someone has been definitely skimping on scrubbing. It’s time to up your exfoliation game if you want to prevent the formation of ingrown hair.
- When dead skin cells, flakes, dirt, and impurities are eliminated from your skin, what do you get? Clear complexion. It is regular scrubbing that can get you closer to a smooth, clear and glowing complexion. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
- We know it may sound counterintuitive but scrubbing actually helps keep breakouts at bay. If you already have acne-prone skin, stick to a gentle exfoliating formula that unclogs pores to get rid of acne-causing agents and prevent future breakouts.
Ingredients For Each Type Of Scrub
There are several types of scrubs that you can make at home. Here’s a lowdown on each type of scrub and what you will need to make them:
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Exfoliating: Sugar, coffee or coarse salt, oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, and yoghurt. These ingredients are excellent for exfoliation and remove dead skin skills for smooth skin.
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Moisturising: Oils like coconut, jojoba, almond, and honey. They are great for providing your skin with a boost of hydration and moisturisation to help regulate oil production.
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Brightening: Lemon, turmeric, papaya, and gram flour. Traditional at-home remedies to brighten dull skin and reduce dark spots or pigmentation.
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Soothing: Aloe vera, tea tree oil, chamomile, and liquorice. Known for their anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, these ingredients are great for soothing sun-damaged and inflamed skin.
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Deep Cleansing: Charcoal, glycerin, baking soda, and citric acid. These deep cleansing ingredients are great for unclogging pores, which eventually helps minimise their appearance.
Ingredients To Choose As Per Skin Type & Concerns
Oily/Acne Prone Skin:
Neem powder: Dirt and pollution can easily stick to oily skin due to it’s naturally greasy and sticky. This can make way for acne and blackhead-causing bacteria. Neem is regarded as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent that kills acne-causing bacteria and reduces whiteheads.
Green tea: Oxidative stress like sun damage and tanning can make the skin look dull. This can accelerate the rate of dead skin cells which can clog the pores, resulting in whiteheads and blackheads. According to a study, green tea has the highest level of EGC and EGCG which makes it effective in mitigating excess sebum, bacteria and fading dullness for smooth, glowing skin.
Dry, Flaky Skin:
Honey: Due to its thick consistency, honey has hydrating and moisturising properties which relieves dry and itchy skin. Moreover, it also slows down premature ageing.
Sugar: Finely ground sugar can be forgiving on dry skin as it gradually dissolves once it comes in contact with the skin. Therefore, you can get rid of dead skin cells without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
Sensitive Skin:
Colloidal oatmeal: Colloidal oatmeal is very finely milled oatmeal that is proven to be a beneficial ingredient to treat dry skin conditions and compromised skin barrier as per a study done in 2016. It’s also said to be used to treat itchy, flaky scalp.
Carrier oil: Carrier oils or cold-pressed oils like olive, coconut and almond oil are rich in fatty acids that deeply moisturise and calm sensitive skin. It also softens scrub particles like walnut shell powder, sugar and finely milled coffee to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and other impurities.
Ingredients To Avoid
Avoid ingredients in your DIY face scrub based on your skin type. If you have oily skin, avoid using carrier oils as a base for your face scrubs as they can leave the skin feeling heavy and greasy. Avoid acidic or strong astringents like citrus extracts if you have sensitive or dry skin as it can lead to irritation and tightness. While coarse scrub particles may work well as body exfoliators, avoid using them in face scrubs as they can be too abrasive and create micro-tears on the surface of the skin which can lead to prolonged skin damage.
What You Will Need To Make Homemade Facial Scrubs
Making homemade exfoliators for the face is super easy and does not require too many products. You simply need a few ingredients that may already be in your pantry, just ensure they are clean and sterile to protect your skin. If feasible, keep the utensils you use to make DIY facial scrubs separate. Here’s a checklist for everything you will need.
- A grinder or blender for processing whole ingredients like coffee or oatmeal
- Mixing bowl (Check out this set)
- Spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups
- Brush to apply the scrub.
- Carrier oils like jojoba or coconut to bind the ingredients together
- Exfoliants like coffee, sugar, coarse salt, or oatmeal.
- Optional essential oil and perfume oil for fragrance if required
10 Best DIY Face Scrubs
As per research, facial scrubs formulated with natural ingredients promote skin health and radiance sans any harmful side effects. Here’s a lowdown on homemade exfoliating face scrubs you can whip up and apply on your face for instant skin rejuvenation. Check the one meant for you based on your skin type and concern.
1. For Oily Skin: Kiwi
Step 1: In a bowl, squish the pulp of a Kiwi and add 2 tablespoons of Sugar and 1 drop of Olive Oil. Stir it well to form a paste.
Step 2: Slather copious amounts of this mixture all over the face and massage in circular movements with fingertips.
Step 3: After 10 minutes, wash off with lukewarm water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
2. For Dry Skin: Coconut Oil
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Coconut Oil, 1 tablespoon of Sugar and 1 drop of Lemon Juice. Stir it well.
Step 2: Massage this scrub on your face in small circular movements with fingertips.
Step 3: After 10 minutes, wash off with lukewarm water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
3. For Sensitive Skin: Oatmeal
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of ground Oatmeal and 1 tablespoon of Organic Honey. Mix it well. gar and 1 drop of Lemon Juice. Stir it well.
Step 2: Gently apply this scrub on your face and massage with your fingertips.
Step 3: After 10 minutes, rinse off with water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
4. For Combination Skin: Coffee
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of finely grounded Coffee and 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Mix it well.
Step 2: Gently massage this scrub all over your face.
Step 3: After 15 minutes, cleanse your face with water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
5. To Achieve Glowing Skin: Tomato
Step 1: Slice a Tomato into half and sprinkle the exposed part with Sugar.
Step 2: Now, rub this tomato pulp gently in circular motions all over your face for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Cleanse your face with water and continue with the rest of your skincare routine.
6. To Remove Blackheads: Lemon
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1/2 tablespoon of Lemon Juice, 1 tablespoon of Salt and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix it well.
Step 2: Gently apply this scrub all over your face and massage for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
7. To Prevent Acne: Cinnamon
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Cinnamon Powder and 2 tablespoons of Honey. Mix it well.
Step 2: Gently scrub this evenly all over your face.
Step 3: After 15 minutes, wash off with a mild cleanser and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
8. To Minimise Large Pores: Papaya
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Papaya pulp, 1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar and 1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice. Mix it well.
Step 2: Gently dab this paste all over your face and slowly massage in circular motions for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with a mild cleanser and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
9. To Remove Tan: Gram Flour (Besan)
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Gram Flour, 1/2 tablespoon of Yogurt and 1/2 tablespoon of Salt. Mix it well.
Step 2: Massage this scrub all over your face in small circular motions for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse off with water and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
10. For Dull Skin: Walnut
Step 1: In a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of granulated Walnuts, 1 tablespoon of Honey and 1/2 tablespoon of Lemon Juice. Mix it well.
Step 2: Gently apply this paste all over your face and massage in circular motions.
Step 3: After 15 minutes, wash off with a mild cleanser and follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.
Ready-To-Use Face Scrubs You Can Try
If you’re wary about using a homemade scrub, here are some bestselling from Nykaa for a lit-from-within glow.
1. Mamaearth Ubtan Scrub
Well-known as a brightening agent and a trusted grandma-approved remedy to soft skin, you can use gram flour without worry. Say goodbye to sun-damaged skin with the Mamaearth Ubtan Scrub which has been formulated for tan removal and protection of the skin.
2. Forest Essentials Revitalising Kashmiri Walnut Exfoliating Scrub
Walnuts are the best option to fight dry, dead skin cells that refuse to budge. However, excessive use of walnuts can damage the skin barrier and using moisturising agents along with walnuts is very important. We recommend the Forest Essentials Revitalising Kashmiri Walnut Exfoliating Scrub which contains finely milled walnuts with aloe vera and a vitamin-rich gel base that protects the skin and restores skin elasticity.
3. Biotique Bio Papaya Brightening & Revitalizing Tan Removal Scrub
Papaya is a rich source of enzymes that exfoliate the skin and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Restore your skin’s brightness and natural glow with the Biotique Bio Papaya Brightening & Revitalizing Tan Removal Scrub.
4. MCaffeine D-Tan Exfoliating Coffee Face Scrub
Coffee energises the skin cells, removes tan, and gently exfoliates to provide glowing skin. Get this super ingredient into your skincare routine with the MCaffeine D-Tan Exfoliating Coffee Face Scrub which has all the goodness of coffee along with Vitamin E that leaves the skin feeling soft and supple.
5. Old School Cinnamon And Oranges Cleansing Ubtan Face Wash Powder
Cinnamon provides a plumping effect and improves blood circulation in the skin. Use the Old School Cinnamon And Oranges Cleansing Ubtan Face Wash Powder, which is also enriched with rice and dal powders to boost collagen production and fight infections.
Conclusion
Exfoliating your skin with facial scrubs can be beneficial as it helps deeply cleanse your pores and remove impurities, dirt, sweat, and oil from your skin. You can easily make scrubs at home with ingredients that may already be in your kitchen. There are also several ready-to-use facial scrubs that feature natural ingredients. Using a face scrub regularly – DIY or ready-to-use – allows skincare products to absorb better, while preventing the build-up of dead skin cells and ingrown hair. It is great for people with all skin types and should definitely be a part of your weekly skincare rituals.
FAQs On DIY Face Scrub
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What ingredients can be added when preparing sugar scrub for the face?
You can add yoghurt, honey, olive oil, mashed strawberries, almond oil, or lemon when creating a DIY face scrub with sugar. If you are looking for ready-to-use face scrubs, here are a few recommendations.
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Are homemade face scrubs safe? What should I apply after scrubbing?
Homemade face scrubs are totally safe as long as you include appropriate proportions of ingredients when preparing a DIY face scrub and use it correctly . Since it includes natural ingredients without any chemicals, you can rest assured of applying and leaving it on your face for a few minutes.
Once you are done scrubbing your skin, it’s essential to immediately apply copious amounts of glycerine-fortified moisturisers. This keeps the skin from getting dry and helps retain moisture. Following are some moisturisers you can use.
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Can I use a homemade face scrub daily?
It is not advisable to scrub your face daily as exfoliating too much can strip the skin of its natural oils. As a result, your skin may get dry and damaged while becoming prone to breakouts. It’s recommended to use scrubs at least once and a maximum of twice a week depending on how much your skin can handle. If you possess acne-prone skin, read this guide.
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Recommend best face scrubs for normal skin type.
