Easy Facial Scrubs and Their Benefits: 4 Recipes

Making your own facial scrub is a sure way to know that you are using natural ingredients. Natural ingredients have been shown to be safe, effective and also inexpensive. The simplest ingredients - usually on hand - make excellent facial scrubs.

I admit that I am not known for going out of my way to make elaborate or fancy scrubs (see the link below for very simple body scrubs). I feel the simpler they are the more likely you are to have the ingredients on hand and you are also more likely to do the scrubs. Could anything be easier that baking soda and water?

Also included are variations for two of the recipes

Benefits of a Facial Scrub

A facial scrub helps remove dead skin cells, dirt, makeup residue, blackheads and other impurities from your face. Done regularly, a facial scrub also helps stimulate skin cells and helps reduce or prevent fine lines and age spots.

Note: Be sure to read the tips below for doing a facial scrub

Four facial scrubs

Baking Soda Facial Scrub (Can be used as a mask - recipe also included)*

Use aluminum-free baking soda (The one we used is called "Bob's Red Mill Aluminum Free Baking Soda")

Baking soda can be used to make the facial scrub or a mask by adding just water but they are done just a little bit differently.

Note: A friend who always does this mask and turned me on to it - recommends only using aluminum-free baking soda, so this is only kind I use. See my friend modeling in the December 2011 issue of Essence magazine, p. 104. She makes every kind of natural product.

1- For the baking soda facial scrub

- About 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

- water

First rinse your face with warm water

Then mix in your palm the baking soda with enough water to make a loose paste

Massage gently paste into your face in circular motions

Leave on for a minute

Rinse with warm water and pat dry

Variation -

For the mask (the mask is thicker, applied differently and left on longer)

- About 3 parts baking soda to

- 1 part water more or less

Make a thicker paste for a mask

Rinse your face with warm water

Apply the paste and leave on for about 5 minutes (no massaging) if comfortable

Rinse with warm water and dry

The baking soda facial scrub exfoliates and removes dirt and dead skin cells while preventing acne and making your skin extra soft.

2 - Olive Oil and Salt Scrub

- 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

- 1/2 tsp. salt (use fine not coarse)

Rinse the face in warm water and leave damp

Mix the two ingredients

Apply gently using a circular motion for about a minute

Rinse well and pat dry

Salt helps remove dead skin cells while improving circulation

Olive oil has oleic acid which nourishes the skin and holds in moisture

Note: Olive oil can be used with either salt or sugar to make this scrub - see variation

Variation -

Olive Oil and Sugar Scrub

- I tsp. extra virgin olive oil

- 1 tsp. sugar

First rinse the face in warm water

Mix the two ingredients together

Massage over the face in a circular motion for about a minute

Rinse with warm water

Olive oil has oleic acid - an ingredient that helps the skin hold moisture.and is nourishing

Sugar has glycolic acid which helps repair damaged skin and removes dry skin while it smooths

3 - Honey and Sugar Scrub

- 1 tsp. honey

- 1 tsp. sugar

Rinse face with warm water

Mix the ingredients

Apply to the face in circular a motion

Leave on for about a minute

Rinse with warm water and dry

This scrub is good for skin that is likely to have acne

Potassium in honey makes it an antibacterial agent

Sugar has glycolic acid making it beneficial for repairing damaged skin and also for smoothing the skin.

4 - Sugar and Milk Scrub

- 1 tsp. sugar

- 1 tsp. milk

(Use whole milk if your skin is dry and skim milk for oily skin)

Rinse face with warm water

Mix ingredients

Apply in a circular motion

Leave scrub on for about a minute

Rinse and pat dry

Sugar has glycolic acid - good for repairing skin damage

Milk contains lactic acid - an alpha hydroxy acid - that is beneficial as an anti-aging ingredient (See link for easiest alpha hydroxy mask made with a few grapes. Alpha hydroxy is used in many skin care products)

Tips for a Facial Scrub:

- Avoid the eye area

- Always be gentle

- Start with a face freshly rinsed in warm water - avoid hot or cold water

- Don't forget to gently treat your neck as well and include it in your facial care treatments

- Massaging the face helps stimulate skin cells

- For oily skin you can use the gentle scrubs every other day

- For dry skin once a week is usually enough

- *Baking soda can dry your skin if used often, so apply a moisturizer after. I use Shea butter (see the link for information)

Then add a body scrub (See link below)

Also see other links for pampering, including the easiest mask made from a few grapes