We recently posted about why it's so important to exfoliate your entire body (many of us only make a point to exfoliate our faces). Using a body scrub regularly can seriously improve your skin, and it also happens to be one of the easiest products to make yourself!
So we thought we'd let you take matters into your own hands and DIY it.
Simple DIY Body Scrub Recipes
Common ingredients you'll find in body scrubs include honey, sugar, salt, coffee, olive oil and other moisturizing oils, oatmeal, essential oils, and spices. You probably have a lot of these ingredients already!
The recipes below will help you get started on your own DIY body scrub collection. Remember that substitutions are totally possible, so mix and match and make it your own.
And if you're wondering where to find a container to store these in, you can use your empty scrub and mask tubs! Since these recipes use fresh ingredients, it's best to store them in the refrigerator.
RECOMMENDED READING: EXFOLIATION: WHAT WORKS AND WHAT'S SAFE?
1. Oatmeal and Brown Sugar Body Scrub
There is some belief that the caffeine in coffee can help reduce the appearance of aging skin. Whether this is true, exfoliating can help that area and reduce the appearance of bumpiness.
If your skin is sensitive, oatmeal is a wonderful substitute for coffee. It is lightly exfoliating while also soothing for the skin.
The olive oil adds moisture while also helping this mixture stay together and apply easily.
Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup ground oatmeal or coffee grounds (the coffee is more invigorating—choose oatmeal for sensitive skin)
A few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Directions:
Combine ingredients and store the mixture in a dry place for up to 4 weeks. To use wet skin first, and then apply in circular motions, gently exfoliating. Rinse. If you have extra sensitive skin, just leave out the sugar.
One thing to be aware of is that using this scrub in your shower requires some clean up afterwards!
2. Two in One Banana Body Scrub
Bananas are lightly moisturizing while also helping to control oil. This makes them great for you if you have areas of your body that are prone to oily skin, such as your chest or back. Those with super sensitive skin may want to swap oatmeal for the sugar.
The other bonus of this scrub is that it smells like dessert.
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1 tbsp. brown sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla (if you like).
Directions:
Mix ingredients to combine but avoid mixing too much, as it will thin out the recipe. Apply in the shower and allow to sit about a minute, then gently massage over skin in circular motions. Rinse.
3. Invigorating Lemon Olive Oil Body Scrub
This is a great cleansing scrub for reducing your risk of oily skin. The olive oil helps to balance out the lemon, so it will leave your skin clean but not dry.
We recommend adding rosemary or grapefruit essential oil to this. Both are invigorating, stimulating, and also help keep oily skin and clogged pores in check.
Ingredients:
¾ cup olive oil
3 cups granulated sugar
Juice of one lemon
Zest from 2 lemons
A couple of drops of your favorite invigorating essential oil.
Directions:
Combine olive oil and sugar first, followed by the lemon juice and rind. Finish by adding essential oil—rosemary and grapefruit are both invigorating and good for your skin.
Apply to skin in circular motions, then rinse off.
4. Green Tea Salt Scrub
We can't say enough about the benefits of green tea, both internally and externally.
Ingredients:
3 tsp Epsom salts
3 tsp baking soda
1 bag of green tea leaves (or a tbsp. of loose leaf tea)
4 tbsp. your favorite moisturizing oil, such as jojoba, olive, grapeseed, or sweet almond
Directions:
Combine the first three ingredients and then work in the oil. Apply as usual, using circular motions, and then rinse off.
5. Coconut Butter Scrub
This one is super moisturizing! Exfoliating allows you to absorb the butter and oil. Your skin will feel all kinds of soft after you use this.
Ingredients:
½ cup shea butter or cocoa butter
3 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. coconut oil
Optional: a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil
½ cup sugar
Directions:
Use a double boiler to melt the shea butter or cocoa butter. Once it’s melted, whip it up with a mixer until it’s smooth and fluffy (a hand blender would also work well here). Add the olive oil and coconut oil and slowly mix into the butter.
You can add some essential oils at this point if you like. Finally, mix in the brown sugar. Apply as you normally would, but you can leave this one on the skin a little longer to take advantage of the moisturizing properties before rinsing off.
Let us know if you try any of these DIY Body Scrubs by leaving a comment below.
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