Either way, be sure you take the time to make these spa-level luxuries that can be made at home for just a few bucks. The process for making body scrubs with salt and sugar is exactly the same. Choose sugar for a more moistening effect, and salt for a more detoxifying and exfoliating effect.
Sugar scrubs are much gentler than salt scrubs because sugar granules are rounded. They can't cut the skin the way salt or walnuts might. Sugar is a natural glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy acid to be exact), which helps to break down cells and encourage cell turnover.
Salt and sugar scrubs exfoliate your body. Salt scrubs work great on tough skin, and your elbows, feet and heels are excellent places for a salt scrub — the scrub will work over those dry areas and restore your skin. Sugar scrubs are good all over because they're gentle and will soften your body and face.
Mix 2 tbsp finely ground oatmeal with 1 tbsp honey and 1tbsp warm water to form a thick paste. Then, massage into your face (and/or body) and let it sit for 4 minutes to really absorb that oaty goodness before rinsing away with warm water. Use your scrub once or twice a week.
Sugar scrubs are sometimes used in the shower and sometimes users dip wet hands into the jar. Both of these circumstances will introduce water to the sugar scrub, which eventually will lead to bacterial growth.
The Insidious Nature of Excess Sugar
Just like salt, an overconsumption of sugar can lead to weight gain, visceral fat, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It can also put you at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
Should you wash your body after Body Scrub? Make sure to rinse your body carefully to remove any dead skin cells or excess scrub particles.
This scrub is a simple yet effective treatment for blackheads. You can make it using salt and gel-based toothpaste. Avoid going for the white, thick toothpaste because they will not work here. Mix some salt to the toothpaste and apply the blend to your affected skin.
The sharp angles of sea salt granules make them a strong exfoliant (don't bother with table salt - the refining process removes its beneficial properties). Because it's more abrasive, choose salt for scrubbing notoriously dryer areas of your body - feet, elbows, knuckles and legs.
Baking soda will exfoliate your skin — and it's cheap
He said there are a few perks to using baking soda: It actually does exfoliate your skin, it can also remove oil that can cause future acne, and it's cheap — you probably already have baking soda in your kitchen cabinet.
Just take a tablespoon of almond oil and mix a teaspoon of sugar in it. You can also add a few drops of honey to improve the consistency. Apply it on your face and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water along with scrubbing your face gently.
Sugar and salt scrubs may get the bulk of praise in the body exfoliation world, but we're also fans of high-quality loofahs and other body exfoliation tools. A tool lacks the granular mess common with a scrub, meaning you can reach for one of these handheld items no matter where you are.
Spend 10 minutes soaking the area of your skin that has toughened in warm water. This will make it easier to scrub off dead skin cells by dissolving them. Then, exfoliate your skin to eliminate the dead skin cells with a light body scrub that is suitable for your skin type.
A silk reeler told me to make a scrub by putting a bit of white sugar in the palm of my hand and then adding a tiny drizzle of olive oil. Make a "paste" of that, rub gently to exfoliate (don't scrub or you'll tear your skin), then rinse off the sugar and pat dry.
The doctor likes Himalayan pink salt because it is often gentler than sea salt, making it the ideal exfoliant for sensitive or dry skin types.
Here's a general guideline: For sensitive or dry skin, opt for a sugar scrub. If your skin is balanced or oily, a salt scrub can effectively exfoliate. For detoxifying and soothing tired muscles, a salt scrub with Epsom salts may be ideal.
An exfoliating scrub rich with restorative oils is the answer. The recipe, such that it is, couldn't be easier: One part oil to two parts salt and a few drops of essential oil to make it smell nice.
Jojoba oil mimics your skin's natural oil (sebum) and helps moisturize and cleanse your skin. Coconut oil is also great for your skin (it's used in Vietnam to relieve and cure dry skin all the time), while super-refined sugar sweetly scrubs away your rough patches. If you use it on your face, just be gentle!