There are many ways to exfoliate skin naturally. Coffee grounds, sugar, finely ground sea salt, cinnamon and oats are some of the best ingredients to use in a homemade exfoliating scrub, Roff says. She is a big fan of sugar face scrubs, as they can brighten dull skin and fight signs of aging.
Sugar. Sugar grains are naturally small and rough, which make them perfect for sloughing skin cells from your face. When added to an oil, such as grapeseed or olive oil, sugar is a fantastic natural exfoliant.
Turmeric is high in antioxidants that slow down cell damage [source]. It's widely used as a skin exfoliant and improves the texture of skin [source]. It helps with inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema [source]. It helps reduce pigmentation and even out the skin tone [source].
Once or twice a week is great, but everyday exfoliation is even better. Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Michelle Henry gives us her top five reasons to exfoliate daily. Once or twice a week is great, but everyday exfoliation is even better.
Avoid abrasive physical exfoliators with harsh grains, sugar, or salt, as well as facial brushes as much as possible. “If you have breakouts, use a chemical exfoliator to fight oil and acne from a deeper level in the skin,” says Loving. “AHA and BHA acids (like salicylic, lactic, and glycolic) will be most effective.
If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.
Sugar is one of the best natural beauty ingredients to exfoliate your skin. Sugar scrubs are mild and help remove dead skin. They also help rejuvenate the skin by cleaning all the dirt from the skin pores. With all the dead skin and dirt removed, the new skin is more radiant and you have a healthier glow.
Lemon juice naturally contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that may help reduce skin damage and premature aging. Astringent qualities. Due to its high pH levels, lemon can decrease oil on the skin and reduce inflammation.
Oatmeal also makes a great exfoliator or mask. Mix 2 tbsp of oats with 1 tbsp of honey and a dash of water. Crompton suggests warming up the mixture, then rubbing it into your skin. You can use it just to exfoliate and wash it off right away, or leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes as a soothing, hydrating mask.
You would want to look for exfoliants that have moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, or ceramide. Since your skin tends to be dry, you should only exfoliate one to two times a week followed by a strong moisturizer.
A coconut oil sugar scrub can be an excellent way to exfoliate and moisturize the skin, remove makeup, eliminate wrinkles and prevent oxidative stress on the face, leaving you feeling and looking younger than ever before.
Myth: You shouldn't use a washcloth to dry your face.
But King said it's usually fine to use a clean cloth on your face if you "gently pat dry without rubbing."
Lack of exfoliation leads to build up of dead skin cells, and could result into dry, dull, patchy, flaky skin, clogged pores, with uneven skin tone.
“Kitchen turmeric Powder can be applied on the face because it is convenient to use and easily available. … If you have dry skin, STAY AWAY because turmeric has the tendency of drying the skin a little bit. And turmeric will stain (not because of artificial colouring but it's a natural property).”
Avoid leaving on overnight, as turmeric has the propensity to stain (especially if you have lighter skin). You can try washing your face with milk, if there is some staining from this yellow spice. You can use the mask up to two to three times per week.
The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and honey help in nourishing the skin from within. This improves the blood circulation in the epidermis and dermis tissues of your facial skin to reduce the dark spots.
To make a honey and sugar face scrub, start by putting 1 1/2 tablespoons of raw honey into a small bowl. Next, add 1 1/2 teaspoons of fine baking sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to the honey. If you have oily skin, you can include an egg white to give the scrub a tightening effect.
Scrubbing the face with coffee grounds can help to clear away dead skin cells and unclog the pores. The chlorogenic acids in coffee may also reduce inflammation and protect against some strains of bacteria.