All body scrubs, even ones you buy in the store, contain just three primary ingredients: 1. An Exfoliant: Salt • Sugar • Ground coffee • Oatmeal • Other options: almond meal, flax meal (linseeds), rice bran, wheat bran, buckwheat, and ground nut shells, cornmeal.
A simple formula you can use for body scrub is: any oil (coconut, olive, grapeseed, etc) + sugar (white granulated or brown sugar) + a few drops fragrance (optional for scent -- essential oils like lavender or rose are nice, or you could try using vanilla extract) + food coloring (optional to make it look pretty).
Natural scrub products can include sea salt, sugar, coffee mixed with aromatic oils. The goal of the treatment is to provide a fully enjoyable pampering experience while washing away toxins. The exfoliating process rids the skin of dead skin cells to allow your skin to breathe.
Regular granulated sugar, brown sugar or organic sugar all work well. Brown sugar is the finest and least abrasive, regular granulated is next and works just fine, and organic sugar is the coarsest. Pick the one you like or mix and match until you find your favorite combination.
Exfoliating scrubs use an abrasive ingredient, such as plastic microbeads, salt, sugar, bamboo, walnuts, etc. These ingredients help buff and polish the skin, sloughing away dead skin cells.
If you have a sensitive skin one can also have allergic reactions to the chemicals present in the synthetic scrubs as well. 2. Over scrubbing can result in open pores which are exposed to pollution and UV rays at the same time. It also leaves your skin more prone to infections and tanning.
Similar to Greenfield and King, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman recommends looking for physical exfoliants with small, soft exfoliating particles — ideally, ones that dissolve — such as jojoba beads, sea salt, sugar and coffee.
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.
Natural exfoliants use ingredients derived from natural sources like sugar, salt, coffee grounds, and oatmeal, while chemical exfoliants use synthetic ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs).
Silicone scrubs are gentle enough for sensitive skin and are ideal for cleansing without being harsh or abrasive, according to Garshick. This type of bath product is durable and doesn't trap bacteria or mold, making it more hygienic and easier to clean.
Notable AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and citric acid. Glycolic acid at a pH of around 3 in a concentration of 10% or more is about as strong as a cosmetic product gets!
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.
Organic cane sugar will give you a more coarse scrub and fine sugar will give you fine scrub. If you want to use this on your body AND your face, I'd suggest fine or medium-coarse sugar. I like to use organic sugar because it's a little more coarse than regular sugar, but it isn't super coarse like turbinado sugar.
Body and face scrubs with only salt/sugar and oil should last several months, some even one year onwards, providing they're not contaminated with water (or bacteria from fingers).
Some of the best carrier oils to use for face and body scrubs include sweet almond, grapeseed, apricot kernel and coconut oils. Note that the latter is a solid at room temperature, but melts on contact with skin. Apricot Oil is good for all skin types.
Tile showers, and enclosed bathtub/shower combos tend to be colder areas, which may cause the Moisturizing Exfoliator to become hard - in those cases simply use a spoon to scoop out the product.