So to continue my earlier post about skincare, today I want to talk about something equally important as moisturizer... a scrub! Its all good and fine to have your organic Dr. Bronner's as a face wash and coconut/shea butter moisturizer, but you need to exfoliate! Exfoliation removes the top layer of dead skin cells that cause rough, dull skin. By doing this, it also helps all the goodness from your moisturizer sink in! And for those of us predisposed to acne, exfoliating helps cleansers get deeper and work better to remove acne-causing bacteria, dirt, etc. You should be using manual exfoliation (through the use of a scrub) once a week.
Another topic to discuss is salt vs. sugar scrub. Here and Here are some articles you can refer to.
Salt scrubs are more abrasive due to the jagged edges of the salt. On the plus side, salt, especially sea salt and Himalayan salt, provide trace minerals. However, because they are so harsh, they are better used on rougher areas of the body like elbows, feet, and callouses. Now, if you can find a fine grain sea salt, this may be a good facial scrub option for acne prone skin. Salt inhibits bacterial growth and absorbs oil very well.
Sugar Scrubs are more gentle on skin because sugar granules are round. For this reason, it is generally the go-to choice for facial scrubs. Sugar also contains glycolic acid, which is used in commercial peels. Here is more information regarding concerns over bacteria growth in sugar scrubs. Although, I usually make my facial scrubs in small batches immediately prior to using.
Recipe 1- Facial Sugar Scrub
1 Tbs Brown Sugar
2 tsp Honey
1/2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 tsp Lemon Juice
These amounts don't need to be precise. I just generally eye ball it until I have a smooth mixture. I use it on a clean face, and after applying and gently massaging in, I let it sit for 10 minutes before washing off with warm water. This will make your skin feel incredibly smooth and soft! Absolutely amazing. I don't know where I got this recipe... I think it is a combination of recipes that I developed years and years ago. Each one of these ingredients offers amazing skin benefits and after using it, it is not hard to believe!
Recipe 2- Sugar Scrubs from Wellness Mama
These recipes are basically made with:
2 parts sugar (white or brown)
1 part oil (almond, coconut, olive, or jojoba are great options)
You can also add other ingredients such as a few drops of vitamin E or essential oils. It is important to note that if you're going to make a recipe to put in a jar for multiple uses, you need to make some substitutions. For example, using lemon essential oil instead of lemon juice. And adding some vitamin E for preservation.
Here are some great essential oils for your skin (adapted from here and here):
1. Bergamot (great for acne prone or oily skin)
2. Rosehip seed oil (great for sensitive or aging skin, it helps fade scars and fine lines, and rejuvenate skin. Contains Omega 3,6 and 9, vitamin C, lycopene and linoleic acid. It also moisturizes and boosts collagen production)
3. Clary Sage (reduces inflammation and helps balance your skin's natural oil production)
4. Geranium (helps fade scars and promotes cell growth)
5. Sandalwood (rejuvenating, calming, moisturizing, and fades scars and fine lines)
6. Eucalyptus (great for acne. Antimicrobial, calming, and fights inflammation)
7. Tea Tree (also great for acne, pretty much for the same reasons as eucalyptus. It is as effective as benzoyl peroxide without the side effects. Also has healing properties)
8. Carrot Seed (great for dry, damaged, or mature skin)
9. Lemongrass (detoxifying, regenerative, and minimizes pores)
10. Lavender (calming and antimicrobial; great for mature or acne prone skin)
Recipe 3: Salt Body Scrub
Again, the basic recipe is:
2 parts sea salt (This is a whole other post, but it is important to use sea salt for the benefit of the trace minerals. There are a ton of different kinds from Pink Himalayan salt to Red Hawaiian Sea Salt. Each kind has something to offer)
1 part oil (almond, coconut, olive, or jojoba are great options)
In addition to essential oils, you can add lemon zest, thyme leaves, or rosemary leaves to the scrub for added benefits. An example can be found here
Another idea is to use 2 parts sea salt with 1 part coconut oil and add lime essential oil or lime zest for a coconut lime scrub that smells amazing. I'm using this one currently :)
Anyway I hope this was coherent (Past my bedtime) and helpful! Let me know if ya'll have any other tips, ideas, or comments!
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