Most of us lead such busy lives that we are lucky if we can wipe off our makeup before falling into bed at night. Exfoliating regularly? You must be joking!! I totally hear you, it really is the very last thing I make time for in my busy life…
As it turns out though, as I’ve learned through all the research I’ve done for the post, exfoliating is a very important part of any skincare regime. As important as moisturizing regularly and brushing your teeth at night. Yeah, I know!!!
It doesn’t take much to figure out that as we are going about our daily routines, dust, and pollution can clog up pores. On top of this we regularly shed dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin and make it look duller. When it comes to anti-aging, exfoliation is one of the most effective ways to promote youthful skin. Now that is music to my ears!
And that’s not all. In addition to its main act of sloughing off dead skin cells and promoting softer, smoother skin, exfoliation can increase circulation, get rid of cellulite, and even assist the body with its natural regeneration process. All of which results in brighter, firmer, more healthy-looking skin. Wowza!
Easy Face Exfoliation Methods
The beauty industry has a million products that will exfoliate your skin. Products that contain plastics, irritating fragrances, glycerin, parabens, phthalates, and other questionable ingredients. YECH…who wants those!!!
The good news for you is that simple exfoliating face scrubs are insanely easy to make from home. They’re inexpensive and good for your skin! Check out the simple exfoliating face scrubs below if your skin needs a boost or pick-me-up. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to learn to make your body exfoliant. I’ve got you!
Basic Baking Soda Scrub
The range of what baking soda can do just seems to be getting wider and wider. It can freshen the air, remove stains, clean showers and sinks, and trigger explosions in science fair volcanoes. Oh yes, we can use it to bake, too.
But there is one more non-food-related use to add to baking soda’s resume: face exfoliant. The grains in baking soda are just the right size to act as a gentle exfoliant, and many claim that it has helped clear up acne. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda into your facial cleanser to make it an exfoliating cleanser. Or make a paste of just baking soda and water, gently rub it onto your skin and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off. I find this is my favourite by far as the granules are so small that it feels like it's polishing your skin instead of scrubbing it!
Nourishing Sugar Scrub
Granulated sugar is another wonderful, natural exfoliant — and with all these reports coming out that sugar may be toxic when ingested, I’m thinking we might be better served to use it on the body versus in the body! Another great body exfoliant!
Mix it with honey, which contains powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and a little lemon for clarifying purposes, and you have a wonderfully nourishing and effective face scrub. Heck…you can probably eat some while you’re at it! So to recap…Combine 1 teaspoon of sugar with 2 teaspoons of honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and mix well. If the mixture is a little loose, add a bit more sugar. YUM!
Invigorating Coffee Scrub
Coffee is another fantastic natural exfoliant. It contains caffeic acid, which has anti-inflammatory effects and can boost collagen production. Just as coffee stimulates our body in the morning, it can also serve as a skin stimulant.
To make the scrub, combine 1 tablespoon of ground coffee with 1 tablespoon of water or olive oil. To make this inexpensive face scrub even more economical, save the wet coffee grounds from your brewed morning coffee and use those. If you use olive oil, skip applying a moisturizer afterward, as olive oil will leave your skin super-moisturized.
As a side note, since coffee grinds can clog drains, apply the scrub and buff off the grounds over a plugged sink so that you can wipe them out or use a mesh drain strainer to catch them before they go down your pipes.
Soothing Oatmeal Scrub
People who use oatmeal as a natural face scrub swear by it, and now I know why. Ground oatmeal not only serves as a wonderful exfoliant, but it also absorbs and removes surface dirt and impurities while leaving your skin nourished and hydrated. It has been known to soothe and heal everything from acne to sunburn to dry, flaky skin.
Due to its gentle nature, it is also ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Combine 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, which boosts the face treatment’s exfoliating properties, and 1 teaspoon of water or olive oil to make it into a paste. Gently rub it onto your skin in circular motions, let sit for five to 10 minutes and rinse.
Use the Dry Brushing Method
You don’t need any creams or scrubs to do gentle, light exfoliation of your skin. All you need is a good, natural bristle brush. Gently brush your skin, starting at your feet, and work your way upwards, toward the heart. You can exfoliate your entire body in this way in about four, or five minutes. Once you have finished brushing, cleanse your skin and moisturize.
So there you have it, five ways to exfoliate your skin! I trust that after reading this you will feel inspired to try one of these methods out. I, for one, am going to tackle one exfoliation method each week to see if it changes my skin. Never too old to learn some new tricks!