5 Easy-to-Make Body Scrubs to Keep Your Skin Vibrant and Healthy
Body scrubs are popular because they offer a very effective way to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so to make room for new cells. Sometimes, dead cells don’t shed completely, resulting in dry, flaky patches and clogged pores. Exfoliating can help prevent this, keeping your skin looking vibrant and healthy.
While there are plenty of pricey body scrubs to choose from, for just pennies you can make your own equally effective homemade Body Scrubs using ingredients you already have in your pantry.
How to use Body Scrub
After cleansing the skin, turn off the shower water. Scoop a small handful of salt scrub and rub in a circular motion all over your skin. Rinse with water. You can wash again if you desire, but you will enjoy the greatest benefit if you simply towel dry without soaping up again.
Used every time you take a shower, dry skin will be a distant memory. The body scrub helps to get rid of all those dead skin cells and then seals in the moisture with the oil.
How often to use Body Scrub
Generally, it is safe and healthy to exfoliate once or twice a week. More often could result in over-exfoliation, which can lead to dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. Once you use a Body Scrub regularly, you’ll discover your perfect regimen.
Homemade Body Scrubs
Generally, to make body scrub you need:
- Oil. Olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, baby oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil
- Grains. Sea salt, Epsom salt, sugar, coffee grounds
- Optional fragrance. A few drops of your favorite essential or aromatherapy oil are optional to add a subtle fragrance.
- Sealed container. Because you’ll be using the scrub in the shower, it’s wise to consider a non-glass option to store your body scrub.
Sugar Scrub
Granulated sugar (white or brown) is an inexpensive ingredient that works well in body scrub for sensitive skin. Sugar is gentler on the skin than salt.
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup oil
- essential oil (optional)
Combine sugar and oil in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add additional oil or sugar as needed to achieve your ideal consistency. If desired, add one or two drops of your favorite essential oil. Spoon your scrub into a container, apply the lid and label clearly.
Salt Scrub
- 1/2 cup Epsom salt OR Sea salt
- 1/2 cup oil
- essential oil (optional)
Combine salt and oil in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add additional oil or sugar as needed to achieve your ideal consistency. If desired, add one or two drops of your favorite essential oil. Spoon your scrub into a container, apply the lid and label clearly.
Green Tea Sugar Scrub
- 2 tea bags green tea
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 cup white or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
Add tea bags to hot water and allow to steep until cool. In the meantime, place sugar in a bowl mix together the sugar and coconut oil.
Once the tea has cooled, add it to the sugar mix. It’s important that the tea is cool so the sugar does not dissolve. Add additional oil or sugar as needed to achieve your ideal consistency.
When you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container, apply the lid, and label clearly.
Honey Sugar Scrub
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
Add brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey to a mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, and add more coconut oil or sugar to achieve your ideal consistency. Spoon the scrub into a container, apply the lid, and label clearly.
Coffee Scrub
- 1/2 cup coffee grounds (used or unused)
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, warmed
Add the coffee grounds and hot water to a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly with a spoon. Add the coconut oil. If needed, add more coffee grounds or more oil to get the consistency right.
Spoon the mixture into a container, apply the lid, and label clearly.
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I’m wondering if the coffee scrub might stain? which could add a little color to my glaringly white legs? 😉
Looks great!!! How about a facial scrub recipe? Or an exfoliating mask? Would love those recipes 🙂
I use Coconut Oil every evening when I take off my make up.
I also heard a female Dermatologist say a number of years back for women to shave their faces… yes, she said shave. LOL She said this will get rid of the dead skin cells. She said that was why some men seemed to have less wrinkles and nicer complexions than women. I try to shave once a month. 😀
I have read about this, as well, Cathy. My children’s pediatrician was Vietnamese with the most beautiful skin ever. I asked her about that, thinking she might suggest a skincare product. She nearly giggled when she told me that in Viet Nam the common practice is to scrape one’s face every day with the raw edge of a broken piece of pottery to, as you suggest, remove all the dead cells. I’d totally fogotten about that until your commment here.
I, too, am concerned that the oil (particularly coconut oil) might clog pipes since it solidifies at cooler temperatures and I don’t see an answer to that question above…
If you are cleaning your shower with Blue Dawn … no problem. And we’re talking about a very small amount of oil in these recipes. One batch lasts a long time.
Is it safe to use coffee grounds with a septic system? I don’t put them down the garbage disposal! Also, are the oils safe for pipes??
Dear Mary,
One of the best things you can do for your face is to use aloe directly from the plant. Break off a piece of aloe, break open, rub all over your face. It will tingle just for a moment. Let it dry. Two days later you skin will be noticeably refreshed. You can do this weekly or monthly. This can replace other treatments you might be using.
I love this idea, too! I have a huge Aloe Vera Plant in my living room.
For the recipes above that specify coconut oil, can another oil be used instead? I’m allergic to coconut.
Yes, you can use any carrier oil in these recipes!
It is much better to make what you will use at one time, because if you get germs into the container when you are scooping the scrub out, you can get a nasty infection the next time you use it, especially if you have broken skin!
Jamie,
Maybe a squeeze bottle, like Smuckers Jelly container. It has a snap open top and produces a “ribbon” of the contents, then you can snap the lid closed.
Might be something to try.
Nancy, or maybe an old VO5 Shampoo or Cream Rinse bottle?
Great idea!
Of course this regimen calls for “cleansing” first … soap, water, as stated.