Natural ways to exfoliate skin at home

:: This is a guest post authored by Swati Sharma ::

You’ve probably seen the hundreds of exfoliating beauty products stocked up on the beauty aisle at the local beauty store or online. “No,” You say! “My skin is sensitive and I need something that works without harming it!”

You want a DIY, something that you can make at home so that you know what exactly you are putting on your face. You want to use only those ingredients that your skin can tolerate. Of course, no one would want to damage the skin any more than it already is.

Did you know that even though DIYs can effectively exfoliate the skin, there are some ingredients that your skin may not be happy with? So even though you are using ingredients from your pantry, you need to be careful and do a patch test on the inner elbow, the second most sensitive-skin area, before you use anything on your face. 

That said, here are some natural ways to exfoliate skin at home:-

1. DIY Cinnamon-Honey Exfoliating Scrub For Oily And Acne-Prone Skin

Oily skin needs regular exfoliation to prevent breakouts. While regularity is the keyword here, remember that there is a fine line between consistently exfoliating and overdoing it. It can lead to excessive oil secretion, which is not what you want.

Make a scrub using cinnamon and honey. Cinnamon has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It contains eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and trans-cinnamaldehyde, which help in oil-reduction and prevents acne. Using this wonder spice with honey helps diminish black and whiteheads too.

To make a cinnamon-honey face scrub, powder organic cinnamon. Add a teaspoon of this to 3 teaspoons of organic, raw honey and make a paste. Spread this paste evenly on your face and scrub gently using circular motions for 5 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water. This is a wonderful face scrub for men as well.

Don’t use a face wash or moisturizer for a couple of hours after this. Go with your regular face cleansing, toning and moisturizing only after 2 hours for best results.

Cinnamon and honey scrub

As much as it may seem otherwise, dry skin is a bane too. You cannot use many products or face scrubs as they can dry out the skin further. Using too much oily beauty products can lead to clogging of pores and blackheads. And just letting it be is also not good as dryness ages the skin prematurely. If you have observed, people with dry skin get fine lines faster than people with oily skin.

So, here is a good homemade face scrub that can moisturize dry skin without drying it out further. It contains olive oil, honey and brown sugar. Sugar is good for exfoliating facial skin as the granules are not abrasive. They are gentle and buff away dead skin.

To make this exfoliating mask, mix 1 tablespoon of brown sugar with a teaspoon each of olive oil and honey. Mix them well and scrub your face with this mask in an upward motion – from chin to the cheeks and then the forehead. A couple of minutes of scrubbing should do the trick. Always wash off with cold water so that the pores that open during scrubbing are closed. Exfoliate twice a week for good results.

Exfoliation with Olive oil

Oatmeal is good for all skin types. It deep cleanses, clears pores and removes excess oil. It is an easy and effective scrub. To make this exfoliating scrub, mix equal quantities of olive oil and milk. Add enough oatmeal to submerge it in the liquid. Set this aside mix for a few minutes to let the oatmeal soften. Use it to scrub your skin, massaging in an upward motion for 2-3 minutes. Finally, wash it off with cold water.

Oatmeal exfoliating scrub

Exfoliating properly can revive dull and tired skin, making it glow. Use a mask that is ideal for your skin type. Use only scientifically proven ingredients that are not harsh and abrasive on the skin. Your facial skin is delicate and needs gentle care.

Always remember these tips when exfoliating at home –

1. Choose the Right Exfoliating Mask – Use a scrub that is right for your skin type. It should unclog pores, remove excess oil and cleanse the skin without drying it. After using the mask, your face should be hydrated and clean.
2. Exfoliate in Circular Motions – Exfoliate gently and in circular motions to avoid inflammation and redness.
3. Moisturize – After exfoliating, your skin is exposed and needs some TLC. Moisturize it so that it remains hydrated.

In The End

Now that you know how to exfoliate at home, go ahead and make your own scrubs. You are sure to have a smoother, softer and clearer skin. Remember, the best part about making your own scrubs to exfoliate is that you can choose organic ingredients suitable for your skin type and do it as often or as less as your skin demands. If in doubt, check with a dermatologist. Your skin will thank you in the years to come!

 Author's Bio : Swati Sharma is a beauty and skincare enthusiast. She loves to create content around it and presently is a blogger at 365Gorgeous, a beauty and skincare blog dedicated to keeping you gorgeous, always. When not writing, you would often find her sipping a cuppa and reading non-fiction books.

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