Favorite Homemade Face and Body Scrubs

I think I've given up on buying face and body scrubs a very long time ago. My last trial was with Bourjois Orange peel face scrub, which I ended using as a facial wash because of its mild cleansing properties, not for its original purpose.

I am obsessed with scrubbing, especially on the face where I get a ton of blackheads and dead skin cells after using makeup, sun protection, etc. My skin is combination and my pores are quite large, therefore they tend to get plugged easier than in other people.

I found about these 'items' on makeup alley, on the internet, and last but not least, by word of mouth from my family and friends. Not in a pharmacy, not in a store or some cleverly designed commercials. I find that these combos work perfectly for my skin, which is why I decided to blog about them- maybe it'll work you you as well, who knows? They're 100% natural and packed with vitamins, anti oxidants, free of chemicals, parabens, etc. I could never ever stop using them and I'm grateful they come at such low prices!

Face and Body scrub #1 ingredient: Ground Coffee

It's the best exfoliant out there, hands down. It's small enough for not scratching your skin, which sugar does sometimes; it doesn't have that roughness sugar has because it absorbs water and slowly softens, getting the perfect texture for completely removing any trace of dirt and dead skin cells. I always use fresh ground coffee but it's almost the same if you decide to scrub with the used one. It's mostly about the original anti-oxidants and minerals that get destroyed/transferred through the boiling process.

For the face- i mix it with honey, for a moisturizing and calming effect. It is not a mask (I hate face masks! it takes forever to dry and cleaning up is always messy!), but a scrub. Therefore you can 'trick' yourself into believing this (if you're like me and hate getting all messy for 15 minutes while not knowing what to do since your face is covered in goo) while in the shower; let the warm vapors open your pores and massage it deeply into your skin. It feels rough but pleasant at the same time, really invigorating. I could never stop doing this.

Mix it with yogurt for an all-natural 'peel' effect. The mechanic exfoliation provided by the coffee makes a great combo with the light chemical exfoliation the yogurt acids provide. It gets your skin to benefit from everything milk has to offer- moisture and nourishment- plus the advantage of a thorough cleansing from the buttermilk acids. This is what dermatologist and celebrity skincare expert Kate Somerville advices you to do as well- read it in magazines and saw it on YouTube as well.

You can also use it combined with your face wash gel or your regular cleanser, for a 2-in-1 effect when you're on the run and don't have time for letting anything sit on your face for more than 3 seconds. It does work beautifully, and it's extremely easy to apply/scrub/rinse off.

For the body, the best combination is ground coffee with some essential oils (I use the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse and coconut oil) or just your body wash or body lotion (for dry skins). You can always wash off the lotion in the shower and your skin will be left amazingly smooth, unlike with anything you have ever tried.

The only thing you must be a little attentive with is the messiness..it can get a bit hazardous especially if you're using fresh ground coffee and not 'used' one. Just be careful not to get any tiny bit of it in your eyes, nose or mouth, and wash it off diligently with the shower until there's nothing left. Coffee tends to release its color in water so don't get scared your shower/tub is brown- it'll wash away really easily. Plus the delicious odor of coffee combines with the perfume of your shower gel/body lotion, mm that I like!

Face and Body scrub #2 ingredient: Baking soda 

This is especially indicated for the face, if you want something as resembling a chemical peel as possible at a fraction of the price. If you have dry skin you must pay special attention because it tends to cleanse thus be kinda drying. 

The texture of baking soda is that of a fine powder that doesn't dissolve in water that easily, which makes it perfect for facial scrubs. I have read a lot about it and found out it's especially indicated for acne, acne scarring, severe blackheads and oily skins. It does work wonderfully, even mixed with water only, and it acts delicately on the skin. You can't even tell you're scrubbing your face but just 'washing' it with something thicker than your usual face wash. 

It removes everything, even in the tiniest crevasses of the skin where a bulgier scrub couldn't do much; it leaves the skin tight, shiny, fresh as if you'd just returned from the spa. My favorite scrub of all times, it isn't messy, cheaper than coffee (haha!), it's unscented and does the trick every time. You can also use baking soda for whitening your teeth, refreshing white laundry, cleaning silverware or jewelry and other delicate items around your house. Really a bargain, and so effective!

If you want to mix it, here's a little list of what I like to combine baking soda with:

-egg yolks (or just a beaten egg)

-essential oils

-coconut oil

-olive oil (just a few drops)

-water (until the product mimics the consistency of a paste, not thinner)

-orange, lemon and watermelon juice (for removing spots, age marks, and a stronger peel with the combo of fruit acids)

Face and Body scrub #3 ingredient: Wheat Bran

This is a fantastic way of scrubbing off dead skin cells while at the same time offering your skin some pampering- wheat bran comes packed with nutrients and vitamin B. It manages to wash away everything you want it to without scratching being too harsh on your skin. Can be a little bit messy, especially for the drains, so make sure you handle it with care.

I usually mix it with water only, because it gets softer and it doesn't need anything else. For the face, you can definitely add some egg yolk and have the scrub of your life. Tends to get softer as it soaks up liquid so make sure you use it with a tiny bit of water only, and right after you've made the mixture.

Hope all this helps you as much as it does for me! Happy scrubbing!