Exfoliating is one of the easiest ways to give your skin a quick glow-up! When you exfoliate, you are:

Removing dead skin cells to reveal smoother, brighter, and younger skin.
Unclogging pores by removing dirt, oil, and debris from your skin.
Improving skin texture by promoting cell turnover and collagen production.
Boosting circulation by stimulating blood flow to your skin giving it a healthy glow.
Helping with product absorption by allowing skincare products to penetrate deeper into your skin for better results.

One of the easiest and most fun ways to exfoliate is with body scrubs. You can easily make body scrubs with ingredients in your kitchen. Get creative and mix & match these ingredients to make your own custom scrubs. This is a create your own adventure experience!

Jump to the recipes

Here are my favorite scrub ingredients with their benefits:

Carrier oils like coconut oil, olive, almond, grapeseed, etc.
- My favorite carrier oils are coconut oil and V-6 (a blend of 6 nourishing carrier oils)
  - Benefits of carrier oils may include:
    - Moisturize & hydrate skin by locking in moisture
    - Antimicrobial & antibacterial properties that can help protect your skin from harmful bacteria & other pathogens, reducing acne & promoting clearer skin
    - Packed with essential nutrients like Vitamin E, which is essential for skin health, helping to improve skin elasticity and slow down the signs of aging
    - Calming & soothing
    - May help improve skin texture by regulating & balancing your skin's natural oil production
Tallow
- Tallow is nutrient dense, moisturizing, and healing
- Learn how to render tallow here
Raw honey
- Benefits of raw honey include:
  - Moisturize & hydrate skin by locking in moisture
  - Natural antibacterial properties that may help promote healing and prevent infections
  - Packed with antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that cause skin damage and aging
  - Gives your skin a healthy glow
  - The enzymes in honey can help gently exfoliate your skin and unclog pores
Organic cane sugar or brown sugar
- Benefits of adding sugar to your scrub include:
  - Natural exfoliant that gently scrubs away dead skin cells and promotes cell turnover
  - Contains glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time
  - May also unclog pores and prevent acne by removing excess oil and dead skin cells
Organic coffee grounds
- Benefits of organic coffee grounds for skin include:
  - Contains antioxidants which can help to reduce inflammation and redness in the skin
  - Helps remove dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion
  - Caffeine increases blood circulation which can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, give the skin a healthier glow, and reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes
  - May help to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Sea salt, Himalayan salt, and Epsom salt
- Benefits of salt for your skin include:
  - Can gently scrub away dead skin cells and unclog pores, which can help to prevent acne and blackheads
  - Detoxifying properties that can help to draw out toxins and impurities from your skin
  - Can help hydrate and moisturize your skin by attracting water molecules to the skin's surface
  - Can improve circulation by increasing blood flow to the skin, which can help to give your skin a healthy glow
  - Epsom salt has magnesium sulfate which may improve sleep, reduce stress, and soothe muscles. Learn more about the benefits of Epsom salt here.
Ground oats
- Benefits of using oatmeal for your skin include:
  - Contains saponins that act as natural cleansers, removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells
  - Gentle exfoliation removes impurities and reveals brighter, smoother skin
  - Contains beta-glucan, which penetrates deep into the skin to provide long-lasting moisturization and nourishment
  - May help to calm and soothe irritated skin, reducing redness and itching
  - Contains antioxidants that help to protect the skin from environmental stressors, such as pollution and UV rays
Activated charcoal
- Benefits of activated charcoal include:
  - Can effectively detoxify and purify the skin
  - Absorbs impurities, toxins, and excess oils, leaving your skin feeling cleaner and smoother
  - Can help draw out bacteria, toxins, and other impurities from pores, which may reduce the occurrence of acne
  - Gently exfoliates the skin, effectively removing dead skin cells and impurities
  - May shrink the appearance of pores, making your skin look smoother and more even
  - Read more about activated charcoal here
Turmeric
- Benefits of turmeric include:
  - Contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe and calm your skin. It also helps to reduce redness and puffiness caused by inflammation
  - Has antibacterial properties that help to fight acne-causing bacteria
  - Unclog pores and reduce excess oil production, which can help to prevent future breakouts
  - Contains antioxidants that help to brighten and even out skin tone & reduce the appearance of dark spots
  - Boosts collagen production which can improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  - Natural moisturizer that helps to hydrate and soothe dry, flaky skin
Cocoa Powder
- Benefits of cocoa powder for skin include:
  - Loaded with antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals, which can damage the skin and lead to premature aging
  - Has a high content of vitamins and minerals including magnesium, calcium, and iron
  - Caffeine found in cocoa powder helps to improve the circulation of blood in the skin, promoting the growth of new skin cells and enhancing the overall texture and appearance of the skin
  - Get my cocoa powder dry shampoo recipe here
Vitamin E Oil
- Benefits of Vitamin E for your skin include:
  - Very effective moisturizer
  - Has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and swelling associated with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions
  - Stimulates collagen production, which is essential for maintaining the elasticity and firmness of your skin
  - Acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting the skin against harmful UV rays and preventing sun damage.
Essential Oils
- Essential oils may support healthy skin, even skin tones, cleanse, soothe, and purify. Get more of my essential oil tips here.
- My favorite essential oils to use in scrubs are:
  - The best bargain for essential oils is to grab a bundle. Learn more about essential oils & how to get the best deals here.
    - Vanilla
    - Lavender
    - Purification (this is my favorite essential oil that I use for everything!)
    - Orange
    - Lemon
    - Citrus Fresh
    - Thieves
    - Stress Away
    - Peppermint
    - Frankincense

As you mix up your scrubs, keep these tips in mind:

The finer your ingredients are, the more gentle they will exfoliate. You can use coarse salts and sugars for your body & feet. Use finer ingredients for your face.
Sugars are more gentle than salts. Brown sugar is more gentle than cane sugar.
Salt can sting if you have any open cuts or scrapes.
You want a paste texture. You can adjust the wet / oil to dry ingredients ratio to get your desired texture. A good starting point is about 1 part oil / wet ingredients to 2-4 parts dry ingredients. The ingredients you use (including which carrier oils) will result in different consistencies.
Your body scrubs will keep for about 2 months after you mix it.
It's best to use your scrubs on wet skin.
You can use your scrub 1-3 times per week.

Instructions:

Get the printable recipes here

Gather your ingredients.
Use a coffee or spice grinder or food processor to grind dry ingredients if needed.
Mix in a medium bowl.
Adjust to desired consistency. If it's too thick, add more carrier oil or liquid ingredients. If it's too thin, add more dry ingredients. The consistency will vary depending on which carrier oils and other ingredients you use.
Store in an air-tight container.
Use 1-3 times per week in the bath or shower. Use coarser scrubs for your body & feet and finer, smoother scrubs for your face.

Here are my salt & sugar body scrub recipe combos:

Lavender Vanilla Salt Scrub

1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup Himalayan pink salt
1/2 cup carrier oil of choice (I like coconut oil or V-6)
10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops of Vanilla Essential Oil
10 drops Vitamin E

Sugar & Coffee Scrub

1/2 cup organic coffee grounds
1/2 cup pure cane sugar
1/2 cup carrier oil of choice (I like coconut oil or V-6)
8 drops Peppermint, Cinnamon. or Thieves Essential Oil
10 drops Vitamin E

Oatmeal & Brown Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup finely ground oats (grind in a grinder or food processor)
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons raw honey
1/4 cup carrier oil of choice (I like coconut oil or V-6)
15 drops essential oil of choice (I like Frankincense, Lavender, Orange, or Purification)
10 drops Vitamin E

Activated Charcoal Sugar Scrub

1 cup pure cane sugar
1/4 cup carrier oil of choice (I like coconut oil or V-6)
1 teaspoon activated charcoal (about 6 capsules if using capsules; read about activated charcoal here)
15 drops of essential oils of choice (I like Stress Away or Orange in this recipe)
10 drops Vitamin E