Make Your Own Face Scrubs with these Simple Recipes

We’ve discussed the importance of proper exfoliation before, namely in our article on how to cleanse and exfoliate properly, and our article comparing glycolic acid and face scrubs. If you choose to go the facial scrub route, there are many you can make yourself to avoid store-bought scrubs with plastic microbeads. Yes, that’s right; you can make your own face scrub and give yourself a homemade facial! And best of all, these homemade skin care recipes are simple and made with ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen. Here are some of our favorite DIY face scrub recipes:

Green tea scrub

Green tea contains antioxidants known as catechins and as we explained in our article What Are Antioxidants and Free Radicals?, antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals and prevent sun damage to the skin. That antioxidant power gives this scrub a bonus pigment-balancing effect in addition to exfoliating.

• 2 Tablespoons strong green tea
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 Tablespoon sugar

Brew a strong mug of green tea. This recipe comes out best using loose leaf tea, though bagged tea will work, too. Just use about half the amount of water you would normally use, and let it steep a little longer than usual.

Once your tea is brewed, measure two tablespoons of it into a bowl and allow the tea to cool. Once it’s cooled down, add in a tablespoon of sugar, stir, add in a tablespoon of honey, and stir until all three ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Apply the scrub to your entire face, leave it on for 5 minutes, and then wipe it away with a warm, wet washcloth.

Baking soda scrub

This is the simplest recipe on the list, but it’s effective. Baking soda’s grains are the perfect size to exfoliate your skin and many people claim that they help with acne as well. To make this scrub, you will need:

• 2 Tablespoons baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons water
• Your favorite facial cleanser (optional)

Mix baking soda and water together until a paste is formed. If the paste is too thin, you can add baking soda and if it’s too thick, you can add water. Additionally, you can mix this paste with your favorite cleanser to create an exfoliating cleanser.

Apply the baking soda scrub to your face and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing off.

Lemon sugar scrub

Sugar is an excellent exfoliant, and the citric acid in lemon zest helps to gently cleanse and brighten skin. And as an added bonus, this scrub’s scent is invigorating and refreshing.

• 1 Cup of sugar
• ½ Cup of coconut
• 1 Teaspoon of lemon zest
• 1-2 Drops of lemon extract (optional)

For this scrub, just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Once they’re mixed, after your face is cleansed and before it’s dry, apply a small amount of this scrub to your face, gently rubbing it on, and then rinse with warm water.

Note: Be sure to use regular white sugar, as the granules in raw sugar can be too coarse for the sensitive skin on your face.

Papaya pineapple scrub

Pineapple and papaya are delicious and refreshing tropical fruits to eat, while their juices also are well suited for natural exfoliation. In addition, the honey in this mask is calming and moisturizing to the skin.

• ¼ Cup of cubed fresh pineapple (be sure to cut out the stem part)
• ¼ Cup of cubed fresh papaya
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoons sweet almond oil
• 1 Tablespoons manuka honey (or regular honey if you don't have manuka)

Blend the fruits into a pulp, pour the pulp into a bowl, and stir in the other ingredients. Be sure to wet your face with warm water before applying. This scrub doubles as a face mask and can be left on the face for several minutes before rubbing gently and rinsing it off. Don’t forget to moisturize afterwards!

Avocado grapefruit scrub

Here’s another easy one to make yourself. The vitamin C in grapefruit is excellent at fighting sun damage with its antioxidant power.

• 1 Cup sugar
• Juice of ½ grapefruit
• 3 Tablespoons avocado oil

Pour the sugar into a bowl, juice one grapefruit half into it, and then add in the avocado oil into the mixture. Just as with the other scrubs, wet your face with warm water, rub the mix on gently, and rinse it off with warm water or, alternately, with a warm wet washcloth.

Strawberry brightening scrub

Like grapefruit, strawberries also contain a lot of antioxidants, which make them great brighteners, as well as some naturally exfoliating compounds. Almond oil follows up this brightening and exfoliating by hydrating your face afterwards.

• 5 Large strawberries
• Juice of ½ lime 
• 1 Teaspoon of almond oil 
• 4 Tablespoons salt

Cut the stems off of your strawberries and pulse them in the blender or food processor, making sure not to blend them too finely. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. This scrub can be used in the same way as the papaya pineapple scrub, except you won’t need to follow up with a moisturizer thanks to the almond oil.