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If used correctly, nothing beats an exfoliating scrub to help clear dead skin, cleanse pores, and make you feel fresh.
One problem: the miniature plastic micro-beads found in most exfoliating products are horribly bad for the environment.
Micro-beads are tiny balls of plastic. So tiny, research has shown they're too small to be sifted out during water treatment, and so they're winding up in lakes and oceans where they have devastating effects, according to Time.
For this reason, many states in America are considering a ban on these beads. In fact, Illinois has banned them already.
A South African ban on micro-beads is probably quite far away, but that's no reason to keep using products that hurt the environment.
Luckily for us and our skin, home-made exfoliator is cheap and easy to make, environmentally friendly, and, above all, absolutely luxurious.
We could list a collection of recipes, but all recipes follow the same basic formula:
Base + Exfoliator
Sometimes it's a little more complicated like:
Base + Base + Exfoliator + Optional Extras
But you get the idea. Following our guide to the best bases and exfoliators, try mix and match to find the perfect recipes for you. We have listed some example recipes as well.
Note:
Used roughly, exfoliator can tear and harm the skin. Make sure you only exfoliate gently and in moderation.
Remember, exfoliator can be harsh, so make sure you only mix in a small amount, especially if you're making a scrub for your face.
Not everyone's skin is the same. Do research before adding an ingredient to your scrub to make sure it's OK for your skin type.
Bases:
1) Honey
A natural anti-bacterial, honey is both healing and moisturising.
2) Milk
Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey for a reason. Milk should leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
3) Water
Nothing like plain old water.
4) Green tea
Revitalizing and refreshing, green tea is one of those things that's good for you both inside and out!
5) Olive Oil
Oil is the ultimate moisturiser, though don't feel olive oil is your only option. You might want to try avocado oil, coconut oil, or even sunflower oil instead. (For information on which oils might perfectly match your skin type, visit The Oil Cleansing Method.)
Exfoliators:
Note: not all exfoliators are going to be OK for your face. Make sure you only use exfoliators with a very fine grain.
1) Bicarbonate of soda
Perfect for delicate exfoliating, as in a face scrub, bicarbonate of soda is like micro-beads - without the horrible environmental effects.
2) Sugar
Who doesn't have sugar? Try a coarse brown sugar for your body scrub, or a fine castor sugar for your face.
3) Oatmeal
Best mixed with warm water or milk, as it should be slightly cooked, oatmeal is wonderfully soothing, and can help with everything from sunburn to acne. It's probably the safest option, especially for your face.
4) Ground Coffee
The best thing about this exfoliator is the delicious scent. Coffee is also meant to have anti-cellulite properties, as well as being full of anti-oxidants, and should help tighten and tone.
Optional Extras:
1) Fruit and Vegetables
From bananas to blueberries, carrots to cucumbers, adding some mushed up fruit and/or vegetables can add the ultimate extra luxurious kick your exfoliator needs. Most fruits and veg are packed with anti-oxidants as well.
2) Cocoa powder
Three words: Chocolate body scrub. Like almost everything else on this list, it's also filled with anti-oxidants.
3) Flowers
Be careful with this - the last thing you want to add to your face scrub is deadly nightshade - but add some lavender, chamomile or rose petals for a soothing and gorgeous-smelling scrub.
4) Cream
Like milk, but more luxurious.
5) Honey and Oils
These might be bases, but they can also be added in small amounts to other scrubs. You might even want to research some essential oils to use, but, as with flowers, be careful with this.
6) Cinnamon
An anti-bacterial, cinnamon also smells gorgeous. Think Christmas shower scrub.
7) Lemon Juice
Healing and toning, lemon juice is an especially great addition to your face scrub.
8) Rose Water
Rose water makes a great toner, helps with puffiness, and, of course, smells wonderful.
Example recipes:
1) Coffee Body Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup coffee
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
Olive oil (Mix in until the scrub reaches the right consistency)
2) Chocolate Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-3 drops orange essential oil
Olive oil
3) Rose and Strawberry Face Scrub
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup mashed strawberries
1 tbsp rose water
4) Honey and Green Tea Face Scrub
Ingredients:
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp green tea
1/2 tsp bicarb of soda
Have any home-made exfoliator recipes of your own? Let us know in the comments.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
One problem: the miniature plastic micro-beads found in most exfoliating products are horribly bad for the environment.
Micro-beads are tiny balls of plastic. So tiny, research has shown they're too small to be sifted out during water treatment, and so they're winding up in lakes and oceans where they have devastating effects, according to Time.
For this reason, many states in America are considering a ban on these beads. In fact, Illinois has banned them already.
A South African ban on micro-beads is probably quite far away, but that's no reason to keep using products that hurt the environment.
Luckily for us and our skin, home-made exfoliator is cheap and easy to make, environmentally friendly, and, above all, absolutely luxurious.
We could list a collection of recipes, but all recipes follow the same basic formula:
Base + Exfoliator
Sometimes it's a little more complicated like:
Base + Base + Exfoliator + Optional Extras
But you get the idea. Following our guide to the best bases and exfoliators, try mix and match to find the perfect recipes for you. We have listed some example recipes as well.
Note:
Used roughly, exfoliator can tear and harm the skin. Make sure you only exfoliate gently and in moderation.
Remember, exfoliator can be harsh, so make sure you only mix in a small amount, especially if you're making a scrub for your face.
Not everyone's skin is the same. Do research before adding an ingredient to your scrub to make sure it's OK for your skin type.
Bases:
1) Honey
A natural anti-bacterial, honey is both healing and moisturising.
2) Milk
Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey for a reason. Milk should leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
3) Water
Nothing like plain old water.
4) Green tea
Revitalizing and refreshing, green tea is one of those things that's good for you both inside and out!
5) Olive Oil
Oil is the ultimate moisturiser, though don't feel olive oil is your only option. You might want to try avocado oil, coconut oil, or even sunflower oil instead. (For information on which oils might perfectly match your skin type, visit The Oil Cleansing Method.)
Exfoliators:
Note: not all exfoliators are going to be OK for your face. Make sure you only use exfoliators with a very fine grain.
1) Bicarbonate of soda
Perfect for delicate exfoliating, as in a face scrub, bicarbonate of soda is like micro-beads - without the horrible environmental effects.
2) Sugar
Who doesn't have sugar? Try a coarse brown sugar for your body scrub, or a fine castor sugar for your face.
3) Oatmeal
Best mixed with warm water or milk, as it should be slightly cooked, oatmeal is wonderfully soothing, and can help with everything from sunburn to acne. It's probably the safest option, especially for your face.
4) Ground Coffee
The best thing about this exfoliator is the delicious scent. Coffee is also meant to have anti-cellulite properties, as well as being full of anti-oxidants, and should help tighten and tone.
Optional Extras:
1) Fruit and Vegetables
From bananas to blueberries, carrots to cucumbers, adding some mushed up fruit and/or vegetables can add the ultimate extra luxurious kick your exfoliator needs. Most fruits and veg are packed with anti-oxidants as well.
2) Cocoa powder
Three words: Chocolate body scrub. Like almost everything else on this list, it's also filled with anti-oxidants.
3) Flowers
Be careful with this - the last thing you want to add to your face scrub is deadly nightshade - but add some lavender, chamomile or rose petals for a soothing and gorgeous-smelling scrub.
4) Cream
Like milk, but more luxurious.
5) Honey and Oils
These might be bases, but they can also be added in small amounts to other scrubs. You might even want to research some essential oils to use, but, as with flowers, be careful with this.
6) Cinnamon
An anti-bacterial, cinnamon also smells gorgeous. Think Christmas shower scrub.
7) Lemon Juice
Healing and toning, lemon juice is an especially great addition to your face scrub.
8) Rose Water
Rose water makes a great toner, helps with puffiness, and, of course, smells wonderful.
Example recipes:
1) Coffee Body Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup coffee
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
Olive oil (Mix in until the scrub reaches the right consistency)
2) Chocolate Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-3 drops orange essential oil
Olive oil
3) Rose and Strawberry Face Scrub
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup mashed strawberries
1 tbsp rose water
4) Honey and Green Tea Face Scrub
Ingredients:
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp green tea
1/2 tsp bicarb of soda
Have any home-made exfoliator recipes of your own? Let us know in the comments.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
