So, there you are….. Looking at an overwhelming array of facial exfoliants. Â All of them promise to brighten, microfoliate, peal, enhance, scrub, and the list goes on. In today’s tough economic times, you think about your credit card bill and bank balance and wonder…… “Do I really need to pay $57.98 for 2.6 oz of a microfoliant?” Â I suspect not.
Yes, part of a good skin care routine is to exfoliate. Â However, with just a few minutes in the kitchen and many dollars less than the $57.98 needed for a commercial product, you can make your own and tune it over time to meet your specific skin needs. Â There is a lot of information out there on exfoliation. Â Here is an easy read article on exfoliation.
Often, if you choose a mild exfoliating soap, you do not need a separate exfoliating product.  Or, if you do, you can use a less aggressive exfoliant and exfoliate less often.
So, the next time you are looking for an exfoliant, try to make your own. Â You will be pleasantly surprised how well it works. Â This will be both fun and economical to “do it yourself”.
Here are a few simple exfoliants that you can make your self:
- Yogurt – this seems to be the gentlest of all the natural skin recipes. Simply apply a tablespoon of, full fat plain yogurt to your face. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse off. The lactic acid provides gentle exfoliation leaving your skin radiant and refreshed.
- Ground oatmeal – grind up some rolled oats in your blender or coffee grinder, mix with a little water or Replenish Facial Moisturizer and apply and gently rub on your face. Very nice and gentle.
- Combine the two – blend your ground oatmeal with yogurt or milk. Â That will add a gentle, soothing cleansing action to the exfoliation process.
For a more aggressive exfoliant, give these a try. Â Please note though that these give a much more “mechanical” abrasion so you will want to go slowly. Â Also, be sure to test first on your inner arm or behind your ear.
- Ground almonds – good for dry skin, but be careful and go slowly and be sure they are ground up really fine. Simple to make by grinding almonds in your blender or coffee grinder. The almond oil provides moisture for dry skin.
- Ground Sunflower seeds – very similar to almonds. Â This produces a really nice, soft, buttery scrub.
- Ground barley – grind and mix with avocado oil. Â Go slowly and test before applying to your face.
- Sugar Scrub – simply add a little granulated sugar to cold pressed oil (olive oil is good). Has a nice brightening effect. Some people like using brown sugar because they like the smell.
- Sea salt body scrub – Not recommended for your face. Â Use on your body. Â Apply with some olive oil or a good moisturizer –Alabu Body Lotion is good :). Â Go very slowly and gently, use for 30 seconds to one minute at the most. Use a finely ground salt. Salt can be irritating if you scrub too hard or leave on too long, however, it feels refreshing and energizing.
- Coconut oil and cornmeal – A good body scrub. Mix together and rub slowly and gently on the skin.
Alabu Exfoliating Soaps
- Oat & Â Honey goat milk soap – A very gentle exfoliating soap made with our own ground oat flour. Â We know that the flour provides the exfoliation action, but what about the honey? Â Honey moisturizes, and protects your skin along with many other benefits. Â Here is a great article on the benefits of honey.
- Lemon Scrub goat milk soap – This is NOT a face soap. Â This is an exfoliant that you would use on your body. Â It has corn meal. Â So rub gently. Â The lemon essential oil acts as an exfoliant as well. Â For some information this, take a look at the benefits of lemon on your skin.