Five Simple, Natural Homemade Facial and Body Scrubs for Men and Women

Break that dull, uneven-toned skin without breaking the bank!

Rejuvenate your skin through trying any of these five inexpensive, natural, easy-to-make homemade scrubs. 

Whether you have oily, dry, or mixed/combination dry-oily face, exfoliating once or twice a week can do wonders in reducing breakouts and giving you soft, smooth skin that glows like summer.

Why Exfoliate? Some Beautiful Benefits

Facial and body scrubs are great ways to exfoliate the skin. But why exfoliate? 

Skin cleansing has evident benefits of removing dirt, while exfoliating has some additional advantages too. Exfoliating once or twice a week can enhance the results of your skin care routine by deeply cleaning your skin. 

Exfoliation removes dry skin by scrubbing out dead skin cells from the epidermis. Without these dead cells, your skin will feel refreshed and cleaned. 

You need to prevent clogged pores through regular (NOT daily) exfoliation because blocked pores can cause some of the most hateful skin problems- acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.

Clogged pores can also make your pore size bigger. You can lessen the size of your pores through exfoliation.

Furthermore, removing dead skin cells can hasten the process of skin renewal, helping your skin replace dull cells with healthy new skin. Skin renewal can ease the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as prevent skin discoloration too.

These benefits are not just for women, they're good enough reasons for men to exfoliate too. 

Five Natural, Simple Homemade Scrubs

There are numerous natural homemade scrubs, but these are the ones I've tried so far and they all worked well with my mixed dry-oily, sensitive skin. They are practical because you can usually find the ingredients in your kitchen. They are also safe because they come from natural ingredients. 

Virgin Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub

Virgin coconut oil is good for the skin because of its moisturizing, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Like sugar, it can lighten age spots and skin discoloration. Virgin coconut oil can also help infected skin heal faster.

Sugar naturally exfoliates the skin. It has Alpha-Hydroxy that can help produce glowing skin. Repeated use of sugar scrubs can result to healthier and uniformly textured and colored skin.

Ingredients

• 2 parts (example, two teaspoons) of brown or white sugar
• 1 part of virgin coconut oil
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil

Instructions

1. Mix 2 parts of sugar (regular white or brown sugar) with 1 part of coconut oil (you can also use almond and olive oil). Add Vitamin E oil if using. 
2. Scrub gently on your face. You can also use this as a body scrub.
3. Rinse thoroughly. I noticed that warm water rinses it better, though cold water would do.

Note: Using natural oils might seem oily at first after washing them with water, but after patting your skin dry, what's left is non-oily soft skin.

Olive Oil Oatmeal Scrub

This recipe is based on the oatmeal scrub of Jennifer Nelson of Mother Nature Network.

Oatmeal has avenanthramides, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that heal itchy, dry and irritated skin. Oatmeal can do wonders for acne-prone skin because it can absorb extra oil from the skin.

Olive oil has four different antioxidants, which can help "neutralize damaging free radicals that can lead to skin aging and skin cancer." 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of ground, uncooked oatmeal
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of sea salt

Instructions

1. Mix oatmeal, olive oil, and sea salt.
2. Use as facial and body scrub.
3. Rinse thoroughly.

Coffee Grounds Scrub

Honey is a natural moisturizer. It can also prevent acne and reduce wrinkles.

Coffee scrubs can naturally exfoliate skin.

Ingredients

• 2 parts of coffee grounds
• 1 part of virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon raw honey

Instructions

1. Mix coffee grounds, oil, and honey until well-blended.
2. Use as facial and body scrub.
3. Rinse thoroughly.

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub

This recipe is from Wellness Mama.

Vanilla extract can help your skin feel smooth and soft.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup almond oil
• 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

Instructions

1. Mix sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and Vitamin E oil.
2. Use as facial and body scrub.
3. Rinse thoroughly.

Vanilla Lavender Relaxing Facial Scrub

This recipe is from Wellness Mama.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup almond oil
• 1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil
• 1/2 tsp real vanilla extract
• 15 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

1. Mix sugar, almond oil, vanilla extract, and Vitamin E oil.
2. Add lavender drops.
3. Use as facial and body scrub.
4. Rinse thoroughly.

Expiration Date

Because of the oils in these recipes, these homemade scrubs can last on the counter (dry location and far from sunlight) for two months, sometimes even less depending on the weather/climate of your location. You can make smaller batches if you want them fresh every time you use them.

Scrubbed Goodness

These homemade scrubs are so natural that you can even eat them, but of course, don't do it! Save it for your skin, so that you can save your bellies!

These are just some of the natural, simple homemade scrubs we can make at home using basic food materials. They are great exfoliators for men and women with different skin types. 

Reminders: Every skin is different, so you have to test what is best for your skin. You can manipulate the ratio of the ingredients until you find out the best natural homemade scrub recipe for your delicate skin. You can also try different natural ingredients. Also, be mindful of your allergies, and if you're pregnant, make sure you avoid essential oils that are not good for you and your baby.

What's your favorite homemade scrub?

Baking Soda Wars: The First Battle at Chapel Hill

The First Battle at Chapel Hill 

Photo credit: Sheldon

Clouds of dust mushroom in the battle-torn field. Clashes of spears and swords strike like lightning in a heavy thunderstorm. Groans of men with sliced arms and legs and heads abound.

Prince Theo, seventeen in form but thirty in war experience, draws his sword. He launches himself to his enemy, Duke Archibald, who has stolen his crown from him.

Jenny turns the TV off.

She is so fed up. Not with Prince Theo of Soda Wars. He's pretty cute, though her hubby is much more gallant. 

Jenny's 31 years old with two lovely kids, one five, the other is two, and a loving husband in the army, and it's a good life. 

She works at home, which is great, but not perfect. Not that she wants it perfect. What is perfect anyway? It's too much defined by other people, and she doesn't care for it.

She's just happy she has the skills that allow her to work at home and be with her children.

She's trying hard to be a hands-on mom, but to work enough, she needs a nanny. She once had one, but her nanny already retired, and so far, she's testing if she can survive for long without one.

Still, Jenny is so fed up. At least when it comes to herself and the products she buys for her and her family.

She's got sensitive body skin, combination of oily-dry facial skin, and dandruff. 

Her kids have rashes every now and then because of heat and sweat. Or perhaps also because of artificial chemicals in all these baby and kid products, as well as cleaning products. 

One time, Jenny checked the ingredients of toothpaste and insect repellent lotion she uses for her kids, and she is disgusted with the chemicals she found. How ironic. What's kid-friendly is not kid-friendly at all after knowing more about these chemicals. 

She's disgusted with herself the most. She should be more careful in what she uses for her family. She's got to learn more about harsh chemicals in everyday products and find natural alternatives.

Back to her kiddos' skin rashes, the Philippines is a tropical country, so it's hot most of the time, and rashes are expected. But there must be some form of damage control.

As for Mama Jenny, dandruff gets her really bad. When she's particularly stressed, she just wants to take off her scalp and beat it up like a carpet to take out the flakes. If only that's possible.

As a home-based researcher, Jenny's ready to delve into new knowledge. Being tired from writing for her research work, she sleeps. 

The Call and Multiple Personalities

Jenny's talking over the phone with her husband who's in a conflict-ridden zone somewhere in the south.

"Yeah, the kids are fine- ZOE DON'T LICK THAT- okay, so when are you coming home? -ACHI THAT'S DIRTY- I see. Well, we'll pray for you my love. ZOE! YOU'LL GET YOURSELF HURT! I'll check air fares later."

The call lasts for an hour. Jenny prepares for her bath.

No 'Poo Battle: Rough on Dandruff

Jenny is ready for battle. She's going to fight the mainstream filled with commercial shampoo and soap with harsh chemicals. If Tsh can go no 'poo and reap its benefits, she needs a good reaping herself.

It's bath time.

Jenny dissolves some baking soda in warm water and pours it into her old shampoo bottle  She shakes it up, and she uses that for shampoo. It doesn't lather, but she doesn't care. She just wants a simple way to clean her hair. Really clean her hair without the chemicals she researched were bad for her scalp.

She massages baking soda shampoo from her scalp down to her hair's tips. After a few minutes, she rinses everything.

Jenny follows up her shampoo with apple cider vinegar (ACV) wash. She puts one tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of water. She stores her new conditioner in her old conditioner bottle.

Her ACV wash does good for her scalp. One time, she'll try this dandruff remedy from Katie.

Apple Cider Vinegar can be very effective against dandruff. Mix with equal parts water and apply to scalp with spray bottle or cloth. Leave on for 1-2 hours with a shower cap and rinse. This can be done 1-2 times a week for best results. Katie of Wellness Mama

Jenny washes her hair well after.

Nowadays, she frequently does away with baking soda/ACV and just scrubs her itchy scalp with Dr. Wood's soap and then conditions her hair later while it's drying up with virgin coconut oil. 

For facial and body soap, she uses virgin coconut oil as soap sometimes, or baking soda in water, like the baking soda wash she uses for her kids.

When she uses body scrubs, she usually uses coffee grounds scrub or sugar scrub. She uses the same for her face.

Jenny has won this battle round. No more commercial soap and shampoo for her with different harsh chemicals she is not comfortable with. She's got the fate of her skin and family's skin on her hands. She is ready for the next battle.

Battle at Face Value

Jenny's got a new facial routine. She washes her face twice a day, if she remembers or if time allows her, to avoid pimples. 

When she wakes up, she washes her face with warm water that has a teaspoon of baking soda. If it's facial scrub day, she uses her sugar scrub or coffee ground scrub.

If there's some time, she mixes her facial mask day with reading.

Her facial mask is just egg white mixed with a teaspoon of honey and lime. 

She'd let the mask stay for 15 to 30 minutes on her face as she reads for pleasure or work on her phone.

She washes everything with warm water afterwards.

Jenny follows the mask up with apple cider vinegar toner. That's one teaspoon of vinegar for a cup of warm water. She doesn't wash after. 

She dabs virgin coconut oil on her fingers and swirls it on her face as moisturizer.

She doesn't buy soap and shampoo anymore. She stops buying lotion and moisturizer too. And she feels so free. 

Practicality beats hyper-materialism. 

Jenny yells FREEEEDOOOOM! the way William Wallace (Mel Gibson) does in Braveheart.

She does it in her mind though because Achilles is asleep.

Onward to natural living! 

Fighting for new mindsets on natural, homemade products! 

Let the slaughter of old habits begin!

Kid-Approved Homemade Natural Bug Repellent Spray

Mosquitoes are extra hateful when they bite our precious kids! It seems so easy to just buy commercial insect repellent lotion, but think again. You can make your own homemade natural bug repellent spray in just three easy steps!

Before we begin, you have to understand why you must make your own repellent lotion or spray.

Do you have your insect repellent spray or lotion right now? Check its ingredients. What does it have? 

For Kids, but "Keep out of reach of children"? 

Mine has N-diethyl-meta-toluamide 7.5%, or DEET. Studies are mixed on whether DEET is safe or toxic. One study, however, showed that deet can lead to "rashes, skin or mucous membrane irritation, transient numb or burning lips, dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating," while another study by Velri et al. (1994) stressed that: "Children were not more likely to develop side effects from DEET exposure when compared to an adult population."

Apart from these side effects, some researchers learned that DEET can "be toxic to the central nervous system." Researchers noted that additional studies must be done to verify the neurotoxicity of DEET to humans, "especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides."

DEET is potentially toxic to the central nervous system? And why are we even putting lotions with DEET on our children with their developing bodies?!

No wonder my insect repellent lotion also says: "Keep out of reach of children." It's crazy that it's made for kids, but it's also not entirely safe for kids! Of course I know that this warning means that this product is not safe to be eaten, but still...

So are you still going to use that DEET-based insect repellent stuff for your kids? 

I won't because I found this safe, natural, and homemade recipe for a bug repellent from Katie of Wellness Mama. She actually has several natural insect repellent recipes and they all sound so easy to make, but I'll just focus on the one I tried.

Natural Insect Repellent Spray Ingredients

• Essential oils: You can choose from Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, Mint. These essential oils can repel insects.

• Natural Witch Hazel

• Distilled or boiled water  

How to Make DIY Natural Insect Repellent Spray

1. Fill spray bottle half-full with distilled or boiled water.
2. Pour witch hazel to fill the rest of the bottle, but leave some space for your essential oils.
3. Add 30 drops of essential oils. I mixed the following: Lavender, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus, 10 drops each.

Homemade Natural Insect Repellent from Lavender, Lemongrass, and Eucalyptus Oils

Warning for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

Not all essential oils are safe to handle for pregnant and breastfeeding women. I'm copying the text in italics below verbatim from this article.

Essential Oil Guide for Pregnancy

The following list is from Everything Essential as a guide for using essential oils for pregnancy. If you have any question about using essential oils, seek out the guidance of a holistic healthcare practitioner.
Oils that are generally okay: 

• Bergamot
• Coriander
• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Grapefruit
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Sandalwood
• Wild Orange
• Ylang Ylang

Oils that for some would be better used diluted with a carrier oil (i.e. coconut oil): 

• Clove
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Ginger
• Helichrysum
• Marjoram
• Melaleuca
• Myrrh
• Oregano
• Peppermint
• Roman Chamomile

Consult with your healthcare practitioner before using these oils:  

• Basil
• Cassia
• Cinnamon bark
• Clary Sage
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Vetiver
• Wintergreen
• White Fir

* Use peppermint essential oil sparingly near the end of your pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Mint is known to decrease milk production.

Expiration Date

I make a 60 ml natural insect repellent spray that gets consumed in a month, and so far, it's good enough to work and to not have any negative effect on my kids. If you think you won't be using too much, make your insect repellent spray in smaller batches (lesser essential oils needed), so you can have it fresh every week.

Your Natural Insect Repellent: Your Brand of Loving

There you go, your very own DEET-free, natural, homemade bug repellent. 

Now you can spray this on your kids without worrying of DEET. You'll love how it smells. 

Another great thing about this natural insect repellent spray is that it truly works. We have mosquito invaders every now and then, especially now that it's the rainy season, and after spraying this on my skin, I don't get any mosquito bite anymore!

Don't forget to shake well before every spraying because the oils float on top of the water after some time and to ensure that you dilute the oils well too. Also, you have to reapply if you have washed your skin or you have sweated a lot already.

Go ahead, try it and enjoy the scent of your DEET-free natural bug protection. 

Your skin will love you for it. 

Your kids will come running for it. 

But insects will hate you for being so vile to them with your natural insect repellent spray.

Have you tried any natural bug repellent product? What's your favorite combination of oils? 

Simple, Natural, No-Squeeze Remedy to Pimples

To Pop or Not to Pop?

Pimples beg for a squeeze, but do not give in too easily!

Popping your pimples can lead to scarring and infection. It can result to a painful blemish or a cyst, and you don't want any cysts at all because you'd need a physician for that, and that makes pimples doubly stressful (cyst plus expenses). 

There are homemade, natural, and practical remedies for pimples that you can try. American make-up artist, entrepreneur, and blogger Michelle Phan have several tips. 

I'm going to share with you only what I've tried because it worked for me.

Simple, Natural, and No-Squeeze Remedy to Pimples

Probably because of stress, I got a pimple yesterday. It's most conveniently located at that corner of my nose, where my nose meets my cheek, right there at the corner. Just by seeing it, I feel so stressful I could imagine it inflating from additional emotional stress.

Instead of popping it, I figured that since I love natural products, I'd research it first. I found out that baking soda paste can dry it instantly. By instantly, I'm not saying you just put it there and voila, the pimple is gone in a second, not even three seconds. By instant, I'm saying it's simple and easy to do.

What do I see after trying my DIY solution? You got that right, no more pimple! The pus is gone! 

Hurrah baking soda and water! 

What to Do to Annihilate that Zit
First, you need baking soda and a bit of warm water. 

You have to make a paste out of the water and baking soda. Just put a little baking soda and add some warm water (the warmer the better, but definitely not scalding hot) on a saucer and mix them. 

Don't add too much water because it will make it runny. You need the paste hard enough to stick on that nasty zit.

After the paste is ready, put it on your zit. You can feel a sting because baking soda is salty. Let it stay there for 30 minutes (I was cleaning our car while waiting for it to dry, so just do your own thing). 

After that, wash the baking soda paste out with warm water well. 

Simple, natural, no need to pop. Practical solutions are right there in your kitchen. It's that easy to make your own simple, natural, no-squeeze pimple solution.

Cheers to one more reason to love baking soda!

A Lifestyle that Fends off Pimples

Apart from quick and easy solutions, there are ways to help prevent pimples through making lifestyle changes (unless you already have this kind of lifestyle).

Ayren Jackson-Cannady of WebMD wrote the article "10 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Deal With Acne" that I will summarize for you.

Here are some important habits that can clear acne the natural way:

1)  Get enough sleep.

“Stress increases glucocorticoid production, which can lead to abnormalities in skin structure and function, exacerbating conditions like acne,” says Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a dermatologist in Danville, Calif. 

Sleep helps us manage stress, so getting enough sleep can diminish stress, and with reduced stress, the less prone you will be to acne.

What is the meaning of enough sleep?



2) Cut back the sugar.

Some kinds of foods result to higher blood glucose which stimulates an insulin boost and produces inflammation on a cellular level, says Badreshia-Bansal. 

Too much insulin can can result to hormonal changes that can lead to an "overactive oil gland activity."

Eat more whole grains, beans, and vegetables to have fewer breakouts.

3) Exercise.

Exercise reduces stress, improves circulation that pumps up oxygen to our skin cells and removes cellular wastes, and boosts our immune system.

Shower after workouts though to remove perspiration that can cause breakouts. 

4) Drink enough H2O.

A study from the University of Missouri-Columbia showed that water enhances blood flow throughout the body and skin. Your skin must have enough water to remove waste materials that cause breakouts and drinking water greatly helps the waste-removing process.

How much water do you need?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. From Mayo Clinic

5) Consume Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Omega-3s can reduce the production of leukotriene B4, a molecule that can make sebum and create inflammatory acne. Foods that are rich in Omega-3 are walnuts, avocados, flaxseed oil, and salmon.   

6) Clean your face twice a day.

Clean your face twice a day, morning and evening, to remove the buildup of dirt and toxins that block your pores. 

I use baking soda (I put a dash of baking soda on warm water) to wash my face, and I follow it up with raw honey and let it soak in my skin for two to five minutes. 

After that, I use apple cider vinegar rinse for toning (1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water). I then put light virgin coconut oil (VCO) for moisturizing. 

Moisturizing is still important even if your face is oily because it helps to naturally hydrate the skin, which can help control oil production. 

7) Exfoliate.

Exfoliating a few days a week followed by a natural moisturizer can help manage oil glands. I exfoliate every three to four days. Here are some natural exfoliating facial scrubs.

8) Clean your cellphones.

One of the causes of your breakouts might be your "dirty" cellphone. Wipe your cellphones clean with a sanitizer daily.

Basically, making your own simple, natural, no-squeeze remedy recipe is just a short-term fix. It's better to have a lifestyle that can help you avoid breakouts in the first place.

Reminder: Some Limitations

I used this remedy for a small zit, the one that has some pus in it. This remedy does not have a fast effect on larger pimples. For bigger pimples, keep your face clean by washing twice daily with any DIY face wash, and you can also try oil cleansing. Also, keep in mind that a healthy diet and natural-living lifestyle are also staples to removing pimples.

Bust that Zit

Bust that zit without popping it. 

Scar, not your face, but the habits and food that you think contribute to it.


Have you tried this simple, natural, no-squeeze remedy to pimples? What are the natural ways you do to remove your pimple?