Looking to indulge in a luxe body scrub? Look no further than your own kitchen pantry. Here are some of our favourite DIY body scrub recipes that will leave you feeling refreshed, revitalised and silky smooth.
Regular use of a natural exfoliating scrub not only gives your body a satisfyingly smooth makeover, it also feeds your skin cells with vitamins and minerals that can greatly benefit your well-being such as;
- Promote lymphatic circulation
- Increase blood flow
- Encourage the growth of new skin cells
- Assist in breaking down fatty tissue
Reasons to DIY your own skincare products go beyond being more economic, easily accessible and clean; it also demonstrates how effective natural ingredients can be! In the recipes below, we’ve incorporated some of our favourite powerhouse natural ingredients - that are most likely sitting in your kitchen right now - that will help smooth away bumps, brighten the skin, boost your mood and delight all the senses (yep, you can absolutely eat them too…)
The base recipe for almost all DIY body scrubs requires at least one ingredient from the below three categories. Once you’ve created the base, you can then be as creative as you like in customising your scrub to suit the ingredients in your kitchen cupboards, fridge or straight from your garden.
-
EXFOLIATOR - You will need an exfoliating ingredient that is coarse, such as sugar, sea salt or ground coffee beans. People often have a preference between salt and sugar as the base ingredient however if you’re indecisive just mix both! Sugar is more coarse and is a natural glycolic acid that gently exfoliates the skin, whereas sea salt is finer and packed full of beneficial minerals.
-
MOISTURISER - Next up is a skin-friendly oil, we’re talking coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil etc.
- SCENT- Add a natural and stimulating scent to your scrub with a few drops of an essential oil. If you’re not keen on adding an EO, you can always cut up some fresh woody herbs such as lavender to subtly scent your scrub. Our bodies in general are less sensitive than that of our face so feel free to experiment with a wide variety of ingredients. However just be sure to steer clear of ingredients you know may potentially irritate and inflame your skin (e.g. nut oils and even potentially salt). If ever you’re unsure of a new scrub formula, always experiment on a small area of skin first to be sure it works well for you.
STRAWBERRY COCONUT BODY SCRUB - #smashastrawb
Not only do fresh strawberries provide a divine scent, they are packed full of collagen boosting antioxidants and contain high doses of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA = queen ingredient for removing dead skin cells). But skin benefits aside, there’s never been a better time to make this scrub as a means to support Australia’s embattled strawberry farmers. On top of the horrifying drought conditions our farmers are enduring, the recent cases of ‘strawberry sabotage’ has delivered a fresh blow to the industry. This long weekend why not grab a couple of extra strawberry punnets and ‘scrub up’ with your family while supporting our wonderful strawberry farmers!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil (melted in a saucepan)
- 1 cup of fresh strawberries (chopped or blended)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with a spoon. If you have any left over scrub, store the mixture in an airtight jar in the fridge. As you’re using fresh ingredients, it is best to use it up within a few days.
MOCHA BODY SCRUB
In this scrub, caffeine-rich coffee and cacao wake up the skin and serve as the main exfoliants. The coconut oil leaves the skin feeling soft and naturally moisturised.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of ground coffee beans
- 1 tbsp of cacao or cocoa powder
- ½ cup of sugar or salt
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 6-8 drops of your preferred essential oil (or 1 tsp paste or powder)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. If the mixture is too dry, feel free to add more oil. Or conversely, if it is too oily, add more dry ingredients until you reach the desired consistency. Store the mixture in an airtight jar for up to 4 weeks.
OATS AND BROWN SUGAR BODY SCRUB
If your skin is sensitive, oats are a great substitute for the coffee. It is lightly exfoliating while also soothing for the skin. The olive oil adds moisture while also helping this mixture stay together and apply easily.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup quick oats
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla paste or powder
Directions
- Combine ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. You can store any leftover mixture in the fridge in an airtight jar for approx. 1 week or just make enough to use there and then.
Application
- Now that your scrub is ready to go, you can either apply your exfoliator before or during your shower. Applying the scrub to dry skin will allow the benefits of the oils to sink into your skin before you scrub. Or if that’s not for you, go ahead and apply to damp skin while you’re in the shower (preferably once you’ve finished your hair regime). Start buffering from the feet, using small circular motions up the body towards the heart, concentrating your efforts on the areas where skin can build up like elbows, heels and knees. Try and leave your scrub on your skin for as long as possible (5 - 10 minutes if you have the time). If not, simply wash off, pat dry and enjoy your revitalised, silky soft skin.
Storage
- Your body scrub is best kept in the shower if you’re not using fresh ingredients. You may find that your body scrub dries out a little overtime as the oil settles. If this happens, simply stir to remix and then add a dash more oil to mix - don’t add water. This should last a couple of months.
The key to glowing skin is exfoliating regularly at least 1-2 times per week - as with most things, it’s all about consistency. Happy scrubbing!
If you don't want to make your own body scrub we have lots of scrubs at F&F.
