We all know the importance of keeping our skin smooth by exfoliating regularly, but it can be a costly routine. So why not use the ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard to make a skin-saving scrub that takes next to no time and won’t cost you a penny! Whether you’re baring skin in the summer or trying to fight drier skin in the winter months, regular exfoliation will ensure that your skin always looks its best. It will help moisturiser sink in more easily, helping you to maintain hydrated and soft skin all year round. And, best of all, they’re chemical free and won’t irritate your skin. Here are five recipes for sugar-based scrubs that will rid your skin of that dry, flaky texture to reveal silky smooth skin beneath.
Simple sugar scrub
The basic formula consists of half a cup of regular granulated sugar and enough olive oil to dampen the mixture. If you want you can add a few drops of an essential oil to scent the mixture, but the basics will remain the same. This is an inexpensive scrub that will soften your skin after just one use, using ingredients you can find at home. It is also easy to make up fresh batch whenever you need it, so the ingredients can work their magic on your skin with only a moments notice.
Homemade sugar scrub
Combine half measures of white cane sugar with half of vegetable glycerine to moisten the sugar. Avocado oil will work just as well if you don’t have vegetable glycerine. Add to this a small amount of aloe vera gel or vitamin C crystals. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil, if you’d like. Combine these ingredients for a great and easy scrub that really offers results.
Banana body scrub
Bananas are great for your skin so make the most of those lingering in your fruit bowl with a nutritious scrub. Mix one ripe and mashed banana with three tablespoons of sugar and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Smooth onto your skin and then rinse off to reveal a smoother and brighter skin texture.
Brown sugar scrub
Whisk one cup of brown sugar with one cup of granulated sugar, ¾ cups of almond or hazelnut oil, two teaspoons of powdered cinnamon, two teaspoons of ground ginger and two teaspoons of ground nutmeg. Add in 40 drops of cadomom oil, mix thoroughly and use straight away. This is a great scented mixture and easy to mix up in a flash. You can vary this by adding in a different essential oil if you’d prefer, but the cardamom is great for adding a heady scent that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
Gentle scrub
If you have sensitive skin, this is the one for you. Mix a quarter cup of sugar with one chopped fresh tomato and two tablespoons of plain yoghurt or sour cream. The yoghurt has a cooling effect on the skin, whilst also being mildly acidic so it’s great for creating a smooth texture. This is gentle enough that you can use it on your face, as well as on your limbs. The ingredients here are readily available so you can make this easily throughout the year – it’s especially refreshing in the summer months when you’ll really want to show off the results of your efforts. A scrub is great if you’re hoping to get a tan, as it provides a smooth and even surface, so remember this recipe when the warmer months arrive.