If you want to have perfect skin, you need to start exfoliating.
Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from your face. Normally your skin will shed the dead cells naturally, but sometimes they can stay attached to the top layer of your skin for up to a month. This can make your complexion look rough and tired, and it can even make stop your skin from secreting oil properly. This can cause blackheads, red spots and blemishes, so it is very important to exfoliate.
When the dead skin is removed you will only be able to see skin cells that are alive, so your face will look healthier and your skin will glow.
Why Choose DIY Face Masks?
You can buy exfoliating face masks in most beauty and health stores, but most of these contain microbeads. Microbeads are rough on the skin so they can be irritating, and they are also really bad for the environment. This is because the beads are so small that they don’t get filtered out by water treatment facilities, so they end up back in the water supply. This is harmful to both humans and marine life.
This is why it is best to choose a natural exfoliant.
10 Natural Exfoliants
1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a gentle natural exfoliator that helps to absorb oil, so it is ideal for people with greasy skin.
Mix one tablespoon of oatmeal with one tablespoon of brown sugar, then add a tablespoon of raw honey. You can also add Jojoba oil and other essential oils for extra benefits. Click here to see the full ingredient list.
2. Baking Soda
Baking soda has lots of benefits, and one of the main ones is being a natural exfoliator. It is very cheap in comparison to other natural exfoliators, and it is very gentle so you can use it even if you have sensitive skin.
Make your own baking soda face mask by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of water and one vitamin e soft liquid gel pill. Click here to learn how to make the mask at home.
3. Lemon
Lemon contains alpha hydroxy acid, which helps to remove the glue-like protein that causes dead skin to stick to your face, so it is the perfect natural ingredient for an exfoliator.
Simply mix half a fresh lemon with half a cup of granulated sugar, then add one teaspoon of olive oil and one teaspoon of organic honey. Click here for the full ingredient list.
4. Sugar
Sugar is one of the best natural exfoliators as the grains are small and rough, so they are ideal for removing dead skin. Sugar also contains glycolic acid, which will help to break down dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Make our own sugar exfoliator with half a cup of sugar and half a cup of olive oil. Click here to learn how to make the mask yourself.
5. Yogurt
Yoghurt isn’t just a tasty treat – it is also an excellent exfoliator as it contains alpha hydroxyl acid, one of the main ingredients found in prescription skin care product. Yoghurt will also hydrate your skin as it exfoliates, so it is well suited to people with dry skin.
Simply mix one teaspoon of yogurt with one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of oats. You can click here to see the full ingredient list.
6. Almonds
You may not think that almonds are a good exfoliator, but if they are ground up finely they are great! The texture is perfect for exfoliation, and the nutrient-rich almonds will make your skin glow.
Mix quarter of a cup of ground almonds with three teaspoons of raw organic honey and quarter of a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. You can also add one teaspoon of argan oil for added benefits. See the full ingredient list here.
7. Sea Salt
Sea salt is a wonderful exfoliator as the granules are coarse and large. It is worth noting that due to the size of the grains, this is a strong exfoliator so it should be avoided by people with very sensitive skin.
Simply mix one cup of finely ground Himalayan salt with one teaspoon of coconut oil and two teaspoons of sweet almond oil, then add one teaspoon of castile soap. See the full ingredient list here.
8. Honey
Raw honey is great for your skin as it has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antiseptic and anti-fungal benefits. This helps to reduce the chance of skin infections and redness, and it can also help to fight against acne. It also attracts moisture while exfoliating, so it is a moisturizing exfoliator that is suited to dry skin.
Make you own exfoliator using one teaspoon of raw honey and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Learn more about the exfoliator here.
9. Coffee
Coffee can wake up your skin and help to decrease puffiness around the eyes. It also has a great texture for exfoliating; it is rough but also crumbly so it will remove skin without irritating your face. You can either use fresh beans or ones that have already been brewed!
Combine half a teaspoon of coconut oil with half a teaspoon of finely ground coffee beans for this exfoliator. Learn how to use the mask here.
10. Papaya
Papaya is a great exfoliator as it contains the enzyme papain, which helps to dissolve dead skin cells without irritating the new skin cells. This is very similar to the prescription medication tretinion, but without any side effects such as skin flaking!
You can make your own mask using just four teaspoons of blended papaya and one tablespoon of honey. Click here to see how to make your own papaya mask.
