Facial Scrub Ingredients (And Why They’re Used)
These are the basic ingredients that I use in this scrub. If you aren’t into the DIY but want an amazing natural facial cleansing scrub, I love this handmade one from Crunchy Betty and use it when I don’t feel like making it myself.
Oatmeal
While you won’t typically see a bowl of rolled oats at my breakfast table, oatmeal is a cheap and natural way to care for the skin. People have been using oats for skincare for about 4,000 years. When the oats are finely ground they form what’s called colloidal oatmeal.
The New Zealand Dermatological Society lists the many proven benefits of oatmeal for skin:
- forms a barrier to protect skin against irritants and balance normal skin pH
- moisturizes skin with water-binding polysaccharides, hydrocolloids, and fats
- soothes itchy, dry skin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
- guards against photoaging (sun damage)
- lowers prostaglandin production and arachidonic acid release
It’s no wonder colloidal oatmeal is in so many skin products!
Lavender
Lavender is one of my absolute favorite herbs, and I’ve detailed more about it here. This facial scrub recipe uses both lavender flowers and lavender essential oil, which both help calm and heal the skin. The flowers add extra exfoliation while the lavender essential oil adds concentrated beneficial properties … not to mention both smell amazing!
Baking Soda and Sea Salt
Lavender and oatmeal are very gentle, but I’ve added a little baking soda and sea salt help to up the scrubbing power.
Baking soda is a very fine powder, so it acts like a microdermabrasion to gently exfoliate the skin. Sea salt is a little coarser but only a small amount is used overall so as not to overpower the other ingredients in this facial scrub recipe. Himalayan sea salt is my favorite to use as it nourishes the skin with a wide variety of minerals.
Gentle Oatmeal Lavender Facial Scrub Recipe
This is one of my new favorite beauty recipes, and I think you’re going to love it as well!
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 TBSP lavender flowers
- 1 TBSP baking soda
- 2 TBSP sea salt (Himalayan if possible)
- 7 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Place the rolled oats, lavender essential oil, and lavender flowers into a coffee grinder and pulse until ground, about 45-60 seconds. A blender can also be used, but a coffee grinder is the preferred option here.
- Transfer to a bowl and stir in the baking soda and sea salt.
- Store the face scrub in a glass jar. To use, combine 2 teaspoons of the scrub with 1 ½ tsp water or milk, then gently scrub across the face with the fingers.
Tips for Using the Facial Scrub
The scrub can also be mixed with aloe vera or honey if preferred. Both of these soothe the skin and help to rejuvenate and calm.
This also works well as a mask. Simply mix the scrub with the desired liquid until it’s a thick paste, and smooth over the skin. After 10-20 minutes it can be rinsed off with warm water.
SOURCE: Wellnessmama.com
