How to Make a Body Scrub at Home, According to Skincare Experts (2024)

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Best Homemade Body ScrubHow to ExfoliateFrequently Asked QuestionsAnti-Aging Strawberry ScrubClarifying Chickpea Scrub

Energizing Citrus ScrubFirming Body ScrubHydrating Honey, Sage, and Oat ScrubMermaid ScrubRelaxing CBD Scrub

• Tara Pelletier is the Co-founder of vegan skincare brand Meow Meow Tweet.
• Shannon Davenport is the Founder of plant-based beauty and body care brand Esker.
• Ivy Oakes is the Director of Customer Experience at Populum.
• Lyudmyla Nagirnyak is Spa Manager atK West Spain London.
• Jana Blakenship is an herbalist and Founder of skincare brand, Captain Blakenship.

Anti-Aging Strawberry Scrub

According to Tara Pelletier, co-founder of Meow Meow Tweet, this scrub is great for combatting skin degradation from premature aging. "A beautiful and yummy at-home scrub for aging skin is puréed strawberries; it’s rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which help fight free radicals and boost collagen production," she explains. "Strawberries also contain AHA exfoliating acid, so this makes for an effective but gentle armpit exfoliator to give your natural deodorant an extra boost. Adding a combination of ground oats is soothing, and coconut milk is a good place to start for hydration."

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup ground or even whole oats
• 1/4 cup pureed strawberries (you can also smoosh using the back of a fork)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon.

Yield: 8 ounces

Clarifying Chickpea Scrub

This soft scrub is particularly great at getting after body breakouts—just be sure to apply very light pressure. "Chickpea flour is a great scrub/mask for blemish prone skin, and apple cider vinegar acts as a spot treatment for flare ups," says Pelletier. "Peppermint has antibacterial properties, and helps reduce bacteria on the skin."

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chickpea flour
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp dried peppermint (you can also empty the leaves of a peppermint tea bag)
• 10 drops tea tree oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon.

Yield: 8 ounces

Energizing Citrus Scrub

In these cold, bleak months, a zesty citrus body scrub may not only boost your mood. "If you’re feeling the effects of the cold and less sunlight, take a trip to an imaginary tropical island with this citrus and tropical fruit mood-boosting scrub, which helps boost circulation and improve skin tone," says Pelletier.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup sunflower oil
• Zest of a lemon
• 2 tbsp pureed papaya
• 10 drops orange essential oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon.

Yield: 8 ounces

Firming Body Scrub

Too much salt or alcohol? This scrub will help rid the body of the excess water you find pooling the morning after. (Bonus points if you add in a body-sized gua sha tool to boost lymphatic drainage.) "Juniper and grapefruit work together in this scrub that is ideal for... areas that could benefit from a lifting boost," says Shannon Davenport, founder of Esker. "Anchored by the hydrating properties of juniper berry which tones and reduces water retention, grapefruit which reduces the appearance of puffiness, and lavender which has anti-inflammatory properties that can help deflate any swelling or irritation."

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown or cane sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 tbsp of juniper berries blitzed in a clean coffee grinder
• 1 tbsp of dried lavender from the farmer's market
• 10-15 drops grapefruit essential oil (or the zest of a fresh grapefruit)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together with a spoon and put in an 8-ounce glass jar.

Yield: 8 ounces

Hydrating Honey, Sage, and Oat Scrub

Davenport loves using this scrub in the fall for its cozy notes of sage, but any time is a good time to reap its hydrating benefits. "This scrub harnesses the power of oats which help treat dry skin and remove dead skin cells, softening honey, and sage which helps with skin regeneration." Honey is also a natural antiseptic, meaning it could help with breakouts.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp of dried sage leaves
• 1 tbsp of honey

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together with spoon and put in an 8-ounce glass jar.

Yield: 8 ounces

Mermaid Scrub

"This dreamy green-hued scrub will make you feel like you are back at the ocean any time of year," says Jana Blankenship, founder of Captain Blankenship. "This exfoliating and detoxing body scrub mixes mineral-rich sea salt with epsom salt, which helps eliminate toxins and relieve tired muscles. Nourishing sea kelp stimulates blood flow and antioxidant-rich spirulina fights free radicals, helps skin retain moisture, and creates a beautiful jade green hue."

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup epsom salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp French green clay
• 1 tbsp spirulina powder
• 2 tsp kelp powder
• 10 drops lemongrass essential oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon. Put in an 8-ounce glass jar with a lid. Will keep for up to 6 months if kept dry.

Yield: 8 ounces

Relaxing CBD Scrub

Infused with CBD, this mask is the perfect wind-down at the end of a long day. Ivy Oakes, director of customer experience at Populum adds it's a great anti-inflammatory, which could curb redness and razor burn if applied pre-shave.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown pure cane sugar
• 3 tbsp organic jojoba oil (increase for the right consistency)
• 2 droppers full of Populum's 250mg Full-Spectrum Hemp CBD Oilor 1 dropper of Populum's 500 mg Full-Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Add jojoba oil to the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing as you continue to add to create the right consistency. Next add the CBD oil and lemon—the consistency should be like thick sand. Apply liberally in the shower or bath for invigorating and exfoliating treatment.

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