When you’re sitting inside all day, your skin can feel dry, dull, or just in need of a little TLC. Any time that you have a little bit of extra time on your hands is a perfect time to try experimenting with a homemade body scrub. Instead of taking an unnecessary trip to the store, you can make your own body scrub using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry (or finally find a use for the cornmeal that you panic-bought during your last grocery run). Here's what experts say about making body scrubs at home and when to use them:
What do body scrubs do?
Above all else, body scrubs mainly work to exfoliate the skin and help shed dead skin cells, revealing smooth, glowing skin. “The more we can remove the dead surface cells, the more we have better cell renewal,” says holistic practitioner and aesthetician Tammy Fender. Skin that’s been properly exfoliated creates a smoother base and enables skin to soak up moisture more efficiently.
How often (and when) should I use a body scrub?
It all depends on your skin type. “People with sensitive skin should probably only use a DIY body scrub once a month, people with oilier skin can use it up to weekly,” says Joshua Ross, celebrity aesthetician and founder of SkinLab. Fender recommends adding a body scrub into your routine either right before or during a shower.
To amp things up, Fender says you can use a dry brush on dry skin beforehand to brush away dead skin. Before any DIY treatment, pay attention to your skin at that moment: Ross says the skin's condition tends to fluctuate based on your lifestyle, so what works one month may not the next.
Is there anything I should know before choosing ingredients?
“When it comes to the grit, something with irregular shaped particles ... can irritate the skin because they can cause small micro-tears,” says Ross. This includes ingredients like salt or brown sugar. Generally speaking, sugar is gentler on sensitive skin, while salt is more abrasive. If you want to use either of these ingredients, Ross recommends using fine-ground versions to be safe. If you have very sensitive skin, Ross advises you to swap any gritty ingredients for less abrasive exfoliators like cornmeal or baking soda.
Below are the best DIY body scrubs you can make at home right now. These scrubs cover everything from deep cleansing to balancing out your skin’s pH levels, all from the comfort of home:
1
Hydrating Oat & Coconut Oil Scrub
The problem: Dry skin. This scrub works wonders for sensitive or dry skin, according to Fender. Honey acts as an emollient, softening skin from head to toe.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup rolled oats, 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 2 tablespoons honey.
Directions: Pulse the oats in the food processor to break them down. In a small bowl, mix in of coconut oil and honey. Let it sit, allowing the oats to absorb some of the oil and honey. After five minutes, check the consistency, adding more oil or honey as needed — this scrub should smooth over skin easily. Smooth onto dry skin and rinse.
2
Calming Yogurt Scrub
The problem: Irritated skin. Probiotics found in yogurt help regulate skin's pH levels, according to Ross, while cornmeal helps gently exfoliate.
Ingredients: 1/4 cup of kefir or non-fat greek yogurt, 1/4 cup cornmeal, 3 drops essential oil.
Directions: Choose your favorite essential oil (Ross recommends sweet orange). Mix and apply in the shower, lightly scrub for 3-5 minutes, and rinse.
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3
Brightening Rose Petal Scrub
The problem: Dull skin. This Ayurvedic dry scrub helps refine skin, Fender says.
Ingredients: 1 cup almond flour, chickpea flour, or rice flour; 1 tablespoon dried rose petals, rose tea, or hibiscus tea.
Directions: Add just enough water to turn the mixture into a thick paste. Rub into dry skin, and remove with a damp cloth.
4
Cleansing Green Tea Scrub
The problem: Itchy skin. Baking soda penetrates deeply into the skin for a powerful cleanse, says Ross, while green tea's antioxidant properties repair the skin's barrier.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon matcha green tea, 1/4 baking soda, 1/4 sesame oil.
Directions: Mix ingredients and apply to wet skin, lightly scrub for 3-5 minutes and then rinse off in the shower.
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5
Exfoliating Papaya & Pineapple Scrub
The problem: Rough skin. This mask utilizes the natural enzymes and AHAs found in papayas and pineapples to encourage exfoliation. This scrub should be left on to absorb into your skin like a mask to get the most out of it, says Fender.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup poppy seeds or chia seeds, 1/3 cup pineapple, 1/3 cup papaya.
Directions: Pulse the ingredients in the food processor to create a thick pulp. Massage into dry skin and leave on for several minutes.
6
Firming Coffee & Almond Oil Scrub
The problem: Cellulite. For an invigorating experience, Ross says that caffeine can help temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh coffee grounds, 1/4 cup fine ground salt, 1/4 cup almond oil.
Directions: Mix all ingredients and apply in the shower, lightly scrub for 3-5 minutes, and rinse.
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7
Oil-Balancing Black Tea Scrub
The problem: Acne-prone, oily skin. This astringent scrub from Fender works to balance out oily or acne-prone skin.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup short grain uncooked rice, 3 tablespoons strongly steeped black tea, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, several squeezes of fresh lemon juice.
Directions: Mix ingredients together and use the scrub on dry skin to focus on any problem areas. Leave on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.
8
Soothing Oatmeal & Brown Sugar Scrub
The problem: Sensitive skin. Ross says that this scrub is perfect for sensitive skin and delivers a shot of moisture. Colloidal oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that help calm skin.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup colloidal oatmeal, 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon fine ground brown sugar.
Directions: Use a food processor to refine the colloidal oatmeal. Mix all ingredients and apply in the shower, lightly scrub for 3-5 minutes and rinse.
Katie Berohn
Beauty Editor
Katie Berohn is ELLE’s beauty editor. Previously, she held the same title at Who What Wear, where she was promoted from associate beauty editor. She’s written for publications like The Cut, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Mashable. Her interests include fragrance, vintage shopping, hot yoga, food, travel, music, books, and attempting to make every NYT Cooking recipe. She’s on the endless hunt to find the perfect shade of red lipstick.
