Home Remedies to Exfoliate Skin

If you're on a mission to beautify on a budget, consider adding home remedies to exfoliate skin to your pampering arsenal. Believe it or not, you are just pennies away from smoother, healthier skin!

Dry, dead skin cells block your pores, leading to blackheads, acne, and a whole host of other problems. When that dead skin is removed, beautiful, more radiant skin is revealed. Exfoliation is the process of removing the dead skin to make way for the clearer skin underneath. Exfoliation can help remove sun damaged and discolored skin, too.

Regular exfoliation can result in:

• Reduction in the appearance of wrinkles
• Fewer ingrown hairs, especially for men
• An even, more uniform tone
• Fewer blotches and discoloration
• Less noticeable scars
• Brighter, more youthful appearance

The face isn't the only area of the body that deserves exfoliation. You should exfoliate your entire body, especially the rough spots like the feet and elbows.

As you are looking to remove dead skin cells, there are two basic types of exfoliates: those that remove flaky skin through the use of abrasion, and those that use chemicals to dissolve or peel off the skin's outer layer. Home remedies to exfoliate skin focus on abrasives, items that gently rub or slough off dead skin cells.

Some of the best exfoliates are found right in your pantry! Salt, sugar, and oatmeal all have granules, making them ideal for dead skin removal. Before you make your exfoliate, check all ingredients to make sure there are no sharp pieces. The goal is to gently abrade the skin, not to scratch it. Overly aggressive exfoliating with large or sharp grains can lead to skin irritation.

Sometimes you want a long, drawn-out pampering session; other days, you want to cut the frills and just see results. A basic oatmeal scrub is perfect for your no frills days!

• 2 teaspoons ground oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• water

1. Combine oatmeal and baking soda.
2. Stir until well mixed.
3. Add water, mere drops at a time, stirring until a paste forms.
4. Apply to face, gently rubbing in a circular motion.
5. Rinse well.
6. Pat dry.

If you are looking for the exfoliation of oatmeal, but you also want to be pampered, try this spa-style recipe. Remember, when you are planning to exfoliate your face, you must take extra care to avoid scratching or irritating that delicate skin.

• 2 tablespoons finely ground oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable or almond oil (almond is best)
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Mix well.
3. Apply to wet face, rubbing gently.
4. Rinse well.
5. Pat dry.

For a pleasing all-over body scrub, try sugar. The fine grain makes for a gentle, yet effective, exfoliation.

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup oil (almond is best, but any vegetable oil may be used)
• fragrance, if desired

1. Mix the sugar and oil until well blended.
2. Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil for fragrance, if desired.
3. Apply the mix to wet skin with hands, washcloth, loofah, sponge, or bath glove, gently rubbing in a circular manner.
4. Rinse well.

Like the sugar scrub above, this salt scrub is appropriate for the body, but should not be used on the face.

• 1/2 cup (sea salt is best)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (preferably almond)
• fragrance, if desired

1. Mix the salt and vegetable oil until well blended.
2. Stir in 10 to 15 drops of essential oil if fragrance is desired.

While exfoliating can be an excellent addition to your beauty regimen, there are also times you shouldn't exfoliate. For example, if you have an undiagnosed skin rash or condition, please check with your doctor for diagnosis and treatment, since exfoliation can actually aggravate some skin conditions. Additionally, you should not exfoliate skin that has abrasions or is broken, scraped, or sunburned.

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