Exfoliation

Exfoliation is an important technique that clears and brightens the skin by manually sloughing off the build up of dead skin cells. We hear of microdermabrasion, scrubs, and masks that promise to help exfoliate your skin, leaving you with a healthy, dewy glow. What we often fail to realize, is that there are many natural products that can be used for exfoliation as well. Below you will find a list with details on natural exfoliation products, and a short explanation of how to apply them.

Baking Soda

Option 1

1. Lightly moisten face
2. Pour about one tablespoon of baking soda into your hand
3. Rub hands together to evenly spread baking soda
4. Lightly scrub face in a circular motion for 2 – 3 minutes
5. Rinse face and apply light moisturizer

Frequency: 3 – 4 times a week, depending on the sensitivity of your skin

Result: Clearer pores, improved skin tone/color

Option 2¹

1. Mix a small amount of baking soda into your cleanser and use as normal

Frequency: Same as above

Result: Same as above

Lemon Juice and Brown Sugar (Product Pasha)²

1. Lightly moisten face
2. Apply a cotton pad with fresh squeezed lemon juice
3. Cover pad with a thin layer of brown sugar
4. Moisten the brown sugar thoroughly with lemon juice
5. Lightly rub face in circular motion for 1 – 2 minutes
6. Rinse face and apply light moisturizer

Frequency: 2 – 3 times a week

Result: Soft, glowing skin

Milk³

1. Soak a washcloth in whole milk, wring out, and drape over your face for 5 minutes. The lactic acid in milk helps the dead skin to slough off of your face.
2. Remove any remaining milk with the cloth

Frequency: 3 times a week

Result: Refreshed skin

Olive Oil and Sugar³

1. Lightly moisten face
2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil to ½ cup sugar.
3. Scrub face for 1 – 2 minutes. This also works well on the rest of your body

Frequency: 2 – 3 times a week

Result: Soft, glowing skin

You can also visit the Herb Companion and review some exfoliating recipes here.

¹Forebrain. Is Baking Soda an Effective Natural Exfolliant. (Accessed August 16, 2011). http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/03/27/is-baking-soda-an-effective-natural-exfolliant/

²Rosenblath, Tracy. All Natural Exfoliation with Lemon Juice and Brown Sugar. (Accessed August 16, 2011). http://www.productpasha.com/2010/10/all-natural-exfoliation-with-lemon-juice-and-brown-sugar.html.

³EHow Style. Natural Ways to Exfoliate Skin. (Accessed August 16, 2011). http://www.ehow.com/how_4541239_natural-ways-exfoliate-skin.html