Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Homemade Facial Scrub Recipe

my homemade facial scrub powder
Some of you know that I make my own lip balms, soap, skin care products and non-toxic cleaning products.  In making non-toxic products I've realized that most of these products that I make are actually far superior to those products that I've been spending a lot of money on for years and they are so much more cost effective. Some of my best recipes are available on my website.

Buying skin products over the counter comes with some risks. Most contain preservatives and fragrances which can be irritating if not downright toxic. And most also contain a host of ingredients that really haven't been tested over time.  One example is retinol. It's a form of vitamin A touted for it's wrinkle fighting properties, but it's been in the news lately as it has been found to cause birth defects even when used topically. And if it can cause birth defects how good can it really be for anyone? Retinols are found in a majority of the anti-aging skin moisturizers.

One of my new favorite products is my own facial scrub.  It's made with natural ingredients and no fragrances or preservatives at all. All ingredients it contains have been used for centuries for skin care products with no ill effects. It has a very mild texture that will leave your skin silky smooth, but is not as harsh as micro-dermabrasion scrubs. What is the downside?  Well, it doesn't come in a convenient tube or bottle and it's a little bit messy as it contains clay powder, but it's not nearly as messy as a typical facial mask as it is a light scrub. The addition of baking soda makes it easier to rinse off. I use this once a day.

GREEN CUMIN FACIAL SCRUB

2 tablespoons baking soda
2 1/2 tablespoons french green clay powder (or other clay powder of your choice)
1 teaspoon ground cumin, or more if desired
1 teaspoon green tea powder, optional
2 capsules olive leaf, broken apart (toss the gelatin capsule and use the powder), optional

1.    Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix together. 
2.    Place in a sealed container and store where it won't get wet.  I use a small demitasse coffee spoon to portion it out, but any spoon will do--even a plastic one.
3.    To use: place a small amount in your palm and mix with a tiny bit of water to form a paste.  Apply to wet skin and gently massage in with fingertips.  Rinse off.  You may also leave it on for a while as a facial mask to get the full benefits.  Alternately you can mix some of the powder into a paste using honey or Dr. Bronners liquid baby soap and store in a small container for use. Honey has many beneficial properties and Dr. Bronners liquid baby soap will make this more of a facial wash.  Mix up just enough for one week at a time and store at room temperature.


Cumin is high in vitamin E and has great antiseptic, anti-inflamatory and anti-oxidant properties.  Ground, it also has a nice texture for a facial scrub. Women in India have been using cumin on their faces for centuries, but, yes, it does smell like food. You can leave the cumin out of the recipe if you don't care for the scent. You can find ground cumin in the spice section at your grocery store. Olive leaf and green tea are well know for their many benefits for skin, but they do not contribute to the grainy texture needed for a good scrub like the cumin does. Olive leaf capsules are available at health food stores. Green tea powder is available at tea shops, health food stores and gourmet stores. It's the type of green tea used for Japanese tea ceremonies. Matcha is one type. If you only intend to use this as a facial scrub and not leave it on for a little while, there is no need to include the olive leaf and green tea.

You can use any type of cosmetic grade powdered clay for this. Some clays are more absorbent than others and are therefore better for different skin types.  I prefer French green clay for it's natural herbal scent and mildly absorbent properties and color. You may be able to find clay powders at your local health food store.  I purchase them from Majestic Mountain Sage on-line.

The baking soda makes a finely textured scrub and the clay powder gives a silky texture. You can customize this by adding other ingredients such as ground oatmeal or a few drops of tea tree oil.

As this is a dry mix, you can easily put a little in a small sealed container to take with you when you travel without worrying about leaks.

11 comments:

  1. THIS sounds amazing. I was going to purchase a Mary Kay facial scrub from my daughter, Jodi, who sells it, but this sounds so much better. We have a health food and vitamin shop right near us. This might be just what I need for my face.
    Thanks so much Sue.
    ♥♥♥
    Sue

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  2. That is really interesting. Thanks for sharing this. Maybe one day I'll try it.

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  3. I will try your recipe... my skin really needs a scrub Pronto! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I learned something new about you, Sue!

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  5. Wow! This is great! I went looking for where you sell this because I usually do not actually settle down long enough to find all the ingredients. Your website is awesome!

    Anyway thank you, I will give good effort to find the ingredients. Cumin I love the smell of - and it's plentiful in my spice cupboard.

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    1. Sorry, Luella. I just make jewelry and tatting to sell. I like to make products for my family to use though and friends are always begging lipbalms from me.

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  6. I would buy the scrub and lip balms, too! Just saying :)

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  7. I would buy them too: ) Looks great!

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  8. I always wanted to try some natural things that I could make for my skin but convenience always got in the way! This sounds interesting though. I'd gladly let you do the work though and buy it from you!!

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  9. Sue I didn't think you sold any cosmetics in your shop. Maybe you need to open another shop. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Wow I didn't know you made your own cosmetics and cleaning products, what a great idea. Blessings Niki x

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