A Natural Exfoliant Helps Skin Feel Great

The Associated Skin Care Professionals define the process of natural exfoliation as removing dead skin cells to make way for new, healthy skin. Other benefits come from the pressure applied during exfoliation in which circulation is stimulated and pores are unclogged. A loofah sponge or natural bristled bath brush are the tools generally used for exfoliating. There are things at home that can help you exfoliate your skin.

Raw sugar, because of its course texture, is very effective in removing dead skin cells. Table sugar can also be used. To make a sugar and strawberry scrub, put eight strawberries and two tablespoons olive oil in a blender. Blend mixture for one minute. Put this mixture in a bowl and add two tablespoons of sugar. Stir these ingredients together and the scrub is ready to rub as a paste all over your body. Besides strawberries you can add coffee grounds, pumpkin puree, and cucumbers to the sugar.

Oatmeal, when used topically, brings several benefits to the skin. Avenanthramides are the plant compounds found in oatmeal that give it anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, and skin soothing properties. Saponins give oatmeal its moisturizing, skin-cleansing and buffing qualities. To make an exfoliant with oatmeal put one cup of rolled oats in a blender. Blend for three minutes. Put the blended oatmeal in a bowl with some water and some drops of an essential oil you like and make a paste. If your skin is very dry, add some drops of olive oil and less water.

Coffee grounds will make your skin feel smooth and silky when you use them as an exfoliant. Coffee grounds have a coarseness that helps naturally with exfoliation. Caffeic acid has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the skin. Caffeic acid also stimulates collagen production. Collagen is essential to have youthful, healthy skin. For a coffee ground exfoliant mix one-cup warm coffee grounds with one half-cup sugar or sea salt, then add two tablespoons olive oil. The mixture is now ready to be rubbed over your skin, especially elbows and feet when they are especially rough. You can do this outside of the shower standing on paper. Then remove as much of the grounds as possible before getting in the shower.

A natural exfoliant helps your skin feel alive, clean and healthy. Exfoliating two or three times a week is going to give your skin the maximum benefit. Rubbing firmly but gently in a circular motion is the best way to apply an exfoliant.