Looking for easy, inexpensive homemade face scrubs? Below are 13 simple exfoliating face scrubs that your skin will love!
I have been using the Oil Cleansing Method to wash my face for almost a year now! My face feels moisturized, healthy and I am having fewer breakouts. For my skin, this organic and homemade face wash works great for me.
About once a week though, my skin needs a simple exfoliating face scrubs. Exfoliating helps remove the dead skin cells and other remaining impurities. It also helps keep my complexion clear and my skin looking healthy.
The beauty industry has a million products that will exfoliate your skin. Products that contain plastics, irritating fragrances, glycerin, parabens, phthalates and other questionable ingredients. These commercial products might cause damage to the delicate facial skin.
The good news is that you can make your own simple exfoliating face scrubs at home, really easily! They’re inexpensive and good for your skin. If your skin has needed a pick-me-up, check out the simple exfoliating face scrubs below:
Simple Sugar Face Scrub
- 1 tsp organic cane sugar (or granulated sugar)
- 2 drops of water
- 1 – 2 drops orange, lemon, lavender or tea tree essential oil (optional)
How you do it:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Using the tips of your fingers, gently rub scrub into clean face. Take care to avoid the eyes. Remove by rinsing with cool water, and pat dry with a clean towel. Add on a layer of oil as a moisturizer, if necessary.
2 Ingredient Sugar DIY Face Scrub
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp sugar
How you do it:
Combine coconut oil and sugar in a small bowl, and stir to combine. Rub sugar face scrub into clean facial or neck skin, using gentle circular motions, for 60 seconds. Rinse dry with warm water.
This is an easy recipe to whip up when you don’t have a lot of time. You can increase the ratios to make more of the mix, and store for up to 3 months. If you live in a hotter climate, you may want to store this mixture in the fridge, as coconut oil has a relatively low melting point.
Chocolate Sugar Homemade Face Scrub
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
How you do it:
Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Lather generously onto clean face, rubbing gently into the skin for 60 seconds. Allow to set on skin for 10 minutes, if desired, then rinse clean with warm water.
Blueberry and Honey Exfoliating Face Scrub
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tbsp honey (raw and local is best)
- 1 – 2 tbsp sugar
How you do it:
Combine all ingredients in a small food processor, and blend until smooth. Add a generous layer to clean face, and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse clean with warm water.
Lemon and Sugar Face Scrub
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp organic honey
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
How you do it:
Whisk together olive oil, honey, and lemon juice in a small bowl, until combined. Stir in sugar until fully combined. Gently rub into facial skin in circular motions, for about one minute. Rinse off skin with warm water.
Find the instructions on how to turn this into a body scrub here.
Honey and Oatmeal Facial Scrub
- 1/2 cup of uncooked oats
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 15 drops tea tree essential oil
- 1 tsp dried lavender (optional)
How you do it:
Run oatmeal through the blender to break it up a bit. You don’t want it be too powdery, just break it up a tiny bit. Transfer oatmeal to a small bowl, then add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. To use, gently rub into facial skin with circular motions. Leave on the skin for 5 – 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
I love this scrub because the Honey, Oatmeal, Nutmeg, Lavender and tea tree essential oils may help to reduce breakouts, even skin tone, and moisturize. Find step-by-step instructions and pictures here.
Facial Scrub for Dry Skin
- 1/4 cup uncooked oats
- 1/8 cup honey
- 1/8 cup olive oil
Oats, honey and olive oil make this a little different spin from the honey and oatmeal facial scrub. But it’s incredibly simple and great for skin that is aching for moisture. Here is my recipe here.
Awesome simple exfoliating face scrubs from other bloggers!
- Tomato Sugar Face Scrub: This scrub is made with lycopene-filled tomatoes (which may help protect against harmful UV Rays) and sugar.
- Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub: Oatmeal, lavender flowers, baking soda and sea salt go into this mix to make up this unique and wonderfully fragrant face scrub.
- Coffee Face Scrub: Olive oil, organic honey and coffee grinds are mixed together to create this stimulating and energizing scrub.
- Papaya Face Mask: Papayas and honey sugar come together to exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells and moisturize.
- Homemade Facial Masks: Once you’re done with your simple exfoliating face scrubs, try one of these 9 awesome homemade facial masks! All the recipes are listed in one place for ease of access! 😉
Buy Exfoliating Face Scrubs
Don’t want to make your own exfoliating face scrubs? No problem! There are plenty of great, natural face scrubs you can buy. Here are a few of my favorite:
- Acure Brightening Facial Scrub, made with Sea Kelp and French Green Clay.
- I also really like this Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub!
Try a DIY Face Mask!
Now that your skin is gloriously exfoliated, try a DIY Face Mask! There are 8 homemade recipes that your skin will absolutely love.
Which one of these simple exfoliating face scrubs do you want to try? What is your favorite simple exfoliating face scrubs?
Thanks for sharing the information, I was looking for information about a good scrub and I think I found the answer I was looking for here. Nice website 🙂
It may not be to everyone’s preference but I use beef tallow in my face cream recipes and nothing is closer to the natural skin lipids. It melts in and leaves your skin soft and matte, even helping to hide pores.
I used the sugar and coconut oil scrub amazing, also I am 70+ should I use it once or twice a week
Hi Andrea,
Instead of sugar, I used baking soda to lemon but I also wanted to try lemon and sugar as exfoliating face scrubs. These 10 simple exfoliating face scrubs are really interesting to try. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Andrea,
I only thought that those are for food purposes and never thought how useful they’ll be when it comes in exfoliating. I am really glad to come across at your blog and discovered that everything from the kitchen could be this useful in beauty. Thank for this natural ideas.
Hi can i add baking powder to lemon and sugar face scrub? ?
Hi,
I love brewing my coffee, but I didn’t know I could that I could use the coffee grinds for my face. These grinds usually end as compost to my plants. Thanks for sharing!
coffee? where did you see that on this post?
Do you let the coffee grinds dry or use them Wet? Also how long do you leave it on your face. Thanks
Hi,
I have facial dandruff on my face and beard. What do you suggest?
Blueberrys clear out dandruff! 🙂
Also diluted apple cider vinegar works wonders!
I use a superfine gentle face exfoliant by an Australian brand called “Samuel Gravan”. The exfoliant is a cream base hence very non drying with a good amount of volcanic ash, pumice, argan and all certified organic ingredients and essential oils that leave my skin looking very dewy and smooth. They make very small batches hence they are effective and quite potent.. my skin is sensitive so for me this is the safest option. leave it up to a cosmetic chemist.. diy can go wrong.
can I use a li insead of lemon?
Don’t put lemon on your face! It’s an irritant.
Would olive oil be an okay substitute for coconut oil in the sugar and coconut oil scrub? I’ve made a hand scrub before with water, sugar, and olive oil, but I’m unsure if it’s safe on my face. Coconut oil makes my skin very red and dry, and it makes me break out.
Hi Alex –
Yes! Definitely. I use olive oil on my face all the time. I usually prefer it to coconut, too!
In a jar, about how long will these scrubs keep?
Yes 2-8 weeks
Wow. This is something I wish I’d found a long time ago, honestly. Thank you very much for publishing this.
Out of curiosity, are there any other granular substances I could use to substitute sugar in the first recipe? Sugar’s adhesiveness and potential messiness- and, in our house, its value for culinary purposes- is such that I’d like to find a way around it if possible.
Hi! I’ve been using grounded coffee for my facial scrubs instead of sugar. It works great for me and I love the smell, it lasts even after you clean it. 🙂
Does anyone know how often to use the chocolate exfoliating recipe?
Because i don’t want to be using it to much that it could damage my skin as i have very sensitive skin 🙂
That mask i would recommend for people that have sensitive skin because mine stays hydrated and clear 🙂
As a person who also has super sensitive skin, I would recommend using once a week (if you notice any irritation though, don’t do it as frequently).
Remember not to scrub too hard and follow up with a nourishing oil or moisturiser ?
Hope this helped!
these are great masks, they taste nice too and they don’t smell bad like some of the other bought ones 🙂
As well as edible on most of them 😀
Hi, you all seem very helpful so I have my own situation…My skin has been relatively clear for the last 2 years except for about once a month, which makes sense for a lot of girls. Since summer has started I have been breaking out non stop. Little pimples on my forehead which is not common for me, and a lot big angry looking pimples on my chin which is where usually break out. I’ve tried everything and nothing gets rid of them. I use oxy pads most days which helps a little but doesn’t make a huge difference. I don’t wear makeup barely at all and I keep my bed sheets clean so it can’t be that. I have senior portraits coming up and I would really like my face to be clear. If you all have any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it ! Thank you!
Girl.. i feel your pain! Ive tried countless methods and treatments for my acne prone skin over the years. 3 months ago i gave up on my doctor after he announced Roacutane to be the only treatment option left for me. I questioned thia and turned to natural remedies which i simply found online. And wow. My skin is absolutely transformed! Here is my new daily face routine which i highly recommend you try if you are still having skin troubles.
After washing my face day & night I apply diluted organic apple cider vinegar (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water. This tightens pores & kills acne causing bacteria). Once dry i apply moisturiser (combination of coconut oil & sweet almond oil, sometimes with rosehip oil also). Any little spots that pop up i apply aloe vera gel straight from the leaf. Aloe gel also tightens skin and increases blood circulation- perfect for baggy eyes. There are many variatons to these diy remedies, just search on google.. or just remember that NATURE IS KEY. Nature heals 🙂 If it worked for me i am more than confident it will work for you, unless your condition is hormone related. I hope this has helped you. Happy natural skin journey 🙂
Hello! that sounds great – what do you use to wash your face? Is it just warm water?
Thanks
I quit sugar and my face cleared up instantly
That is awesome Kaylie!
Drinking more water will help get rid of the smaller pimples on your forehead
I absolutely love using Mary Kay’s clear proof acne cream on larger pimples
I also use neutrogena’s deep clean cream cleanser in the shower, and follow it up with elizavecca milk piggy carbonated bubble clay mask
My skin is kind of sensitive and none of these products hurt
After my shower I use the mary Kay, let it sit 5-10 minutes, and then put a light moisturizer on.
If you feel like you have clogged pores a face exfoliator works awesome, I make mine with lemon juice, sugar, and avocado oil then do the same face cleaning procedure from before
Luckily if none of this works, you can ask to have acne photo shopped out of your picture
Good luck
Is it possible to use coconut sugar for the simple scrub coconut oil + sugar ?
Yep, absolutely!
Can Vaseline petroleum jelly be substituted for coconut oil for facial scrub? 🙂
Hello! You could try petroleum jelly, but I don’t think it is a great product for the skin. It is an unsustainable resource and could potentially be carcinogenic. You can read more about it here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/vaseline-petroleum-jelly_n_4136226.html
I have oily skin….should I use these tips for my skin…
Will it good for my skin….
Hi Alayna,
Thanks! My family really enjoys these recipes. 🙂 You can find week 1 here, and I hope to have week 3 published by the end of the week!
Andrea
Hi all
Great ideas indeed,
Well done , keep it coming
Great Masks Thank You 🙂
How can I make olive oil smell different, like mint or berry?
Have you tried adding essential oils?
Hey,My face is sometimes and I have some blackheads on my nose.What should i do or do cause I really don’t know what to do..
Hi Justine,
I don’t have much experience with blackheads, but Crunchy Betty wrote a great article on it that you may enjoy:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/5-natural-ways-to-remove-blackheads
Hi all , have you tried using witchazel daily? Excellent naural toner, complimenting natural cleansers & scrubs. Avail coles , woolies & most pharmacies. Supermarket is cheaper. See what you think, i love it.
Shelby.
I love witch hazel Michelle! I haven’t used it on a daily basis, but I may try it this week. Thanks for the tip!
hi, ive always used witchhazel its a great toner and cleanser
Love using witchazel after cleansing face/neck
Wipe face with stridex medicated pads, then coat nose & face with noxema leave on 2 minutes, wash off, avoid eye area ( does burn eyes).
Thanx for the variations
How long would these generally last if I made a large batch?
xxx
I love to put honey on my face and pat it until it is really sticky. Then I wash it off and my skin is super soft. Love all of the other ideas you have too.
This really makes me want to have a spa party and have everyone bring in a little sample for everyone to take home or maybe I could just have a table where everyone can make some to go home. Thanks for the great list.
My teen daughter has a birthday coming up and I think setting up some of the ingredients in a “facial buffet” so they can each make their own would be a fun activity. Since all the ingredients are natural, I wouldn’t worry about them using any of them. I can print your recipes on recipe cards for the girls to use. Thanks for all the great variations!
What a great collection of exfoliating recipes. I can’t wait to share with my teen daughters and have a DIY spa weekend.
How often should you use a face scrub?
I generally do it once a week, or less, if my face doesn’t feel like it needs it.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I love brown sugar exfoliant because it is less harsh to the skin than other exfoliators in the market. More power on your blog!
Hey Andrea ! I’ve read all your home made face exfoliation methods ! They sound great ! But I just want to know which method is the fastest and most effective . I’m new to all this and I’m not sure what product to buy exactly from the Pharmacy because I don’t know which my skin may react to. So I figured I’d start off with natural remedies since it is less risky to contain side effects. My whole face like literally breaks out in pimples and whiteheads for a while now. I put oil on my face everyday before school . Would you mind recommending which is best for me? Thanks x
Hi Sapphire,
It’s hard to recommend a “best” when I am not sure what your skin type is, and since everyone’s skin reacts differently to different ingredients (Even natural ingredients). What kind of oil are you putting on your face? Are you washing your face with olive oil, or using a different type of cleanser?
If you have oily skin to begin with, you may not need to put oil on your face, without rinsing it off. I find that cleansing with the oil, and gently rubbing it off with a clean towel still provides enough moisture for my face (and I have dry skin).
The one thing I did that improved my skin more than anything else, was to take a good multi-vitamin, drink lots of water every day, and eat healthy. The Garden of Life multivitamins worked really well for me, but you may check with a doctor, if you are under 18, about what would be ideal for your nutritional needs.
I have been using a home made exfoliating powder from rice grains and green gram.. I took an equal amount of both rice and green gram.. Add an extra amount of green gram coz it helps to make our skin fair and clear.. Make a power out of it.. It shouldn’t be too fine.. It’s fine if there are small granules left.. Infact its better.. It’ll smell a bit awful.. But works wonders.. You can add some essence to your powder while bathing.. Plz take the power in a seperate bowl.. Any water in the powder may lead to fungus..
Hello,
The only way you can reduce / remove facial hair is by removing it using a facial hair removal tool or threading. Threading needs salon visits and can be expensive.
You can buy facial hair removal tool on my website at a very reasonable price and is very easy to use. Hope this helps!
I went to a dermatologist about 2/3 years ago with my sister the lady was opening her own shop and had an evening event on to promote anyway my sister has always suffered from bad acne and dry skin on her face and back she has tried every product you could possibly think of to help get rid of it. When we went to the evening my sister explained her problem and told her the best thing to do it in the morning when you have your first wee of the day get some in a jug then dilute it with warm water 50/50 and wash your face and back in your wee. Now i know this sounds horrible but my sister actually tried it and within a week you could see the difference in her skin. She now does not suffer from acne or dry skin. Hope that can help some of you :).
Hola !Son muy buenos !
PodrÃas ayudarme con alguna receta para mi cabello seco, y también para las manchas de la piel en manos y cuello. Gracias
Hi! I am 16 with somewhat oily skin. Usually my skin is near perfect, but recently (since about June) I’ve broken out really bad in my T zone. I’m not sure why. I’ve changed climates a couple of times, and that’s when it started to happen. I don’t use foundation or anything. I have these tiny bumps that are my skin shade and sometimes really red pimples. I’m just wondering the best thing to do?
Can I use brown sugar instead?
Yes, certainly! Brown sugar is less abrasive than granulated, so it is probably better on sensitive skin.
Hello, I’m 33 with combination skin. We moved from a dry climate to a humid climate last summer. Before I would have a break out about once a month usually around my cycle but since we have moved I look like I’m a teenager going through puberty. It’s so embarrassing! What can you suggest? Prior to moving I used Proactive however it bleached my sheets which gave me an uneasy feeling about all the chemicals so I have been researching more natural ingredients which brought me to your page. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
can you recommend a scrub? I have been to numerous doctors , dermatologists, and gotten facials. Nothing helps. I have previously had beautiful skin. I use castor oil daily and have found coconut oil causes breakouts. my skin now has very flakey irritated spots, sometimes bumps that puss, mostly on one side, which doctors first diagnosed as shingles. It is not shingles. Now they claim Rosacea, but no treatments help. I am no stranger to the oil cleanse method, and it helps slightly. Now the rash has moved to my scalp and chest/shoulders. Nobody can diagnose. Is there something else you can rec? Please! My face is itchy and pussy, as well as dry and flakey. It doesn’t make sense.
Hi Dani,
I am sorry to hear that you’ve been going through all of that. It does sound like something more that a doctor needs to be treating, so I would recommend going to another doctor who can help. This sounds like something that is beyond the scope of something I would recommend treating at home.
Now, I am certainly not qualified to give you advice, so I will just tell you what I would do if it were me. I would try aquaphor for the severely dry patches of skin, applying it every night, after washing the face. I don’t normally like to use commercial products, but I will use aquaphor for extremely bad cases of eczema on me and my daughter.
Do you take a multivitamin? I started taking Garden of Life multivitamins and that has dramatically helped my skin clarity, along with drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Eating a healthy diet and exercise will help the skin as well.
I hope that helps, and that you can figure out what is happening to your skin.
Hi Dani –
I don’t know if this is what you have but your description reminded me of Malassezia (it’s a fungus that’s on everything). I rescued a dog with horrible skin issues, had her allergy-tested and found out she’s highly allergic to Malassezia. Humans have problems with it too (and some people suffer terribly). So perhaps this is another avenue to explore? Best wishes for quick and permanent relief from whatever it is.
Do you drink soymilk or almond milk? When I first turned 39 I began breaking out horribly. Thought it was due to aging. It was soy n almond milk. Stopped drinking it and like magic my skin cleared. Examine your diet!!! You could be allergic to something.
I have tiny tiny white bumpy spots I don’t know whether these are whiteheads or milia but I am very worried my skin was all clear and I suddenly got these spots on my cheeks and forehead what should I use to have clear skin I have normal skin and I am 18 years old please suggest what to do !
Did the spots show up over night? The same thing happened to me once. It may be an allergic reaction (dermatitis) to something you’re using. The bumps are typically very small and flesh colored/white, and may appear very oily or dry. It’s almost like little whiteheads are about to pop up every where! Best thing to do: Only use gentle cleansers (no fruit extracts!) for a while and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE. See if it goes away in a few days. If so, it was probably an allergic reaction.(: At least from my experience. (Turns out I have a skin reaction to products with orange in them.)
PS- The BEST stuff for pimples (and I’ve tried a lot of things)- Clean&Clear 10% benzoyl peroxide acne medication. It’s a little white tube with a purple cap- You can get it at target for literally $4 I believe. It’s as good as that overnight ProActive Stuff! Just if you wanted any suggestions, this stuff has saved my life. Just dab a little over a spot and the next day it’s dried up.
Oh- Also I’ve known people to have reactions to new laundry detergents! So that may be another thing(:
I’m a woman in mid fifties has uneven skin tone and dark spots.what should I use to take care of this problem.
Hi Karen,
I would try the recipes that have lemon in it, as lemons are great for lightening dark skin spots. Let me know how it goes!
Love these recipes! Would it be a problem using organic Agave instead of honey? Would it have the same effect?
Thank you!
I haven’t used agave much, so I am not sure. I know honey naturally has some wonderful properties that make it so beneficial to the skin, beyond moisturizing properties. If you try the agave, let me know how it goes!
Hello,
Which would you recommend for a woman over 50? I would say that my skin is neither oily or dry although it tends to be oilier (in the summer), in the winter more dry I would say. Like the other ladies here, exfoliating is a must but wish not to utilize products that tend to be harsh or packed with unnecessary chemicals. Just a clean, polished and healthy glow once done. Thank you! Sandra
Hi, I have been using honey as my facial cleanser since about a month and follow it up with either clinique dramatically different moisturizer or a homemade moisturizer (honey, rose water and milk cream) at night. But no difference. I still have very dry cheeks. Have visible pores near my nose which often get shiny which means i have combination skin. Kindly suggest what to do to minimize pores and get soft skin at the same time. Thanks
Hi Al,
You’re washing your face with straight honey? I haven’t done much research or tried that method, but I generally recommend using the Oil Cleansing Method as a facial cleanser, especially for dry skin. Also, be careful with commercial moisturizers — even the really expensive ones have a lot of water and chemicals that can dry out the skin. I also use homemade facial creams or the same oil cleansing mix as my moisturizer.
What I love about these facial scrubs is that they’re not only free of harmful chemicals, but they’re also gluten-free. For a celiac who has to avoid gluten, even in personal care products that can accidentally be ingested, this is huge.
My favorite store-bought facial scrub is Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. It’s completely natural and organic (and quite tasty if accidentally eaten). But at nearly $30 for a jar it’s also a luxury I can occasionally afford. I’ll try your home-made recipes and put them to the test.
Great point! There are hidden allergens in so many commercial products, people who have allergies need to be cautious.
hi!
i m 21 and i have oily skin with lot of pimples & facial hair due to hormonal imbalances.
which is the mildest of these scrubs as i do not wish to break these pimples.
also, i hv uneven skin tone and tan (asia, u c)… can u help reduce that??
also, can i apply these oil based home made moisturizers/cleansers/scrubs on my skin??
hi, i have large pores and my skin is normal in summer and very dry in winter. i also have blemishes on my skin. i want to know which exfoliator would be best for me? i want something that would reduce my pores and give me a blemish free bright skin like before 🙁 and how often shoul i use this exfoliator? once in a week or everyday?
thanks 🙂
Hi, i have eczema and only a few pimples every so often, but i do have dark marks and because of my eczema i have dry facial skin too. In your opinion which exfoliator would be better to use, the tomato sugar scrub, or the sugar scrub which includes lemon, honey, and olive oil?
Hi Elizabeth,
I have suffering the eczema problem since 5 years,before it was worst as i was high on medication but then my guru made me try it the natural way.You can apply coconut oil (If not allergic to coconut) to your eczema or you can apply aloevera gel.You can use lemon but it has citrus that burns your skin and cause more rashes to your face so be careful.Instead go for honey or tomato paste on your face, the one that works for me is the papaya facepack as it clears my marks as well as brightens the face.Suggesting you some natural tips that can help you with eczema(Can’t promise that it will vanish as eczema cannot be treated but promise you that it helps in controlling.)
pls tell me how to maintain fresh face at any time, give me a home madu results
Hi, I really love this article and have learnt about the importance of exfoliating. I have an oily face and was wondering if it would still be ok to use olive oil or any other oily ingredients? Also the scrubs available for purchase is quite difficult for me to get as I don’t have access to foreign products (live in africa)
hi Freda,
Yes, absolutely try olive oil! I use it on my face daily. I know many people with oily skin use olive oil with great results, but you can also try a mix of olive oil and castor oil, if you have access to both. Let me know how it works for you!
Ok, is it bad that I want to EAT these scrubs instead of wearing them? Love them all!!
Haha! They do have some tasty ingredients! At least you know you’re safe if you accidentally (or intentionally) ingest them, unlike commercial cleaners 😉