Exfoliation can be a great way to keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy.

A body scrub is a popular way to exfoliate your skin, and there are plenty of store-bought varieties to choose from. Or, you can make your very own homemade body scrub using ingredients you already have in your pantry.

What are the benefits of body scrubs?

Exfoliation with a body scrub, or with other types of products like a brush or loofah, can help boost the health and appearance of your skin in several ways.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter because it removes the top layer of dead skin cells. It can also stimulate the production of collagen, which may help your skin stay firm and radiant.

Another benefit of exfoliation is that it can improve the efficacy of topical treatments. If you exfoliate your skin before applying a cream, for example, the cream will be able to penetrate more deeply instead of sitting on the surface.

In addition, massaging your skin with a body scrub can also be a wonderful way to relax and feel calmer, especially if you’re tired or stressed.

How often should you use a body scrub?

It’s best not to use a body scrub on your skin every day. Overexfoliating your skin can leave it dry, sensitive, and irritated.

It’s generally safe to exfoliate your skin two to three times a week. If your skin is dry and sensitive, you may want to exfoliate only once a week. If you have a skin condition, or if you’re unsure how often you should exfoliate your skin, talk to a dermatologist.

It’s usually easiest to apply a body scrub in the shower or bath. Gently massage the scrub into your skin in a circular motion and rinse it off thoroughly with warm water.

What do you need to make a DIY body scrub?

To make a DIY body scrub, keep the following items on hand:

spoons for mixing

mixing bowl

measuring spoons or cups

a carrier or base oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, or olive oil

sealed container to store the scrub in

a few drops of your favorite essential oils, if desired

Once you have those items, you can mix the oils with the granules of your choice, such as salt or sugar. You may also want to add other ingredients that can benefit your skin, like honey or green tea, as outlined in the recipes below.

With homemade body scrubs, it’s important to get the consistency right. You don’t want it to be too runny, which can make it hard to scoop into your hands, but you also don’t want it to be too crumbly.

Here are some of the most popular types of DIY body scrubs that are both beneficial to your skin and easy to make.

Coffee scrub

There’s some scientific evidence that caffeine may help diminish the appearance of cellulite.

A 2011 studyTrusted Source tested a cream containing caffeine and other ingredients on 78 participants. The study found that after 12 weeks of use, the participants who used the cream saw a significant decrease in the appearance of their cellulite. A 2015 clinical studyTrusted Source involving 15 subjects found similar results.

However, these creams contained other ingredients, such as retinol, so it’s hard to determine how effective the caffeine is on its own at making cellulite less noticeable.

That said, coffee is still a popular ingredient for many DIY body scrubs. The tiny granules are gentle on the skin, while still being effective at removing dead cells from the skin’s surface. And who can’t resist the aroma of a cup of coffee?

Ingredients

1/2 cup coffee grounds

2 tbsp. hot water

1 tbsp. coconut oil, warmed

Directions

Add the coffee grounds and hot water to a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.

Add the coconut oil. If needed, add more coffee grounds or more oil to get the consistency right.

When you’re satisfied with the consistency, spoon the mixture into a container.

Brown sugar scrub

Brown sugar is an inexpensive and accessible ingredient that also does a great job of exfoliating your skin.

Brown sugar is gentler on skin than sea salt or Epsom salt. This makes it an ideal ingredient for sensitive skin. The sugar granules might make your skin feel sticky, so be sure to rinse thoroughly after you’ve exfoliated.

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oil of your choice, such as coconut, jojoba, olive, almond, or grapeseed

essential oils (optional)

Directions

Combine brown sugar and oil in a mixing bowl.

Mix thoroughly. If needed, add more sugar or oil to get the consistency right.

If desired, add one or two drops of your favorite essential oil, and stir it into the mixture.

When you’re satisfied with the consistency and fragrance of your scrub, spoon it into a container.

Sea salt scrub

Salt has antibacterial properties that can be helpful for some skin conditions. Salt is also a preservative, so the sea salt scrub will be able to naturally preserve itself.

Use ground sea salt, as coarse sea salt can be too harsh on your skin. Sea salt scrubs may be too abrasive for sensitive skin. Also, be careful if you have a cut on your skin as the salt can sting.

Because salt has no fragrance, you may want to add your favorite essential oils to your DIY salt scrub.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sea salt

1/2 cup oil of your choice

essential oils (optional)

Directions

Combine sea salt and oil in a mixing bowl.

Mix thoroughly. If needed, add more salt or oil to get the consistency right.

If desired, add one or two drops of your favorite essential oil and stir it into the mixture.

Once you’re satisfied with the consistency and fragrance of your scrub, spoon it into a container.

Green tea sugar scrub

Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, green tea may benefit your skin in several ways.

Also, according to a 2013 studyTrusted Source, cosmetics that contain green tea may be able to reduce harm to the skin caused by sun damage.

Green tea can easily be added to a homemade body scrub together with other nourishing ingredients.

Ingredients

2 teabags green tea

1/2 cup hot water

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

Directions

Add teabags to hot water. Let the tea steep until it cools.

While the tea is cooling, add brown sugar to a bowl.

Add coconut oil and mix thoroughly with the sugar.

Once the tea has cooled, add it to the sugar mix. It’s important that the tea is cool so the sugar doesn’t dissolve.

If the mixture is too crumbly, add more coconut oil. If it’s too soggy, add more brown sugar.

When you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container.

Honey sugar scrub

ResearchTrusted Source shows that honey has antibacterial properties. According to a 2016 reviewTrusted Source, honey also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that may help a variety of skin conditions.

Not only can honey help repair skin tissue and protect against UV damage, it may also help kill germs on the skin.

Honey can easily be combined with granules and oil to make a skin-nourishing body scrub. After massaging the scrub into your skin, be sure to rinse your skin off thoroughly to prevent stickiness.

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

2 tbsp. honey

Directions

Add brown sugar, coconut oil, and honey to a mixing bowl.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly, and add more coconut oil if it’s too crumbly.

Once you’ve reached the desired consistency, spoon your scrub into a container.

Safety tips

These homemade scrubs are only intended to be used on your body, not your face. The skin on your face is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body.

Avoid exfoliating skin that is:

sunburned

chapped or broken

red or swollen

recovering from a chemical peel

If you want to add essential oils to your body scrub, do a patch testwith the diluted oil on your skin first to make sure you’re not allergic to the oil.

If you have sensitive skin or very dry skin, talk to your doctor or dermatologist to find out if exfoliation with a body scrub is right for you.

Try pore strips to get rid of blackheads on your nose.

Pore strips like Bioré Original Deep Cleansing Pore Strips adhere to the nose skin, and as they dry, the adhesive attaches to oil, sebum, and dead skin cells, which are removed when the strip is taken off, They can be irritating, though, so proceed with caution if you have sensitive skin or rosacea. If you’re prone to blackheads on the nose,  also suggests regularly using a cleanser or serum with salicylic acid on this area and getting a professional facial with manual extractions.

Use a medicated cleanser to nix blackheads on your back and body.

For blackheads on the back, “I recommend using a benzoyl peroxide face or body wash in the shower daily”Let it sit on skin for a minute or two before washing off.” She recommends trying a formula that contains 5% benzoyl peroxide to start, then moving to a higher percentage if your skin can tolerate it without irritation. If benzoyl peroxide is too drying, apply a salicylic acid wash instead, suggests.

Another option: Before bed, spread a thin coat of a retinoid gel or cream on the area, starting with every other night to prevent irritation. If you can’t reach your back, get someone to help you apply the cream or try a back lotion applicator. For more stubborn blackheads, visit a dermatologist: suggests a Jessner peel, which contains a mix of alpha and beta hydroxy acids to deeply exfoliate skin and treat acne.

Be gentle with blackheads on your cheeks.

If you have blackheads on your cheeks, “remember that this skin will be a bit drier and perhaps more sensitive to retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid than other spotsYou can use these ingredients, but in smaller quantities so the skin doesn’t dry out or get irritated.

Be wary of DIY blackhead removal hacks.

A PSA from our dermatologist pros: Though much talked-about on the internet, toothpaste is not an effective blackhead treatment— it’s too harsh and drying on skin.

Call your dermatologist for deep blackheads.

“For those super deep blackheads, you should see a dermatologist or esthetician, as they have special tools that can safely extract the gunk trapped in your pores,” “Do not attempt to remove these yourself, as this can cause trauma and scarring of your skin.”

How can I prevent blackheads from forming?

While you can’t get rid of blackheads permanently (sorry!), you can maintain a consistent skincare routine incorporating the tips above to prevent future pimples from popping up. Always remove your makeup at night and wash your face twice daily. Make sure to address any underlying hormonal issues if possible, and eliminate any thick, occlusive creams, makeup, or hair products if you think they may be an underlying cause.

Don’t skip moisturizing completely, though, as it’s important for all skin types— just make sure to choose a formula that is oil-free and non-comedogenic, like Good Housekeeping Seal star Neutrogena Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer, to prevent pore clogging.

With Olive Oil

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup castile soap
• ⅓ cup raw honey
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 30-60 drops essential oils (use a blend of oils such as sweet orange, vanilla, and lavender)

How To Make

1. Pour all the ingredients into a bottle.
2. Make sure you add the essential oils at the end.
3. Shake well, and it’s ready to use.

Shelf Life

The homemade olive oil body wash has a shelf life of about a year.

With a Soap Bar

Ingredients

• 6 cups distilled water
• 3 soap bars of your choice.

How To Make

1. Boil the water in a stainless steel vessel.
2. Microwave the soap bars for about 30 seconds or until they melt.
3. Pour the soap into the water immediately. Keep stirring while you add the soap.
4. Make sure every piece of soap has melted, and the water and soap have combined thoroughly.
5. Transfer the mixture to a glass bottle and let it cool down. It will continue to thicken as it cools down (for about 24 hours). If it is too thick, add some water.

Shelf Life

Use this body wash within a year.

For Dry Skin

Ingredients

• 2 cups unscented castile soap
• 3 tablespoons almond oil (you can use sweet almond oil)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup rose water
• 15-20 drops lavender essential oil (you can even use citrus essential oils if you want)

How To Make

1. Pour all the ingredients into a bottle and mix well.
2. For mixing, do not use a stirrer. Just shake the bottle.

Shelf Life

When stored in a cool and dry place, lime juice lasts for 1-2 years. Rose water can last for up to 2 weeks (if prepared at home), and if it is store-bought, check the expiry date on the bottle. Sweet almond oil has a shelf life of 6-12 months. So, try to use this body wash within 2 weeks (if you are using homemade rose water). Otherwise, finish it off within 6 months.

For Oily Skin

Ingredients

• 6 cups distilled water
• ½ cup castile soap
• 2 tablespoons neem leaf extract (boil the leaves and then extract the water)
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 15 drops lavender essential oil

How To Make

1. Pour the liquid soap in a bottle and add the other ingredients.
2. Shake well, and it’s ready to use.

Shelf Life

Use the body wash within 6 months to 1 year.

For Sensitive Skin

Ingredients

• ½ cup shea butter
• ½ cup almond oil
• 1 cup liquid castile soap
• 10 drops rose essential oil

How To Make

1. Microwave the shea butter.
2. Mix the almond oil into it.
3. Add the castile soap and the rose essential oil.
4. Give it a gentle swirl and transfer to a bottle.
5. Shake well to mix properly.

Shelf Life

This body wash has a shelf life of 6 months to a year.

Without Castile Soap

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1 tablespoon glycerin
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• ½ teaspoon guar gum
• 5 drops lavender oil
• 5 drops tea tree oil
• ¼ cup African black soap

How To Make

1. Boil the distilled water.
2. Grate the African soap (if it is solid) and add it to the water. Let it dissolve.
3. Add the glycerin and the other ingredients.
4. Transfer the mixture to a bottle and shake.