As many believe, including the cleansing, toning, and moisturizing (CTM) routine in your skincare regimen is enough to make your skin flawless. However, exfoliation adds more value and gives you fresh and glowing skin. Moreover, you need to exfoliate not just your face but the entire body. In this article, we will discuss the 10 natural recipes to exfoliate your skin naturally at home. So, let us get started. Scroll down for more information.
Why Exfoliate?
To understand this, you need to know why exfoliation is essential for a healthy looking skin. Human skin is constantly regenerating itself. Old cells on the top layer of the skin die and are replaced by new cells that form in the lower layer or the dermis, the basal layer of the epidermis. As we age, however, our skin’s natural regenerative powers deteriorate. Exfoliation is the process by which we can help our skin’s regeneration process by removing dead skin cells and making way for new ones. In the exfoliation process, we use products that help remove the old skin and reveal the new skin underneath. There are, primarily, two ways by which we can exfoliate our skin – physical and chemical exfoliation. Physical exfoliation involves the usage of scrubs, whereas chemical exfoliation uses products that contain enzymes which can help dislodge the dead cells from the skin by their chemical action. No matter which process of exfoliation you opt for, it will leave your skin refreshed and rejuvenated. Here are some exfoliation remedies that you can make at home and slough off that unwanted dead skin. You no longer have to make a trip to a spa for a fresh looking, happy skin.
How To Exfoliate Dead Skin At Home
How To Remove Dead Skin From The Face And Body
1. Brown Sugar
You Will Need
1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon almond oil OR coconut oil
What You Have To Do
Increase the quantities of the ingredients to use this on your body.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a week.
Why This Works
Raw sugar works best to exfoliate the dead skin on the face and the body, as its texture is coarser and it can remove the dead skin cells with the friction it generates when scrubbed on the skin. Sugar scrubs are gentler on the skin, and are less drying and abrasive (1).
2. Baking Soda
You Will Need
1 tablespoon baking soda 1 vitamin E capsule Water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once every week.
Why This Works
The fine baking soda granules can easily remove the dead skin cells from your facial skin. Its alkalinity will help to dislodge the skin cells so that they can be easily shed off. Baking soda may also help you achieve an even skin tone as it removes dead skin cells and keeps your pores clean.
3. Sugar And Honey
You Will Need
1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon raw honey
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Use this simple scrub 1-2 times a week.
Why This Works
Both brown and white forms of sugar can help to exfoliate the skin. The honey in this mixture will help moisturize your skin and reverse the oxidative damage (2). Use this remedy to exfoliate dead skin cells on the arms and even other parts of the body.
4. Epsom Salt
You Will Need
1 cup Epsom salt 1 cup coconut oil 10-12 drops lavender oil (optional)
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Use this scrub once a week to exfoliate the dead skin on the body.
Why This Works
The salt granules remove the dead skin when scrubbed gently on the skin. Epsom salt is considered a wonderful detoxifying and pH-balancing agent. It may also exfoliate and restore damaged skin.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
You Will Need
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon water Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
To exfoliate dead skin on your feet, add half a cup of ACV to a tub filled with some water and soak your feet in this for 10-12 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once a week.
Why This Works
Vinegar may maintain the pH balance of skin and prevent it from becoming too dry or oily (3). It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that keep the skin infection-free. Diluted ACV may also be used to exfoliate dead skin on the scalp.
Caution
Do not use this remedy if you have sensitive skin as the vinegar can sting.
6. Toothbrush
You Will Need
Lip balm Toothbrush
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Use this remedy twice a week.
Why This Works
This is one of the easiest remedies to exfoliate the lips. The lip balm softens the dead skin present on the lips’ surface. The bristles of the toothbrush can help dislodge this and give you smooth and plump lips.
7. Coffee Grounds
You Will Need
2-3 tablespoons coffee grounds 1 tablespoon olive oil OR coconut oil Water
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Do this coffee ground exfoliation once every week.
Why This Works
Exfoliate the dead skin on your legs with this and see them shine with hydration. This scrub can also be used on the face but very gentle scrubbing movements should be used. Like the other scrubs, the coarseness of the coffee grounds removes dead skin cells. Coffee contains caffeine which awakens the skin by improving circulation. Use this scrub on your thighs, buttocks, and tummy to get rid of cellulite too. Caffeine prevents the accumulation of fat beneath the skin – a wonderful additional benefit (4)!
8. Olive Oil
You Will Need
2-3 olive pits 2 tablespoons olive oil
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once every 4-5 days.
Why This Works
While the ground pits exfoliate your skin, olive oil will nourish with a wonderful combination of fatty acids and essential nutrients (5).
9. Pumice Stone
You Will Need
Water A tub Pumice stone
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this as and when required.
Why This Works
To remove dead skin from the skin, that pumice stone lying in your bathroom is all you need. Once the dead skin has softened because of soaking in the water, it can be easily scrubbed off.
10. Oatmeal
You Will Need
2 teaspoons ground oatmeal Water
What You Have To Do
This can be used on the rest of the body as well.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a week.
Why This Works
Oatmeal is an excellent choice for a homemade exfoliator, especially for the face. It softens the dead skin so that it can be gotten rid of easily. It also moisturizes the skin and reduces any inflammations that may be present (6). Use this to exfoliate the skin before shaving to make the process smoother and faster. The last step to follow after exfoliating your skin is to moisturize the skin. Follow all the remedies mentioned above with a moisturizer matching your skin type. This will ensure that your skin remains hydrated and healthy. Some tips to keep in mind during exfoliation
Tips To Remember
Always be gentle on your skin, taking care not to strip your skin of the natural oils and lipids. Always choose gentle scrubs. Fix a proper skin care routine. Do not exfoliate daily. The frequency of exfoliation should be determined by your skin type and needs. Dry skin and mature skin should be exfoliated not more than twice a week and products used should be moisturizing. An oil-based scrub would be the best. Oily skin and combination skin can be exfoliated thrice a week, but no more than that. Normal skin can be exfoliated twice a week or as necessary. When exfoliating, use a gentle hand and circular and/or upward motions which work best. Such movements will keep your skin firm in the long run.
Why does my face have so much dead skin? Skin dryness and a lack of regular exfoliation routine can lead to a buildup of dead skin on the face. What does dead skin look like? Dead skin looks flaky, tough, and dry on the surface of the skin. What causes dead skin? It is natural for skin cells to die out and new ones to replace old and dead skin. However, a lack of moisture in skin cells can speed up or aggravate the process of skin cell death, leading to dead skin buildup.
