Getting Scrubby: A Guide to Using Natural Exfoliants

Exfoliation is an important part of skin care.  Both your body's skin, and the delicate skin on your face needs to be buffed now and then to keep dull, dead skin cells under control.  Picking the right exfoliant for your recipe is the key factor in creating a recipe that you and your skin will adore. 

The following list breaks down our most popular exfoliating ingredients into categories by their strength.  For facials, try using an Ultra Mild or Mild Exfoliant.  As usual, too much of a good thing can yield bad results.  Even medium strength exfoliants can damage delicate facial skin.  Instead of blasting your skin with a strong exfoliant, try using a Mild or Ultra Mild Exfoliant regularly.

For body scrubs, you have a huge variety of options at your disposal.  You can use any of the Ultra Mild, Mild, or Medium Exfoliants in any combination to create body polishes, scrubs, or body masks.  

Strong Exfoliants should be reserved for your most tough areas.  They are great for foot scrubs, or for heavy duty hand scrubs.  Handle Strong Exfoliants with care.  They pack a serious punch!

Ultra Mild Exfoliants These exfoliants use natural lactic or fruit acids to loosen dead skin cells without scrubbing, giving your skin the gentlest possible exfoliation.  These ingredients can be used in body masks, but are most often used in facials. 

• Whole Milk Powder
• Buttermilk Powder
• Yogurt Powder
• Coconut Milk Powder
• Fresh Strawberry or Mixed Berry Puree

Mild Exfoliants These exfoliants are used to gently scrub the skin, without harsh abrasion.  These ingredients can be used to exfoliate the body in the stlye of a traditional ubtan.  They are also ideal for facial scrubs.

• Almond Flour
• Chickpea Flour
• Oat Flour, Fine
• Rice Bran Powder, Fine
• Rice Flour, Fine 
• Adzuki Bean Powder
• White Kaolin Clay
• Rose Clay
• Blueberry Fruit Fiber
• Cranberry Fruit Fiber
• Kiwi Fruit Fiber
• Raspberry Seed Powder
• Grape Seed Powder
• Vanilla Bean Specks
• Banslochan (Bamboo) Powder
• Jojoba Wax Beads
• Coral Calcium Powder

Medium Exfoliants These ingredients are ideal for body scrubs.  They pack plenty of exfoliating power, but are mild enough to be used all over your body.  However, they are a little too strong for your face, or other very delicate areas.

• Sea Salt, Fine
• Sea Salt, Small
• Dead Sea Salt, Fine
• Bolivian Pink Salt, Fine
• Himalyan Pink Salt, Fine
• Brown Sugar
• Turbinado Sugar
• Demerara Sugar
• Rice Bran Powder, Coarse
• Oatmeal, Coarse
• Walnut Shell Powder, Fine
• Jojoba Nut Meal 30/60
• Rosehip Seed Powder
• Blackberry Fruit Seeds
• Black Raspberry Fruit Seeds
• Blueberry Fruit Seeds
• Cranberry Fruit Seeds
• Kiwi Fruit Seeds
• Raspberry Fruit Seeds
• Strawberry Fruit Seeds
• Coconut, Shredded
• Dutch Blue Poppy Seeds

Strong Exfoliants These extra strength exfoliants should be reserved for especially tough areas, like the feet.  They are too rough for most areas of the body, and are far too rough for the face.  Also keep in mind that several of these ingredients don't dissolve, and can cause issues with some plumbing systems.

• Dead Sea Mud Grains
• Dead Sea Salt, Medium
• Walnut Shell Powder, Medium
• Pumice Powder
• Bora Bora White Sand
• Tahitian Black Sand (Volcanic)

Introducing Our New Exfoliant Samplers We are pleased to announce the addition of three new Samplers to our product line, all of which focus on exfoliants!  Use these Samplers to check out a variety of exfoliants for your different types of scrubs, cleansers, and exfoliating soaps. 

• Body Exfoliants Sampler
• Facial Exfoliants Sampler
• Exfoliating Salts & Sugars Sampler

Comments

[Charity]

I have eczema. Will these scrubs make my eczema flare up? Is it true that when my husband shaves it exfoliates his face?

Charity

[Emmy Gabriel]

Since eczema can be caused by so many different factors, it is hard to predict whether or not a particular exfoliant or ingredient will cause an adverse reaction.  Its best to experiment with new ingredients by performing a small patch test before making a large batch of product, or using a new scrub all over your body.  When in doubt, you can also try contacting your doctor or dermatologist.  To answer your second question, shaving does have some exfoliating effect on the skin, however, men can still benefit from mild exfoliation regularly.  In fact, exfoliating the skin prior to shaving can reduce ingrown hairs, razor burn, and irritation, along with providing a closer, smoother shave.  This is also true when it comes to shaving legs, or other parts of the body.

[Amy O]

I'm so happy to read your shaving answer, Emmy. I've been trying to convince my husband to try an exfoliant, and he's been giving the excuse that shaving does it all. Now I have the ammunition I need! :-) Thanks!

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Amy.  Im glad I could help!  If your hubby does decide to try using an exfoliant, check out our article on mens facials.   There may be some tips in there that could help you whip something up for him.  Basic Facial Masks for Men: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/06/basic-facial-ma.html

[Shreela]

What about using papaya for the face? Would it be too strong?

I remember using a dark green ointment in patient's deep wounds, but I can't remember the name of the ointment (prescription), and can't find it online because there's too many "natural" cures using my keywords LOL

But it was explained to me that papaya's enzyme papain helped break down the fibers in wound exudate. These tiny fibers would combine with the exudate to form something like shellac over the wound bed, which slowed the body from refilling the wound with healthy tissue.

So if a papain ointment is used in traditional western medicine for wound care, that tells me papain works quite well, but would it work too well for face skin?

I was hoping to use papaya with oat flour, in the hopes that the papain would help loosen whatever bonds are holding it on so tightly, then the oat flour would gently scrub the dead cells off.

Thanks!

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Shreela.  The medicine you mentioned sounds fascinating.  Perhaps an herbalist would be able to help you find out more about it.  As for facials, I think that the use of fresh papaya would be a great idea.  The fresh fruit contains plenty of gentle acids that would help to remove dead skin cells.  Oat flour would be a great addition to the recipe, providing more gentle exfoliation that is just right for a facial scrub.