Top Skin Scrubs and Peels

Skin exfoliation is very beneficial, no matter if you rub a creamy scrub, use mild acids, or simply brush your body with a loofah. Exfoliation helps unclog pores and improve circulation so that moisturizers and bath ingredients can penetrate better. It’s good to dry brush or briskly scrub your body before a therapeutic herbal bath. Keep in mind, though, that no scrub or peel can remove a single dimple from your thighs. Cellulite doesn’t respond to physical exfoliation, although scrubbing can definitely help skin look smoother. Avoid scrubbing over blemishes, rashes, sunburn, or other skin irritations.
There are many products that effectively get rid of dead skin cells. Body scrubs are usually more coarse and thicker than facial scrubs because body skin can tolerate more aggressive friction. Good green scrubs contain plant waxes, oils, butters, and glycerin, and they exfoliate with crushed plant kernels, salt, sugar, nut shells, or seaweed. They usually contain ample amounts of essential oils, which may not benefit those of us who have sensitive skin. Topical products with alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and salicylic acid may be an excellent option for the face, but I found that it’s quite hard to control the application in a steamy shower.
I’ve tried dozens of body scrubs, from very expensive to very basic ones, and I believe that the only way to get a really good scrub is to cook it at home. Luckily, making a great body polish is easy, costs mere pennies, and all the ingredients are usually already in your kitchen.

Make Your Own Body Polish

Here are some of my favorite body polish recipes. Most of them use sugar and other kitchen staples, so it is only natural to base them on our favorite dessert recipes. Use them, share them, make them in batches, and sell them, but please make sure to send me a thank-you note.

Key Lime Body Scrub

2 small limes.
1 cup condensed milk.
1 free-range egg yolk.
1 cup brown sugar.

Yield

4 ounces

This gentle AHA-based exfoliant makes a great whitening mask if left on to work for a few minutes. This scrub can be used on your face, too. Store it in the refrigerator for up to one week. If you plan to make a large batch of this Florida state-pie scrub, skip the egg yolk and add three drops of grapefruit seed extract.

1. Squeeze the juice out of the limes and mix with the milk and egg yolk. Blend until thick.
2. Add sugar, but make sure it doesn’t dissolve completely. Apply in circular motions using light pressure. As the sugar dissolves on your skin, it will become thinner, so there’s little risk of scrubbing too hard.

Oatmeal Cookie Scrub

1/2 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
1/2 cup steel-cut oat flakes.
1/2 cup raw brown sugar.
1 cup goat milk.
1/2 cup jojoba or grape seed oil.

Yield

4 ounces

This soft scrub combines two types of exfoliating granules: oil-absorbing oat flakes and mildly exfoliating baking soda.
Blend all the ingredients well and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

Zesty Apple Rub

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar.
1/2 cup fine Dead Sea salt or plain sea salt.
1/2 cup almond meal.
3 tablespoons applesauce.
2 drops rosemary essential oil.
1 drop lemon essential oil.
3 drops grapefruit seed essential oil.

Yield

5 ounces

This is a strong exfoliant. Save the original version for your feet, elbows, and knees, but if you dilute the mix with some honey or aloe vera juice, you can use it to exfoliate the rest of your body.
Blend all the ingredients in a bowl. Wet yourself thoroughly in the shower. Rub the scrub over your body using your hands. Rub in gentle circles, moving from your extremities toward your chest. Rinse the salt off thoroughly. You can store the scrub in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one month.The green beauty guide