Your skin care routine should change when the weather changes. In winters, lower temperatures and humidity both contribute to dry skin. When it comes to maintaining healthy winter skin, exfoliation and moisturization work hand in hand. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and prepares your skin to absorb the extra hydration provided by the moisturizer. Here are a few winter scrubs for a soft, moisturized and glowing body that will provide you the perfect combination of exfoliating and moisturizing power.
Lemon, Sugar and Olive Oil
- Combine 1/3 cup of olive oil, or any other natural oil with 2/3 cup of sugar.
- Add a little lemon zest along with the juice of half a lemon and refrigerate for a few hours.
- Coarser, more abrasive sugars can be employed for the body, while a finer sugar makes this suitable to use on the face as well.
- Make sure to wash your face with a mild face wash after using the scrub in order to get rid of the extra oil.
Coffee and Brown Sugar Scrub
- Combine about ½ a cup of finely ground coffee beans with ¼ cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and an optional dash of vanilla extract.
- Scrub your body with this homemade scrub and get a soft skin instantly.
Coconut Oil Facial Scrub
- To make this scrub, mix 1 tablespoon of coconut oil with 1 tablespoon of natural baking soda.
- The baking soda acts as a mild exfoliant and is safer than sugar to use on your face.
- If you want to use this scrub on the rest of your body, brown sugar is an effective alternative to baking soda.
- Coconut oil has moisturizing, cleansing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Adding a few drops of any essential oil, such as, lavender oil, can increase the benefits of this face scrub.
Honey Scrub
- Raw honey combats skin infections and acne, hydrates the skin and reduces inflammation.
- It makes an excellent winter scrub when combined with any other exfoliating agent such as baking powder, brown sugar or ground oatmeal.
Citrus and Sea Salt Scrub
- Sea salt contains rejuvenating minerals that stimulate cell growth and help retain skin moisture.
- Create a thick paste by mixing sea salt with your favorite natural oil such as lavender oil, almond oil, coconut oil or olive oil, with a squeeze of lemon.
- Though all these oils are moisturizing, each of them will have a slightly different effect on the skin.
Tips to Exfoliate Your Skin
- To use any of the scrubs above, all you need to do is, rub them onto your skin in a rhythmic circular motion.
- Rinsing with water is advisable after the use of any scrub.
- It’s important to pay attention to the condition of your skin when determining how often to exfoliate.
- Over-exfoliation can make your skin tender, irritated and sensitive, while under-exfoliation will leave your skin looking rough and dull.
In general, you should only use scrubs