To refresh the skin with a little extra scrubbing action, you need look no further than the pantry. Many different edible ingredients, used alone or combined, can be used as exfoliating scrubs for the body. It is recommended that you exfoliate a few times a week, but not every day, so that you do not irritate your skin.

Let’s take a look at a list of ingredients that are commonly used in DIY homemade scrubs:

Sea Salt
Sugar
Cornmeal
Cinnamon
Epsom Salt
Oats
Baking Soda
Honey
Jojoba Oil
Coconut Oil
Lemon Juice
Essential Oil
Vanilla Extract
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The ingredients that you mix depend on the type of scrub you want, usually based on its application. Sugar and salt, for example, are more abrasive than baking soda, cornmeal and ground oats, but epsom salt is somewhere in-between in texture. Water and other carrier oils can turn dry ingredients into moisturizing mixtures. Here are some favorite scrub recipes, based on application:

Cleansing Facial Scrub

1 tsp Honey
1 tsp Baking Soda

Mix the ingredients in the palm of your hand or a small bowl immediately before each use. Spread around the face and massage gently into the skin, then let it set for a few minutes before washing it off.

Moisturizing Lip Scrub

2 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Jojoba Oil
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract

Mix the ingredients and use daily to scrub the lips with a finger or a toothbrush. Splash them with water afterward to wash off the sugar and leave the moisturizing oil.

Moisturizing Body Scrub

5 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Coconut Oil
5 drops Lemon Essential Oil

This moisturizing body scrub is lightly scented and positively edible! Store it in a clean jar and scoop some out with clean fingers or a spoon for each use. It will begin to solidify after a few days, but can be broken up and stirred as needed. Rinse the sugar off and pat the body dry with a towel, leaving the oil to continue moisturizing the skin.

Try mixing ingredients until you come up with unique recipes that work best for you.