11 Homemade Face Scrubs for Glowing Skin
Healthy skin is what makes you look glamorous and elegant. Natural products like homemade face scrubs for glowing skin aid in getting smooth, lustrous skin.

Image credit: Jessica (unsplash.com)
Article information: This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Sharyn Laughlin, MD, FRCPS (C) and written by Nikita Mayuresh, RD, CDN
Proper diet, exercise, and a good amount of sleep contribute to naturally soft and glowing skin. A daily skincare routine including cleansing, scrubbing, toning, and moisturizing keeps the skin healthy.
Cleansing and Scrubbing help remove the dead cells and removes dirt, oil, and sweat from it (1).
Toning helps you with wonderful skin texture.
Moisturization, as the name suggests, provides proper moisture and gives you soft, smooth skin. You can use natural moisturizers for keeping your skin moist.
All these skin care techniques work in tandem to give you soft, smooth, glowing skin.
In this post, we will be highlighting the scrubbing part and natural homemade face scrubs for glowing skin.
How do Scrubs Work On Your Skin?
Just like cleansing, toning, and, moisturizing, scrubbing also acquires an equal amount of significance in your beauty regimen. You can use natural cleansers like apple cider vinegar for getting clear skin.
Exfoliation of the skin can prevent many skin problems and give you a soft, smooth, and glowing skin. Proper use of homemade face scrubs and body scrubs can do wonders for your skin.
The importance of exfoliation is stated by the American Academy for Dermatology, it suggests to use scrubs according to your skin type (2).
Why do you need to scrub at regular intervals? Here are the reasons,
Clean & Clear Skin
- Scrubbing pulls out all the dirt that has accumulated in your skin pores. It gives a clean skin, free of all dirt.
- Scrubs help to remove the pore blockage due to sweat or oil.
- It helps to remove dead cells which otherwise make your skin look lifeless and dull.
- Scrubbing helps give you smooth skin. The nutrition is scrub makes your skin glow.
- It helps to improve the texture of your skin.
Benefit in skin issues
- Flaky skin looks obnoxious. It also gives rise to dry patches and allows dead cells to accumulate over time.
- Scrubbing can also help you do away with dark patchy skin. Do not use scrubs that don’t suit your skin type.
- It can also help remove the acne scars. Certain face scrubs deal with the scars left behind by acne and help to remove those.
- Some people can experience ingrown hair growth and scrubbing can be considered a solution to this problem. Scrubbing helps prevent ingrown hair in some cases.
Homemade Face Scrubs
There are various scrubs present in the market but I do prefer homemade scrubs. It is easy to prepare, customizable options available.
1. Virgin coconut oil body scrub
Coconut body scrub helps in removing all dirt from your skin and makes your skin soft.
The anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of coconut improve your skin health (3). Oils have a property to moisturize the skin and make it soft (4) (5).

Image credit: Sarah (Pexels.com)
Ingredients
- 1/4-1/2 cup sugar.
- 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil.
Preparation
- Take a bowl and put sugar granules into it.
- Pour some virgin coconut oil on the sugar. The oil should not be heated as it might melt the sugar.
- Combine the ingredients to form a coarse paste.
How to use
- Cleanse your skin with a cleanser suitable for your skin.
- Spread the paste uniformly and use your fingertips to massage the mixture, in circular motions.
- Keep massaging the mixture on your skin for 5-10 minutes, giving each part 1-2 minutes to exfoliate.
- After applying the mixture uniformly keep it for a few mins, wash the mixture off using lukewarm water.
Benefits for skin
- It not only exfoliates your skin but helps remove dirt, bacteria, etc.
- You can use this 2-3times a week as this is a mild scrub.
2. Oatmeal, sugar, honey face & body scrub
The oatmeal body scrub is one of the best homemade body and face scrubs for glowing skin.
According to various studies, oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that show good effect on itchy skin. It works wonders on dry irritated skin (6).
Based on various clinical trials, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of oatmeal was confirmed. It is helpful in conditions like dermatitis, viral infections, etc. Oatmeal has the potential to protect your skin from UV rays (7).
Ingredients
- ½ cup Oatmeal (Uncooked ).
- A ½ cup Brown Sugar.
- ½ cup Honey.
- ¼ cup Jojoba Oil.
- 3-4 drops Lavender Essential Oil.
- 4-5 drops Geranium Essential Oil.
- 3-4 drops Frankincense oil.
Preparation
- Grind the dry ingredients like oatmeal, sugar till you get a fine powder out of it.
- Add the liquid ingredients like honey, jojoba oil, lavender oil, geranium oil, and frankincense oil into it.
- Mix all other ingredients till you form a coarse paste.
How to use
- By using a soft cleanser, clear your skin.
- Apply the mixture of past uniformly on your skin.
- Use circular motions to massage your skin for 5-10 min. It will help increase absorption.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
Benefits
Along with oatmeal, the honey present in the scrub helps your skin to stay healthy. The antifungal, antimicrobial nature of honey helps you get rid of various skin problems. It is recommended to use honey face masks at regular intervals.
Essential oils are effective on sunburn. This scrub can be used if you experience redness or darkness of skin due to sunburn.
3. Turmeric, rice & gram flour Face Scrub
In Indian culture, especially in Hindus, a pre-wedding ceremony is hosted where turmeric paste is applied on the skin of the bride and groom.
Curcumin a compound found in turmeric is effective on various skin disorders (8). You can use turmeric face masks to get clear, glowing skin.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of rice powder.
- One tablespoon gram flour.
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- some milk.
Method & Benefits
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl. Use a very small amount of milk to make a thick paste.
- Moisten your face and neck and apply the paste.
- Massage it for 3-4 minutes with your fingertips. Make sure you follow a circular motion.
- Apply some milk to it to make a smooth thin paste.
- Apply this paste on your face and neck.
- Leave it for some time around 15 to 20 min and then wash off.
- This scrub helps you recover from skin problems like suntan, dark spots, etc.
- It is also helpful in treating acne scars and leaves your skin glowing and spotless.
- This is best suited for dry and normal skin. In the case of oily skin, use rose water instead of milk.
4. Milk & oatmeal scrub
This is best suited for dry and normal skin. In case of oily skin, use yogurt instead of milk.
Ingredients
- Milk cream,
- Oatmeal.
Method
- Soak oatmeal (raw one) in lukewarm water for 1-2 minutes.
- Extract the excess water and then add 2 tablespoons of milk cream to the soaked oatmeal.
- Mix them to form a thick paste.
- Massage the paste into the moist skin for 3-4 minutes.
- Massage uniformly in the circular motion.
- Wash off the paste with lukewarm water.
The milk cream scrub gently removes all pollutants without stripping away the skin essential moisture leaving your skin nourished and healthy.
5. Sea salt body scrub
It helps improves blood circulation. You can use this once a week for dry skin, twice for normal skin, and thrice for oily skin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sea Salt,
- ½ cup Olive Oil,
- 5-15 drops of An Essential Oil of Your Choice.
Method
- Combine all the ingredients to form a coarse paste.
- Cleanse your skin and apply the paste to it.
- Gently massage the paste into your skin using your fingers.
- Massage for 5-10 minutes, giving each part 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse using any hydrating body scrub and lukewarm water.
6. Papaya face scrub
It cleanses the pores, moisturizes the skin, and removes skin blemishes leaving your skin flawless. This is best suited for dry, normal, and sensitive skin.
Papaya is one of the best foods for glowing skin.
Ingredients
- Papaya,
- 3 tablespoons Sugar.
Method
- Blend a few ripe papayas into a smooth paste.
- Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the paste and mix properly.
- Cleanse your face and apply the paste to your moist skin.
- Massage the scrub for 2-3 minutes.
- Leave the scrub on your face for 15 minutes and then rinse using cold water.
7. Sandalwood face scrub
This face scrub leaves your skin soft, smooth, and silky. This is best suited for all skin types.
You can add sandalwood powder in various homemade face packs.
Ingredients
- Sandalwood powder,
- Saffron,
- Rose petals,
- Rosewater.
Method
- Mix 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder, 1 teaspoon of powdered saffron, 2 tablespoons of dried rose petals’ powder and a few drops of rose water to form a smooth paste.
- Wet your hands and apply the paste to your skin.
- Gently massage the paste on your skin in small circular motions.
- Leave the scrub for 10 minutes and then rinse using cold water.
8. Yogurt body scrub
If you have dry skin and need to exfoliate, this is the body scrub for you. Yogurt is a good home remedy for dry skin.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. Yogurt,
- ¼ cup Olive Oil,
- 1 tsp Honey,
- 3 tbsp. Granulated Sugar
Method
- Combine all the ingredients to form a coarse paste.
- Cleanse your skin and apply the paste to it.
- Gently massage the paste into your skin using your fingers.
- Massage for 5-10 minutes, giving each part 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse using any hydrating body scrub and lukewarm water.
You can use this 2-3 times a week.
9. Almond face scrub
It intensely exfoliates and detoxifies the skin and then moisturizes it removing all the dead cells, dirt, blackheads, and whiteheads. This is best suited for dry and normal skin.
Ingredients
- 4-5 Almonds,
- 1/4 cup of warm milk.
Method
- Soak the almonds in a 1/4 cup of warm milk.
- Leave it like that for overnight.
- In the morning, blend the soaked almonds into a semi-smooth paste.
- Cleanse your face. Apply the paste on the moist skin.
- Gently massage the scrub for 2 minutes using your fingertips. Rinse using lukewarm water.
10. Coffee and sugar scrub
This helps fight cellulite, gets rid of dead cells, and keeps the skin healthy. This can be used 2-3 times a week for smooth and glowing skin.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Ground Coffee,
- ¼ cup Sugar,
- 2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil,
- 3 Vitamin E Capsules.
Method
- Combine all the ingredients to form a coarse paste.
- Cleanse your skin and apply the paste to it.
- Gently massage the paste into your skin using your fingers.
- Massage for 5-10 minutes, giving each part 1-2 minutes.
- Rinse using any hydrating body scrub and lukewarm water.
11. Orange peel face scrub
This is best suited for oily and normal skin. This can be used 2-3 times a week for dry and sensitive skin.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons dried orange peel powder,
- 2 tablespoons honey,
- 1 tablespoon salt.
Method
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Cleanse your face and neck with warm water.
- Apply this facial scrub on your moist skin.
- Massage the scrub on your skin in clockwise and anti-clockwise motions for 3-4 minutes.
- Mainly scrub the oily or the T zone areas of your face to remove the blackheads and the whiteheads.
- Rinse using lukewarm water.
- Its anti-aging and soothing properties leave the skin extra soft and glowing.
Precautions to be taken
- Cleanse your face and neck properly before applying any face scrub.
- Remove any cream or lotion or makeup that was applied earlier before applying the scrub.
- Take a hot shower or a steam bath to clean and open up your pores.
- Before applying any scrub, do a Patch test on a little area of your skin and wait for 10-15 minutes. If the scrub causes any irritation or rashes on your skin or if the particular areas itches, wash off the mixture immediately and rinse with cold water.
- Use gentle circular motions while massaging the scrub on your skin. Do not use harsh strokes. Remember, your skin is delicate and requires tender strokes.
- In spite of buying artificial products rely on home remedies to get glowing skin.
- Try some yoga asanas to get a natural glow.
Well, human skin is pretty ethereal and sensitive. In order to maintain beautiful skin, one should take proper care of it.
Only proper care can add the glow to your skin and give you that vibrancy and make you look lively throughout your day.
Apart from the homemade scrubs, a proper diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep work well for your skin.
Homemade scrub for glowing skin is great and good for skin and face because it is made by natural thing and there is no chemical in it.