Exfoliating our skin is important as it removes dead skin and allows pores to breath. Our skin releases oils which are necessary to keep our skin healthy and moisturized. However, if we don't exfoliate, the skin cells will get clogged with oils and everyday dirt, often resulting in patchy skin, greasy complexion and acne. There are two main types of exfoliation - mechanical and chemical. While these both sound industrial in scale, they are actually common and easy to use. Some exfoliation techniques require a cosmetologist or beautician to perform. oneHOWTO shows you how to make a lemon and sugar face scrub which will provide both types of exfoliation for a great dual-purpose face scrub.
As explained in the introduction, there are two types of exfoliation. A mechanical exfoliation uses the physical properties of the scrub to loosen the dead skin cells from the pores of the face. Cosmetic companies sell heir own facial scrubs which often have their own mechanical addition. Sometimes this is in the form of micro-beads.
These micro-beads, however, are often made out of synthetics or microplastics. While they are relatively minuscule, there have been reports of the danger they pose to marine life[1]. This is because the microplastics material is ingested by marine life and can threaten their health. This is why sugar is such a good alternative. It is a natural ingredient which will melt in water and not pose a threat to marine life in the same way.
Microbeads are often about the same size as sugar granules, making sugar a great alternative. This is known as microdermabrasion. If you have sensitive skin, then this should be ideal for you.
The other type is chemical exfoliation and this can have certain risks depending on the type of chemical used. Chemical peels have been popular for a long time now, but they often have chemicals which can be quite harsh on the skin. This is why they are recommended to be carried out by a profesional cosmetologist or beauty therapist.
If you want a homemade natural and healthy treatment for your skin, you need look no further than the lemon. It is rich in vitamin C, but we know that already. What you may not already know is how good it is for skin specifically. This is because it contains minerals and antioxidants which are great for other aspects of skin health.
They are great for cleaning the pores which the exfoliating sugar has opened up. Their antibacterial properties are what make them a common ingredient in cleaners, but they also help heal scars and repair skin. They help counteract excess oils in the skin and can lighten skin thanks to the aforementioned vitamin C.
However, be careful to use this as a facial scrub (or body scrub) and not as a mask. This is because you don't want to leave the acidic lemon juice on your skin for too long. If you do, it can upset the pH balance of your skin and cause blemishes to appear. This is contrary to the desired effect you want from your scrub.
Now we now how it works, we can learn how to make our lemon and sugar face scrub. The first thing you'll need to do is to prepare the ingredients. Take a note of all the things you need:
- 3 spoonfuls of white sugar
- 1/2 lemon's juice
- 3 spoonfuls of olive oil
The first step you need to take to make this lemon and sugar scrub is to squeeze half a lemon. There is another method of making this lemon face scrub, but we will show you it at the end.
When you have done this, we advise you to dilute the lemon juice in half a glass of water. Doing this will mean the citrus fruit's acids won't harm your skin and you'll avoid the scrub having an aggressive effect on your skin. If you have acne, you can add fuller's earth.
Then, get a glass container to make the scrub mix. First, pour in the diluted lemon juice. Add the white sugar. Stir well with the help of a teaspoon so they blend well, but do not stir so hard that the sugar starts to dissolve in the lemon juice. Add the spoonfuls of olive oil slowly and keep stirring until you get a homogeneous mix.
Some people like to add another ingredient to the mixture. A little honey will help improve the antibacterial properties of the sugar and lemon scrub. This is because honey also has these properties and its use is a great way to help heal damaged skin.
With these simple tricks, this homemade sugar and lemon face scrub will be ready to be used. We recommend you apply it on your face with soft and circular movements. The most important is that your skin is completely clean before you use it and avoid scrubbing near your eyes and lips, as they're very sensitive parts. After 5 minutes, take the scrub off your face with warm water and apply your usual moisturizing cream.
The other way to make your own lemon face scrub is, instead of juicing the lemon, simply cut it in half. Take the lemon half and dip the exposed side into a plate with the granulated sugar laid out on it. You will see the lemon half is now studded with the sugar and you can rub it over your face as you did before. Squeeze the lemon half as you go so that the juice is released.
Whichever way you do your sugar and lemon scrub, do not let any of the juice get into your eyes. The acidic lemon juice can be very uncomfortable and even damage your eye. The sugar granules might also damage your eye, so be careful.
If you have more doubts on how to apply it properly, we recommend you read our article on how to exfoliate your face.
To make the scrub's effect last longer, we recommend you open your pores with vapor. If you use this technique before applying the sugar and lemon scrub, your face's pores will open and you'll be able to clean it thoroughly, getting rid of black heads and clean impurities.
oneHOWTO is also here to help you learn the general beauty benefits of lemon, so click and have a read. Leave a message below if you want to share anything you know about lemon scrubs you wish to share with the community.
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1 https://ag.ny.gov/pdfs/Microbeads_Report_5_14_14.pdf