How to Make Homemade Face Scrub

For years I used a homemade face scrub made from baking soda. For a few years I fell off the wagon and stopped using it, in part because I was a little self-conscious over the ingredients when everyone was using a purchased commercial face scrub.

But then I realized the baking soda based face scrub worked well for me, and after making it again, it continues to work well. Not only does this homemade baking soda face scrub work, it’s also made of all natural ingredients. It takes only a few minutes to make the scrub and it’s incredibly easy to make.

Homemade Face Scrub

All of these make it a win for me. Today I’m sharing the recipe for the natural face scrub, along with directions on how to make it and information on how I use the scrub.

Why Face Scrub?

There are a lot of reasons to use a face scrub. I think they are most commonly used by women but men can use them as well. A face scrub provides gentle exfoliation of the skin to remove dead skin cells, debris and to clean and polish the skin. When the skin is smooth application of lotion, cleansers and makeup seem to go much better.

And I also have found that my makeup simply seems to sit well. Additionally, my face feels cleaner and refreshed after using a face scrub. My typical routine is to use face scrub or a face exfoliant, as they are also called, once a week. Excessive use of a face scrub can be detrimental or cause undue stress to the skin. Homemade face scrub for glowing skin, who can resist?

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Why Baking Soda?

Back in high school I read Paula Begoun’s Beauty Bible. Paula is known for her no bull attitude about cosmetics, thorough and trusted reviews. She recommended two “natural” products as part of a beauty regime.

One was to use baking soda as a face scrub. The other was to use milk of magnesia as a face mask for those with oily skin. There are countless “expensive” products she could have recommended to her readers, I found it insightful and refreshing she recommended two products I already had available in my home.

But what’s more – they worked. Baking soda is slightly coarse but also fine so it provides just a little bit of exfoliation on gentle face skin, additionally I like to think the saltiness of baking soda soothes the skin a bit.

How Long Have You Used Baking Soda on Your Face?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I started using the baking soda in high school and continued through college. Then about ten years I questioned my habits, switched to a commercial face scrubs.

I used Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub for several years and it was OK, and I think it remains OK for a “more natural” commercial scrub. But it was more expensive to buy and I was never really happy with that face scrub knowing I could not pronounce all of the ingredients.

Most commercial scrubs are too runny for my liking, or are full of ingredients I cannot pronounce. Others are filled with scents that can irritate the skin. When I began a journey toward green-living in 2013 and started making my own household cleaners and beauty products, I decided to toss the commercial face scrub.

I returned to the baking soda but with a new twist, instead of mixing baking soda with water, I mixed baking soda with jojoba oil. In the past this recipe was a baking soda and water face scrub.

How to Make Homemade Face Scrub

Making Your Own Face Scrub

I’m going to share step by step directions on how to make this homemade face scrub. First I want to share the ingredients you will need to gather from your home, or purchase, in order to make the scrub.

What’s great about this recipe is there are only a few items you need to make it before you learn how to make a homemade face scrub.

Ingredients and supplies you will need:

• Jojoba Oil
• Baking Soda
• Small Cosmetic Container
• Bowl and Spoon

Homemade Face Scrub Directions

Before you learn how to make homemade scrub for face, wash and dry your cosmetic container. The one I have is about 3-ounces in size and the scrub will last me weeks to months at a time. You can reuse an old container or purchase one.

Usually these containers are sold in large lots so if you purchase one of those you can share the containers with your friends, or purchase a smaller set such as this one. The containers work well for storing other creams and liquids.

Measure out or fill your container almost full with baking soda. Then pour the baking soda into a mixing bowl. Add a few drops of jojoba oil at a time and begin stirring the mixture.

Continue adding jojoba oil until the mixture forms a semi-runny paste. Usually I find this is nearly equal parts baking soda to jojoba oil Transfer the mixture back to your container. Seal the container with the lid and place it in your shower.

I like to use this scrub weekly in the shower because then I just rinse it off my face and down the drain. Alternately, you can use it at the sink when you wash your face in the morning or evening – whatever works best for you.

How to Make a Natural Face Scrub

Why Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil is very rich and known to be a great natural moisturizer for the skin. In fact it’s so wonderful it’s the same ingredient I use to make my homemade face moisturizer and my homemade makeup remover pads.

If you enjoy the face scrub I encourage you to check out those other recipes of mine. You will quickly find that small bottle of jojoba oil you purchased can be used for multiple projects.

For years I made this face scrub with only baking soda. Honestly, the jojoba oil has been a game changer. It moisturizes my skin while I exfoliate and the whole mixture simply goes on a lot smoother and more gently.

I also find that the paste consistency works great. If needed I just use a finger to stir up the container before scooping out a small amount of the paste to exfoliate. Here’s a photo below of what the finished paste looks like.

Tips for Using the Face Scrub

As I mentioned, I would recommend using the face scrub once a week at most. In the shower it works great. I only use this on my face. For a body scrub you would likely want or need something a little more coarse.

A single container of this scrub lasts weeks to months. I have yet to have it go bad in any way. Additionally, if you get a little water in the container during your shower it does not negatively impact the solution.

Most people already have baking soda in their home for baking or in the refrigerator to reduce odors. The investment for the jojoba oil is minimal and I have found multiple uses for the oil – making this DIY beauty recipe truly affordable and easy.

If for any reason you experience irritation from the face scrub or the DIY face scrub baking soda I would recommend you stop use immediately. When I was younger my skin was acne prone and I used this scrub without issue.

This can easily be a DIY  face scrub acne skin. Now that I’m older my skin is more combination to dry and it still works well for me. In the winter I find the oil really helps to moisturize, so it also works well as a homemade face scrub for dry skin.

Recipe for Face Scrub

In Conclusion

Normally I use my homemade night cream on my face after showering, but after using the face scrub it’s not needed because the jojoba oil has already moisturized my skin. In the summer I sometimes follow the scrub with my regular face wash, which can help reduce any oil.

Alternately you could use a toner after the face scrub. I also have rosacea and have found no issues with using the face scrub combined with my skin condition.

If you have any questions about who can use this scrub or how it’s work for me over the years, please do comment below and I will try to help as best I can.

What is part of your weekly beauty routine?