iimage of Yogurt Exfoliating Scrub

Back in my days as a retail slave I worked down the hall from Lush Cosmetics.  I loved their products but I dreaded entering the store every time.  I am horribly sensitive to scents.  Every visit to Lush resulted in an empty wallet and screaming bad headache. I still cannot make it through the perfume section of The Bay without feeling nauseous. I decided while in makeup school to bypass the whole skin care shopping experience and see what I could figure out on my own.  I love to cook, so I began focusing on creating DIY skin care products that I could make out of the basic pantry items I had on hand in my kitchen.

image of exfoliating Scrub made of Yogurt

It appeals to my crafty, pioneer-like nature.

Did anyone ever watch Pioneer Quest on PBS?

Aww! I miss history-centric reality television.  So deliciously nerdy! Why on earth is Fear Factor making a comeback and not 1900 House?

Sorry… got sidetracked.

image of orange peel face scrub

Anyway, without further ado here is the recipe for my favorite homemade exfoliant, complete with a refreshing, non-disgusting scent.  This simple scrub takes a few pantry items to make and about ten minutes to mix.  It contains plain yogurt, honey, lemon zest, and almond meal.  Each component is beneficial to your complexion in its own way.

image of diy yogurt exfoliant

Yogurt is the ultimate skin remedy for this time of year.  Yogurt is rich in zinc and lactic acid; these components help close pores, remove dead skin cells and prevent and reduce the appearance of fine lines and acne.  You’d have to buy ten products at outrageous prices to do all that and I’m not done; yogurt is perfect for summer use, because it tones down freckles (thanks, once again, to our friend lactic acid) and eases sunburns.  The perfect beachside companion.

Honey has been used in skin care since the Roman Empire.  Honey contains natural humectants, which makes it the perfect moisturizer.  Humectants have the ability to bind moisture to the skin, helping it stay hydrated.  Honey is also a natural antioxidant, which helps reverse the signs of aging.  It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, so it is a potent acne fighter as well.

image of humectants exfoliant

Almond meal acts as the exfoliant in this scrub.  Be sure not to press too hard when scrubbing or you could scratch your skin.  Almond meal replenishes the skin’s natural oils, which are often lost during the cleansing process, resulting in dry tight skin.  Almonds also act as a natural toner.  How awesome is that?

Lemon zest, like its friend yogurt, reduces the appearance of freckles and age spots. A little lemon juice can be used to lighten any skin discoloration on any part of your body (like your elbows).  It removes dead skin cells and leaves behind soft even skin.  To make the most out of the benefits of lemon juice add ½ a cup to your bath and soak for twenty minutes.  Be aware that some skin types are sensitive to citrus acid.  It’s best to try out a small, diluted amount of lemon juice on a patch of skin. Be sure to leave the sample to sit for fifteen minutes to ensure there is no reaction before proceeding.

Make sure to store the scrub in the fridge in a sealed container.  The scrub should keep for approximately two weeks.

image of Yogurt face scrub

 

Yogurt scrub:

3.5 oz of plain yogurt (Greek yogurt works best)

Zest of half a lemon

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp ground almonds

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.

Apply to a damp face in circular motions working from the center of the face out.

Rinse with warm water and towel dry.