Invite Aloe To Your Exfoliating Experiments

Aloe, as a natural moisturizer, is very effective for sensitive skin because it moisturizers without clogging pores with oils. For blemishes and damaged skin, Aloe has gentle healing properties that can reduce the appearance of damage to the skin. In many scrubs meant to exfoliate the skin aloe is used. This prevents the sensitive face from becoming too dry or irritated from the scrub.

Using Aloe to Exfoliate

Exfoliating the skin reduces the appearance of blemishes and black heads. Using a light scrub removes oils from the surface of the skin, as well as dead skin cells which clog pores and create blemishes. Exfoliating the skin three or four times a week is a great way to wash away dirt and oil, and revive your skin. Aloe is often used as a moisturizer in these scrubs because the natural properties of Aloe can heal damage left from blemishes.

Exfoliating scrubs away at the layer of oil and dead skin cells on your face, however, exfoliating everyday can damage your skin. Scrubbing too hard or too often can damage the skin underneath and can even leave your pores vulnerable to dirt and grime, without their natural oils to protect them. Make sure to use a gentle scrub and only exfoliate 3 or 4 times a week. Many store bought scrubs contain various chemicals to add color or a smell to the scrub. Most of these chemicals are not harsh on the skin, however some people have very sensitive skin, and other may just want to avoid extra chemicals.

Exfoliating Scrubs using Aloe

There are many different Aloe based scrubs on the market, but it’s easy to make a natural Aloe scrub at home. The benefits of making your own scrub is that you can be sure of all the ingredients and not have to worry about harsh chemicals.

There are a few recipes for Aloe Vera exfoliating scrub that can be made with regular household products. If you are extracting the Aloe from a plant in your home, be careful not to damage the plant. Break off the tips of the leaves, and squeeze collecting the gel on a plate. If you are buying Aloe Vera Gel from the store try to buy one that has little to no dyes or extra ingredients. Glycerin and Polysorbate are usually added to create a more gel like texture and are not harsh on your face.

1. Soothing Aloe Vera & Baking Soda Scrub

On a plate mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with Aloe Vera gel. It will take about 2 teaspoons on Aloe to make a paste. Mix thoroughly. Set the mixture aside and wash your face with your regular soap cleaner then pat dry. Apply the scrub to your face with small circular motions, be sure to work your most oily areas well, but do not scrub to hard. be careful around your eyes, baking soda will burn if you get it in your eyes. When you’ve covered your face, rinse and then moisturize using a sensitive skin moisturizer.

2. Homemade Olive oil, Aloe, & Sugar Scrub

A moisturizing sugar scrub. The olive oil and aloe vera penetrate deeply to exfoliate, soothe, smooth, feed, nourish, protect, and hydrate!

Take 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel. Mix all the ingredients and rub in a circular motion onto your body and face. Gently massage to exfoliate. Rinse the scrub off alternating between cold and warm water. Pat the skin dry.

3. Fruity Fresh Sugar Scrub

You’ll need 1 cup of white sugar, 2 tablespoons of fresh grapefruit juice, 2 drops of grapefruit essential oil, 4 tablespoons of jojoba oil, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel.

Put the sugar in a bowl and add the grapefruit oil and juice. Stir. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Gently apply to your skin and face and scrub to exfoliate. Wash it off alternating between warm and cold water. Pat skin dry. You can keep what you did not use in a sealed jar for next time.

This makes you smell fruity fresh while exfoliating, moisturizing, and toning the skin!

4. Cool Melon & Salt Scrub

Take 1/2 cup of fine sea salt, 1 ounce of aloe vera oil, 1/2 ounce of watermelon seed oil, 1 tablespoon of carrot root powder, 1 teaspoon of menthol crystals, & 1/2 teaspoon of cantaloupe fragrance oil.

To begin crush 1 teaspoon of menthol crystals. You want them to be a fine powder, no smaller than the grains of the sea salt. Next, combine the menthol crystals, sea salt, and carrot root powder in a mixing bowl. Add the aloe vera oil, and then the watermelon seed oil. Mix well.  Then, add the cantaloupe fragrance oil. If you prefer an all natural scrub, try adding a sweet scented Essential Oil instead.  Bergamot, Yuzu, or Orange would work well!

This scrub is great for all over body scrubbing, but should not be used on the face or other very delicate areas. This scrub should be used up quickly, as it has not been formulated for long term storage.

5. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Scrub

You’ll need 1/4 cup of shealoe butter, 1/2 cup of fine sea salt, 1/8 tablespoon of vanilla bean specks, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla bean fragrance oil or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla absolute.

In a large mixing bowl combine the shealoe butte and the salt. Since shealoe butter is soft, you should be able to mix this without heating. Then add the vanilla bean specks and the fragrance oil. Mix well.

This is great for all over the body scrubbing, but not for the face or any other delicate areas. Use this up quickly!

6. Mint Twist Exfoliating Lip Scrub

For this you’ll need 10 grams of beeswax, 22 grams of shealoe butter, 8 grams of clear jojoba, 8 grams of castor oil, 2 grams of lecithin, 1 ml of peppermint essential oil, 1 ml of lime flavor oil, 6 grams of green jojoba wax beads, and 6 grams of fine grain sugar.

Melt the beeswax and shealoe butter until they are liquefied. Then add teh jojoba, castor oil, and lecithin. Mix thoroughly and then transfer into a small/medium sized bowl. Using a whisk, whip until it is just begining to solidify. Add the peppermint and lime oils. Make sure to add these before the mixture becomes too stiff. Whip a few more times and then add the sugar and jojoba wax beads. Continue to whip until the mixture is completly mixed and has cooled. It should be like a thick frosting.

To use this, apply a small amount to your lips and gently massage with your finger. When you are done you can use a tissue to wipe away the excess scrub.

This recipe is pretty quick and would be a great addition to a facial or a spa party.  The cooling, creamy shealoe gives your lips something to smile about while gentle jojoba wax beads and sugar grains scrub away dry flakes.  The delicious aroma of Peppermint and Lime is just nice little extra surprise.

7. Aloe Vera & Aspirin Scrub

For damaged skin with many blemishes, using a scrub containing aspirin can reduce redness caused by small infections. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory so it will reduce redness as well as bumpiness. Aspirin will also burn your eyes so be very careful.

Take two or three un-coated aspirin. You can find un-coated aspirin at the drug store. Aspirin marked “Lightly Coated” will also work well. Put the 2 or 3 tablets on a plate and add a small amount of water, a table spoon or less. The aspirin will soak up the water and look puffy, then stir them into a paste. Next add a small dab of Aloe and mix it all together. Like the baking soda scrub, apply the aspirin scrub in small circular areas around the face. Again it’s important to scrub lightly.

Using home-made scrubs from household items like baking soda or aspirin can be cheaper than the store bought brands and just as effective. Aloe has many healing and moisturizing properties, both of which are great for maintaining healthy skin.