11 Best Natural Exfoliants For Your Skin

Exfoliation or scrubbing of the outermost layer of the skin is an skincare regimen.

There are 3 ways to exfoliate our skin: natural, mechanical and chemical.

Natural exfoliants, sourced from plant-based products, are chemical-free, delicate on the skin, and economical too.

Try natural exfoliants such as honey, yoghurt, celery, salt, sugar, lemon juice, papaya, pineapple, and coffee grounds for skin.

Who doesn’t want clear, smooth, and glowing skin?

History tells us that the early Egyptians were as preoccupied as we're today about looking radiant and young.

Among the methods that were skincare they adopted was exfoliation using a blunt, knife-shaped instrument called a strigil to scratch off the outermost layer of skin debris that was old!

We've come a considerable way since then, with increasingly complex procedures of exfoliation for skin rejuvenation -- natural, mechanical, and chemical.

Why Exfoliate?

Our skin is a living organ which naturally exfoliates its dead cells in a procedure known as desquamation.

Nevertheless, as we age, this cycle of regeneration and losing progressively slows down.

While younger skin usually takes about 4 weeks to lose its outermost layer of tissues, mature skin can take as long as 2.5 months, based on an individual’s age and skin health.

Numerous other factors have an effect on the rate of desquamation -- sex hormones, vitamin deficiencies (A and D particularly), and exposure to sun.

This is where exfoliation may give nature a helping hand -- it removes cell buildup and stimulates the development of new skin cells, enhancing the skin’s feel and appearance.

What Should We Look For In An Exfoliant?

While exfoliants may benefit virtually all skin types, some types stand to benefit more than others from this skincare strategy.

These tips will assist you decide what to look for in an exfoliant, whether you plan to purchase a product or utilize a home-made one.

Aging/mature skin: Cell buildup can make aging and mature skin look thick and dull.

If this is you, look for an exfoliant containing moisturizers and nutrients which might help remove the older layers and stimulate cell growth.

Acne-prone epidermis: This kind of skin assembles old skin follicles compared to others; mild exfoliants with hydroxyl acids can help to clean clogged pores that lead to even more acne.

Dehydrated skin: When skin dries out due to insufficient water, then it becomes tight and stretchy.

Additional moisturization might not assist; rather, it might lead to a dull, patchy skin tone.

Use an exfoliant with hydrating and moisturizing properties that may remove the old skin follicles and moisturize the skin.

Epidermis: Harsh sunlight can be exceedingly cruel to your skin. Photo-damaged skin looks delicate and lacks suppleness.

Exfoliation can help reverse this injury. In addition, the procedure might help rid the skin of cells and prevent skin cancer.

Making Natural Skin Care Exfoliant

Nature is brimful of exfoliants -- natural, plant-based ingredients that may be sourced from grocery stores or put together at home.

They're biodegradable and economical, too.

You can make an exfoliant out of only one substance or mix several, based on what your skin requires.

To make a natural skin exfoliant in your home, you'll typically need:

A clean ingredient.

Scrubs are at the core of exfoliation, speeding up the shedding of skin layers.

Oatmeal, sugar, sea salt, ground coffee beans, and ground almonds all make for scrubs.

A base such as honey, milk, yoghurt, and olive oil.

Nourishing/moisturizing/hydrating ingredients such as papaya pineapple, and pumpkin.