7 Natural Ingredients to Exfoliate Your Skin

As plastic microbead bans take effect, you'll need to find alternative ways to give your skin a good scrubbing.

The UK's microbead ban went into effect on June 19, 2018 and the ban in Wales started on June 30, 2018. After these dates, no beauty products containing tiny plastic particles could be sold. The bans, which reflect a global trend, are part of a broader effort to reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic washing into waterways and contaminating rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Some people are concerned, however, that their favorite facial exfoliants and body scrubs will not be the same post-reformulation, but fear not. It is entirely possible to get great exfoliation and radiant skin using ordinary pantry ingredients. The end result is cleaner, greener, and cheaper.

What follows is a list of ingredients that make great exfoliants. You can add a pinch to a handful of store-bought products to get extra scrubbing power, or you can mix up your own quite easily.

White or Brown Sugar

A DIY sugar scrub is great for gentle exfoliation. Sugar is a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture from the surrounding environment to itself. "When you apply products with sugar or sugar derivatives, they’ll actually help hydrate your skin and keep moisture within," writes Emilie Davidson Hoyt for the Huffington Post. It is a natural source of glycolic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid used to treat aging skin. It offers a finer exfoliation than salt, which makes it better for sensitive skin.

Salt

Salt tends to be coarser than sugar, but it still offers great exfoliation. Try to find the finest salt you can and use it on your body, rather than face. Salt is a natural antiseptic and it may help kill bacteria even beneath the surface of the skin. The circular rubbing motion will unclog pores and remove dead skin cells.

Oats

Oats are perfect for sensitive skin, as they are less abrasive than salt and sugar, and are known for their soothing quality. They're useful for healing sunburn, thanks to their ability to reduce inflammation. Grind them up, mix with water, and apply the paste to your face.

Coffee Grounds

The residual caffeine in coffee grounds typically increases blood flow, which can "reduce the appearance of cellulite and give your skin a more even tone," says Healthy Mummy blogger Lee Price. Coffee can be quite gritty, so it's best to grind it as finely as you can and to use it on the main part of your body, not the face.

Yogurt

Yogurt may not seem like an obvious choice for exfoliation since it's so smooth, but it contains lactic acid, which is good for removing dead skin cells, reducing acne breakouts, and softening the skin. Spread it over your face and let it sit for a few minutes of deep cleaning. You'll notice a difference if you use several times a week.

Baking Soda

Arguably the most versatile ingredient in your pantry, baking soda is a fabulous exfoliant. It is fine yet sufficiently abrasive, and it blends easily into a paste with water, honey, or coconut oil.

Rice

When rice is finely ground in a spice grinder, it makes an effective body exfoliant. Make a piña colada-inspired scrub by combining a half-cup of ground rice with a half-cup of coconut milk, a quarter-cup of brown sugar, and a tablespoon and a half of grated ginger for extra zing.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Next to baking soda, this has to be the other most useful product at home. ACV contains lactic and malic acids, which are good for exfoliating, reducing blemishes, and treating acne. It also contains alpha-hydroxy acids that help the skin to rejuvenate more quickly.