This face scrub recipe makes the best facial scrub for acne and oily skin

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This is one of the best facial scrub recipes for acne I've found.

It contains a mixture of grains, nuts and clay (not to mention essential oils!) to gently remove dead skin cells, absorb excess oil and cleanse away the day's dirt and grime.

I love the way this face scrub recipe is both a scrub and a mask, so you get the scrubbing action from the almonds along with the deep cleansing effects of the clay. Plus the oats nourish your skin and calm redness. 

Lavender is good for supporting healthy skin and relieving minor skin irritations. Tea tree is well-known  for its cleansing effect, and ylang ylang is very balancing. Use it every night to support the tone and texture of your skin and to control oiliness.

Homemade Facial Scrub Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups (200g) quick cooking Rolled Oats

1/2 cup (75g) Cornmeal

1/2 cup (60g) Cosmetic Clay (see below)

4 drops Lemongrass OR Petitgrain essential oil

3 drops Lavender essential oil

2 drops Tea Tree essential oil

1 drop Ylang Ylang OR Geranium essential oil

Quick Links - Buy Supplies

Directions

  • In separate batches, grind the oats to a very fine texture using a coffee grinder. (Make sure it's well cleaned first so your homemade facial scrub doesn't end up smelling like coffee.) They need to be ground very fine so they make a smooth paste when you add water - lumps are annoying.
  • Using a metal spoon, stir together the oats, cornmeal and clay in a glass or ceramic bowl (or even the jar you intend to keep it in - remember to use dark glass or PET plastic.)
  • Drop in the essential oils, placing each drop in its own little spot on top of the mixture. Stir (or shake) until thoroughly mixed.
  • To use, mix a heaping tablespoon of the scrub with enough warm water to make a paste. You can use a little jar and a spoon for this, or just pour a bit into your palm and use your finger to mix it (more my style!)
  • Massage the facial scrub into your skin using gentle circular motions. Do not get it into your eyes (Ow!) or your mouth (Yuck!)
  • If you have time, let the scrub dry on your face for 10 to 15 minutes. This gives the clay time to draw out the oils and the oats time to nourish and calm your skin.

Choose Your Cosmetic Clay

Rhassoul Clay

  • (Moroccan Red Clay)
  • For very oily, acne-prone skin.
  • Powerful cleanser and detoxifier.
  • Boosts circulation.
  • Tightens pores.
  • Not for dry or sensitive skin.
  • Buy rhassoul clay.

French Green Clay

  • Good for oily skin.
  • Draws out excess oil, dirt and toxins.
  • Boosts circulation.
  • Tones skin.
  • Buy French green clay.

Fuller's Earth Clay

  • Good for oily, acne-prone skin.
  • Draws out excess oil, dirt and toxins.
  • Can lighten or "bleach" skin.
  • Buy fuller's earth clay.

Bentonite Clay

  • Good for oily skin.
  • Draws out and traps dirt and toxins.
  • Should be off-white in color (not pure white.)
  • Buy bentonite clay.

Kaolin Clay

  • Also called white cosmetic clay.
  • Best for normal, dry, mature and sensitive skin.
  • Does not absorb excess oils.
  • White, pink or yellow in color (white is mildest).
  • Buy kaolin clay.

Customize the Recipe to Make the Best Facial Scrub for Your Skin Type

You can also use this face scrub recipe as an acne-fighting body scrub.

To make it rougher (for body scrub only) add a tablespoon of dried whole cloves and grind them to a gritty powder in your coffee grinder.

If you'll be using this face scrub recipe at night, you can substitute the lemongrass essential oil with orange or bergamot, which is especially nice before bed. (You don't want to use citrus oils before sun exposure - they increase your risk of sunburn.)

You can replace the almonds with Dead Sea salt. Or use brown sugar for an excellent sugar facial scrub.


Choosing the Right Oils

There's so much more to essential oils than meets the eye. Their molecules are so tiny that they absorb deep into your body in a matter of moments.

If the essential oil you buy is filled with additives (to "stretch" the scent) and fragrance boosters, those potentially harmful ingredients are also absorbed straight into your body. Not ideal!

For instance, my mom and I get instant headaches with most kinds of lavender oil. That's because of the extra "lavender" scent that's added to make it smell stronger. But when it's pure lavender - nothing else - no headaches.

I've used many brands over the last 12 years or so and what I know for sure is, you get what you pay for. So I recommend buying the highest quality essential oils you can afford.

Here's how I break it out...

doTerra for highest quality. You can shop retail by clicking the Shop button at the top. Or click Join & Save to become a wholesale customer and get 25% discount.

Mountain Rose for quality on a budget. Plus they have all the other ingredients you'll need for your aromatherapy recipes, like the clay for this facial scrub recipe.

Amazon for variety and selection. Please remember to buy the best oils you can afford - there's a lot of cheap oils in the marketplace, and they just won't give you the experience you're looking for.

What Next?

Here's more good acne recipes to help you complete your acne skincare routine...


Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash

This homemade acne cleanser reduces oil production and removes the bacteria that cause breakouts. Powerful, but gentle enough for daily use.

Purifying Facial Scrub

This homemade acne remedy uses clay and oatmeal to scrub away dead skin cells and absorb excess oil, unclogging pores and smoothing your skin's texture.

Astringent Facial Toner

Toners are easy, quick homemade acne remedies. This recipe includes lavender and geranium to support healthy skin and balance oil production.

Light Daily Facial Lotion

A light, natural lotion recipe to balance oily, acne-prone skin. Good for face and body, this is one homemade acne remedy your skin really does need.

Healing Night Cream

A good acne recipe with tea tree and ylang ylang that has rejuvenates oily skin and helps reduce the appearance of scarring.

Acne Treatment Oil

This is another of the easiest home remedies for acne. A healing oil treatment to reduce the appearance of acne scars and restore a healthy balance to your skin's oil levels.

Herbal Facial Steam

Make this herbal aromatherapy facial steam to open your pores, deeply cleanse and prepare your face for treatment.

Deep Cleansing Facial Mask

A clay mask that deeply cleans pores, removes dead skin cells and supports balanced oil production.

Acne Skin Care Routine

A complete acne skincare routine using homemade aromatherapy remedies specifically for acne.


Best Essential Oils for Acne

The top 15 essential oils for acne and how they work.

Still Looking?

Want to find the best facial scrub for your skin type? Use the Search Box below.

Simply type in "facial scrub" (without the quotes) and hit Search. All the facial scrub recipes on this website will pop up. Take a look at them and pick the best facial scrub for your skin type - and remember, you can use more than one recipe depending on your skin's needs of the moment.


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