This recipe was the first skin care product I ever made. I was about 15 at the time, and I’ve used and loved it ever since. It leaves your skin feeling very smooth and doubles as a facial mask: simply apply, let dry for 20 minutes, and then rinse.
Skin Types Recommended For: All
Yield: 1 cup dry ingredients.
Prep time: 10 minutes
½ cup ground oatmeal or oat flour
¼ cup almond meal
¼ cup sunflower seed meal
1 teaspoon ground, dried pepper- mint, rosemary, or spearmint leaves
Dash of cinnamon powder (optional, but it adds a pleasant hint of spicy fragrance)
For dry skin: About 2–3 teaspoons full-fat coconut milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half. For normal skin: About 2–3 teaspoons coconut water, almond milk, or low-fat or whole dairy milk. For oily skin: About 2–3 teaspoons distilled or purified water.
The liquid quantities given above assume you are using this as a facial scrub. For use as a body scrub, you’ll need more liquid. Stir your liquid of choice into the dry mix slowly, adding just enough to make a paste.
To Make: Thoroughly blend all the dry ingredients in a small bowl using a spoon or small whisk, or shake them in a ziplock plastic bag. Pour the mixture into a storage container. Label and date.
To Store: No refrigeration is required for the dry scrub mixture, but for maximum freshness and potency, please use within 6 months. Store in a dark, cool cabinet.
To Apply: In a very small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the dry scrub mixture (or more if you plan to use it on your body) with enough of the appropriate liquid to form a spreadable paste. Allow the paste to thicken for 1 minute. Using your fingers, gently massage the scrub onto your face and throat for a minute. Rinse well with warm water. Use daily or as needed. Follow with moisturizer.
Good to Know Why Exfoliate on a Regular Basis? The epidermis, the thin outer layer of the skin that is visible to the eye and protects the body, renews and replaces itself completely every 30 to 60 days or so. This timetable varies with age, health, lifestyle habits, skin care regimen, and environmental factors. The younger you are, the more rapid the cellular turnover and natural sloughing of spent epidermal cells. As you age, the skin’s metabolism naturally slows, resulting in slower cell turnover and a buildup of surface dead skin cells. Gentle, consistent exfoliation is essential to aid in the removal of this dry, scaly, lackluster layer, revealing a fresher, smoother complexion that will more readily accept beneficial hydration from a toner, astringent, facial steam, mask, or moisturizer.
Excerpted from © Pure Skin Care by Stephanie L. Tourles. Photographs © Michael Piazza. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.
This original healthy living article first appeared in the Fall 2018 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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