We all love a great facial scrub and mask. Facial scrubs and masks are essential to keeping the skin on our face clean, soft, and even in tone and texture. Facial scrubs and masks are so popular and important, that there are hundreds of products to choose from, ranging in cost from approximately $3 per bottle for a drugstore brand all the way up to approximately $60 per bottle for higher-end name brand products.

Why spend money buying these products when you can make great facial scrubs and masks at home with common household groceries? Most facial scrubs and masks are designed to target one of three primary purposes—cleanse, exfoliate, or soften; so, we gathered the recipes of facial scrubs and masks you can make yourself for each of these purposes.

Lemon & Salt Cleansing Facial Scrub Mask

Cleansing facial masks are made to pull excess dirt and oil out of your pores and remove the top layer of dead skin cells to leave behind a bright look and encourage the growth of new healthy skin cells. When it comes to getting a great, refreshing cleanse from a facial scrub and mask, the best ingredients to use are lemon and salt. The lemon is used as a deep cleanser for taking the oil and dirt off the surface of your face, while the salt uses its antibacterial properties to remove dirt and bacteria that clog your pores deeper down and softly exfoliates the top layer of the face to remove dead skin cells.

What you need:

• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of water

How to make it:

1. Wash your hands first.
2. Combine the lemon juice, sea salt, and water together in a bowl.
3. Apply and massage the mixture into your face using gentle, circular motions.
4. Once you have thoroughly scrubbed your entire face, use warm water to rinse off your face.
5. After the scrub is completely removed from the surface of your face, quickly splash your face with cold water so your pores will close back up.
6. Use a soft towel to pat dry.

It is important to make sure you do not use too much lemon juice when making this facial scrub. If you use too much lemon juice, the citric acid will irritate the skin and leave it red. When made properly, the lemon and salt facial scrub should leave your face smooth and glowing.

Brown Sugar & Honey Exfoliating Facial Scrub Mask

Exfoliation is the act of removing dead skin cells on the surface layer of the skin. Exfoliation is important because it leaves your face with a smooth and even texture and tone, it encourages the production of new and healthy skin cells, and it allows your other facial products, such as moisturizer or acne cream, to absorb deeper into the skin.

When it comes to getting gentle but effective exfoliation, the best ingredients to use are honey and brown sugar. Honey has both antiseptic and antibacterial properties that are used to cleanse dirt, oil, and other bacteria from clogged pores while gently moisturizing the skin. The brown sugar gently exfoliates the skin to remove dead skin cells and excess dirt and oil from the surface layer of the skin while offering a deep cleanse to remove toxins from your pores.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

How to make it:

1. Wash your hands first.
2. Combine the honey and brown sugar together into a bowl and mix well.
3. Apply and massage the mixture into your face using gentle, circular motions, but do not apply around your eyes and mouth.
4. Once you have thoroughly scrubbed your entire face, use warm water to rinse off your face.
5. Use a soft towel to pat dry.

When made and used properly, a facial scrub made of honey and brown sugar should not only leave your face smooth and even in both texture and tone, but it should also provide a deep cleanse—and combined these results will encourage the growth of newer, healthier skin cells.

Oatmeal, Yogurt, & Orange Peel Softening Facial Scrub Mask

One of the best things about any good facial mask and scrub is the smooth and soft feeling it leaves behind on our skin afterward. When it comes to making a facial scrub that will leave you with the softest skin possible, the best ingredients to use are oatmeal, yogurt, and orange peel. These ingredients combine to make the ultimate facial scrub and mask that will provide a deep cleanse, hydration, nourishment, and exfoliation to leave behind soft and beautiful skin.

What you need:

• 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal
• 2 teaspoons of yogurt
• 1 teaspoon orange peel powder

How to make it:

1. Wash your hands first.
2. Combine the ground oatmeal, yogurt, and orange-peel powder together into a bowl and mix well.
3. Liberally apply the mixture onto your face using gentle, circular motions.
4. Allow the mixture to sit for approximately two or three minutes.
5. Use warm water to rinse the mixture off your face with a washcloth or your hands.
6. Use a soft towel to pat dry.

When made and used properly, a facial mask made of oatmeal, yogurt, and orange-peel powder should leave your skin extremely soft and smooth, thoroughly cleansed, and well-nourished and moisturized.

Homemade facial scrub masks are a great way to maintain healthy skin between spa treatments, but you should also treat yourself to regular professional facials to keep your healthy glow. Contact the licensed estheticians at Brandon Essentials to schedule your next spa facial treatment today!