Most people have regular white sugar in their kitchen. And it can be an excellent component for preparing a sweet body scrub. Scientists and doctors have long been trumpeting the dangers of eating this product. But when used externally, everything changes: a dangerous sweetness turns into a friend that can restore a healthy and toned appearance to the skin. It’s quite easy to prepare a sugar body scrub with your own hands; there are dozens of recipes to suit every taste and budget.
What are the benefits of body scrubs?
Everyone knows what a baby's skin feels like: soft, delicate and very smooth. With age, the regeneration processes of the integument slow down, keratinized skin particles are in no hurry to leave it, elasticity gives way to sagging and dryness. But don’t despair, even at home you can significantly improve the situation. Competent and regular skin care will bring good results.
One of the most effective skin renewal procedures is scrubbing. A scrub is any cosmetic product containing small abrasive particles and binding nutritional components.
Applying any cosmetic mass, prepared at home or in the salon, is beneficial for the body because:
- Improves blood circulation in tissues
- Helps saturate cells with oxygen
- Disperses stagnant lymph
- Removes dead cells
- Cleanses pores
- Eliminates dust and oily shine, mattifies
- Nourishing base - softens the skin
- Active components moisturize and restore the epidermis.
The above list proves that the effort spent will be more than compensated. With constant use, changes are noticeable within a couple of weeks.
Results and indications for use
Sugar scrub is quite simple to prepare, but the benefits from it are enormous. This is an excellent exfoliant for skin cells that have already died. White, cane and brown sugar can be used for preparation. Moreover, it is advisable to take the last one, which is the most useful. The scrub has a pleasant smell, it is gentle on the skin and gently cleanses it.
We can highlight the following beneficial properties of the sweet scrub, which we have to prepare at home:
- Qualitatively eliminates peeling;
- Cleanses oily skin;
- Eliminates deep impurities and tightness of pores;
- Remarkably softens the skin;
- Effectively fights cellulite;
- Since the scrub is very soft, it can also be used for those areas where the skin is very delicate, for example, for the skin of the lips;
- Provides the skin with a soft massage;
- Can be a replacement for washcloths and pumice stones;
- Heals the skin, makes it radiant;
- Combats the problem of ingrown hairs after depilation;
- Helps get rid of uneven tan remnants;
- Fights skin rashes and pigmentation;
- Eliminates dirt and excess fat.
As you can understand, sugar scrub has quite a lot of useful properties. Moreover, if you compare store-bought and homemade scrubs, the latter are twice as useful. The reason is that by preparing the product yourself, you will be confident in its naturalness and safety.
It will not contain chemical components, sulfates, parabens and other substances that are often included in store-bought cosmetics. You can also change the composition of the scrub, enriching it with various valuable products.
Why choose a sugar body scrub?
A mass for deep cleansing of the skin can include many components: aromatic herbs and spices, nutritious fruits and berries, natural oils. The most common exfoliating particles are ground coffee, apricot or grape seeds, salt and sugar. We will talk about the benefits of sugar abrasive:
- Glycolic acid contained in the sweet product retains moisture in the body and activates the synthesis of elastin and collagen.
- Tenzins normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands and quickly mattify the skin.
- Monosaccharides slightly bronze the skin, giving a light tan.
- Monosaccharides also smooth out the epidermis, thereby tightening the skin and making fine wrinkles less noticeable.
Sugar peeling has quite a lot of advantages in its arsenal, but there are also strict contraindications to it. Let's look at all the nuances.
Beneficial features
The skin of the face and body, like a sponge, absorbs impurities from the air. In addition, a continuous process of cell renewal occurs, as a result of which keratinized particles appear on the surface of the epidermis. The accumulation of dirt can cause clogging of pores, deterioration of oxygen supply and, as a result, the appearance of acne and other imperfections.
Mechanical peeling polishes the skin, cleanses it, and restores the ability to remove toxins and absorb oxygen.
Sugar scrub is very affordable and easy to use. It is excellent for mechanical exfoliation. And skin cleansing is not the only useful property of this product. It:
- smoothes the surface of the epidermis;
- improves metabolism;
- increases elasticity;
- promotes hydration and nutrition, as well as deeper penetration of caring products;
- eliminates scars and stretch marks;
- removes blackheads;
- disperses fluid and lymph stagnation, reducing the severity of cellulite;
- nourishes and moisturizes, removing dry and flaky areas;
- softens rough skin;
- tightens and rejuvenates the dermis.
This scrub is one of the few universal products of its kind. It is suitable for both face and body, and can be used for any type, including sensitive ones.
Some properties, such as moisturizing, nourishing and anti-aging, are determined by the composition of the sugar, which contains various carbohydrates, glycolic acid, as well as minerals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and iron.
But the main effect occurs due to the acceleration of blood circulation, as a result of which metabolic processes are launched that affect the condition of the skin. During the procedure, not only cleansing occurs, but also an intense massage, which helps stimulate the self-healing of the dermis.
When applying the scrub, do not press too hard on the skin: the granules have sharp edges and can scratch the epidermis. The first minute the massage should be smooth, then more intense.
Who should not use body scrubs, including those with sugar?
The procedure for applying a scrub in some cases carries both benefits and harm to the body. It is worth postponing the idea if:
- The skin is very sensitive. Solid particles can damage the skin and even leave scratches
- The skin is irritated after shaving or has open wounds. Scrubbing will only make existing problems worse.
- There is a period of pregnancy or breastfeeding. Most often, peeling recipes contain fairly strong allergens that can harm the child.
- There is a tendency to allergic reactions. In this case, it is necessary to carry out a test application of the mass on the wrist.
- The body was badly sunburned. You need to give your body a couple of weeks to recover.
- Phlebeurysm. The use of scrubs is possible for mild varicose veins, but with fine abrasives and light rubbing. If the veins are noticeably dilated, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
If all the prohibitions are not relevant, you can safely deal with the question of how to properly use sugar polishing.
Basics of Sugar Body Peeling
In order to get the maximum benefit from the scrub, you should follow simple rules. It is important to know how to use this tool.
First you need to steam your body well and thoroughly clean the skin of dirt and dust; you can use any mild cleanser. When the pores open, it will not be amiss to carry out a small massage procedure, this will activate blood circulation. You can apply the scrub while wearing gloves and rub the mass in a circular motion along the lymph flow.
Smooth scrubbing goes from the feet up to the pelvis, from the palms to the shoulders, we rub the stomach in a circle, but be careful with the delicate skin of the chest: you don’t have to touch it at all. Also, do not apply the scrub to your neck, armpits and inner thighs.
The product remains on the body for five to fifteen minutes. Then you need to take a warm shower and remove the mass. It would be a good idea to apply a moisturizer or lotion afterwards.
For those with oily skin, scrubbing is recommended twice a week, for everyone else – once.
Even the recipe prepared for the first time will give you renewed, velvety and soft skin with a pleasant aroma!
How to make your own sugar body scrub
Before choosing the best recipes, you need to understand the basics of making a body scrub.
For the scrub, we choose finely ground sugar for sensitive skin; for normal, oily or combination skin, medium grinding is fine. Additional fillers in this cosmetic product can include oils, honey, cereals, clay, coffee, salt, shower gel, water, kefir, sour cream, fruits and berries, spices and herbs, and even vegetables.
It is better to use natural oil or base cream as the basis of the scrub. This way the skin will receive not only deep cleansing, but also nutrition and hydration at the same time.
In all options, we first mix the dry ingredients and then pour in the liquid base. Mix everything well. At the end you can add essential oils.
The scrub can be stored in such a beautiful jar.
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Cooking at home
There are many sugar scrub recipes. The main component in it is always the same, but additional ingredients may change. Pay attention to these recipes for making sugar scrub.
Classic with vegetable oil
You need to take a glass of any sugar (preferably brown) and fill it with half of any vegetable oil that you like. Also add 10 drops of any citrus essential oil. Mix everything and apply to steamed skin.
Mint scrub
To prepare this scrub, you need to mix sugar and base vegetable oil in equal proportions. Additionally, you need to add a few drops of essential oil or a spoonful of mint infusion. Mix the components thoroughly. Mint has a tonic effect and promotes skin cell renewal.
With sugar and cocoa
A product with cocoa helps to gently cleanse the skin, improve its color and make it soft. You need to mix two tablespoons of sugar or sour cream, a tablespoon of cocoa powder. This scrub is best used immediately after preparation.
With sugar and coffee
Coffee scrub is a very sophisticated product that gently cleanses and exfoliates the skin, softens it and saturates it with beneficial substances. To prepare, you need to mix a quarter cup each of white and brown sugar, mix with three tablespoons of ground coffee, two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of olive oil and five drops of almond oil. It is also better to add a teaspoon of vitamin E to improve the effect.
Crimson
The scrub is not only beneficial for the skin, but also incredibly fragrant. Raspberries can be taken both fresh and frozen.
You need to mix the same amount of sugar, raspberries and sour cream or cream. It is better to first chop the berries using a blender or simply mash them with a fork.
Honey-sugar
Honey is actively used in home cosmetology, as its nutritional and rejuvenating effect is amazing. And in combination with sugar it shows excellent results. To prepare this scrub, you need to mix three tablespoons of liquid honey with two tablespoons of fine granulated sugar. Also add two tablespoons of vegetable oil if the skin is dry, and four tablespoons of kefir if it is oily. As a result of regular use of this product, the skin will become elastic and smooth.
Vanilla scrub
If you like spicy scents, try this vanilla sugar scrub. Mix half a glass of brown sugar with half a glass of vegetable olive oil, add a pinch of vanilla and mix everything well.
Summer recipe
For this recipe you need to combine a quarter cup of sugar, add the pulp of one tomato and two large spoons of homemade thick yogurt or sour cream. The mixture will not only cleanse the skin, but also saturate it with vitamins and antioxidants, which tomatoes are rich in.
Citrus scrub
The citrus aroma helps to gently whiten the skin, soften it and make it soft. Additionally, this product quickly tones the skin. You will need to mix half a glass of olive oil and sugar with a teaspoon of lemon or orange juice, as well as a teaspoon of zest of the selected fruit. Citrus fruits will whiten your skin, rejuvenate it and provide incredible radiance.
How to store homemade sugar scrub
If there is no water in your homemade scrub, you can store this scrub for about a month. It is better to make a product with added water for 1 time or add a preservative and store it in the refrigerator for about a month. Oil-based scrubs are sometimes frozen into cubes, so the oil will gradually warm up and be absorbed into the skin. It is better not to store a scrub with the addition of fresh fruits and vegetables, but to prepare a new one each time.
Home peeling does not have a long shelf life. Therefore, you should not make the product for future use; it is better to experiment with the ingredients and try to use freshly prepared scrubs.
It's time to move from theory to practice and make your own sugar body scrub according to any recipe you like. We will consider various recipes for scrubs with sugar abrasive below.
