8 DIY Skin Exfoliants You Need to Try Now

Mayonnaise

A good way to slough off dead skin is to apply mayonnaise over dry, rough patches. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe away with a washcloth dampened with warm water.

Lentils

Here’s a unique scrub with excellent exfoliating properties. Soak one cup of red lentils (masoor dal) overnight in a quarter to a half cup of coconut water. There should be enough liquid to moisten all of the lentils, but they should not be drenched. In the morning, pulse this mixture in a food processor with an optional quarter cup of dried orange peel until you have a coarse, damp scrub. To use, scoop out a tablespoon or two of the scrub and add water to moisten. Massage over face and neck to remove dead skin cells. Rinse with cool water to reveal silky smooth skin. You can also use this as an all over body scrub. Store leftovers in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Lemon Juice

Brown spots on your skin are usually caused by dead skin cells. Slough off this skin and brighten what’s underneath by rubbing lemon juice on the spot. Let it dry, then rub vigorously with a washcloth.

Salty Lemon Scrub

This simple salt scrub uses ingredients almost everyone already has around the house. In a small bowl, add one cup of sea salt, and begin drizzling in three to four tablespoons of olive oil until you have a damp mixture. Stir in one teaspoon of lemon juice and the zest of one lemon, and put the scrub in an airtight storage container. To use, massage into damp skin, then rinse with warm water.

See also: 8 Creative Lifehacks for Lemons

Brown Sugar

It doesn’t get much simpler than this hand scrub. Mix together a half cup of brown sugar and one teaspoon of olive oil until well blended. Gently massage into hands or feet to exfoliate, then rinse. Follow with your regular moisturizer.

Epsom Salts

For a super smoothing skin exfoliant, mix a handful of Epsom salts with a tablespoon of olive oil and rub over wet skin to cleanse, exfoliate, and soften the rough spots. Rinse off well for a polished finish. If you don’t have Epsom salts, use the coarsest table salt you can find.

Pineapple Peel

The next time you buy a pineapple at the supermarket, don’t just toss the peel. Use it on your feet! Pineapple contains bromelain, a natural meat tenderizer, which is also great at...

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