How to make your own face scrub

Should you make a sugar or salt face scrub?

Skip both. Salt and sugar grains remove dead skin cells by rubbing against the skin, but they can also cause tiny tears in the skin barrier, the protective outer layer. Those tears leave skin more vulnerable to irritation and allow bacteria to enter. Harsh scrubs can also strip away natural oils, increasing water loss and leaving skin drier and more sensitive.1

Scrubbing does not make your face cleaner, despite adding manual labour to the bathroom routine. Irritation from scrubbing can make pores look more noticeable rather than less noticeable. If cleaner skin or smaller looking pores are your goals, gentle washing is the better place to start.3

What should you do instead?

1. 1Choose a mild cleanser suited to your skin. A hydrating cleanser suits dry skin; a mild cleanser that removes oil suits skin prone to acne. Look for products labelled "noncomedogenic" or "won't clog pores" if clogged pores are a concern.
2. 2Wash gently with warm water and your cleanser. Avoid hot water and scrubbing, both of which can irritate skin.
3. 3Remove makeup before bed. Wash your face in the morning and before bed, and after sweating.
4. 4For daytime outdoor exposure, finish with a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Apply it after your other skincare and before makeup, 15 minutes before going outside.

How often should you exfoliate?

Do not turn a homemade scrub into a daily habit. Overusing exfoliating products can damage the skin barrier and leave skin raw and irritated. Damaged skin can also develop allergic reactions to products that previously caused no trouble. If you want to exfoliate, a dermatologist can help you choose an approach suited to your skin rather than a fixed schedule borrowed from a social media recipe.14

Who should be especially careful?

• If you have acne, do not scrub your face. Scrubbing can irritate skin and make acne worse. This applies to teenage skin too.
• If your skin is dry, sensitive or affected by eczema, choose fragrance free skincare. Fragrance is a common cause of skin allergies and can cause irritation.
• If you already use acne treatments or other helpful skincare, avoid adding scrubbing. Irritation can make those products harder to tolerate.
• If eczema or rosacea affects your quality of life, see a dermatologist for a routine tailored to the condition.

Will a scrub help pores or blackheads?

Exfoliation may make pores less noticeable, but irritation works against that goal. For clogged pores, a cleanser containing salicylic acid is an alternative worth considering: salicylic acid can unclog pores. Some formulas are gentle enough for daily use. If a salicylic acid cleanser dries or irritates your skin, alternate it with a mild cleanser rather than adding a scrub.3

Acne needs treatment, not more friction. A pharmacist can advise on treatments such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Acne involves hair follicles blocked with excess oil and dead skin cells; bacteria can grow inside those blocked follicles and cause inflammation. Washing harder is not a substitute for treating that process.2

Changing skincare products too often can leave you with irritation instead of progress, even if the bathroom shelf looks impressively busy. For a new skincare product that does not irritate your skin, allow at least 30 days to judge whether it is working. Do not keep using an irritating product just to complete that waiting period.4

When should you stop or get help?

Stop using a scrub or other skincare product right away if it irritates your skin. For acne, see a doctor if self treatment is not helping, spots are deep or painful, spots are causing scars, or acne is affecting your mental health. Hot, swollen or red skin can be a sign of infection and also needs medical assessment; redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin.24