All-Natural Oatmeal Face Scrub for Glowing Skin: Easy DIY Recipes + Benefits
Grab some oatmeal and follow our easy recipes for homemade face scrubs that will leave your skin smooth and glowing.
July 31, 2023 5 minutes readIn This Post
One of our favorite homemade scrubs is the one made with oatmeal – a soothing ingredient suitable for any skin type that gently exfoliates the skin while hydrating and protecting it at the same time. Plus, making these face scrubs at home is really simple; you just need some oatmeal and water (and some other natural ingredients you likely have in your kitchen if you feel like pampering your skin even more).
So, in today's article, we'll share a few simple recipes for DIY oatmeal scrub you can use for both your face and your body.
How to Make Oatmeal Scrub for Face
To make an oatmeal facial scrub, you'll need colloidal oatmeal – finely ground oats or oatmeal powder, in essence. This is because chunkier exfoliants can lead to microtears on your skin, damaging your skin's natural barrier and leading to infections, acne, and increased sensitivity (and we don't want that).
So, before we get into the recipes for oatmeal face scrubs, here's your step-by-step guide on how to make the base ingredient – colloidal oatmeal:
- Step 1: Choose the Right Oats - Start with choosing high-quality, plain oats without any sugars. So, avoid using instant oats or quick oats, as they may contain additives or preservatives.
- Step 2: Grind the Oats - You will need a blender or a food processor to grind the oats into a fine powder. Start by adding a small amount of oats to the blender or food processor and pulse until the oats are fully ground.
- Step 3: Sift the Powder - To ensure that your colloidal oatmeal is smooth and fine, sift the powder through a fine-mesh strainer or a coffee filter. This step will remove any larger pieces of oats that may have been missed during the grinding process.
- Step 4: Store the Oats Properly - Once you have made your colloidal oats, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Colloidal oats have a long shelf life, but it's best to use them within six months.
Besides using it in your homemade scrubs recipes, you can use colloidal oatmeal in bath soaks (perfect for people with sensitive skin with eczema or psoriasis as well as baby rash) or DIY face masks.
On the other hand, if you plan to use your homemade oatmeal scrub for your body, rolled oats will do the trick, and you don't need to grind them into a powder.
And now, let's get into the recipes:
The Basic Oatmeal Face Scrub Recipe
Generally, the basic recipe would be simply mixing your oatmeal powder with some water to create a smooth paste. However, if you feel a bit more creative and have other ingredients at hand, why not add them as well and enjoy their nourishing benefits? So, add some honey and your favorite facial oil (like coconut oil for dry skin and jojoba oil for oily skin).
You'll need:
- ¼ cup colloidal oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or any other oil of your choice)
- 2 tablespoons water
Preparation:
- Transfer the ground oats to a bowl and add honey, coconut oil, and water.
- Mix all the ingredients until they form a thick paste; you may need to add a bit more water if the mixture is too thick.
- Or, if it turns out too thin, mix in more honey and colloidal oats.
Note: Store the leftovers in the fridge for no longer than a week. But it would be best to make a fresh batch each time you want to use the scrub.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Face Scrub Recipe
Another gentle and soothing formula with the added exfoliating benefits of yogurt (thanks to the lactic acid it contains). Plus, yogurt is filled with probiotics that maintain a healthy skin microbiome, reduce inflammation and acne, and maintain the skin's barrier strong.
You'll need:
- ½ cup colloidal oatmeal
- ¼ cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
Preparation:
- Mix the ground oats with yogurt until nicely combined.
- Add the honey and give it another good stir to form a smooth paste
- You can even use a hand mixer to make sure there are no clumps of oat powder in your scrub.
Tips: Use plain, unsweetened yogurt, and if you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the amount of oats in the recipe to make a milder scrub. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the scrub to enhance the aroma and provide additional benefits to your skin.
Oatmeal and Banana Face Scrub
Oatmeal and banana are a perfect combo for mature and dry skin types. Besides the heaping amount of vitamins and minerals, bananas also contain silica that stimulates collagen production in the skin.
You'll need:
- ¼ cup of colloidal oats
- ½ ripe banana
- 1 tablespoon honey
Preparation:
- Mash the ripe banana in a bowl.
- Add the ground oats and honey to the mashed banana and mix well.
- You can also add a tablespoon or two of almond milk if the paste turns out to be too thick.
Note: Use a ripe banana as it's softer and easier to mash. If you have oily skin, you can add a few drops of freshly-pressed lemon juice to the scrub to help control oil production.
Oatmeal and Brown Sugar Face Scrub
If you have sensitive skin, we wouldn't recommend using this scrub, as added sugar boosts the exfoliating effect of the scrub, making it to harsh for your face. However, if you do need something stronger for dry, rough skin patches, go ahead and try this one.
You'll need:
- ½ cup colloidal oats
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 egg white
Preparation:
- Simply, pour all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and blend together.
- If the consistency is too thick and hard to spread, add one more tablespoon of sweet almond oil (or any other oil of your choice).
- Give the mixture a good final stir.
Note: Use finely-ground, organic brown sugar as it's the most gentle on the skin. If you don't have brown sugar, you can use white sugar, but then add less; one instead of two tablespoons.
Tips for Using Oatmeal Scrub for Face
Using an oatmeal scrub for your face can be a great way to improve the health and appearance of your skin. However, mechanical exfoliation, in the form of scrubs, for example, can be tricky, and if you're not careful, you might be hurting your skin more than helping it.
So, here's a thorough step-by-step guide on how to use your DIY oatmeal scrub to achieve the best results and avoid damaging your skin:
- Start with a clean slate: Before applying the oatmeal scrub, make sure your face is clean and free of any makeup or dirt. Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face and pat it dry with a towel.
- Apply the scrub to your face: Scoop a small amount of the scrub with a spatula and apply a thin layer to your face, avoiding the eye area. Gently, without applying any pressure with your fingertips, massage the scrub into your skin in circular motions for about 30 seconds, but no longer than a minute.
- Let it work its magic: After massaging the scrub into your skin, leave it on your face for additional 5-10 minutes to allow the ingredients to nourish your skin.
- Rinse off gently: Wash the oatmeal scrub off with lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water as it can strip your skin of its natural oils and damage your skin's barrier.
- Moisturize: After scrubbing and rinsing, apply a rich moisturizer to your face to hydrate and protect your skin. Apply it while your skin is still damp to lock that moisture in.
- Don't use it too often: Depending on your skin type, you can use an oatmeal scrub once a week to exfoliate and nourish your skin. Using it more often than that can be too harsh for your skin.
Benefits of Oatmeal Scrub for Face
Oatmeal is a natural ingredient that has been used for centuries to improve the health and appearance of the skin. When used in a face scrub, it removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and promotes healthy blood circulation to your skin, leaving it fresh, rejuvenated, and glowing. But besides exfoliating, oatmeal offers a wide range of other skin care benefits:
- Moisturizing: Oatmeal works as a buffering agent, creating a film on the skin that prevents moisture loss, dryness, and flakiness.
- Soothing: Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that calm irritated skin. This makes it a great ingredient for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema or rosacea.
- Anti-aging: Oatmeal is rich in antioxidants, healing and protecting your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
- Cleansing: Oatmeal contains saponins, which are natural cleansers that can remove dirt and oil from the skin.
- Brightening: Oatmeal is also jam-packed with amino acids that may brighten the skin and even out your skin tone. These can also reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
Takeaway...
As you can see, using an oatmeal facial scrub will gently exfoliate, moisturize, soothe, protect, and brighten your skin. Just make sure to use finely ground oats, or colloidal oatmeal, as the base exfoliating agent, and be gentle to your skin.
With these simple recipes, you can easily make your own oatmeal scrubs at home using only those ingredients your skin loves. So, whether you go for a basic recipe or one with added ingredients and benefits, your skin will, unquestionably, thank you for the effort with a glowing and smooth complexion.