How to Exfoliate Your Face at Home

Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra indulged in at-home exfoliation treatments, relying on regular dips in fatty acid-rich milk to give her skin its famous glow. Whether you choose to follow Cleopatra's lead and exfoliate with natural acids or opt instead for a mild abrasive to scrub that top layer of dead skin away, it’s a cinch to give yourself the royal treatment without spending big bucks at the spa.

Things You'll Need

• Unripe papaya
• Pineapple (optional)
• Plain yogurt
• Honey
• Food processor
• Facial cleanser
• Gentle moisturizer (glycerin)
• Almond butter
• Oat bran
• Water
• Bowl
• Mixing spoon

Instructions

Chemical Exfoliation

1. Whip up a papaya and yogurt mask to chemically exfoliate the skin. The alpha-hydroxy acid in the papaya and the lactic acid in the yogurt work to dissolve dull, dry surface skin, revealing younger-looking, more radiant skin underneath.

2. Mix 1/2 cup diced, unripe papaya with 1 teaspoon plain yogurt and 1 teaspoon honey. Add some diced up pineapple, if desired, as it can also exfoliate your skin, then place the mixture in a food processor. Blend until the texture is smooth and creamy.

3. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, rinse and then pat dry. Apply the exfoliating mask to your face, steering clear of the eye area to avoid possible irritation.

4. Kick up your feet and relax for 10 minutes, allowing the acids time to work their exfoliating magic. You will likely feel a tingling sensation -- a sign that the mask is working. Rinse off the mask with cool water to help seal your pores and then gently pat the skin dry and follow with a hydrating glycerin-based moisturizer.

Physical Exfoliation

1. Create a mildly abrasive scrub to physically loosen and release dead skin cells. Mix a teaspoon or so of almond butter with a few drops of water until it forms a paste. The almond butter acts as a mild exfoliant but is gentle enough for people of all skin types. If you want a more intense exfoliating experience, add 1 teaspoon of coarsely ground oat bran to the mix.

2. Wash your face with your regular facial cleanser and then pat it dry. Apply the paste to your entire face, gently massaging to loosen the dead surface skin. Avoid the sensitive skin around the eye area.

3. Rinse your face with cool water, pat it dry and then follow with a hydrating glycerin-based moisturizer.

Tips & Warnings

• If your skin is sensitive, try using ripe papayas for the chemical exfoliating mask instead of unripe papayas. Papain, the enzyme that contributes to papaya's exfoliating powers, becomes less concentrated as the fruit ripens.

• Limit your exfoliating to once a week. More often, and you’re likely to strip the skin of essential oils and cause irritation.

• Exfoliating is generally not recommended for acne-prone or highly sensitive skin because it can cause skin irritation. Talk to your dermatologist about the risks and benefits of exfoliating before embarking on an at-home treatment.

References

• Martha Stewart: DIY Skin-Brightening Mask
• Awakening Beauty the Dr. Hauschka Way; Susan West Kurtz, Tom Monte, 2006
• Los Angeles Times: Food for Thought – And Your Face
• Martha Stewart: Beauty Basics: Scrubs