By Katie Vance
I’ve tried several face polish recipes and some are gentler than others. This gentle and effective DIY Face Polish leaves skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated, not red, flaky, or overly dry. It is my favorite way to get glowing skin!
I generally steer clear of facial polishes because my skin is sensitive. Lately I have noticed that my skin appears quite dull so I thought it couldn’t hurt to add a gentle face polish to my routine.
Face Polish and Using a DIY Facial Polish
I’ve tried several face polish recipes and some are gentler than others. My general rule is that a facial polish should leave skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated, not red, flaky, or overly dry.
It’s important to gently polish your face instead of scrubbing. Most face polishes are made with exfoliants that are capable of exfoliating skin with a gentle rubbing motion. I use my fingers to spread a small amount of facial polish on my skin in a circular motion, moving upward. Then I rinse off the scrub with a wash cloth and warm (not hot!) water. I always follow up the scrub with a light moisturizer to help protect fresh skin. This also gives my skin a nice dewy glow.
Ingredients for DIY Face Polish
A few weeks ago I was shopping on the internet and saw some Brazilian Andiroba Dry Extract. This dry extract comes from the seeds of the Crabwood tree and is a lovely gentle exfoliant. The kind I bought is already ground into a semi-fine powder. It is a darker powder, so it’s important to keep these seeds away from clothing and light colored towels.
Since this scrub is mildly abrasive, I added some aloe vera gel, instead of water, as the liquid portion of the scrub. Aloe vera gel is very soothing, especially to inflamed skin. It also helps bring back moisture to skin after exfoliation, which tends to be a drying process.
In addition to the aloe vera I added a small amount of red raspberry seed oil. Red raspberry seed oil is a lovely, light oil that is rich in Vitamins A and E, antioxidants, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. It helps repair and protect skin.
This easy DIY recipe contains no preservatives so I make very small amounts, store in the refrigerator, and use within a week or two. I generally only exfoliate once per week, although some people will need to exfoliate more/less depending on individual skin types and sensitivities.
Gentle Exfoliating Face Polish Recipe
Yield 2-3 ounces
This recipe is so easy to make and can be whipped up in just a few minutes. I really find that it leaves my skin brighter, healthier, and glowing. I'm now a believer of adding a gentle facial polish to my weekly skincare routine!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Andiroba Dry Extract (find it here)
- 1 teaspoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil (I use this one)
- ¼ cup Aloe Vera Gel (find organic aloe vera here)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine Andiroba Dry Extract and Red Raspberry Seed Oil, and stir to combine.
- Measure in Aloe Vera Gel and stir well until ingredients are completely mixed.
- Use immediately or store in the refrigerator up to two weeks.
Notes
If it seems too harsh for your skin you can play with the amount of Andiroba Extract used. I find that a little bit goes a long way.
To Use
- Using clean fingers, spread a small amount of polish on face.
- Gently rub the polish in upwards circular motions, using more as needed, taking care to avoid eyes and mouth.
- Rinse off gently with warm water and a wash cloth.
- Follow with a gentle facial moisturizer.
- Repeat weekly or bi-weekly as needed.
- Store in the refrigerator between uses.
Some other favorite items in my beauty routine include:
- A Simple and Nourishing DIY Summer Facial Serum
- DIY Perfume with Lavender & Vanilla Essential Oils
- A Hydrating Green Gel Face Mask DIY Natural Recipe
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