Brightening body scrubs are designed to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, revealing brighter and smoother skin.
The exfoliating action of the scrub helps to slough off dead skin cells, helping to achieve brighter, smoother, and more even-toned skin.
Regularly using brightening body scrub can help improve your skin’s texture by smoothing out rough patches and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The scrub’s massaging action can help improve blood circulation to the skin, promoting a healthy, glowing complexion.
Body scrubs can help prevent ingrown hairs by removing dead skin cells and unclogging hair follicles.
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Body scrubs can also help to improve the absorption of other skincare products, such as moisturizers and serums, making them more effective.
Since Oil-based scrubs also moisturize the skin, you can use them often.
In this recipe, I added two active ingredients to enhance the brightening effect of the scrub and the turmeric oil.
I use Azelaic acid and Licorice extract as my active ingredients combining them with turmeric infused oil.
To read more about oil infusions, please check this post.
Licorice extract is a natural ingredient derived from the root of the licorice plant. It is often used in skincare products to brighten and even out skin tone.
Licorice extract contains an active compound called glabridin, which has been shown to inhibit melanin production in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin its color, and overproduction of melanin can lead to dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Licorice extract also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce redness and irritation in the skin. It contains antioxidants, which can help protect the skin from environmental stressors that can contribute to dark spots and uneven skin tone.
Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid often used in skincare products for its brightening and anti-inflammatory properties.
Azelaic acid can help reduce melanin production in the skin, which can lead to hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. By reducing melanin production, azelaic acid can help to brighten the skin and even out its tone.
Azelaic acid can help to exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells. It also has antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric is a natural ingredient used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Turmeric contains curcumin, which has been shown to inhibit melanin production in the skin. Turmeric can help reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone, resulting in a brighter complexion.
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce redness and inflammation in the skin. Turmeric also contains antioxidants and can help to stimulate blood circulation in the skin.
Phase A contains the oil phase ingredients: First is the emulsifying wax. We add emulsifying wax even though the recipe does not contain water (usually, we use emulsifying wax to bind water and oil-based ingredients together).
In this recipe, the emulsifying wax is added to help improve the body scrub’s texture, making it smoother and easier to apply. Also, we don’t want a too-greasy product that can cause a slippery environment. The added emulsifying wax helps to prevent an oily residue in the shower, making the scrub more creamy and lotion-like.
Emulsifying wax can help enhance the body scrub’s moisture-retaining properties, ensuring that the skin stays hydrated and nourished.
You can use different emulsifying wax, considering that each emulsifying wax gives a different texture, viscosity and feel. I wrote a post about basic emulsion, comparing four different kinds of emulsifying wax to demonstrate the different results.
Next is stearic acid, which is a type of fatty acid. Stearic acid can help to provide a creamy texture and give thickness to the final product. You can replace it with berry wax, myrica fruit wax, rice bran wax or cetearyl alcohol or cetyl alcohol. To read more about waxes in cosmetics, check this post.
For my carrier oil, I use sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is rich in fatty acids, which can help to moisturize and nourish the skin. Sunflower oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. You can use any carrier oil of your choice.
Next, I use Macadamia nut oil infused with turmeric. You can use any oil infused with turmeric. To read more about oil infusions, check this post here.
Phase B contains my active ingredients: Licorice extract powder and Azelaic Acid.
Azelaic acid can be replaced with Salicylic Acid, Carrot seed oil, Tamanu oil, Sea buckthorn oil, or Jojoba oil. I added Salicylic Acid as an active ingredient in a recipe for a face exfoliate cleanser.
You can skip the licorice extract powder and use turmeric-infused oil instead or use fine lemon powder (INCI: Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Powder) or Orange Powder (INCI: Citrus Sinensis Peel Powder) to replace the licorice extract powder.
Phase C contains the fragrance oil and the preservative.
You can use fragrance oil or essential oil of your choice. Make sure to use skin-safe ones.
You can use any cosmetics preservative you have. Make sure to use it according to the supplier’s instructions.
I add preservatives since the product will be close to the water environment, and I don’t want it to be contaminated. Theoretically, you can skip the preservative if you ensure no water comes close or in contact with the product. I prefer to add the preservative since I know this product will be used next to water.
Phase D contains granulated sugar, the exfoliating agent in this recipe. You can add only 200g instead of 280g of sugar if you prefer a less dense product.
This scrub is very creamy and moisturizing. It will leave your skin smooth and soft. Usually, people use scrubs up to 4 times a week.
Strat by using the scrub 2-3 times a week, and if you wish, you can use it more often.
Method:
- In a heat resistance container, add phase A ingredients.
- Place the beaker with phase A into a double boiler on medium heat to melt everything.
- Prepare phase B in a different container.
- Remove phase A from the heat and let it cool down for a few minutes.
- Add phase B to phase A and mix to combine.
- Add phase D (the granulated sugar) and combine.
- Add phase C (fragrance oil and preservative) and mix to combine.
- Pour the body scrub into containers.
- To use the scrub, scoop a small amount and rub it on damp/wet skin.
