Exfoliating scrubs for the body are an excellent way to enhance skin nutrition and leave a layer of soft, healthy, glowing skin behind. Commercial exfoliating scrubs are readily available, but making your own is more cost effective and fun. While you make your own exfoliating scrubs, you can explore varied ingredients and different exfoliants to achieve the desired effects. Many suppliers sell spa ingredients at reasonable prices, and some ingredients can also be found at the local market.

The most crucial ingredient in exfoliating scrubs is, of course, the exfoliant. An exfoliant abrades the top layer of skin to remove dead skin, and also buffs and polishes the healthy fresh layers underneath. Depending on skin sensitivity, different exfoliants are more suitable than others. If your skin is delicate, exfoliants such as turbinado sugar, fruit seeds and fibers, coffee, or ground loofah are all excellent choices. If the skin is more robust, exfoliants such as salts, grains, or pumice are more appropriate. Salts can also help to restore the balance of minerals in the skin, depending on the source, and they also come in a wide range of grains from very thick to fine. More exotic exfoliants include ground walnut shells, shredded coconut, and ayurvedic herbs.

Once a base has been selected, the rest of the scrub can be created. To add color and texture, dried flowers and herbs can be used. Rose petals, orange rinds, rosemary, lemongrass, and sage are all excellent choices. In addition to providing color and smelling good, these herbs all have unique properties which can enhance skin health when included in exfoliating scrubs. Many Internet databases of herbs list their effects on the skin and general health. You can also include essential oils, which will make the scrub smell delicious and add aromatherapy to the experience.

Most exfoliating scrubs are suspended in oils such as grapeseed oil, and sometimes also have natural preservatives such as vitamin E oil added. Using a preservative is necessary if the scrub is going to sit on the shelf for a long time or if it includes unstable ingredients which may mold or rot. A scrub made from salt and essential oils will not need a preservative: a scrub with sugar and orange rinds would.

Exfoliating scrubs are limited only by your imagination. Many spas offer themed scrubs with imaginative names like Tropical Paradise or Chocolate Sensation. You can replicate these exfoliating scrubs at home with your own ingredients. For tropical themed exfoliating scrubs, think about tropical ingredients like shredded coconut, sugar, essential oils of mango or tangerine, and fruit fibers from mangos, papayas, and guavas. For chocolate exfoliating scrubs, you can use cocoa powder, grated chocolate, sugars, chocolate essential oils, and coffee for a mocha effect. Coffee should be used in moderation because caffeine can be absorbed through the skin. Other exfoliating scrubs could include soothing herbs like lavender and orange or a relaxing experience, or refreshing and invigorating ingredients like salt and essential oils of lime and mint.