RAW HONEY AND WILD ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL EXFOLIATING FACE SCRUB

I have been making and using this exfoliating face scrub for the past year and I will never go back to the store-bought option for several reasons:

• It’s a lot cheaper to make than buying an “all natural” exfoliating face scrub
• There are NO toxic chemicals being slathered on my skin
• The main ingredients (raw honey and baking soda) are already in my kitchen
• I love the results I both see and feel after using this face scrub

WHY THESE INGREDIENTS?

Raw (Unfiltered) Honey – contains natural enzymes and antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, making it a powerful conditioning agent for the skin. It is also ideal for very sensitive skin and works well on all skin types by balancing oily skin and moisturizing dry skin.

Make sure to choose “raw and unfiltered” honey, meaning it has not been refined, heated, or pasteurized.  Honey labeled as “natural” and “organic” doesn’t necessarily mean it is raw and unfiltered, which means all the beneficial enzymes and properties of raw and unfiltered honey may not be present.

Pure Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) – gently exfoliates skin without causing irritation.

Wild Orange Essential Oil – contains high levels of vitamin C, which helps heal and protect the skin. Promotes the production of collagen, which is very beneficial for fighting signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots. The most active ingredient in wild orange essential oil is limonene, which is considered a powerful antioxidant that fights free radical damage and inflammation.  It is also highly antimicrobial, which means it is effective at fighting bacteria on the skin that could lead to acne.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR EXFOLIATING FACE SCRUB

The instructions below yield enough face scrub to fill two 4-ounce glass jars.

• Measure out 2/3 cups of raw honey and place into a large enough glass bowl (about a regular cereal size bowl). If the raw honey you are using is solidified, it needs to be melted first.  Do this by heating it up on the stove or in a toaster oven.  DO NOT microwave raw honey as this will destroy all the beneficial enzymes and properties of the honey.
• Once the honey is liquefied, add 6 teaspoons of baking soda to the honey and stir. I usually add a few teaspoons at a time, stir, then repeat until all 6 teaspoons are added. This ensures the reaction between the baking soda and honey doesn’t spill over the bowl.
• Lastly, add 60 drops of wild orange essential oil to the honey/baking soda mixture in the bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Let the mixture sit in the bowl for several hours, stirring occasionally, to ensure that the baking soda has stopped reacting.
• Scoop the mixture into two 4-ounce glass jars, or any size jar of your liking. I recommend glass for two reasons: (1) most plastics contain BPA, which is a hormone disruptor, and (2) essential oils react with plastic.  I also use amber jars to protect the essential oil from light.

HOW TO USE YOUR FACE SCRUB

Over time the baking soda will start to just sit at the bottom. Every time I use my exfoliating face scrub (which is every other night) I stick my finger in the center of the jar and push to the bottom, then give it a stir.

Using your finger, grab about a dime size amount and warm between both hands using a little warm water.  Lather over your entire face and scrub gently for 30 seconds to one minute and then rinse off using more warm water.

The best part about this face scrub is that it is edible! So, why not put it on your face?

Disclosure: The Wiedmeyer Homestead is an affiliate for some of the products in this post, which means when you purchase products through these links we will receive a small commission.  There is no extra cost to you when purchasing through these links, however support through affiliate links helps us to continue running this blog and provide free content. We only recommend products or services we personally believe in and have already used ourselves. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding affiliate links by filling out the contact form on the bottom of our About Us page. Thanks for your support!