Skin Whitening Face and Body Scrub
It’s easy to splurge on fancy exfoliating face and body scrubs but it’s just as easy to make your own. The nice thing about making your own is it works just as well, is all-natural, and you can make a lot of it for pennies on the dollar.
This basic recipe calls for a few tried and true ingredients that help exfoliate, soften, whiten, and brighten the skin. You can customize it however you like too since there are a number of interchangeable natural ingredients you can use to lighten skin tone. You can use this scrub as is or add essential oils, herbs, or fancy oils to make it your own unique blend.
How to Make a Skin Whitening Face and Body Scrub
It’s about 15 weeks until my wedding day and I have terrible tan lines. I don’t normally spend a lot of time in the sun, but this last summer was really hot and the beach sounded like a great way to stay cool. My skin is pretty fair and doesn’t take the sun very well even when wearing SPF 50. After just two Saturdays at the beach, I had some pretty noticeable tan lines from my bikini top…not very flattering when you’re trying on wedding dresses.
So now I have some tan lines and… who am I kidding? A WHOLE tan that needs to go! It just doesn’t look good on me.
Insert awesome whitening face and body scrub HERE! After just a few uses I’m already seeing the tan slowly fade back to my ghosty self. Granted, the winter months certainly help too when trying to fade a tan but I just want to be absolutely sure it’s going to be gone by March.
This scrub is also great for moisturizing the skin while you’re in the shower. It slues off dead skin cells and reveals the fresh lighter skin underneath. I really love it because it’s worked so well!
Here’s what you’re going to need:
• A non-plastic container
• ½ cup Granulated sugar (any kind will do)
• 2 TB Raw honey
• 1-2 TB oil like olive, jojoba, coconut, sweet almond, grapeseed, etc.
• 2 TB Fresh lemon juice
• ½ TB Dried parsley
• 5 drops each of essential oils like lemon, bergamot, sandalwood, and galbanum
Loving Preparation- Whitening Face and Body Scrub
• Add all of the ingredients together and mix well
• Add more lemon juice, honey, sugar, or oil to make the scrub the consistency you like
I love using this scrub every night in the shower but if your skin is really sensitive I would use it every couple days. Just remember to only use this scrub at night because it contains ingredients that make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Why These Ingredients Work
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice’s ability to lighten and brighten skin tone is well known around the world. It’s acidic quality also helps to remove dead skin cells revealing fresh skin underneath. It lightens freckles, brightens the complexion, and helps fade tan lines over time with consistent use.
Parsley
Parsley is a strange ingredient to consider when thinking of whitening the skin but it works wonders! Not only is it great for lightening skin tone it is also great for reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Parsley also has a knack for healing blemishes and preventing acne breakouts which is a definite plus.
Essential Oils
Adding citrusy essential oils to this scrub ups its whitening and brightening ability. My favorites include bergamot and lemon but you can also use lime, grapefruit, and orange to achieve a similar effect.
Sandalwood was a fun addition to help keep my skin healthy and supple-looking and galbanum is known for its skin brightening ability. Galbanum is also great for improving skin texture.
What have been your favorite skin whitening ingredients?
Here’s a couple more skin whitening face and body scrub recipes:
Simple Homemade Salt & Lemon Body Scrub
hi Tash,
very informative blog,. waht i need to know is, do need to use all the oils you listed or just one or two. i have everything at home apart from the essential oils, just need to be sure.
Hi Tash,
Does this scrub have to be refrigerated between uses, or can I keep it in a dry cool place, i.e. my bathroom cabinet?
Thank you, Cat.
Hi Cat!
As long as you use only dry ingredients, it will last until the carrier oil goes rancid. However, if you get any water in it, it will go bad very quickly.
Hi Tash!
If I make a scrub batch to last several times, does it need to be refrigerated between uses, or can I keep it in my bathroom cupboard?
Thank you, Cat.
As long as you don’t get any water in it you can keep it in the bathroom 🙂
Do I need to use cream along with scrubes
You can if you want to speed things up. I have actually found that a good vitamin C serum (like the one by Mad Hippie) has helped a TON!
Hi, thanks for every information. Very concise and helpful.
Hi,
Can I use tin can for the container instead of glass?
Thank you!
Yes! 🙂
Hi,
I love your website and following it. I made scrub and using it. Does it makes difference any change if measurements are not accurate. I made as per ur instructions but still I would like to know.
Regards
Sucheritha
Hi,
Can u suggest any solution to stop hair fall.
Regards
Sucheritha
Hi,
I m lil darker and I want to use this scrub to improve my complexion (body as well as face). What is steam distilled lemon oil and FCF bergamot essential oil.
I have seen lemon oil in shops. Can I use this oil to scrub. Can this scrub applied all over body.
Hi Sucheritha!
Steam distilled lemon and FCF bergamot oil are essential oils that do not contain the chemicals in them that make your skin sensitive to the sun. This is VERY important if you plan on using them topically and will be in direct sunlight.
Hi there!
I was just wondering, do I have to continue using this. What I mean is, once I get to my desired shade, can I stop? Or will that just return me to my original colour of skin?
Please help!
Does this actually make you fairer?
Thankyou!
Hi Sacha!
The road to lightening the skin can be a long one, but yes, this scrub can definitely help! Once you reach your original shade you don’t need to use the scrub anymore. Just make sure to take care of your skin when out in the sun 🙂 This scrub will not make you lighter than your natural skin color.
Can I use also use it to scrub my face
Hi Josephine!
You can but make sure you use steam distilled lemon essential oil and FCF bergamot essential oil. This is because these oils react VERY negatively with the sun if you were to use this in the morning. I only recommend using this scrub at night for this reason. Also make sure to use a carrier oil that reacts well with your skin as the base 🙂
How long would a batch of this stay good for? Would it need refrigeration?
Hi Andrea!
As long as you don’t get water in it, it will last for a few months! However, once any water gets in the products, it will only last a few days 🙁
Hello! I love this article and was thinking about trying this for the first time tonight! I was just wondering how well it’s been working for you? Any changes you might suggest now that you’ve been using it longer?
Hi Sam!
It’s been working well! My tan lines are practically gone and just in time for my wedding in 2 weeks 🙂 If you have sensitive skin be sure to exfoliate very gently! I also recommend only using this scrub at night as it contains essential oils known to react in the sun. Best of luck!
Is using fresh lemon juice absolutely essential, do you think? Or could you use lemon juice from a concentrate? I love reading your blog by the way! The posts are always so informative and fun to read. 🙂
So what you mean is use only a glass container! not trying to be picky, but you state in the article “A non – glass container” that was why I asked. peace to you.
Oh! Thank you for pointing that out! I will edit it right now 🙂
Why a non glass container please?
Hi Canne!
I used glass because essential oils can’t break it down that they can with plastic. You can use a plastic container if that is all you have 🙂