Exfoliating Herbal Scrub for Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs. I get them, you get them, your neighbor gets them—even cats and dogs get them! Chances are, most furry mammals walking around this planet have dealt with a pesky ingrown hair or two in their time. For me, shaving seemed to be the biggest culprit when it came to waking up to an uninvited array of ingrown hairs. No matter what direction I shaved, how many blades my razor boasted, or what fancy variety of shaving cream I slathered on, within a couple of days, my skin always found a way to proclaim its defiance towards my razor in the form of itchy, red bumps. However, all of this changed when I discovered I was missing a critical step in any well-seasoned shaver’s routine—exfoliation!

Exfoliating is the process of using a chemical exfoliant (such as salicylic acid) or physical exfoliant to rid the skin of dead cells. This layer of excess skin cells can smother hair follicles, causing the hair to grow inwards, leading to (you guessed it!) ingrown hairs. Shaving without exfoliating creates a breeding ground for ingrown hairs, as the sharp hairs flush to the skin’s surface can easily wiggle their way under the hair follicle. When this happens, the body recognizes the hair as a foreign invader, which triggers an itchy, red, and bumpy inflammatory response. Yep, you read that right. The discomfort from ingrown hairs is just your body trying to help you! The good news is that exfoliation offers a simple solution to transform skin prone to the body’s well-meaning inflammatory response into smooth, moisturized skin. Better yet, you can make an easy-peasy exfoliating scrub using ingredients you likely have stashed in your pantry!

This sweet and salty sugar scrub offers powerful physical exfoliation that has been a shaving game-changer for me and anyone I’ve whipped up a batch for. This scrub not only removes dead skin cells but also prevents irritated bumps with the help of two essential oils that I’ve coined “the enemies of ingrowns”—tea tree and copaiba balsam. Although I’ve fine-tuned this recipe with herbal incorporations such as soothing chamomile powder, the beauty of DIY scrubs is how customizable and simplistic they can be. Even if you only have sugar and carrier oil on hand, you’re well on your way to revealing the softest skin of your life and saying good riddance to the agony of ingrown hairs!

Exfoliating Sweet & Salty Scrub Recipe

Makes approximately 10 ounces of sugar scrub.

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic fine granulated cane sugar *See Pro Tips
• 1/4 cup fine Himalayan pink salt or fine sea salt (optional for increased exfoliation)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. organic chamomile flower powder
• 1/2 cup organic jojoba oil or non-comedogenic carrier oil of choice *See Pro Tips
• 15 drops organic tea tree essential oil
• 10 drops organic copaiba balsam essential oil

Directions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine sugar, salt (optional), and chamomile powder. Mix thoroughly until all dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Add jojoba oil and essential oils. Mix until a wet sand consistency forms.
3. Transfer scrub to container of choice (I love using our Pantry Jars) and store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Usage

1. Wet the skin with warm water prior to exfoliating. This allows the skin to soften up.
2. Scoop out a small amount of scrub and gently massage into the skin using slow, circular motions for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
3. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Use up to 2 -3 times per week.
4. Now, all that’s left to do is admire your bump-free soft and supple skin!

Pro Tips

• Do not use a coarse grain varieties of cane sugar or salt, as the scrub would be overly abrasive and poses a risk of causing microtears on the skin.
• Sugar scrubs should only be used on areas of the body with thicker skin such as on the legs, arms, underarms, etc. Do not use this scrub on your face or if you have overly sensitive skin.
• As tempting as it may be to store the scrub in the shower (pointing to myself here), the damp environment can easily create mold and bacteria problems if moisture is introduced to the scrub. Nobody’s skin benefits from a moldy scrub, so make sure to keep it stashed away in a cool, dark spot!
  
  

Looking for more exfoliating scrub-spiration?

Check Out Our Exfoliating Lip Scrub

You may also be interested in:

DIY Moisturizing Skin Serum
Warming Lotion Bars for Autumn & Winter
6 Ways to Use Jojoba Oil for Skin & Hair