How to target bumps, flakes, and dry patches with a dual-action body scrub and body butter routine
Posted on December 6, 2024 Written by: 100% PURE®
As days in the sun slowly become nights by the fireplace, we like to refocus on quality skin care by introducing more intention into our routines. What makes you feel cared for? What kind of pampering practices could keep your skin feeling happy and healthy?
Hot Girl Summer was fun, but if we’re not careful, cold autumn weather could quickly bring on Flaky Skin Fall. Below we’re sharing the best ways to avoid dry skin all over the body, and how to make supple and gorgeous (cold weather) skin a reality.
Start with a DIY Body Scrub
What’s soft, smooth, and glowing all over? The answer is YOU, after treating yourself to a full body exfoliation. Skin needs a little extra love to slough the dull, dead surface cells away – and body scrubs are the most effective topical treatments.
A great body scrub does two main things:
- The exfoliating texture of salt or sugar scrubs help to polish the skin, removing dullness and the stiff, dry appearance that often comes with a buildup of dead skin cells
- Enriching oils nourish newly exposed skin, to encourage elasticity while keeping it moisturized and supple
- Sealing moist skin with a thick, sumptuous body butter after your scrub treatment will lock in moisture and hydration
Enough beating around the bush: it’s time for a DIY! Here are 3 recipes for do-it-yourself scrubs, to make your shower or bath time a self-care paradise.
Sugar Cookie Scrub
This scrub is decadent and smells just like freshly baked cookies, except it’s vegan and diet-friendly – the perfect Halloween treat! Since sugar has hydrating properties, scrubs with this granular ingredient are ideal for those with skin on the dry end of the spectrum. Sugar is a humectant, meaning it helps retain moisture; that makes this scrub a more moisturizing option that leaves your skin feeling noticeably smooth.
Ingredients in this vegan body scrub include (2) parts brown sugar to (1) part sweet almond or coconut oil, with a dash of vanilla essential oil to your liking. If using coconut oil, warm in the microwave until it loosens up enough to pour, then stir in your extract of choice before adding in the sugar as the last step. Use this mixture while warm on the hands, feet, and anywhere on the body that needs a deep kiss of sugary sweetness.
Skin Benefits from the Sugar Cookie Scrub:
- Sugar acts as a humectant to polish and moisturize the skin
- Skin-softening almond oil is high in vitamin E, which helps heal the skin and protect from UV damage
- Coconut oil contains antioxidant vitamins E and A, which are essential for healthy skin and skin repair. This oil is deeply moisturizing, and can even help improve skin elasticity
- Vanilla essential oil is an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory humectant that can calm dry, itchy skin when diluted in a carrier oil
Pumpkin Spice Scrub
Now you can enjoy your morning latte in the shower – minus the $6 price tag! This scrub might sound #extra at first, but each of the ingredients has skin-healthy components to make this one of your new favorite DIY’s.
Pumpkins’ claim to fame might be transporting Cinderella to the ball – but they also have potent skin-supporting powers! Skin-softening, complexion-brightening, and amazing for speedy skin cell turnover, pumpkins contain natural alpha hydroxy acids that elevate this scrub to superhero status.
Add (1) part freshly mashed or canned pumpkin to (1) part coffee grounds. Add (1) tablespoon of almond milk and (1) teaspoon of cinnamon per cup of mixture. We recommend warming the pumpkin and the milk slightly for a warm autumn experience!
Skin Benefits from the Pumpkin Spice Scrub:
- The natural AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) components in pumpkin help to produce newer skin faster, for a youthful and glowing appearance
- Coffee performs as a cellulite-busting exfoliant, while supporting collagen production and enhanced blood flow
- Almond milk can help to soothe with natural vitamin E content, which is essential for nourishing dry skin
- Cinnamon warms and helps to stimulate blood flow, for better circulation and a more vibrant, youthful glow to the skin
Fall Fresh Floral Scrub
We all love our creature comforts during the cozy fall season. This relaxing scrub pairs perfectly with lazy Sunday mornings, hot tea, and a good book while your favorite candle flickers nearby.
A shower-time bouquet is easy to find with floral extracts rose and lavender. Feel soothed by their calming properties, and swept away by the fresh scent. Experience the fine scrubby texture of sea salt and emerge from your shower ready to hit the redo button – yep, it’s that good. Mix (1) part sea salt to (1) part coconut oil. Add in a few drops each of rose, lavender, and ginger essential oils and store in a mason jar or reusable container until your next DIY session.
Skin Benefits from the Fresh Fall Floral Scrub:
- Ultra emollient rose essential oil is high in vitamin C, and can help to reduce redness and irritation in sensitive skin
- Lavender essential oil is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, helping to soothe for skin conditions like eczema and acne
- Anti-inflammatory ginger essential oil warms and tones the skin, with the ability to encourage collagen production
Where to Care for Bumps and Flakes
Think of places on your body that bend, twist, and receive the most wear and tear. Hands, elbows, knees, and feet experience lots of friction from clothes, and are often exposed to the elements. This means they’ll often dry out the quickest, and need extra special attention!
Consider adding a skin oil to your bedtime routine for those needy areas, and don’t forget your peach! Behind every woman is a great moisturizer – and your tuchus will thank you for a weekly coconut oil rub-down when summer comes back around.
Have a few patches you can’t seem to get smoothed out? First go in with a scrub, like those in our DIY section. Massage in a raw oil (like coconut or jojoba) and top with a heavy body butter. Repeat daily for a week, and watch as your once-rough skin goes from bumpy to bump-free.
Show some of these dryness-prone areas extra love with an overnight glove treatment. Lather and soak the skin with your oils and creams of choice. You could use a hand cream here – but we opt for a whipped body butter and vitamin E or olive oil for extra richness. Slip your moisturized hands into bamboo spa gloves, then remove in the morning for softer hands.
PRO TIP: You can try the same glove strategy on your feet! Instead of gloves, slip your pre-moisturized feet into thick socks to pamper your steppers overnight.
Switch to a Whipped Body Butter
We’re ready to talk body butter. Sumptuous, rich, and oh-so smooth, these body butters feel divine on the skin. With base ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and cocoa butter, your skin will feel like a pampered princess after a rub down with these. Here are some of our favorite scent blends:
- Honey Almond Whipped Body Butter | Honey is a humectant, meaning it works extra hard to keep you more moisturized, for longer. Combined with vitamin E-rich almond, this body butter is easily in the running for our year around favorite pick.
- Coconut Whipped Body Butter | Light, fresh, and still rich and creamy, this tropical butter works perfectly for morning shower lovers, beach babes, dry skin redeemers, and everything in between.
- Vanilla Bean Whipped Body Butter | Sweet vanilla is amazing for a variety of reasons. Naturally fragrant, it gives this body butter an irresistible scent. On top of that, humectant vanilla fights inflammation and works alongside other dynamic ingredients to keep you super soft and silky.
100% PURE Scrubs: Exfoliation Elevated
Your skin is constantly renewing itself, and exfoliation is the key to unlocking its natural glow. By removing dull, dead skin cells, you allow fresh, healthy skin to shine through while creating the perfect base for hydration. The 100% PURE scrubs are expertly crafted to elevate your exfoliation experience, leaving your skin feeling irresistibly smooth and radiant.
Coconut Body Scrub
Treat your skin to a tropical escape with our Coconut Body Scrub. This scrub combines finely ground coconut shell with nutrient-rich coconut oil to buff away dryness and replenish moisture. Infused with a naturally sweet coconut scent, this scrub delivers hydration and a radiant glow that transports you to paradise with every use.
Benefits:
- Gently exfoliates for smoother skin.
- Deeply hydrates with coconut oil.
- Perfect for dry or sensitive skin.
Cocoa Coffee Body Scrub
Wake up your skin with the invigorating Cocoa Coffee Body Scrub. Crafted with exfoliating coffee grounds and antioxidant-rich cocoa, this scrub stimulates circulation and revitalizes tired skin. Its energizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and rich chocolate will have you feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the day.
Benefits:
- Stimulates blood flow for a natural glow.
- Packed with antioxidants to combat free radicals.
- Ideal for rough patches and dull skin.
Honey Almond Body Scrub
Indulge in the soothing sweetness of the Honey Almond Body Scrub. This luxurious blend features crushed almond shells for gentle exfoliation and honey for its deeply nourishing and antibacterial properties. Together, they create a silky, touchable finish that makes your skin feel as smooth as it looks.
Benefits:
- Gently removes dead skin cells.
- Nourishes and soothes with honey.
- Perfect for achieving baby-soft skin.
Each scrub is a sensory delight, designed to transform your skincare routine into a luxurious self-care ritual. With 100% PURE, exfoliation isn’t just a step—it’s an experience.
Helpful Habits
Healthy skin isn’t just taking vitamins or properly moisturizing; it’s a lifestyle that encompasses a bunch of little ways you can show yourself love. Try tweaking your daily body care routine with these simple tips, to help avoid dry skin.
HYDRATION
Always keep a clean canteen of water by your bed. Your hydration station is extra important during the colder months, when extreme high-low temperatures (think indoor heater, outdoor cold) can help dehydrate our skin.
PAT DRY
Most of us tend to wipe skin down with a towel, straight from the shower or bath. Instead of going to town with the wipe-down, dry your skin by pressing and patting – rather than rubbing. This allows the hydration and moisture from your bath products to stay on the skin, rather than being promptly wiped away. It’s also much more gentle on your delicate lipids!
MOISTURIZE WHILE WET
Moisturize right after a warm shower, when the pores are most open to receiving hydration and nutrients from oils, lotions, and creams. Surface water will also help nourishing emollients to be more easily absorbed into the skin.
MASSAGE INTO SKIN
Treat yourself to an oil-enriched body massage. You can book a service with your masseuse, or ask your sweetheart to lend a hand! Wheat germ, coconut, or sweet almond oils are top choices for nourishing dry or thirsty skin, and you can even add in aromatherapy with lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus oils.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Butter and Scrubs for Dry Patches
What are the benefits of using body scrubs for dry skin?Body scrubs are a game-changer for managing dry skin. They gently remove the buildup of dead skin cells, allowing fresh, healthy skin to emerge. This process not only smooths rough patches but also improves the skin’s ability to absorb moisturizers, enhancing hydration. Regular exfoliation can also improve circulation, leaving your skin with a natural, radiant glow.
How do body butters help in hydrating dry patches?
Body butters are rich in nourishing ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, and plant-based oils that deeply hydrate and lock in moisture. Their thicker texture creates a protective barrier on the skin, preventing water loss and providing long-lasting hydration. For dry patches, body butters deliver intensive care, softening rough spots and restoring suppleness.
What are the best ingredients for DIY body scrubs?
The best DIY body scrubs use natural, skin-loving ingredients. Popular options include:
- Sugar: Gentle yet effective for exfoliation.
- Salt: Ideal for tougher areas like elbows and knees.
- Coffee Grounds: Revitalizes skin and boosts circulation.
- Coconut Oil or Olive Oil: Provides hydration while exfoliating.
- Honey: Adds antibacterial and soothing properties.
Combine these ingredients to create a personalized scrub that caters to your skin’s needs.
How can I treat dry skin on elbows, knees, and hands?
These areas are prone to dryness because of their thicker skin and frequent use. To treat them:
- Exfoliate with a gentle scrub to remove dead skin.
- Immediately follow with a rich body butter to lock in moisture.
- Repeat 2–3 times a week for lasting results.
For hands, use a moisturizing scrub and apply body butter before bed, then cover with cotton gloves for overnight hydration.
What is the best routine for using body scrubs and body butters together?
For the ultimate hydration routine:
- Start with a body scrub: Apply to damp skin and gently massage in circular motions. Focus on dry patches like elbows and knees. Rinse thoroughly.
- Follow with body butter: Pat your skin dry and apply a generous amount of body butter while your skin is still slightly damp to lock in moisture.
- Repeat consistently: Use this routine 2–3 times a week, adjusting frequency based on your skin’s needs.
This combination ensures your skin stays smooth, soft, and hydrated from head to toe!