KATHMANDU: Exfoliation is the bottom line with skin care as the skin becomes sluggish with dry cellular debris, which can make for a dull finish. You need to sluff away that dead skin, and scrubs help achieve that.

Scrubs stimulate circulation and cleanse the pores, preventing blackheads by efficiently removing the dead scaly outermost layer of the skin. It helps bring lustre to your complexion and stimulates new skin growth.

There are so many products in the market that promise you glowing, flawless skin but you need not depend on those as you can make your own scrubs at home. Not only are they safe, they can be as expensive as you want and can also be customised as per your skin type and need.

Here are some home-made scrubs for various skin types. Gently rub the mixture on the face in small clockwise circles. Rinse off with cool water.

Normal skin

Oat flour plus a little basil (tulsi), sandalwood (chandan) powder and rose petals. Mix to a paste with water, milk or comfrey tea.

Dry skin

Chickpea or fine lentil flour with wheat germ, powdered almonds, ashwagandha, haritaki, fenugreek, basil and rose petals. Mix these ingredients and aloe vera (gheeu kumari) with juice, milk or cream.

Oily skin

Barley flour with rice bran, Indian gooseberry (amla), corriander (dhania), neem, sandalwood and lavender powder. Mix these with diluted lemon or aloe vera (gheeu kumari) juice.

Mature skin

Lentil, barley or rice flour with ashwagandha, basil and powdered orange blossom mixed with aloe vera (gheeu kumari) juice or milk with a little honey.

Blemished skin

Oat flour and clay powder plus ashwagandha, corriander, cummin, fenugreek, ginger (aduwa), neem and pinch of turmeric (haldi/besar), all mixed with yoghurt (dahi).

Normal to dry skin

Oatmeal facial scrub

1 cup plain instant oatmeal, 1/2 cup honey, 1 egg white.

Crush whole oats with a mortar and pestle, or use the back of a spoon or chop with a knife. Mix thoroughly and apply to clean skin. Rub in for about two minutes. Allow to dry. This forces the moisture back onto the surface. Rinse off with water or jump in the shower to rinse off. Do not put on sunburnt skin.

Normal to oily skin

Honey almond facial scrub 2 tablespoons almonds, 1/2 cup honey, 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Crush almonds with any of the methods described in the first. Combine almonds with the remainder of ingredients. Apply as in first one.

Do not use this scrub in place of regular soap. It is meant to be used as a supplement.