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Kelly the Kitchen Kop

DIY Facial Cleansing Grains: 3-in-1 Cleanser-Exfoliator-Mask

October 25, 2015 22 Comments

*Amazon or other affiliate links may be included, see full disclosure after the post. I'm not a medical professional, so use anything you read here only as a starting point for your own research.

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DIY Facial Cleansing Grains

DIY Facial Cleansing Grains

(This is a post from my dear friend, Jill, who helps around the blog and has written super helpful posts here in the past:  See all of Jill’s posts here, including more like these:  Homemade Deodorant Powder, 6 Elements of Nutrient Dense Foods,  How Real Foodies Care for Their Loved Ones with Cancer, and  How to Fight Depression and Anxiety Naturally.  Note that there are affiliate links below to help support the blog, but the cost is the same for you.  Here’s Jill…)

As a former hair stylist and esthetician, I've always been particular about my skincare products. But as a naturally-minded real foodie, I am also leery of toxic ingredients in even high-end, professional products and the potential for a myriad of questionable and down-right carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals to absorb through my skin and wreak havoc on my body. So for years I purchased quality natural skin care…that is until I discovered how easy, fun, and economical it is to make my own. And here's the kicker: my skin has never been better! Now I make and sell natural skincare products locally, but I also love empowering people to unplug from the “machine” and make it for themselves.

Facial Cleansing Grains:  “Where have you been all my life?!”

Facial cleansing grains are a versatile 3-in-1 skincare wonder (you'll wonder where it's been all your life!) that you mix with water for daily cleansing and exfoliating. It also makes fantastic masks. Typically, cleansing grains are a combination of clay and ground grains, nuts or seeds, often with the addition of powdered herbs, flowers, and/or other botanicals and essential oils. Cleansing grains leave your skin incredibly smooth, refreshed, and never dry or tight.

While cleansing grains effectively cleanse and exfoliate, there is no soap or surfactant to strip beneficial bacteria, oil, or the protective acid mantle from your skin, and no mystery ingredients, preservatives, or synthetic fragrances. Seriously, you could eat it without worry of harm, and it would probably be good for you. By the way, that's my personal health and safety standard for skin and hair care products (“Could I eat them safely?”) because I know they don't just sit on the surface.

As far as I know, the concept for cleansing grains originated with herbalist Rosemary Gladstar's “miracle grains” (see Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health for original recipe), though you can now find endless variations.

61ig05-RXcL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_Cleansing grains became a quick hit with my customers, ranging from teenagers to “older” grandmas. Whether their skin is oily and acne-prone or dry, sun-damaged, and “mature”, I frequently hear raves about how replacing their previous cleansers with cleansing grains has improved their skin. Today I want to encourage you to begin making your own natural skincare products, starting with this flexible and easy formula.

DIY Facial Cleansing Grains

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups clay of choice (see below)
  • 1 cup “grain” of choice, ground in a coffee grinder or small food processor, unless pre-ground (see below)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup exfoliating booster of choice (see below)
  • 1 to 4 Tablespoons active botanicals, optional (see below)
  • Essential oils, optional * (See below. Start with about 20 drops, depending on the essential oils, and work up from there.)

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl. If using essential oils, break up clumps with your fingers, stir well, and add more if needed.

DIY Facial Cleansing GrainsStore cleansing grains in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid to keep dry. A simple canning jar works great, but you can also use something fancier like these recycled green glass apothecary bottles. This recipe makes a very generous amount of cleansing grains–you may want to give some away as a gift!

How To Use Your DIY Facial Cleansing Grains:

Pour a small amount (a scant teaspoon) into the palm of your hand and drip enough water onto it to form a paste consistency. Massage onto damp face and neck, then rinse. The paste can also be left on for several minutes or longer for a facial mask.  Follow up with toner and facial serum.

If using cleansing grains for a mask, try replacing the water with other goodies from your kitchen for their added benefits, such as raw honey (very moisturizing, yet incredibly healing for acne), yogurt or milk kefir (the lactic acid is gently exfoliating, plus probiotics), mashed avocado (super moisturizing), your favorite hydrosol (flower water), fresh pineapple juice (very exfoliating enzymes), fresh cucumber juice (soothing, reduces redness and puffiness), or whatever else you can think of.

Below are many options to choose from — click the links for where to find my favorites listed here:

Clay options:

  • Kaolin (all skin types)
  • Bentonite Clay (all skin types, very detoxifying)
  • French Green Clay (all skin types, especially oily or congested)
  • Dead Sea Clay (normal to oily/acne)
  • Fuller's Earth Clay (oily/acne/congested)
  • Rhassoul Clay (all skin types, especially dry/mature)

Grains/gentle exfoliant options (coffee bean grinders work perfectly to grind these):

  • brown or white rice, finely ground
  • oats, finely ground
  • rice bran                      DIY Facial Cleansing Grains
  • oat bran
  • coconut flour

Exfoliating boosters:

  • almond meal/almond flour
  • ground flax or chia seeds
  • organic corn meal, finely ground
  • baking soda
  • ground adzuki (or other) beans
  • sea salt
  • sugar

Keep in mind some ingredients (such as corn meal) can be pretty scratchy and rough, so if you chose those use sparingly and be extra gentle while cleansing and exfoliating your face.

Active botanicals (be creative, these are only suggestions to get you started):

  • finely ground flowers (roses, calendula, lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, etc.)
  • finely ground herbs (turmeric, peppermint, sage, marshmallow root, comfrey, etc.)
  • orange or lemon peel powder (vitamin c, antioxidants)
  • rose hips powder (vitamin c, antioxidants)
  • matcha tea powder (loads of antioxidants, plus caffeine helps reduce water retention/puffiness)
  • cocoa powder or cacao powder (antioxidants)
  • activated charcoal powder (very detoxifying, great for acne and congested skin)
  • bee pollen (vitamins, anti-inflammatory, healing, anti-aging)
  • dehydrated or freeze-dried powdered fruits or veggies
  • dry milk powder: goat, cow, or coconut (moisturizing, raw dairy milks also contain exfoliating enzymes/acids)
  • honey powder (antimicrobial, healing, moisturizing, exfoliating enzymes)
  • crushed papaya or pineapple enzyme tablets (exfoliates dead skin)
  • probiotic capsule contents (healthy bacteria are protective and anti-inflammatory)
  • kelp or other seaweed powders (high in vitamins and minerals, moisturizing, use sparingly–strong scent)

Essential Oil Suggestions (choose one or more from the following):

Sensitive Skin:

  • DIY Facial Cleansing Grainslavender
  • geranium
  • frankincense
  • myrrh
  • neroli
  • rose

Dry/Mature Skin:

  • palmarosa
  • patchouli
  • sandalwood
  • geranium
  • lavender
  • chamomile
  • neroli
  • rose
  • frankincense
  • clary sage
  • myrrh
  • Anti-Age Synergy
  • Soft Skin Synergy

Oily Skin/Acne:

  • lemonDIY Facial Cleansing Grains
  • lime
  • orange
  • tangerine
  • mandarin
  • bergamot
  • grapefruit
  • lavender
  • palmarosa
  • lemongrass
  • clary sage
  • ylang-ylang
  • cypress
  • juniper
  • tea tree
  • niaouli
  • frankincense
  • peppermint (take it easy with this one)
  • Acne Fighter Synergy

Normal Skin: Whatever smells best to you. 🙂

To avoid irritation, I recommend avoiding “hot” oils for facial care like cinnamon, clove, and ginger, as well as very strong herbal oils like oregano, and thyme. Rosemary can be helpful for oily/acne-prone skin, but use it extremely sparingly and very diluted since it is also quite strong.

d91718ff-9b6c-4773-96f6-eb714192c4df   778e73ab-9fb7-4bdb-96c4-d25e649517e2

(These photos show a similar cleansing grain formula to the sample recipe below, but it contains French Green Clay, hence the greener color compared to what you will see if you make the below recipe exactly.)

Sample DIY facial cleansing grains recipe based on the above formula (for normal skin, with antioxidant botanicals):

  • 2 cups Kaolin clay
  • 1 cup ground oats
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 3 Tablespoons combined (1 1/2 tablespoon each) powdered dried turmeric  and matcha tea
  • 20-40 drops each: lavender and lemon essential oils

Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health with the original “miracle grains” recipe.

61ig05-RXcL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_

Jill-family

About Jill: My husband and I live in Waco, TX, along with our two awesome young adult kids. I have a small business, selling handmade personal and home care products at our farmer’s market and local retail sites. I am also Kelly’s blog assistant. 🙂 I am passionate about real food nutrition, natural health, local food, and I love to cook. Fortunately we have access to lots of local food via our fantastic farmer’s market, nearby farms, and even a grocery store that sources much of its food locally.

See all of Jill's posts here.

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Comments

  1. Ciarra Tawnin says

    May 30, 2017 at 6:01 PM

    I had some unused white granulated sugar I will never consume, so I put it in the bath cupboard to do my face occasionally. The thought did cross my mind, because I do not use, or rarely use, anything on my skin that I wouldn’t put in my mouth. However I found that sugaring at this level, and massaging in until it gets dissolved and sticky, I can place my palms or fingers on my facial skin till it sticks and “wax” off unwanted hair! I have organic sugar, but I leave it in the kitchen cupboard for when I might need it for cooking.

    Reply
  2. Lisa Campbell says

    May 29, 2017 at 6:49 PM

    For those with normal skin, this is a lovely idea. But as a suffer of rosaecea for almost 4 decades, with open, weeping sores, any kind of abrasive, grain or masque is out. I gave away my spinning cleansing brush, stopped using abrasives and masques and have had perfect skin for years. The rest of you, have a ball!
    Lisa

    Reply
    • Jill Boman says

      May 30, 2017 at 1:21 PM

      Hi, Lisa! You’re right, an exfoliating cleanser would likely just irritate rosacea further. Do you have a functional medicine doctor or other natural healthcare provider working with you to identify the underlying cause? Skin conditions are almost always connected to the gut. My daughter healed severe acne using the GAPS diet, which is also used for eczema and autoimmune issues. Here’s a little article I found on skin conditions and gut health: https://chriskresser.com/the-gut-skin-connection-how-altered-gut-function-affects-the-skin/ You might want to explore the GAPS gut healing protocol, which is explained here: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/what-is-the-gaps-diet/ Also, you can find functional medicine doctors (often chiropractors with FM certification) in your area using a search engine on this site: https://functionalmedicinedoctors.com/

      Reply
  3. adaku egerega says

    March 18, 2017 at 12:21 AM

    Very educative and informstive. Well written, thk you.

    Reply
  4. Michael Bovaconti says

    August 14, 2016 at 6:21 AM

    Because that would take effort on our part. And Corporate Media tells us that they have all the products to take good care of us.

    Reply
  5. Marlene says

    June 7, 2016 at 12:14 PM

    I just purchased from you in Waco at the farmers market the mature skin cleansing grains, serum and happy deodorant. I would live the recipes as I am loving the products and don’t live in Waco to come and purchase on a regular basis. My email is [email protected]

    Reply
    • Jill says

      June 7, 2016 at 2:23 PM

      Hi, Marlene! I’m so glad you’ve been happy with the cleansing grains and powder deodorant! I’ll contact you via email. In the meantime, since you’ve seen the DIY Cleansing Grains post, have you seen the DIY Deodorant Powder one? https://kellythekitchenkop.com/homemade-deodorant-powder/

      Reply
  6. Erica says

    November 5, 2015 at 8:51 PM

    Great post! Cleansing grains have been around for ages–I know it’s an Ayurvedic beauty practice, so that might go back thousands of years.

    Reply
    • Jill says

      November 6, 2015 at 11:34 AM

      Oooh, cool, Erica! I didn’t know about it being an Ayurvedic beauty practice–Thanks for the extra info! Glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply
  7. Anna Paige says

    November 3, 2015 at 9:31 PM

    Awesome post! Can’t wait to try this. I just might be giving some jars away as Christmas goodies!

    Reply
  8. Sarah Schulte says

    October 27, 2015 at 1:59 AM

    Where would one purchase the clay?

    Reply
    • Kelly the Kitchen Kop says

      October 27, 2015 at 10:54 AM

      Sarah Schulte — Jill explains where you can get it and lists all the options in the post.

      Reply
  9. Jill says

    October 26, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    Hi, Carmen! I have never had that problem with cleansing grains, and I have never had a customer tell me they have had a problem with it clogging drains either. I am guessing that the amount used at one time is small enough, and it ends up so diluted with water as it rinses off and down the drain that it might be comparable to “dirty water”, in its effects (or lake thereof) on plumbing. I’m excited for you to try making this–you’re going to seriously love it (and maybe even get some Christmas gifts marked off your list too!)!

    Reply
    • Carmen says

      October 26, 2015 at 3:35 PM

      Hey thank you!! Yeah so going to do this for Christmas presents this year!! One quick question, from your list above, which clay would be best to use for sensitive skin? Mine tends to break out easily from anything too heavy, or oily for that matter… Which is the lightest of the clays on your list?

      Reply
      • Jill says

        October 26, 2015 at 4:33 PM

        Kaolin is always a safe bet, but I also think French Green and Rhassoul are gentle too. French Green is a little more detoxifying, so it might be better for skin prone to acne, and Rhassoul is great for drier skin types. You won’t find any of these oily, and the essential oils are added at a small enough amount that they won’t make your skin oily. I HAVE found though, that almond flour does slightly contribute some oil-based moisture (as it naturally contains almond oil), though using it shouldn’t leave your skin too “oily” in the amount the formula calls for. For sensitive skin, you might want to avoid the rougher exfoliants (like corn meal or poppyseeds). Cleansing grains clean really well, but your skin won’t have that “squeaky clean” feeling you get when you use soap that strips all the oil away. You’ll love it!

        Reply
  10. Carmen says

    October 26, 2015 at 10:35 AM

    Hi! Just wondering about the possibility of this stuff clogging my drain with daily use? Any suggestions? PS, I would use oatmeal for my recipe and I know oatmeal can get really thick & gummy when water is added to it…
    Thank you so much for the recipe, either way I’m really excited to try it!

    Reply
    • Jill Boman says

      April 6, 2017 at 12:54 PM

      I’ve never had problems or heard of problems with cleansing grains clogging drains. The amount you use at a time is pretty small, and by the time it goes down the drain it’s very diluted.

      Reply

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