A Homemade Cinnamon, Ginger and Honey Scrub to Reduce Skin Inflammation

While market-sold beauty products brag of authenticity and enlist a wide range of skin concerns they are geared to tackle, it's certainly hard to commit to a formula off of the shelf—owing to the plethora of potential side effects it can have on your skin. On the other hand, grandmom-approved natural alternatives promise to offer similar benefits, minus the oh-so-toxic chemicals that may do more damage than good. 

So, why not give the age-old, tried-and-tested homemade recipes a fair shot? 

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Rinky Kapoor shares the recipe of an antioxidant-rich body scrub that is known to boost blood circulation and curb skin inflammation. 

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 tsp of ground Cinnamon

½ a cup of ground Cane Sugar

1 tbsp of Coconut Oil

1 tbsp of Honey

½ a tsp of Dried Ginger

1 tbsp of Castile Soap

 

Combine the above-mentioned ingredients and store the concoction in a glass jar. Generously apply the scrub over areas of your body and rub lightly. Wash off with lukewarm water afterwards. 

Offering the goodness of coconut oil, cinnamon, ginger, and honey, the ingredients present in this DIY body scrub act as anti-inflammatory agents and prevent breakouts without necessarily drying out your skin. Cinnamon contains plant compounds known as polyphenols—such as cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, and flavonoids—that limit free-radical damage and keeps signs of skin ageing in check. Similarly, ginger is infused with natural oils known as gingerols that reduce inflammation and pain and soothe irritated skin. 

Coconut oil provides moisturisation and hydration to your skin, while the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of honey fight acne and scarring. Plus, raw honey is known to be a natural exfoliator that draws away dull and flaky skin, giving way to glowing, rejuvenated skin underneath. 

 

Things to Keep in Mind While Trying Out a DIY Scrub

 

1) If you possess a dry skin type, avoid exfoliating more than once a month.

2) Do a patch test to ensure that the concoction doesn't cause an allergic reaction to your body.

3) Dry brushing before scrubbing will increase the benefits of using a body scrub. 

4) Ensure that you apply a generous amount of moisturiser on your skin, post-application of a body scrub. 

5) Store any DIY scrub in a clean, dry jar, away from direct sunlight.