Find out how to make an exfoliating DIY cleansing balm with jojoba beads! This DIY facial scrub is a four-in-one treatment: the non-comedogenic oils and butters remove makeup and moisturise the skin, clay draws out impurities and cleanses, and the jojoba beads exfoliate your face. This gentle face polish and non-abrasive homemade exfoliator is suitable for all skin types and can ease a multitude of skin problems.

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Exfoliating DIY Cleansing Balm with Jojoba Beads

Whether you need an exfoliator for oily skin, a homemade face scrub for glowing skin, or a gentle cleanser balm – my jojoba beads scrub recipe fits the bill. This gentle cleansing face scrub is very versatile. The DIY face polish takes off makeup, whisks away sunscreen and cleanses impurities.

I originally wanted to make a gentle homemade face scrub for sensitive skin, but the all-natural beauty recipe I ended with is a medley of a DIY cream cleanser, a homemade facial scrub, and a moisturizing exfoliator for dry skin. Whatever you want to call my easy exfoliating scrub, this DIY cleansing balm with jojoba beads will soften the face and make your skin radiant and refreshed.

And if you want to see more homemade face cleansers, try this bamboo face scrub, our DIY cleansing milk, and this emulsified rose cleansing balm.

What are jojoba beads and how to use them in a jojoba beads scrub recipe

Before talking about the hero in this exfoliating DIY cleansing balm, jojoba beads, let’s have a quick look at other exfoliators that are often found in facial scrubs:

Microbeads

Many non-natural face scrubs and beauty products contain microbeads, which are tiny balls of plastic. On the plus side, microbeads are gentle and won’t harm your skin. But they are synthetically created and pollute the environment, endangering sea life.

What about natural exfoliators?

I think we can all agree that microbeads are not a good choice for a facial scrub, but what about natural alternatives like nutshells, fruit pulp, volcanic rock or salt? These natural scrub ingredients are undoubtedly better for the environment, but not necessarily for your face.

It all comes down to the particle size and shape of the exfoliator. Large, irregularly shaped particles can be rough on the skin and cause micro tears and skin abrasion. Salt and sugar scrubs are a wonderful natural exfoliator for the body but can be too abrasive for the face.

So, what does a lady do? Whip up a gentle facial scrub with jojoba beads!

What are jojoba beads and how to use them in a gentle DIY face scrub

Are jojoba beads natural? Yes, jojoba beads are naturally sourced. The tiny exfoliating beads are made from the liquid wax of the jojoba shrub. The wax is dehydrogenated to a solid form, called jojoba ester, which is also known as jojoba beads.

Jojoba beads are biodegradable, and the smooth round shape qualifies these natural scrub beads for gentle face polish recipes and homemade exfoliating scrubs. Seriously, if you’re not using jojoba beads in your DIY face scrub, you’re missing out.

Other ingredients for the DIY cleansing balm

If you’re looking for a DIY cleansing balm for acne-prone skin, you should try this gentle facial scrub DIY. I used only natural butters and oils that rank zero on the comedogenic scale, meaning these non-comedogenic oils do not tend to clog pores or aggravate acne. Let’s see what materials we need to make this non-abrasive exfoliator:

Mango butter

Mango butter is quickly absorbent and has a wonderfully soft, non-greasy texture. This nutrient-rich plant butter provides long-lasting moisturization and strengthens the skin’s elasticity. The high levels of vitamins and antioxidants help to combat free radical damage, which is important to slow down skin aging.

Murumuru butter

Murumuru butter is a plant-based fat obtained from the nuts of the murumuru palm tree. The butter has healing and anti-inflammatory properties that calm irritated skin. Murumuru butter can help to ease the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, while also being very nourishing and deeply hydrating. The high vitamin A content makes the butter a great choice for homemade facial scrubs for aging skin.

You can substitute murumuru butter for shea butter in this exfoliating scrub for face, but I highly recommend you give the former a try to make this DIY cream cleanser.

Argan oil

Argan oil is one of the best non-comedogenic oils for skincare and boasts a high squalene, vitamin E and essential fatty acids content. Squalene works as an antioxidant and emollient, as well as regulating the production of oil and sebum on the skin.

Less-expensive fractionated coconut oil can be used in place of argan oil if preferred. And unlike coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil rates zero on the comedogenic scale.

Kaolin clay

Kaolin clay adds skin-cleansing power to this DIY facial scrub. I used French blue clay which gave the homemade exfoliator for face a lovely blue colour. But you can use white kaolin clay, rose clay, or illite clay.

Olivem 1000 (optional)

Although the oils and clay do a great job at melting make-up, Olivem 1000 can be used to enhance the emulsifying effect and create an emulsifying cleaning balm. Olivem is a natural emulsifier and gentle surfactant derived from olive oil.

This ingredient is very viscous, but surprisingly easy to remove. As an added benefit, it’s completely hypoallergenic and is therefore ideal for sensitive skin.

To use it melt 1 tsp / 5 g / oz together with the oils and proceed with recipe as described.

Optiphen Plus (optional)

Optiphen Plus is a liquid paraben-free preservative that protects cosmetic formulations form bacteria, yeast and mould growth. Although oil-based products free from water don’t require a preservative, a reader noted that cleansing balms are used near water, which can lead to spillage.

You can add Optiphen to ensure your product is safe even in case water is accidentally introduced to the balm. Otherwise be careful that no water gets into the balm when scooping product from the jar.

If you decide to use Optiphen, add 10 drops when whipping the balm.

Another additional benefit is that Optiphen also acts as a humectant and

Essential oils for exfoliating DIY cleansing balm

You may notice that this homemade scrub recipe doesn’t contain essential oils. Essential oils are powerful ingredients in DIY beauty products, but they can be irritating, especially for sensitive or inflamed skin.

If you know that your skin reacts well to essential oils, feel free to add 3 drops lavender essential oil for normal skin, 3 drops tea tree essential oil for oil and acne-prone skin, or 3 drops chamomile for sensitive skin.

But as I said, this natural cleansing balm already offers plenty of skincare benefits, so the use of essential oils isn’t necessary for this homemade face scrub.

How to make exfoliating DIY cleansing balm with jojoba beads – Gentle facial scrub step-by-step tutorial

You’ll love that this DIY jojoba beads scrub recipe doesn’t take a long time to make!  Here are the quick steps:

1. Melt the oils – Add the mango butter, murumuru butter, and argan oil into a heat-resistant mixing bowl. Warm in a water bath until the ingredients are melted. Be careful that no water spills into the oil. Alternatively, melt the butters and oil in the microwave.
2. Add the clay – Once the ingredients have melted, remove the bowl from the water bath and add the clay. If using essential oils, add them now.
3. Whip the cleansing balm – Whip the mixture with a handheld blender fitted with the whisk attachment until soft and fluffy and doubled in volume.
4. If the mixture doesn’t become creamy after a few minutes, put the bowl in the freezer for 2 to 3 minutes and then continue whisking.
5. Add the jojoba beads – Stir the jojoba beads into the DIY cleansing balm.
6. Store the DIY facial scrub – Transfer the mixture into airtight glass jars or storage containers.

How to use the gentle exfoliating DIY cleansing balm with jojoba beads

This DIY facial scrub with jojoba beads is suitable for all skin types and can be used daily or as needed. In the morning, you can use the gentle face polish to cleanse the skin. At night, I like to use the face exfoliator to remove makeup and combine it with another cleanser for double cleansing.

To use, take a small amount of DIY cleansing balm out of the jar with a cosmetic spatula, and apply in dots all over your face. Using your fingertips, gently massage the face scrub into the skin in small, circular motions. Rinse off with plenty of warm water and continue with the rest of your skincare routine.

When using the homemade face scrub, be careful not to get any water into the jar.

Shelf life and storage

Store the DIY cleansing balm with jojoba beads in a dry, dark place, for example, a cupboard, away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Storing at room temperature is fine for moderate and cool climates.

If you live in a hot or very humid environment, it may be better to keep the exfoliating face scrub in the refrigerator to avoid the product melting in high temperatures. Refrigerated, the cleansing balm will become harder, but you can make the scrub soft by rubbing it between your fingertips.

Since the DIY cleanser balm with jojoba beads doesn’t contain water, no preservative is needed, and the shelf life is 1 year if stored correctly.

More homemade cleansing balm recipes

Want more DIY cleansing balms? Then try these DIY facial cleanser recipes:

• DIY Rose Cleansing Balm
• DIY Emulsifying Cleansing Balm with Blue Tansy
• Chocolate Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm

More homemade winter skincare ideas

Whether you need more winter skincare ideas or just enjoy making natural products, the following homemade beauty recipes will make your skin looking and feeling great!

Bath & Body

• Hawaiian black lava bath salt with cornflower and hibiscus
• moisturizing snowflake bath bombs
• DIY moisturizing soap for dry skin
• body lotion for dry skin with cornflower and chamomile

Face

• 6 blue clay mask recipes
• hydrating eye cream with birch sap
• healing lip balm for dry lips
• face moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin

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Irena xx