This Oatmeal Cleansing Facial Scrub has been a go-to for me for many years. It’s both gentle and smoothing on my skin, and it’s perfect for traveling.
I’ve been using this simple Oatmeal Cleansing Scrub for years, and I love the results! In it’s simplest form, it’s just 1 ingredient. But you can also add different extras for more benefits which you’ll find below.
It’s a very gentle scrub that leaves your skin smooth and soft. It’s also very easy to make, and you can store it for months. This makes a great natural treatment to take traveling because it’s dry, and doesn’t need to be refrigerated like other fresh treatments. I always take this oatmeal scrub for everyday use, and a container of baking soda for my weekly Baking Soda Exfoliation.
This recipe was first published this scrub in 2013, and I’ve been using it ever since. I figured that because it’s more than stood the test of time I needed to give this one an update with all new photos! Everything else is completely the same.
Oatmeal Scrub Variations
- Add a drizzle of honey to the oat/water paste described below.
- Or you can add 1 Tablespoon of plain yogurt to the ground oats.
I love either one of these variations and use both often. I find the honey very soothing to my sensitive skin, and the yogurts works wonders on smoothing and softening my skin!
How to make this Oatmeal Cleansing Facial
You can use a blender or food processor to make this scrub, or you can buy oat flour for the most gentle cleansing scrub. Place 1 cup oatmeal in a mini food processor and pulse until fine with some small pieces of oats. This recipe makes enough for about 16 treatments.
How to use this facial treatment
Take 1-2 Teaspoons for your face or 1 Tablespoon for your face and neck area. Mix the ground oatmeal with just enough water to form a paste. At this point, you can add an optional small drizzle (less than 1 Teaspoon) of honey for it’s extra moisturizing and antibacterial properties.
Using your fingers, gently massage the oatmeal mixture into your face and neck area using your ring finger lightly on the skin around the eye area. Rinse and moisturize for the day/night.
This oatmeal cleanser is a great everyday option instead of soap. My face has been soap free for 5 years now, (make that over 12 years now without soap!) and my skin just keeps getting healthier. If you’re going to be using this oatmeal cleanser more than twice a week, make sure the oats are ground really fine, or buy oat flour.
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Oatmeal Cleansing Facial Scrub
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 16 treatments 1x
Description
A shelf stable, travel friendly, homemade facial treatment!
Ingredients
1 cup oatmeal, or 1 cup oat flour
Optional:
A drizzle of honey added to the oat/water paste
Or a tablespoon of plain yogurt to be mixed with the ground oats
Instructions
If you’re using the oatmeal, process in a blender or food processor until it’s finely powdered with a few small pieces.
To use, mix together 1 Tablespoon of the ground oats with just enough water to make a paste.
Gently massage the oatmeal mixture into your face and neck area. Let the facial treatment rest on your face if you added either the honey or the yogurt to let the benefits sink in.
Rinse and moisturize for the day/night.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Category: DIY
- Method: Food Processor
I have really sensitive skin and eczema. I use an oatmeal and green tea face mask about once a week. Is it safe to wash my face with just the oatmeal and water (I break out if I apply honey topically) everyday? I’m trying to stray away from commercial facial washes but I still want clean skin.
You can definitely use just the oatmeal, it makes for a great way to clean your skin even without the honey. I have very sensitive skin too, and my favorite treatments are this oatmeal scrub, my Pineapple Facial, and the Oil Cleansing method which might work for you too. I’m not sure if the pineapple facial would be problematic since you’re having trouble with honey, but if the fruit sugar doesn’t both your skin you might like that one as well because it exfoliates without abrasion and pineapple is anti-inflammatory. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/diy-homemade-pineapple-facial/
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/facial-oil-cleansing-method/
Can you suggest any home remedy to get glowing and fair skin.
I’ve found the best thing for glowing skin is to drink enough water every day and eat a healthy diet, glowing skin comes from the inside out. On that note, I’ve been adding Hawaiian spirulina to my green smoothies for a while lately and it’s really helped my skin be smoother and glow more because it’s packed with beauty vitamins. For DIY skin treatments, my favorites for my skin are my Oil Cleansing Method and my Pineapple Facial several times a week. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/facial-oil-cleansing-method/
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/diy-homemade-pineapple-facial/
Hey. What kind of oatmeal did you use?
I used regular rolled oats. I hope you enjoy this facial and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions! 🙂
I am facing discoloration of my facial skin, so can i use this oat meat pack with milk everyday??
I personally don’t use any facial treatment every day except the Oil Cleansing Method which I’ll leave you a link to. I would recommend talking to a professional skin care person because discoloration can be helped by facial treatments, but it’s a good idea to look into the underlying cause.
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/facial-oil-cleansing-method/
Hi…u mentioned that you have been washing Ur face with just plain oatmeal and water…n u don’t use makeup..so do u mix ur own moisturiser as well..n do u use sunblock..
I don’t currently use a sunblock, my skin doesn’t burn easily, but I do put a hat on when I know I’ve been out long enough. For moisturizers, my 3 favorites are my Lemon Cream Body Butter (not meant for the face) Easy Buttercream Lotion (all time favorite) and my Cooling Aloe Mint Lotion (favorite in the summer months. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
Hello , can I make face pack with water and store it? Or should I add water to the powder of oats as i use? Please let me know
Any oats mixed with water will grow bacteria over time even if refrigerated, so you always want to take a little out of your storage container and mix it with water, fresh for every facial treatment.
Hello i just wanted to ask what do you use to make it preserve it.
You don’t need any preservatives for this facial scrub because it’s just dry oatmeal in a jar which lasts for months. When you use the scrub that’s when you mix it with water and the optional honey which is used right away. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
The first time I used this oatmeal scrub, it gave me wonderful hydrating results.
But when I used it for the second time .i.e today,Tiny rashes have come out on my entire face. I just don’t understand what went wrong.
This scrub is usually quite mild and great for most skin types, but there are a few things to consider for sure. I’d suggest seeking out advice from a skin care professional, you may have had some kind of mildly allergic reaction, or it could have been coincidence that you had both a rash and used the scrub on the same day. There are so many variables and each person is so different that I couldn’t tell you exactly what happened, but definitely seek out what’s best for your skin. Other very mild facial treatments that I love are my DIY Pineapple Facial which can be perfect for anyone who has problems with scrubs, (which can be irritating to very sensitive skin). Also the Oil Cleansing Method is both moisturizing and lightly exfoliating along with being very gentle on your skin. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions! 🙂 (And just one more side note, I like to switch up facial treatments so as not to use the same thing too many days in a row which I’ve found to be irritating for my skin.)
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/diy-homemade-pineapple-facial/
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/facial-oil-cleansing-method/
Can we use this cleaner after spending a day outside in pollution? Does it effectively remove all the traces of light make up, oil and other impurities from the skin?
I do know that this scrub is very effective at removing excess oil without drying out your skin, but I don’t know if it’s effective against pollution/impurities or makeup. Some people use the oil cleansing method to get rid of makeup and clean their skin, I don’t know how well that works because I don’t wear makeup, but I do love how clean and balanced my skin is with the oil cleansing method. I’ll include the link so that you can read about the Oil Cleansing Method, and I hope this helps.
https://getinspiredeveryday.com/lifestyle/facial-oil-cleansing-method/
I’m a 28 years old guy and i use oat meal face pack everyday with cucumber and tomatoe. Is that okay to use it everyday? Does it have any adverse effects…?
I have no idea if it’s ok to use everyday, but I’ve never heard of any adverse side effects from oatmeal because it’s so mild. I’m sorry I don’t have an exact answer for you, but with everyone’s skin being so different, there’s no way for me to say how it will affect you. Just from my personal experience I like to mix up the different treatments I use on my face because they all seem to have different benefits. My personal favorites are the Pineapple Facial and the Oil Cleansing Method, (both are on the blog). The Oil Cleansing Method is the only treatment I’ve use day after day on my skin, but my skin is sensitive and oil cleansing seems to be the best treatment for it.
How long will a batch of the mixture last?
It will easily last for 1 month or longer if your oatmeal was fresh to begin with. After a few months on the shelf at room temperature, grains can start to turn rancid, so I always try to use mine up within a month or so.