The Repurposing Life

Homemade Carrot Seed Oil Facial Scrub

The essential oil extracted from carrot seeds has broad health and beauty benefits discussed in a previous post. If you’re interested in greater detail, read this PDF on the Carrot Seed Oil Health and Beauty Benefits. There are numerous therapeutic uses for carrot seed oil. In this post we share a recipe for a homemade facial scrub with carrot seed oil. And if you liked this recipe and are enjoying using carrot seed oil, check out our other homemade carrot seed oil recipes

Getting rid of dead skin by exfoliating with a facial scrub reduces buildup of dirt and bacteria in the pores, removes dead skin cells, and helps prevent whiteheads and blackheads. A face scrub, or facial scrub, is a gentle exfoliating cleanser. It typically consists of small granular particles that act as a physical abrasive that “scrubs off” old skin cells.

This allows newer skin cells to emerge, resulting in fresher, brighter–looking skin, while additionally deeply cleansing it. This type of cleansing smooths and softens the skin. The exfoliating process encourages blood flow to the surface of the skin, giving you a warm, healthy glow. Bonus.

The key to making the best homemade facial scrubs is in the ingredients. While gently exfoliating is important, what you use to exfoliate is crucial to maintaining healthy skin. Most off–the–shelf facial scrubs contain chemicals that may seem great at first, but over time can cause problems for your skin. Not to mention they are packaged in single–use plastic that is seldom (if ever) recycled.

These also contain “microbeads”, which are really just microplastics that end up in the local water supply, rivers, lakes, other waterways and ultimately, the oceans. Where these microbeads wreak havoc in ecosystems and are eaten by sea life (including fish), which then enter into the human food–chain.

Humans eat this sea life and unwittingly also eat these microbeads. These micro– and nanoplastics cause devastating harm. Since the human body is not equipped to know how to process these particles, it defends itself from these “threats” by “trapping” them deep inside bone and muscle tissue as well as internal organs, where these polymers remain lodged leeching petrochemicals into our entire system.

The great news is that it is very easy to make your own face scrub right at home, including using used coffee grounds (you can also substitute raw grains of rice, polenta, etc.). Let’s dig right into this great homemade exfoliating facial scrub that is equally beneficial for men as it is for women.

Facial Scrub Ingredients

• Coffee contains antioxidants (including caffeic acid) that can help heal the skin, but it also has just the right texture to work as a scrub, helping slough off those dead skin cells. And let’s not forget that enticing aroma that makes for a great morning wake–up call. While you’re keeping the environment plastic– and petrochemical–free, why not go the extra mile and make this facial scrub with used coffee grounds for a zero–waste approach?
• Coconut oil is a natural antifungal and antimicrobial ingredient. It is highly emollient which helps moisturize the skin. 
• Raw honey is great for healing skin and helps absorb and retain moisture, which helps keep skin soft and dewy. This homemade facial scrub with honey is just perfect for your weekly skin regimen.
• Carrot seed oil is amber in color and is extracted from carrot seeds. It has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties. It can do wonders for dry, sun–damaged skin. Carrot seed oil works well for both dry and oily complexions.
• Tea tree essential oil can really help the skin stay healthy and blemish–free, making it a great part of this homemade facial scrub for acne. Like carrot seed oil, tea tree essential oil contains antibacterial properties known as terpenes.

How to Make Homemade Facial Scrub

By blending a few ingredients together, you can make an amazing facial scrub, leaving you with soft, supple and glowing skin. This homemade coffee facial scrub recipe is sure to be one of your favorites. You can make this homemade facial scrub right in the same jar that you plan to store it, or you can make it in a small (clean) bowl and transfer it to a jar (glass is best) with a tight–fitting lid.

Pour the coconut oil and honey into the jar or bowl. Next, add the coffee grounds. You can even use this morning’s coffee grounds—provided you’ve spread them out on a flat surface and allowed them to dry again. If you don’t drink coffee, you can purchase organic ground coffee for this recipe. But first, swing by your local coffee shop, they often bag up their used grounds by the pound and just give them away for free to anyone who asks. I know! Right?

Whisk the ingredients together. Add the carrot seed oil and tea tree essential oil next. Whisk all of these ingredients together until they are well combined. You can store the product in the fridge to help preserve it. That’s it, you are all set to do a facial scrub. Let’s try it!

Make sure you start off with clean skin, so wash your face first. Pat your skin dry, then use a spoon or small spatula to scoop out a little facial scrub (avoid using your fingers, since this introduces bacteria into the mixture every time you use it). Stand over the sink or do this in the shower to minimize the mess. Remember, this scrub is made with coffee grounds, which can cause dark staining of your bathroom surfaces. So you’ll need extra elbow grease next time you clean your bathroom.

Gently rub the scrub over your face and neck (you can even scrub the backs of your hands). Make sure to avoid the eyes (the alkaloids in the coffee grounds can really sting). Once you have covered all areas, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. Then gently rinse with barely–warm water. For best results, allow skin to air dry. Apply a dab of coconut, babassu or argan oils, or your regular facial moisturizer. Repeat once or twice a week for best results.

Tips on Using Carrot Seed Oil

• High concentration of any of the ingredients listed may irritate your skin. So, do a 24–hour skin patch test before applying it on the face.
• Moisturize your skin with rose water after any of these face treatments.
• Include a nutrient–dense food diet to make your skin healthy from the inside.
• Water–rich fruits and vegetables are good for your skin.
• Excess use of commercially manufactured skin care products isn’t good for your skin, especially those containing dyes, perfumes and petrochemicals (sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, glycols, etc.).
• Do regular exercise, drink lots of water and avoid stress.

Precautions

Remember, carrot seed oil, carrot seed essential oil and carrot oil are distinctively different from one another, so pay special attention to which you’re actually purchasing. Carrot seed oil should always be from organic carrots (if available). Carrot seed oil can be used in essential oil diffusers and various aromatherapy practices.

It can also be applied topically directly on the skin to take advantage of its benefits. When applying carrot seed oil topically (on your skin), always perform a 24–hour skin patch test first using 1–2 drops, read how for further details. Store in tightly–sealed dark glass containers; in a cool, dark place away from light. Carrot seed oil can be found at most health food stores or online.

Many sources suggest using carrot seed oil in food recipes and ingesting it in a variety of ways. There has been no research conducted on the efficacy of ingesting this oil. In general, it is inadvisable to ingest any essential oils. If you do wish to utilize this product in this way, first consult with your primary care or naturopathic physician before ingesting it in any way.

Pregnant and nursing women should especially avoid ingesting it. If nursing or pregnant, consult your physician prior to using carrot seed oil. Do not use carrot seed oil on children. Some brands clearly labels their essential oils “KidSafe” on the bottle if it can be used on children ages 2–10. As with all carrier oil and essential oil products, be aware of the quality of what you purchase and always buy from reputable, well–sourced manufacturers.

Do not apply carrot seed oil directly to broken or damaged skin. Do not apply directly to open wounds. Never use carrot seed oil in eyes or in mucous membranes. If you experience an allergic reaction (externally or otherwise) after using carrot seed oil, discontinue use immediately and consult your physician. Carrot seed oil has no known medicinal interactions.

Always dilute carrot seed oil with a carrier oil due to its high concentration and high comedogenic rating. Common carrier oils you could use include babassu, argan, sunflower, sweet almond or hemp seed. Begin with a small percentage dilution ratio, and patch test on skin to see how your skin reacts, increasing the percentage dilution gradually until you see the desired results.

In general, essential oils should never be used by people who suffer from epilepsy, as they could be overstimulating to the central nervous system, possibly leading to seizures.

Carrot seed oil contains high amounts of furanocoumarins, which could potentially increase sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) in the skin. It could also potentially cause other symptoms of hypersensitivity, as well as contact dermatitis. Take care when exposing your skin to the sun in the first 48 hours after applying the oil, and be sure to wear proper sunscreen.

Sources:
Carrot seed oil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot_seed_oil
DIY Face Scrub with Coffee
https://draxe.com/beauty/diy-face-scrub/
By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN, February 22, 2022