When I first started down the rabbit hole of natural skincare and cosmetics back in 2011, I learned about Magic Cleansing Grains, created by the one and only Rosemary Gladstar.
The Magic Grains include a minimal ingredient list of just oats, white clay, almonds, lavender, and rose petals ground into a powder.
This recipe is an even more basic version of that so you can easily get started. Gound oats and water is truly all you need to cleanse and exfoliate the skin. If you have some of the alternatives listed below, great! If not, don't sweat it.
So make a cup of tea and get cleansing!
Ingredients
I intentionally kept this recipe incredibly basic so that you can do it with what you have on hand but feel free to get creative and try different ingredients.
- 1 tablespoon ground oats
- 1-2 teaspoon of water
If you have any clay on hand (like bentonite or white clay) you can mix that in at a 1:1 ratio to oats, along with some water to make a paste. If you don't have any clay, no worries—skip that part and only use oats.
How to use exfoliating oat cleansing grains
Mix your ground oats with water to create a paste consistency. Gently massage the mixture into your skin and rinse away with warm water.
Alternatives
- Classic cleansing grains, called Miracle Grains by Rosemary Gladstar, are typically made with oat powder, almond powder, white clay, plus ground roses and lavender.
- For a more stimulating experience, add a pinch of ground cinnamon or ginger
- If you have it, add ground lavender buds and/or rose petals. Remember, just a pinch of lavender goes a LONG way.
- Instead of water, you can mix the grains with honey, avocado, pumpkin puree, or yogurt for a full-on kitchen cleansing mask.