8 Recipes for Kombucha SCOBY Skin Care and Hair Care (2024)

If you’ve been making kombucha for any length of time, then you know that you end up with a lot of leftover SCOBY. You can make delicious jerky with all the extras or give it to friends to start their own kombucha.

But what else can you do with it? Hold on, don’t toss it in the trash!

Here, we will look at eight ways SCOBY can be incorporated into your well-being routines to reduce costs and improve your skin and hair’s health. SCOBY skin care can change up your wellness routine.

The Benefits of SCOBY Skin Care

When we think of our wellbeing, we often forget that what’s good for our insides is also fantastic for the outside. But SCOBY skin care products can make a big improvement in your health.

SCOBY contains lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and probiotics that can detoxify the skin, slow the development of wrinkles, reduce pore size, and ease acne issues.

That might sound like a bunch of beauty industry nonsense, but there are actual studies to back it up.

Under the microscope, the layers of a SCOBY reveal nanostructures made out of 37% crystalline structure and 63% nanofibril structure. This composition can be an effective carrier of beneficial products to our skin.

In other words, kombucha SCOBY contains both the skin-boosting components and the carrier needed to apply them. It’s a do-it-all drink that’s good for our insides and outsides.

To break it all down, kombucha contains probiotic organisms like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus cereus, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii. It also has Saccharomyces species yeasts. All of these are healthy for our bodies inside and out.

Let’s look at how SCOBY skin care works. The low pH of kombucha allows good bacteria to grow.

These bacteria assist in regenerating human skin cells, as researchers at the Human Neurobehavioural Laboratory, Research Centre for Human Development, and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa found and published in the journal Foods.

The pH balance and composition of the SCOBY also support a healthy microbiome, which re-enforces the skin’s natural ability to protect against environmental impacts caused by the sun, everyday pollution, and free radicals.

Not only does it help your skin protect itself, but the ingredients in kombucha can suppress harmful pathogens like Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermis, which cause things like acne and eczema, as well as internal illnesses.

SCOBY’s consist of many of the same ingredients found in commercial beauty products that moisturize, detoxify, rejuvenate, exfoliate, freshen, and tone.

You can also combine them with other ingredients to enhance their beneficial properties. A study published in Molecules shows that berry leaves fermented in kombucha had high levels of antioxidants.

Doing a skin sensitivity test on all homemade products is always advisable to ensure no reactions before doing the complete treatment.

If you are pregnant, seek advice before using any essential oils, as some are not recommended for pregnant people.

1. Exfoliating SCOBY Body Scrub

Our skin regulates our internal temperature, acts as a sensory organ, and protects us from injury. It also helps keep moisture and other vital components inside our bodies.

To keep our skin in tip-top condition, we can support it in getting rid of debris and old, dead cells, and by helping it build up its protective barrier. Exfoliation aids with cleansing the skin, but also adds a glow factor, which most of us strive for.

To be clear, exfoliation isn’t necessary to keep your skin healthy. That’s a myth sold to us by the beauty industry in order to make businesses more money and encourage you to believe that you need to improve your appearance.

But your skin is capable of taking care of itself. Messing with it by using harsh exfoliating scrubs does more harm than good.

That said, even healthy skin doesn’t always look like we want it to. Flakes, wrinkles, and dullness are all normal parts of healthy skin but not necessarily something we want to see. We can gently exfoliate using a SCOBY skin care exfoliant to get rid of all that.

Remember to start slowly and be gentle. If your skin turns red or starts to burn or itch, stop. That isn’t a sign that you’re removing bad stuff from your skin; it’s a sign that you’re harming it.

This is such a simple recipe, but the results speak for themselves. This recipe makes approximately one cup of product.

Ingredients

• A one-inch-wide, six-inch-long strip of SCOBY
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of coconut sugar
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp kombucha liquid (having been fermented for at least 14 days)

Method

1. Blend the oats using a high-speed food blender or processor. Set aside.
2. Blitz up the SCOBY piece along with the kombucha liquid to a consistency like applesauce.
3. In a bowl, mix the prepared oats, SCOBY puree, olive oil, and sugar. Don’t be tempted to mix it up too much. This mix should be lumpy for exfoliation purposes.
4. Apply gently to wet skin and wash off thoroughly.

2. Clay and Kombucha Clarity Mask

When family responsibilities and budget mean you can’t get to the spa, but you want to pamper yourself, this SCOBY skin care option is the solution. You can entertain the kids by cracking the mask when it’s dry.

Clay dries out the skin, creating the appearance of smaller pores, and making skin temporarily more matte. The warming element that a clay mask brings signals blood is being pumped to the surface of the skin, bringing rejuvenating properties.

The combo is a one-two punch to make your skin look better afterward. This recipe makes approximately one application.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp kombucha liquid (having been fermented for at least 14 days)
• 1 Tbsp kaolin clay
• 1 tsp rosewater or orange blossom water

Method

1. Mix all ingredients to make a smooth paste. Add a little extra rosewater or orange blossom water to make it smooth, if required.
2. Apply to the face, avoiding the eyes and lips.
3. Allow to dry.
4. Rinse off well and pat dry.

3. Kombucha Refreshing Facial Toner

Toners and skin fresheners can clean the skin’s surface, removing dirt, excess oils, and dead skin cells. This SCOBY skin care toner adds nutrients as it tones.

Clean skin can look better, but toners aren’t necessary for skin health. Remember, the beauty industry doesn’t want you to believe it, but our skin will care for itself.

Still, this can be a refreshing way to give skin a boost before a big event or after a rough day. Sometimes, the benefits of mood-lifting spray are more mental than physical, but either way, it works.

Toner as a cool spritz helps reduce the appearance of pore size in times of heat and stress, so store this one in the fridge for extra coolness on hot days or for hot flashes. This recipe makes approximately a quarter cup.

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp kombucha liquid (fermented for at least 14 days).
• 2 Tbsp rosewater, orange blossom water, or filtered spring water.
• 2-4 drops essential oil. Use lavender, chamomile, geranium, or ylang-ylang for sensitive skin.

Method

1. In a small glass spray bottle, add all the ingredients.
2. Shake to mix.
3. Spray onto cotton balls to wipe your face, or spray directly your body. If applying to the face, avoid the eye area.
4. If pregnant, avoid pungent essential oils, particularly in the first trimester.

4. Kombucha Rejuvenating Face Cream

It’s crucial to assist the skin in protecting itself. Your skin is the first defense from environmental pressures and disease. Eating well, avoiding too much sunlight, sleeping well, and reducing stress are the most important ways to protect your skin from the inside.

SCOBY skin care moisturizing creams can help protect your skin from the outside.

Maintaining moisture prevents cracks and flaking that expose skin to irritants, and this face cream can help retain moisture. This recipe makes approximately one cup of product.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of carrier oil. Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, or jojoba oil all work well.
• 1 six-inch strip of inch-wide SCOBY.
• 1/4 cup kombucha liquid (fermented for at least 14 days).
• 4 drops of frankincense essential oil.
• 4 drops of lavender essential oil.
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil or substitute with softer chamomile, ylang-ylang, or geranium essential oil if you’re prone to redness.
• Rosewater (optional)

Method

1. Slowly melt the coconut oil (if using), and let it cool before proceeding. There is no need to heat if using olive oil or jojoba oil as the carrier oil. You want a runny consistency for blending.
2. Place all ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender.
3. Blitz well; it will look like baby food, but you will apply it to your face, so smooth is good.
4. Add extra kombucha or rosewater if it is too gloopy on the first blend.
5. Apply to the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.
6. Store in a jar in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.

5. Revitalizing Kombucha Hair Mask

We all love shiny hair and luscious locks. This hair mask helps make your hair look more moist and healthy.

If you have dyed or bleached hair, supporting your locks is even more important. We all know that you can’t “repair” hair. It’s dead, so you can’t bring it back from the dead. But you can sure make it look better and keep it strong so it doesn’t break as easily.

This recipe will do just that and makes approximately five ounces.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of filtered water
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp jojoba oil
• 3 ounces unflavored kombucha liquid (fermented for at least 14 days)
• 1 four-inch long, inch-wide strip of SCOBY
• 2-4 drops of essential oil such as lavender, ylang-ylang, geranium, or frankincense

Method

1. In a blender, mix all the ingredients.
2. Before showering, apply the mixture thinly to the hair. Avoid the scalp and face area to avoid irritation.
3. Leave for 10-15 minutes before washing your hair with your regular shampoo.

6. Soothing SCOBY and Aloe Vera Balm

This SCOBY skin care balm is a handy on-the-spot treatment for irritated spots or times when we’ve had more sun than usual.

Using good beeswax helps give this balm a more solid form but also acts as a preservative to make it last longer. This produces approximately one cup of product.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil (avoid runny oils)
• 2 Tbsp aloe vera gel
• 1 four-inch long, inch-wide piece of SCOBY
• 4 Tbsp Kombucha liquid (fermented for at least 14 days)
• 2-4 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 oz. local beeswax
• 2-4 drops of tea tree essential oil

Method

1. Place the aloe vera, SCOBY, and kombucha liquid in a high-speed blender or food processor.
2. Blitz until smooth.
3. Combine the coconut oil and beeswax by melting them together.
4. Add the essential oil to the warm oil mixture and let it cool slightly.
5. Mix into the aloe vera and SCOBY puree before the coconut oil and wax return to a solid state. Pot up in a glass jar and let it cool completely before using.
6. For extra coolness on application, keep in the fridge.

7. SCOBY Gardeners Hand Cream

Hands do it all, and we often neglect them until they’re sore. Keep this cream on hand if you are working the land, garden, or homestead. Using this SCOBY skin care hand cream frequently will pay dividends.

You can make approximately one cup of product with this recipe.

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp grated beeswax
• 2 Tbsp kombucha liquid (fermented for at least 14 days)
• 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1 four-inch long piece of one-inch-wide SCOBY
• 2-4 drops tea tree essential oil

Method

1. In a high-speed food processor or blender, blitz the SCOBY with the kombucha liquid.
2. Melt the coconut oil and beeswax into the olive oil. Let this mixture cool a bit, but not to a solid consistency.
3. Add all ingredients, including the tea tree oil, and blend.
4. Rub small amounts into the hands before and after working the garden. Wash off 10-15 minutes after application. Don’t use it when operating machinery in case your hands are slippery.

8. Slap and Dash SCOBY Face Mask

When time is short, give this SCOBY skin care beauty hack a go.

It may seem bizarre to put SCOBY straight on your face, like an alien has attacked you, but it will give your skin a considerable boost and requires no prep time.

Slap some SCOBY on your skin and let it on for 10-15 minutes. Reward yourself with a lie down or some time with a gooe book while it gets to work.

If you can’t bring yourself to do it when the SCOBY is in its pure form, blend it up into a puree with a bit of kombucha liquid and apply it.