Why it works: “Rice can absorb oil on your face much the same way it absorbs water when you cook it,” says Ahn. Try it at home: Tatcha’s The Rice Polish ($65; sephora.com) is a water-activated exfoliant of nourishing Japanese rice enzymes. Once it gets wet, the bran transforms into a creamy, rich foam to gently exfoliate and release debris. This treatment is also backed with anti-aging green tea and algae to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation. Why it works: Blood oranges contain citric acid, which may work as a natural exfoliant, and vitamin C, an antioxidant that may plump up the skin, says Cherie Ditre, an associate professor of clinical dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Penn Medicine at Radnor. Olive oil is a rich skin emollient, and it may decrease the irritation that can be caused from the use of a fruit acid, Berson explains. Try it at home: Slather on a heavy-duty body butter, like the Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter Tube ($13; pacificabeauty.com), a creamy concoction whipped up from fleshy mandarin and Italian sweet orange (coupled with a blend of emollient oils) to wrap your body in hydration. For your hair, try the Not Your Mother’s Sicilian Blood Orange & Black Currant Butter Masque ($9; ulta.com), which uses the same ingredients to quench your strands without weighing them down. Why it works: “Coffee grounds are a gentle, natural exfoliant,” says Downie. “Since they aren’t overly abrasive, it’s a nice way of removing dry skin on the body.” Plus, the caffeine in the coffee can temporarily give the skin a toned appearance and quell minor skin irritations. Try it at home: If reusing coffee grounds is not your idea of smart recycling, give your body a scrub-down with Frank Body’s Original Coffee Scrub ($10; ulta.com) instead. It contains roasted and ground robusta coffee beans and organic cacao extract to buff away dead cells, and cold-pressed almond and macadamia oil to hydrate over your freshly exfoliated skin. Why it works: Camellia oil is brimming with protein, says Jeanine Downie, a dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. “Protein penetrates the hair follicle, adds body and gloss, and enhances the quality of the hair.” Try it at home: There’s no need to employ manual labor; today, camellia oil is commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. For shinier strands, work Garnier Ultimate Blends Shiny Hair Oil Treatment ($7; garnierusa.com), which is formulated with a rich blend of argan and camellia oils, into clean, wet hair. Why it works: “When you wax or shave, you strip moisture away,” says Downie. Nut oil–based lotions and creams are ideal because they are loaded with moisturizing agents to hydrate the skin, while omega-3 fatty acids promote healing due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Certain nuts with a high dose of vitamin E have also been shown to keep the blood vessels dilated in order to defend the skin against certain disorders like acne, eczema and dark spots. Try it at home: Scrub yourself down with Tree Hut Body Scrub Brazilian Nut ($7; walgreens.com), and follow up with Tree Hut Brazilian Nut Body Butter ($7; bedbathandbeyond.com) to replenish compromised moisture levels. Why it works: Tea tree oil is a natural astringent, so it exfoliates the skin and unplugs clogged pores, says Diane Berson, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. It may also soothe puffiness, and it typically does not irritate most skin types. Try it at home: Slap on a face mask infused with the stuff, like the Innisfree My Real Squeeze Mask ($2; us.innisfree.com) or dab a dollop of the Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Skin Ointment ($11; cvs.com) on dry or irritated patches for more targeted treatment. Why it works: “Warm water relieves pain; relaxes muscles, tendons, and joints; and brings blood flow to the area,” says Michael J. Brunetti, a podiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Eucalyptus oil is a topical pain reliever, and lightly stepping on the flat stones massages the feet. Try it at home: Fill a basin with warm water and add two capfuls of Dr Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Deep Marine Sea Kelp Mineral Soak Purify & Hydrate ($6; ulta.com). After soaking your feet, exfoliate with Arm & Hammer Heels & Feet Moisturizing Scrub ($9; cvs.com), then moisturize with Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme ($10; walgreens.com).
