Autumn is cornmeal season at my house: this wonderful gift from the indigenous American people cooks up into such terrific breads and puddings. But until recently, I didn’t know how great cornmeal is for the skin and other beauty uses.

Here are some fabulous easy ways to make a gentle exfoliant for more youthful skin, a nourishing facial mask, a great deodorizer for hands, a super rub for prettier feet, and much more, all with the golden goodness of cornmeal. It does a lot more than make cornbread!

Easy Exfoliant
Simply make a paste with cornmeal and water and apply to face or body, then rinse. This is a great way to smooth your arms and legs as well as your face.

Exfoliant for Sensitive or Dry Skin
Combine 2 tablespoons each of cornmeal, oatmeal, and wheat germ. To use, simply add enough water to a tablespoon or so of the mixture to make a paste. Apply to face, massaging gently, the rinse off. Mixture may be kept in a sealed container for quite some time.

Sweet Nourishing Facial Mask
Mix cornmeal, yogurt, and honey to form a creamy paste. Apply to skin and allow to remain on for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Super Deodorizer for Hands
Sprinkle a fresh lemon slice with cornmeal and use to scrub hands, then rinse with water.

Green Rub for Pretty Feet.

Make Your Own Pumice Soap
It’s so easy to do and makes a great cleanser and degreaser for really dirty hands:

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup grated pure bar soap
1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tablespoon water
1-2 drops essential oil, if desired

Pulse soap and cornmeal in a food processor until mixture is grainy. Remove from processor and place in a bowl along with oil and water, and essential oil if desired. Mix with hands and form into a ball. Allow to harden for at least 2 hours.