Making your own body scrubs.

In keeping with my goal to post more body product recipes, here is the body scrub recipe I use.
It should not be used on your face it's too abrasive for that sensitive skin.

Use in the bath or shower, rubbing the scrub all over your body then rinsing. Your skin will feel smooth and soft, use once every week to two weeks.

This recipe is embarrassingly simple, you can make your own in 2 minutes with ingredients already in your kitchen !

I used to teach workshops in making your own bath and body products. Here's information from the handout.

" The skin is one of the largest organs in the body; it protects us from the environment and regulates our body temperature. Body scrubs help to exfoliate or remove dead skin cells and impurities from the skin; this allows the skin to retain more moisture and for new skin to appear. Body scrubs also help to stimulate circulation. "


You can make your scrubs either with salt or sugar. Don't use fancy organic sugar or any salt with large crystals, your scrub will be too abrasive. As for which to choose, it's personal preference, salt can sting if you have any scratches or open wounds but other than that they are very similar.

Use an inexpensive olive oil not the fancy extra virgin kind.
You can use other kinds of oils like sweet almond oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil etc... if you prefer and have access to those.

You can keep your scrub unscented or use a small about of essential oil or extract.

Here is the basic recipe.

Ingredients
Yields 1 cup.

1 cup sea salt or regular white sugar
1/3 olive oil
10 drops essential oil or 1/4 teaspoon vanilla or lemon extra (optional)

1) In a measuring cup mix the olive oil and essential oil or extract if desired.

2) Place the sugar or salt into a small bowl.

The color in this scrub comes from the orange essential oil.

3) Add the olive oil and mix well. 

4)  Store in a container. You should use it with 3 to 4 months or refrigerate part of it. There are no preservatives so the oil will go rancid eventually. 

You can experiment with adding a teaspoon or so of other ingredients to your scrubs such as ground dried herbs, cosmetic clay, baking soda, almond meal, and ground oatmeal. Mix your dry ingredients together before adding the oil. Just be aware that with “food” ingredients your shelf life is shorter and may need to be refrigerated.

I love this French rose clay.

 It makes the scrubs a nice color and the clay is good for your skin as well.