Consider learning how to make body scrubs if you want to indulge in body scrubs, but don’t want to pay the high prices to make your skin soft and smooth. Homemade natural body scrub is just as effective as the expensive ones you find in the salon, and better yet, homemade scrubs can be tailored to meet your skin’s specific needs. Don’t fret if you don’t know how to make body scrubs. Making body scrubs is so easy, a child can do it. And these fragrant, indulgent spa items make wonderful gifts for friends and family.
Scrubs are a treat because they feel good as they exfoliate, removing dead skin cells and revealing younger, softer skin. This new skin absorbs moisture and nutrients easier, making your lotion work better and helping your skin stay soft and supple.
Exfoliating body scrubs can be made with a variety of ingredients, but each scrub consists of an exfoliant (usually salt, sugar or other ground natural substance such as coffee, almond shells, apricot pits, oatmeal or corn meal) and a liquid base. Some people prefer to buy prefabricated liquid bases such as shampoos or lotions. Others prefer to mix their own liquid base using nourishing oils, essential oils, fragrances and/or soap bases. How extravagant or simple you want your bath scrub to be is up to you.
With each body scrub, you’ll need to determine what kind of fragrance you want. Essential oil fragrances are high quality products that will deliver a powerful punch for very little use of the product. Because they are natural (and the fragrances are infused into high quality oils), the result is a fabulous aromatherapy body scrub. Choose the fragrance that matches your desired effect such as lavender oils for relaxation, citrus oils for invigoration or patchouli for an earthy, sensual effect. Any of these fragrances can be added to the recipes below.
The following are suggested body scrub recipes tailored to specific skin needs:
Best Body Scrub for Oily Skin
Salt scrubs are best for oily skin since they can be slightly dehydrating. The coarse salt will exfoliate well and should be balanced with a moisturizing oil that benefits oily skin such as apricot kernel oil or olive oil. If you use sea salt, you will want to grind the salt in a food processor or coffee grinder to make sure the rough edges are rounded off a bit. Salt scrubs can be irritating if you have any cuts or scrapes, so make sure your skin is in good condition before using it.
Invigorating Salt Scrub Recipe
1 cup sea salt, ground in coffee grinder
½ cup apricot kernel oil
A few drops of grapefruit essential oil
Combine ingredients, stir and store in decorative jar. Mixture will separate. Stir before each use. Do not use a salt scrub more than twice a week as it may irritate your skin.
Best Body Scrub for Dry Skin
Sugar scrubs are best for dry skin. You can use either sugar in the raw, brown sugar or white can sugar, depending on what size grain you desire. Sugar scrubs are hydrating. While they do not exfoliate as aggressively as salt scrubs, they do stimulate circulation and do perform mild exfoliation service. You can use a sugar scrub daily with no adverse effects whatsoever.
Balancing Sugar Scrub Recipe
1 cup sugar in the raw
¼ cup avocado oil (extra moisturizing)
¼ cup soy oil (anti-inflammatory)
Few drops geranium infused essential oil
Combine ingredients, stir and store in decorative jar. Mixture will separate. Stir before each use. You can use this scrub every day or just to dip your razor into the oil and use it as a lubricant for shaving.
Best Body Scrub for Itchy Skin
Oatmeal is a natural soothing agent for itchy skin. Combine it with some gentle olive oil and you’ve got a scrub that will soothe as it gently exfoliates and moisturizes your skin.
Soothing Oatmeal Scrub Recipe
1½ cups whole oats
½ cup olive oil
Few drops vanilla infused essential oil
Combine ingredients, stir and store in decorative jar. Mixture will separate. Stir before each use. You can use this scrub every day.
Best Body Scrub for Normal Skin
Coffee or ground apricot pits are wonderful scrubs for normal skin. Coffee is unique in that it acts as a vasorestrictor, meaning it causes varicose veins to shrink. The caffeine improves circulation and acts as a stimulant, causing cellulite to appear less visible. Ground apricot pits are also wonderful exfoliants, although they can irritate skin prone to acne, so both of these scrub types are best used on normal, healthy skin.
Rejuvenating Coffee Scrub Recipe
1 cup freshly ground coffee
½ cup avocado oil
1 teaspoon shredded ginger root (for extra exfoliation and scent)
Few drops of cinnamon or clove essential oil
Combine ingredients, stir and store in decorative jar. Mixture will separate. Stir before each use. This scrub can be used every other day.