Taking time for you is not selfish, it’s an absolute necessity; the more we can show up for ourselves, the more we can do for others. Not the other way around.
Now let’s talk scrubssss. Do you ever get sucked into the bath section at any store and feel like you all of a sudden NEED to have a selection of body scrubs at home? No? Just me? It’s one of those luxury items that always sucks me in, yet I almost never pull the trigger.
Why? First, they’re so over-priced. I mean, $10 for sugar?! Second, there’s usually added crap (dyes, synthetics) that I don’t want on my skin. So I shrug and leave the aisle, feeling like I’ll never have that Pinterest-style spa bathroom at home.
OK– I’m being a little dramatic, but once I started experimenting with making my own, I’ve honestly never thought about buying one again. It’s SO simple, easy to customize, and doesn’t even compare in the price department. Not to mention, they’re perfect gifts!
Wth the holidays in full-swing, it’s more important than ever to take time for yourself. Between parties, commitments, family, friends, co-workers, shopping, etc… things can get a little overwhelming. We tend to overextend ourselves and make sure everyone else is taken care of first. Something as simple as a body scrub is a great way to show yourself some love and unwind. They exfoliate, add moisture, help with cell turnover and can aid in detoxification.
The basic formula stays the same for all kinds of scrubs: Base Oil + Exfoliator + Essential Oils. I prefer to use Coconut Oil as it’s anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, great for all skin types and smells amazing. Using a 1:2 ratio for oil to exfoliator seems to work best, but feel free to adjust based on your texture preference. Lastly, the essential oils are totally optional and can be interchanged to your liking, just make sure they are of high quality.
Here are 3 different body scrubs you can whip up in less than 5 minutes! I used small 4oz jars, but again, the ratio’s stay about the same so adjust to your needs. Pour in half of the exfoliant, mix in some of the oil (add in essential oils here), stir, and then mix in the rest.
Lavender Sugar Scrub
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup raw cane sugar (please don’t use bleached sugar, thanks!)
10 drops of lavender essential oil
Sugar scrubs can be used on all skin types, even sensitive.
Grapefruit & Peppermint Salt Scrub
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup sea salt (fine)
10-15 drops of essential oils (total)
Salt scrubs are more abrasive so they’re better for super dry and calloused areas of your skin, definitely not on the face. Sea salt is known to detoxify and reduce inflammation while adding minerals to your skin. You may need to add a bit more oil at the end as the salt is more absorbent.
Coconut Coffee Body Scrub
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup ground coffee beans
2 TBSP raw cane sugar
Who doesn’t love the smell of coffee? Even though I don’t drink it (caffeine makes me crazy), I still LOVE the smell. Not only is it a great way to use the old grounds to exfoliate your skin, the caffeine actually aids in circulation and has been shown to reduce cellulite.
Experiment and enjoy!