Balmy springtime weather is on its way, which means dragging out capris and shorts once again. After a winter of low temperature, your skin may be feeling dry and lackluster, a confidence killer when it comes to bare legs. With chilly weather in the rear-view mirror, treat your body to an exfoliation routine to remove dry, dead skin.
Exfoliating is a great way to literally start fresh. It works by removing dead skin and grime on the top layer of your epidermis to reveal the younger skin cells underneath. While cell turnover occurs naturally, the process tends to slow down as we age. Exfoliation boosts the progress and prevents dead skin and dirt from blocking pores.
There’s no shortage of exfoliating products on the market. Many use microbeads, tiny plastic particles that often pollute water ecosystems because they’re too small to filter. Homemade copycats of popular scrubs are just as effective, less pricey, and have less of an environmental impact. Natural scrubs are a simple combination of exfoliant, oils, and fragrance.
Sugar scrubs are a great choice for aging or sensitive skin because they’re effective, but gentle. Because it’s not overly abrasive, sugar can be used on the face, arms, legs, you name it.
TEA TREE AND LAVENDER SUGAR SCRUB
This simple scrub is a luxurious blend of moisturizing oils and gentle exfoliant. The recipe is fully customizable; the essential and fixed (coconut and sweet almond) oils can be swapped for oils you prefer. This recipe calls for an optional preservative (available at retailers such as Walmart or Amazon); if you’d rather leave it out, keep your scrub container away from water as it encourages bacteria growth.
INGREDIENTS
2 ½ cups of granulated sugar
¼ cup of coconut oil
¼ cup of sweet almond oil
¼ cup of unscented liquid castile soap
5–8 drops of tea tree essential oil
8 drops of lavender essential oil
Optional: 1 tsp of Optiphen (preservative)
INSTRUCTIONS
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine coconut oil, sweet almond oil, castile soap, essential oils, and Optiphen (if using).
• Stir ingredients thoroughly and set aside.
• In a separate, larger bowl, pour in sugar and break up any clumps with your fingers.
• Pour liquid mixture into sugar, and combine fully using a rubber spatula or your hands.
• Transfer mixtures into airtight containers (mason jars work well).
To use, apply to wet skin and rub in a circular motion. Rinse off after use. Enjoy!
For more health and beauty techniques, visit our Beauty page here.
