Exfoliate your skin with homemade scrub
This basic recipe for a body scrub/exfoliator only requires a few pure, simple, ingredients that can be as effective, if not more, than those in stores that have all sorts of foreign additives.
Those beautifully-packaged jars of body scrub – which are more often than not extremely overpriced – catch even the best of us. Everyday Roots has shown us just how you can beat the system while remaining all el-natural, and make your very own simple homemade salt and lemon body scrub.
This basic recipe for a body scrub/exfoliator only requires a few pure, simple, ingredients that can be as effective, if not more, than those in stores that have all sorts of foreign additives.
The beauty of this recipe also lies in that it can be customised however you want depending on what you need or feel like. You can use it plain, or add various herbs for their benefits, such as lavender for relaxation, rosemary to energise and invigorate you, or thyme for its antibacterial properties.
You will need
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons Epsom salt or coarse salt crystals
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- Juice of one lemon or lime
- Herb of choice (optional)
In a bowl combine a half a cup plus 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt or coarse salt crystals, with 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
Squeeze in the fresh juice of 1 lemon or lime, and stir together. Place in a jar with a tight fitting lid and use once a week for smooth, glowing skin. If you’re using an herb, cover the top of the mixture with it and stir it in after the lemon/lime juice. It will infuse the salt around it, and you can use the buds/sprigs and all when you scrub.
Place in a jar with a tight fitting lid and use once a week for smooth, glowing skin. You can scrub it on dry or in the shower, but if you do the former, rinse off with warm water afterwards.
Why exfoliate?
This practice leaves your skin soft and radiant. Scrubbing away dead skin cells will allow your fresh new skin to breathe and shine. Exfoliation also breaks up things on the surface of your skin that can cause unwanted blemishes. Experiment with different herbs while also saving money making your own scrubs!
Everyday Roots‘ body scrub tip: Adjust the amount of oil depending if you want a coarser (less oil) scrub or a more uniform, softer (more oil) scrub.
Why Epsom Salts?
This incredible skin-care product is a natural mineral composed of magnesium sulfide, which is readily absorbed by the skin. It naturally softens skin, gets rid of dead cells, reduces inflammation and relaxes muscles. Epsom Salt can be substituted with coarse salt crystals, which will cosmetically do a similar job, but which lacks the benefits of the magnesium sulfide.
Check this out: Epsom Salts – Wonder substance with multiple benefits
Why olive oil?
Olive oil is a silky smooth oil that keeps skin moist, but not oily – what a wonder!
Try this out: Brown sugar and olive oil face scrub for dry skin
Why lemon or lime juice?
Both lemon and lime are natural whiteners and act as a natural bleach, whitening your nails and cuticles while also lightening dark spots on the skin, such as age or liver spots. The fresh scent is also something to behold.
Also: Repel insects with lemon and cloves
Why a herb?
Using herbs will add more health benefits to your scrub. In this recipe lavender was used, to promote rest and relaxation.
More on lavender: Healthy herb for July – Lovely Lavender
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