Make Body Scrubs from Home

Body scrubs are a nice addition to your skin care routine because they help to slough off the dead skin cells from the surface of our bodies. The result is smoother, softer, healthier looking skin. The benefits to this are many, but the number one benefit, in my opinion, is that it allows our other products to work more effectively on our skin. For example, with the dead skin cells gone, your moisturizer can penetrate more deeply, for softer and healthier skin. Ever wonder how the stars get that glowing skin? Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate.

There are 3 basic parts to a body scrub:
1. Exfoliates- Salt, sugar, coffee grounds, or ground nuts. These help to remove the dead skin cells.
2. Carrier Oils- Almond oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oit or hazelnut oil. These help the exfoliates penetrate the skin to be more effective. They also add moisturization to the newly surfaced skin.
3. Essential Oils- Lavender, Orange, Juniper or Grapefruit oils. These help to "heal" the skin and add fragrance for a bit of aromatherapy.

How Should Body Scrubs Be Applied?
You should apply the scrubs to warm, damp skin, in a circular motion. Once rubbed in, go ahead and rinse off with warm water, again, using a circular motion. Once it is all rinsed off, dry your body and apply a moisturizer. Your skin should feel velvety soft and smooth.

And let me tell you a secret- make body scrubs at home and save a ton of money.

Peppermint and Blood Orange Invigorating Body Scrub
1 pound of sea salt (fine to medium grain)
1 oz sunflower oil
3 oz jojoba oil
2 oz liquid soap base
1/4 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
1/3 teaspoon blood orange essential oil
2 teaspoons dried raspberry seeds

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and transfer into desired packaging. For "home" use, you can use Tupperware or similar packaging. If you plan to gift or sell the scrub, obviously more elaborate packaging is called for. (See Handcrafters Companion Guide for a comprehensive list of packaging ideas and recommended suppliers.)

To use the scrub, add the desired amount to the palm of your hand or a scrub mitt. Gently rub over skin to exfoliate and invigorate your skin. Rinse well.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of almond oil
1/4 cup of liquid Ivory hand soap
1/4 tsp of vanilla

Lemon Sugar Body Scrub
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 T lemon zest (grated)

Yogurt Sugar Body Scrub
3 T baby oil
1 T yogurt
1 T white sugar