Sugar Scrub

Sugar as the Exfoliating Ingredient
Try it sweet. Sugar isn't as harsh as ground nut shells: it melts fast when it hits moisture, so if your skin is delicate, you're probably not going to over-scrub it. The other benefit is the fact that sugar, unlike pumice, ground shells and other insoluble ingredients, will melt instead of sticking in your bathtub drains. Here's what you need to make a large batch:

Homemade Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

8 Cups turbinado (raw) or light brown sugar
1 ½ to 2 Cups avocado, untoasted sesame oil or jojoba oil
½ to 1 Cup apricot or peach kernel oil
essential oil (we used ginger and vanilla)
honey for smoothing the texture

If you use turbinado, you will probably want more oil because turbinado has a coarser texture than light brown sugar. Turbinado, being a specialty ingredient, also costs a lot more than brown sugar. You can use either form of sugar, just make sure that with the brown sugar, you're keeping a careful eye on the liquid ingredients so your scrub doesn't dissolve into a thin paste. Use honey only if you find your scrub is too dry, or just increase the amount of oil you use instead. Mix oils into the sugar slowly, stirring to keep the consistency smooth, and stop when you can form the mixture into a slightly wet ball without it dripping through your fingers. Add the essential oils last: they are for fragrance, not moisture, and you'll only need a few drops—maybe eight—to get the aroma strong enough. Never use "fragrance oils"—they are chemical fakes that have never been near a plant and can cause irritation or even allergic symptoms. Instead, make sure to use essential oils, which are the true plant oils expressed by pressing or by steam distillation from the actual plants. Before choosing an essential oil, make sure that it is considered to be good for the skin—some essential oils are irritants and are meant for other purposes. Some skin friendly oils include rose, rosemary, lemon, mandarin, lavender and chamomile.

Fruit Sugar Scrub

Fruit Sugar Scrub

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 Tbsp. coconut milk or oil
• 3 Tbsp. almond or jojoba oil
• 1/2 cup fresh papaya and guava

Mix sugar and coconut milk or oil with almond or jojoba oil. Puree fruit in a blender or food processor, stir into oil and sugar mixture. Exfoliate with dry brush or exfoliation gloves, rinse off in shower. Pat dry (skin should be damp) and apply mixture from feet to head in circular motions always towards the heart. Rinse with warm water, pat dry, and enjoy silky smooth, sweet-smelling skin!

Body Wraps

Body Wraps

Clay Body Wrap (for oily skin)

• 1 cup bentonite or green clay
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups water

Boil water and add sea salt until it is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Adjust the water if necessary to form a wet paste. Rub the mixture over your entire body and cover yourself with a sheet.

Avocado Moisture Body Wrap (for dry skin)

• 1 very ripe avocado
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel
• Lots of towels
• Plastic wrap

Here's what you do: Blend avocado pulp, cream and aloe vera gel to a thick paste. Place lots of old towels down where you will nap later. Apply paste to body. Wash hands and loosely wrap over masked areas. Lay down and relax for one hour. Rinse.

Oatmeal Wrap (for soft and smooth skin)

• 1 cup of oatmeal not the instant kind
• 1 cup of warm milk

Mix oatmeal and milk into a paste and apply to body. Rest one hour and rinse off.

Salt Scrub

Salt to exfoliate your skin

Salt recipe. In this body scrub, you can substitute 8 cups of coarse or kosher salt for the sugar in the recipe above. The nice thing about do it yourself scrubs is that you can then vary the ingredients to make your own favorite scents. Instead of essential oils, you may decide to add cocoa or coffee for a chocolate or mocha body scrub. Add vanilla; your scrub will smell fantastic. Here's how:

Salt Scrub Recipe

8 Cups coarse pickling or Kosher salt.
2 Cups avocado, untoasted sesame oil or jojoba oil
1 Cup apricot or peach kernel oil
1 Cup unsweetened cocoa or ¼ Cup freeze dried coffee crystals
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
honey for smoothing the texture

When you make your own scrubs, you can afford to use the best ingredients. Add a handful of ground dried white tea leaves to your body scrub and follow it up with natural cucumber extract for a soothing, summery fragrance. With some practice, you'll understand how to make practically any scrub you want. And they make terrific gifts: buy some pretty jars and labels and package your own recipes for your friends!