The Spa at Home ~ Sugar Body Scrub

      Hello all...It's Sunday yet again. Only a few hours until the new episode of Walking Dead...and only a few hours more until the start of a new working week (Sorry if I depressed anyone!).
  After a week in New York City, late nights and eating out, my skin needs a full-on rejuvenation! Spa treatments and store bought exfoliants are not only expensive, but full of unknown ingredients, perfumes and dyes you can't even pronounce...I've tried. So, let's make our own! It's so easy and you'll be totally addicted!...I don't even have to moisturize after a shower anymore.

     The following are the base ingredients for my Sugar Body Scrub, the amounts depend on how much of the scrub you want to make, and your preference of scent and consistency:   

Coconut Oil (pure virgin)

Raw sugar

Vitamin E

Essential oils (I used Eucalyptus)

                                              

    Before making the scrub, I would like to explain the benefits of these ingredients to the body.

• Coconut Oil -  This oil is full of wonders and is beneficial for you from head to toe. For skin it is a moisturizer, antibiotic, multivitamin, multi-nutrient, nourishing, anti-aging, anti wrinkle and anti-oxidant all in one! And it is completely natural too! So you’re on the safe side

• Sugar (brown, white or cane) -  When you regularly exfoliate your skin with a sugar scrub, it becomes healthier in appearance and function.  After dead skin has been exfoliated, your body’s largest organ works more efficiently to expel toxins and take in nourishment.  Skin becomes more uniform in appearance, is softer to touch, and has a radiant glow.  Sugar scrubs are also gentler, and less dehydrating  than salt scrubs and be used by all skin types.

• Vitamin E -Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects and repairs your skin. It helps your skin stay healthier and more supple.

• Essential oils -  Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for their healing and purifying effects on the body. They have always held extreme value by ancient medicine men that used them for aromatherapy, consumption, and skin application.
    
  • Eucalyptus essential oil- Due to the medicinal uses of eucalyptus oil, it is used in a variety of over the counter drugs including rubs, inhalers, liniments, rash creams, and mouthwashes. Effective for treating a number of respiratory problems it is also a good antiseptic owing to its germicidal properties. Hence eucalyptus oil is used for healing wounds, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions and sores. It is also effective on insect bites and stings. During muscle and joint pains, massaging eucalyptus oil on the skin surface helps in getting relief from the pain, Another important reason why people like using eucalyptus oil is that it provides a cooling and refreshing effect. Eucalyptus oil is stimulating, removes exhaustion and mental sluggishness and rejuvenates the spirits of the sick. It is also effective in treating stress and mental disorders. 

Now, lets get started!

1. It's important to remember that coconut oil is a solid at room temperature. You will need to scoop some out into a measuring cup (as much as you like) and heat it or microwave it until it is melted.

2. In a separate bowl, pour in your sugar, again, as much as you like. I used raw organic cane sugar. I like using raw sugar because the granules are coarse which make for a better exfoliant. You can also use raw brown sugar, white sugar or even a combination of the two.

3. Pour the melted oil into the sugar and depending on how much you want and what consistency you want, add more sugar or oil.. I like my scrub to be thick. Stir until well blended.

4. Next, I added the vitamin E. By mistake I bought the small capsules so I was there for a while. Poke a hole in the capsules and squeeze the vitamin E into the mixture. Don't feel bad for pricking your finger...it happened to me too.

5. Now we add the essential oil. As I said above, you can use whichever oils you like, in whatever quantity. This time, I used eucalyptus...I made a big batch so I used alot of drops (40 ish) also because I like to smell up my whole bathroom with eucalyptus while I shower! I've also tried lavender, which I didn't like very much and next I would like to try lemon or some kind of citrus. Mix and smell until its just the way you want it.

6. You're now ready to spoon your scrub into pretty mason jars. I used wide mouth jars because it's easier to scoop the scrub into. I found that if you're giving them away, the mason jars are cute and adding a little piece of napkin or material is cute too. However, if this is for personal use, I suggest using little tupperwares, theyre easier to store and re open in the shower and won't rust.

** Note - It is not recommended to exfoliate everyday. I use it about twice a week. Also, you will notice that a few days later the oil in your scrub becomes a solid again. This is totally normal, the heat from the shower will soften it right up.






That's it!...easy right??! Enjoy your new body scrub, be creative with oils and sugars and remember, if it cant go in your mouth, it probably shouldn't go on your skin!!
Sara xoxo

Follow me on Pinterest!   http://pinterest.com/sarita84/