Why Salt/Sugar Scrubs Work
Salt/Sugar scrubs exfoliate the skin. The gentle abrasive action scrubs away dead skin cells, revealing the softer skin underneath. Exfoliation helps prevent ingrown hairs, allows moisturizer to penetrate more easily, and gives skin a rosy glow.
Selecting Your Salt
The salt for your scrub doesn't have to be fancy. For a basic salt scrub, you can use simple table salt! For a more luxurious feel, choose a finely textured sea salt, which you can find at the grocery store. You can also find packages of dead sea salts or other bath salts at beauty and cosmetics stores, or even in the bath aisle at the drugstore. You may need to grind these salts for a finer consistency. Kosher salt, with grains a little larger than regular table salt, works too. And it's extremely affordable.
White sugar and brown sugar both work wonders as well, and are both good for sensitive skin. It's a little less abrasive than salt and it's more moisturizing as well.
Choosing Your Oil
You can use just about any oil in your scrub recipe. Which one to choose depends on what consistency you want, how long you need to store your scrub, and how you want it to look and smell.
Almond oil is delicate and smells great, but it spoils quickly. Don't use it if your scrub is going to sit around for a while, or if you're planning to give it as a gift.
Olive oil will keep longer, but feels "oilier."
Canola oil isn't fancy, but it works.
Massage oils are made specifically for use on the skin. Choose one with a scent you like, or choose an unscented one and add a few drops of essential oil.
Other options include sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil… essentially, whatever strikes your fancy. You may need to experiment to find out what makes the best-feeling scrub for you. One to avoid is mineral oil, which won't work as well and can even clog pores.
Adding Scent to Your Scrub Recipe
I am in love with essential oils. They are so nourishing and loving, depending on your need, you can find one that will make you feel like a million bux! One of the pleasures of a scrub is that is leaves your skin not just soft and smooth, but smelling great. When you create your own scrub, you can mix in whatever scents you choose.
Essential oils add a strong scent with just a few drops. These oils are available in a wide range of choices, including almond, citrus, mint, and floral scents.
Lemon, lime, or orange peel can add a citrus scent. My favorite is Lavender for bedtime scrubs, and lemongrass for morning scrubs.
Other Ingredients
Some scrub recipes call for other ingredients to add to the texture or appearance. Options include:
ground almonds, which help with exfoliation
oatmeal, which is thought to soothe sensitive skin
cornmeal, another exfoliant
coffee grounds, also an exfoliant
glycerin soap, to give a smoother texture and make the oil easier to wash away
dried herbs, for a fresh scent and a fancier look.
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How to Make a Bath Scrub
The basic recipe for a salt scrub is easy.
One cup salt, sugar, or brown sugar
One cup oil
A few drops of scent
For a firmer, less runny scrub, try two parts salt/sugar to one part oil, and then add oil to reach the consistency you want. Don't be surprised if the salt and oil separate. Just stir them back together before you use the scrub.
You only need four or five drops of scented essential oil. Too much will irritate your skin. You can mix and match scents, if you want. Try citrus and mint, ginger and lime, apricot and almond, or whatever sounds good to you.
Adding Extras
Adding another exfoliant, such as oatmeal or cornmeal, requires cutting back on the salt/sugar or adding a bit more oil. Try a quarter-cup of your second exfoliant for each cup of salt/sugar. Different recipes call for different amounts of soap. Some add one tablespoon per cup of salt. Others add more, sometimes replacing some of the oil. Try a quarter-cup of soap for each cup of salt/sugar, cutting the oil back to 3/4 cup. Then alter the proportions until you get a texture you like.
Using Your Scrub
To use your scrub, simply rub it gently onto your skin before you shower. It should feel rough, but not painful. Don't scrub too hard or too long: you just want to rub away the dead skin cells, not the entire top layer of skin.
Be careful in the tub, because the oil will make your bathtub slippery. After you're finished, shower as usual, then apply a gentle moisturizer. Your skin should feel soft and fresh, with a hint of the fragrance you chose.
There it is. I hope you find this inspiring and go out and make your own. Try it and let me know what you think about your skin afterwards. :)
