DIY Body Scrub with Essential Oils

Your skin is your body's first line of defense against a host of tough customers - sun exposure, pollution, hot days and freezing cold temps. It's important to take good care of your skin with organic tools - such as body scrubs and essential oils - so it can take good care of you.  

Basic formula and function

Start with the basic formula: something scrubby + skin care oil. For scrubby ingredients, use food-grade, biodegradable ingredients like sugar, salt or coffee grounds (before or after brewing). These will exfoliate the skin, removing dry, dead and dull-looking skin cells and helping to prevent clogged pores. Incredibly, your skin will respond by generating new, fresh skin cells more quickly.

Next, choose plant-based oils that nourish the skin and provide lubrication for the scrubby ingredients. Sweet almond oil is a great choice, with its rich texture and skin-hydrating properties.

Add your favorite essential oils to the mix and take the benefits of your scrub to a whole new level of luxury and efficacy. 

Not sure where to start? Find some inspiration below. 

Clarifying Energizing Body Scrub

  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tablespoon coarsely ground coffee
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
  • 30 drops sweet Orange essential oil
  • 9 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 9 drops spearmint essential oil
  • 4-ounce amber glass wide-mouth jar

Clean & Fresh Body Scrub

  • 18 drops fresh ginger essential oil
  • 16 drops grapefruit essential oil
  • 14 drops coriander seed essential oil
  • 4 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (optional)

Peppermint Citrus Scrub

  • 1 cup granulated sugar 
  • ¼-1/3 cup oil: coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, or a combination
  • Optional: 2-4 tablespoons orange or grapefruit zest (for extra exfoliation)
  • 10 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 10-15 drops wild orange essential oil (lemon or grapefruit will also work- or any combination of these)

Preparation

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well blended. Transfer to wide-mouth jar.
  2. To use, scoop scrub out of jar with fingertips and apply to skin using gentle circular motions.
  3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

 

Authored by Aura Cacia. Reprinted by permission from StrongerTogether.coop. Find articles about your food and where it comes from, recipes and a whole lot more at www.strongertogether.coop.