Sugar Scrub from the Kitchen

BASIC SUGAR SCRUB 1/2 cup of sugar 2 Tbsp. of olive oil 1 Tbsp. of any extract (I've tried vanilla and mint - but not together!). Mix all ingredients, jump in the shower, wet your skin, massage the scrub into your skin and rinse. The sugar removes all the dead skin and all that remains is soft skin from the olive oil. I've even used it on my face and lips (don't rub too hard) and my face looks and feels amazing. Don't be concerned about olive oil on your face - it's one of the most natural oils and won't clog your pores. I love using the vanilla for Saturday nights and peppermint for mornings. You can use any scent you want! Experiment and enjoy!

VERMONT SOAPWORKS - SUGAR SCRUB Get ready for almost unbelievably soft skin (even for those of us with older skin). The other day I was speaking with Larry Pleasant, CEO of The Vermont Soapworks, and he mentioned that he and his staff had spent the morning testing homemade sugar scrubs, and that everyone was commenting on how incredibly soft their skin felt. Aware that sugar cane produces glycolic acid, one of the natural alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliates the skin, I was immediately curious about his recipes. Ingredients

50 percent white cane sugar (note that organic sucanat, while the best choice for food, doesnt work as well for this recipe) 50 percent vegetable glycerin to moisten the sugar (I used avocado oil since I was out of vegetable glycerin and it proved to be a successful substitute) Small amounts of aloe vera gel, vitamin C crystals, or anything healing that dissolves in water 1 or 2 drops of essential oil if desired (Larry recommends combining orange and lavender) Enough ground hibiscus powder for pink color (if desired)

Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Scoop some of the scrub onto your hand and massage gently onto your skin for a minute (the scrub will actually tighten onto your skin like a masque). Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing. SUGAR SCRUB W/ LEMON JUICE
Ingredients

1 clear plastic jar 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil lemon juice (optional) scented essential oil (optional)

Directions

Mix the sugar and olive oil in the plastic container. I do not recomend using a glass jar for this, since you will most likely have this in your bathroom. Add any optional scents you like. I have discovered that adding peppermint oil or orange oil helps refresh you, while lavender is more soothing. My favorite oil to use is sandlewood. To use: place some on a wash cloth and rub in circles anywhere you need exfoliation. After letting it sit for awhile the sugar may settle to the bottom, so it may be necessary to shake this up a little before using.

CINNAMON SUGAR SCRUB

Ingredients: juice from one lemon (remove seeds) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup milk or cream dash cinnamon 4 drops lemon essential oil Blending Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl using a whisk. 2. To use, scoop out and massage over hands and feet. Doing this in the bath tub makes clean up much easier. Because of the olive oil, it could leave the tub a bit slippery in the tub so be careful.

Recipe #5 Bergamot/Neroli Sugar Scrub

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup sweet almond oil 1 tablespoon shea butter 4 tablespoons runny honey 2 drops bergamot essential oil 1 drop neroli essential oil lending Procedure: 1. Combine the sugar and sweet almond oil in a large bowl and stir well to combine.

2. Add the shea butter and honey next and use a hand held blender to mix/whip on high speed

about 3 minutes. The heat generated by the mixing process will increase the temperature of the shea butter so it combines easily.

3. You should have a grainy paste. To use, stand naked in a tub or shower and scoop the scrub using your palms. Begin massaging body, extremities first, in circular motions to exfoliate and cleanse. 4. This mixture is oily and so you will have to be especially careful that you do not slip in the tub!

5. After you're finished, you can cleanse with soap or bath gel as usual if you''d like to remove some
of the excess oil from your skin ... which should feel polished and luxuriant after your treatment!

CORNMEAL AND HONEY SUGAR SCRUB Ingredients: 1 heaping tablespoon cornmeal 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons whipping cream 2 drops lemon essential oil Blending Procedure: 1. Combine all ingredients together well in a small bowl.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly. Do not dry them. Scoop out all of the Cornmeal & Honey Hand

Scrub and massage liberally all over hands and forearms, even elbows. Scrub the nails and nail bed gently and scrub the webs of the hands. Pay special attention to the "heel" of the palms and any rough areas. Allow hands to rest with the scrub on them for 5 minutes, then rinse well with warm water. Apply moisturizer.

3. This treatment makes a great addition to a manicure. Use it before buffing and applying cuticle cream and polish.

CREAMY ORANGE ZEST BODY SCRUB Ingredients: 1/4 cup shea butter 2 tablespoon grapeseed oil 2 tablespoon jojoba oil 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup Epsom salt 1/2 cup fine sea salt 1/2 cup coarse sea salt 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown) 1/2 cup orange zest powder 12 milliliters orange essential oil Blending Procedure:

1. Warm the grapeseed and jojoba oils slowly over a very low flame. Do not burn the oil. Add the

shea butter. When the shea butter starts to melt, remove the mixture for the heat source. Stir to mix oils together.

2. Let the mixture cool, but not harden. Then add the other ingredients one at a time in the order shown. 3. Add the essential oil last and stir well to combine. 4. Put the mixture in the refrigerator to cool completely and harden. The oils will rise to the top and form a soft butter. The other The other ingredients will settle on the bottom. When it is completely cooled, scoop it out into a plastic container for use in your bath. 5. To use, scoop a handful of scrub (reaching to the bottom to get the scrub ingredients). Massage into your skin from head to toe. 6. Be careful not to slip. This scrub contains lot of oil, which makes the tub slippery. If you wish, you can place a towel in the tub to prevent slipping. Happy scrubbing!!!!

7. The shelf life of this product is pretty long even without a preservative because of the honey, essential oil and salt, but be sure not to get any water into it as you use it, or you'll risk bacterial growth. As always, use the freshest oils possible for best results!

Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes

Recipe #1 - Brown Sugar 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 Recipe #2 - Lemon Sugar Scrub 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup olive oil 1 TBS lemon zest (grated) Recipe #3 - Lavender & Rosewood Scrub 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup almond oil 1/2 tsp vitamin E 6 drops rosewood essential oil 4 drops lavender essential oil Recipe #4 - Coffee & Brown Sugar Scrub 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar 3 TBS fresh coffee grounds 5 tsp almond oil 5 tsp jojoba oil 2 tsp honey 1 tsp vitamin E 1 tsp vanilla Recipe #5 - Tea Sugar Scrub 2 cups white sugar 1 cup honey 2 TBS tea 5 drops vanilla Recipe #6 - Yogurt Sugar Scrub 3 TBS baby oil 1 TBS yogurt 1 TBS white sugar Directions: Mix ingredients and use as a body scrub/exfoliator

1.

Warming, fragrant, exotic blend: *** better for those with Vata Dosha especially in colder winter months*** 1/2 cup brown sugar 5 TBSP Almond Oil 3 drops red mandarin orange essential oil 2 drops frankincense essential oil 2 drops patchouli essential oil 2. Refreshing and invigorating blend: 1/2 cup brown sugar 5 TBSP Almond Oil 1 drop lemon essential oil 3 drops bergamot essential oil 1 drop basil essential oil Mix ingredients together to form a paste. Gently rub mixture in circular motion onto skin. Rinse with warm water in shower or bath. (CAUTION: There have been reported cases of adverse reaction to sugar scrub use in the case of people with diabetes. If any nut allergies are present avoid almond oil.)

Honey Sugar Scrub Recipe

Super for manicures!
Ingredients: 2 oz honey 2 oz beeswax pellets 1/8 teaspoon borax 4 oz shea butter 4 oz high oleic sunflower oil 2 cups turbinado sugar 1.5 teaspoons Oatmeal, Milk & Honey FO (optional) Instructions: I've had this work in the microwave, but for best results melt shea butter to 175 degrees on double boiler for 20 min, remove from heat. Allow to cool to about 130 degrees, add beeswax pellets and borax, stir until dissolved. Add sunflower oil and honey. Stir until well mixed. Cool to room temp but do not let mixture solidify. Add FO and 1.5 cups sugar. Gently mix, package and finish cooling (in the fridge if you're in a hurry). You may need to add a bit more sugar if mix seems gloppy. Preserve with a couple drops liquapar oil or rosemary oil extract. Super for manicures!

Inexpensive, Easy And Fun Ways To Make Bath Salts By: Jeffrey Dorrian Creating your own bath salts is quite simple and wont take a lot of time out of your day. Surprisingly, bath salts are relatively inexpensive to make and require no harsh ingredients. In fact, the main ingredients in bath salts are baking soda, table salt and epsom salt. These can all be found at a local grocery store and are safe to use. Some bath products, which are found in the marketplace, may contain harsh ingredients that could irritate the skin. However, by purchasing bath salts carefully or making them yourself, you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your bath salts are perfectly safe to use. Start with a large mixing bowl and a spoon or other utensil. Add 3 cups of epsom salt, 2 cups of baking soda and 1 cup of table salt into the bowl. When all ingredients are added, begin mixing them with your hand or a spoon. Next, slowly add food coloring of your choice to the mixture. Regular food coloring will work perfectly and should be added according to the color that you desire. If you want a dark color, continue to add drops until the color is achieved. If you want a lighter hue, add fewer drops. If, on the other hand, you need to combine multiple colors to achieve the desired tone, mix them prior to adding them to the bowl. Otherwise, you may end up with multi-colored salts. Finally, after your coloring is added and mixed evenly using a spoon or other utensil, begin to add essential oils until the desired scent is achieved. The best way to determine is simply by using your own judgement. Bath salts should be strongly scented because less salts will be required for each bath, which will enable them to last longer. Using the steps and ingredients outlined above, you can also use a bowl with a lid and shake the mixture, food coloring and essential oils until it is perfectly combined. This will save you time from stirring but, otherwise, the procedures are the same. Bath salts are inexpensive, easy and fun to make. But, they are also fun to use. Bath salts are perfect to make for yourself or to give as a gift to friends and family. After a long day at work, taking care of the family or running errands, there is nothing like a luxurious bath to wash away your cares and all of the stress deriving from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Bath salts contain soothing scents and comfort that will leave you feeling refreshed and full of life. The Bath Salts will make a great gift. Keep your eyes open for some unusual jars to use. What you'll need: Large glass or metal mixing bowl 2 cups Epsom's salts 1 cup Sea salt, rock salt or coarse salt Food coloring 1/4 teaspoon Glycerin Essential oil for fragrance such as vanilla, citrus or peppermint, optional Clean, dry jars with cork stoppers or metal screw-on lid How to make it: 1. Try and do this on a day with low humidity, the salt will absorb moisture from the air. 2. Combine salts in bowl and mix well. Add a couple drops of food coloring and mix well. 3. Add glycerin and essential oil (4 or 5 drops) and mix well.

4. Spoon salts into the jars and close them. 5. Make a gift tag with the scent (if you used one) and suggesting using 1/3 to 1/2 cup in the bath. 6. Makes 3 cups of bath salts.

Bath Salt Recipes

Leaves your skin feeling and looking radiant Bath Salts Use baking soda. Use 5 tbsps to warm running water. Baking soda leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.

Basic Bath Salts

Salt - (your choice: Epsom, Sea or Kosher Salt) Baking soda (softens your skin) Essential oil of your choice Food coloring optional

Directions: Pour the salt, the essential oils, and a few drops of food coloring into the bowl. Fill the jar. When it's time to use the bath salts, pour the mixture into the bathtub and add warm water. Stir the water so the salt dissolves.

Kosher Bath Salts Mix equal amounts of kosher salt and baking of soda, add some glycerin, stir well. Put in a decorative container. Add to hot running water. Avoid eyes. Epsom Bath Salts Add 1 cup Epsom salts to your bath when you need to feel uplifted.

Ocean Blue Bath Salt Recipe

By Pioneer Thinking

Ingredients:

1 cup epsom salt 1 cup baking soda 4 drops blue food coloring 3 drops Jasmine essential/ fragrance oil

4 drops vanilla essential/ fragrance oil 2 tablespoons liquid glycerin (skin moisturizer) (optional)

Directions: Combine dry ingredients, mix well. Add color and scents one at a time. Keep stirring until mixed well. Break up any clumps. Keep mixing until you have a semi fine powder. Add glycerin and mix well.
Northern Nights Bath Salt Recipe

By Pioneer Thinking

Ingredients:

1 cup kosher salt 1 cup baking soda 3 drops Pine balsam essential/fragrance oil 2 drops cinnamon essential/fragrance oil 2 drops cassis essential/fragrance oil 2 tablespoons of liquid glycerin (skin moisturizer) (optional)

Directions: Mix ingredients together blending well. Break up any clumps. Note: Liquid glycerin used as a skin moisturizer, is a by-product of soap making. Glycerin can be found at health food stores, some drug stores, or major department stores depending on where you live. Its also readily available on the internet as well.

DOWN BY THE SEASHORE SALT BATH

Ingredients: 3/4 cup Epsom salts 1/4 cup sea salts 1/4 cup baking soda 1 tablespoon vanilla or rum extract Blending Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients together. (How simple is that??!) Pour the entire solution into running bath water. Enjoy!

EASY WINTER ROSE BATH SALTS

Ingredients: 8 ounces Dead Sea salt 2 drops red food coloring 1 drop rose essential oil Blending Procedure: 1. Place the Dead Sea salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the food coloring and stir well to incorporate. You can add more food coloring depending on the depth of pink or red you desire your salts to have. The color will transfer to the bath water.

2. Add the rose essential oil last and stir well to mix in. Place the salts into a glass container with a
tight fiting lid and let them sit for a few days so the lovely rose aroma can be absorbed by the salts.

3. To use, just draw your bath and add the salts to the drawn water. Slink in and relax. 4. Winter Rose Bath Salts can be given to a friend but they should not be stored in a humid environment for an extended period of time because they salts may clump up if they absorb too much moisture from the air. 5. Enjoy!

Cleansing Aromatic Salt Glow Recipe

Summary:

Clears the skin of dead cells and toxins while soaking up minerals and leaving a healthy glow.
Ingredients: 1/4 cup sea salt 1/4 cup epsom salts 1/4 cup skin oil (almond and apricot work well) 1 T baking soda 1 T borax 12 drops essential oil ( try 8 drops of geranium and 4 drops of lavender) Instructions: In a canning jar(wide mouth) mix salts well, then add baking soda and borax and mix again. Add essential oils to the carrier oil before mixing with salts mixture. Add oils to salts and mix and store. Before bathing or showering, use ample amount and rub viggorously in circular motion. Set into a nice

herb bath and soak for 20 minutes, or rinse off in the shower. Either way it will leave your skin clean and soft and give you a subtle fragrence that will enhance your mood. Enjoy

Diane's Body Polish Recipe

A salt scrub that's EASY to make and use!
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups dead sea salt fine 1 oz honey glycerin soap, melted 1 oz goats milk glycerin soap melted 1/2 cup liquid castille soap 3/4 cup favroite oil blend or sunflower oil 1-2 tsps. fragrance oil 1/2 tsp. Mica Instructions: Heat melted glycerin soap and liquid soap until warmed and stir in the mica until well blended. Add oil and fragrance oil and blend thoroughly until emulsified. Add salt and stir well to mix completely. That's it! I was VERY frustrated by salt scrubs/salt glow recipes that dripped all over and were an oily mess. This type of salt scrub firms up enough to scoop out what's needed and it doesn't drip all over the place! And best of all it leaves the skin so soft and clean! Enjoy! Diane :-) South Shore Soapworks

Happy Skin Scrub Recipe

This scrub is good for acne, pimples, and blemishes
Ingredients: 1/2 cup oats 1/2 cup rice (brown) 1/4 cup comfrey (dried) 1/4 cup oregano (dried) 1/8 cup anise seed 1/2 cup calendula 1 1/2 cups clay 1/4 cup myrrh 1 drop tea tree essential oil 1 drop lavender essential oil Instructions: Grind and sift all ingredients except oils a few times until powdery, then add oils and stir well. Store in a jar. To use- add a small amount of water added to a tsp or so of scrub!

Salt and Sugar Body Polish Recipe

1/2 c turbinado or light brown sugar 1 c fine grain sea salt 1/4 c jojoba oil 1/4 c avocado oil 3 T shea butter 2 T kukui nut oil 1 tsp fragrance oil Instructions: This recipe combines the detoxifying benefits of sea salt with the glow bestowing fruit acids in turbinado sugar in one scrub. Stir together all oils and the shea butter until the butter is softened. Place the salt and sugar in a plastic jar. Pour the oils into the jar and mix to form a soft paste. To use, rub a few finger-fuls in a circular motion over your body until the oils are absorbed then rinse. Mix well before each use. This scrub is not for use on the face as the salt may be too harsh.

Peppermint Salt Glow Recipe

Great for pedicures!
Ingredients: 4 oz shea butter 4 oz aloe butter 4 oz fractionated coconut oil .75-1 cup dead sea salt (medium) .75-1 cup epsom salt 1.5 teaspoon peppermint essential oil 1.5 teaspoon polysorbate 20 Instructions: I've had this work in the microwave, but for best results melt shea butter to 175 degrees on double boiler for 20 min, remove from heat. Cool to about 130 degrees. Add aloe butter, stirring until blended. Add the fractionated coconut oil. Cool to room temp but do not let mixture solidify. Mix essential oil and polysorbate 20 and add to oils. Add 3/4 c of each salt. Gently mix, package and finish cooling (in the fridge if you're in a hurry). You may need to add a bit more salt if mix seems gloppy. You may want to preserve with a couple of drops of liquapar oil. Super for pedicures!

Summer Salt Scrub Recipe

A refreshing salt scrub for summer!
Ingredients: (* All ingredients are approximate, use more or less to suit) 2 cups Sea Salt 1/2 cup Corn Meal 1/2 cup light oil

1 TSP Soapnut or liquid soap (opt) EO or FO (for summer I use citrus scents like lemon, orange, grapefruit) Powdered colorant (opt) Instructions: (*note: mix thoroughly each time an ingredient is added) Pour & mix salt and corn meal in a large bowl. Mix in colorant & soapnut if using. For summer I use yellow, coral, or other "sunshiney" colors. I also add in a teeny bit of cosmetic grade glitter. Add EO or FO's and let sit overnight with a paper towel covering it to "fix" the scent. Next, pour and mix the oil and liquid soap. I prefer light oils like grapeseed or almond, especially for the summer mix. For drier skin in the winter I use a heavier oil. The consistancy should be like damp sand. Scoop into a plastic container (glass is too risky as this should be in the shower). To use, scoop out a couple of fingerfulls and rub along the body BEFORE washing. Actually, with the soap already in it (you can omit if you like) additional washing may not be necessary, but I would avoid the face and other sensitive areas. DEFINITELY avoid any cuts or abrasions as the salt would sting!

Totally Herbal Body Exfoliant Recipe

Ingredients: 1/2 cup bladderwrack powder 1/2 cup Norweigen kelp powder 1/2 cup Dead Sea salt 1/3 cup of Dead Sea clay 1 cup jojoba oil 1/3 cup of emu oil 1/2 cup walnut oil 1 tablespoon of T-50 vitamin E oil 10 drops of liquipar oil or other preservative Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. If your mixture is too wet, add more clay, if too dry, add more emu oil. Mixture should be a little slushy, with no oil pool on the finished product.

Mint Salt Scrub Recipe

Moisturizing Scrub that Doubles as a soap
Ingredients: 1/2 oz glycerin soap base 1/8 cup liquid castille soap 1/8 cup sunflower, safflower, or other light oil 1 tbsp jojoba oil 3/8 cup epsom salts (or other coarse salt) 1 tsp aloe gel (optional) a few drops peppermint EO

a few drops tea tree EO (less than the mint) blue or green mica powder for color (optional) Instructions: Melt glycerin soap base in a double boiler. Add liquid soap & oils. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, essential oils, aloe, and color (mix powder with a little oil before you mix it in). By this time, the mixture should be thick and goupy but still warm. Plop into a glass or plastic container and let cool (or you can use immediately as long as it's thick to your liking). ******************************************************************************8

No Mess Body Scrub Recipe

This scrub remains solid in the jar and in your hands but melts as you scrub your body. No need to mix in the jar everytime you use it.
Ingredients: 2 cups epsom salt 1/2 cup turbinado sugar 1/2 cup solid coconut oil 1 tablespoon deodorized cocoa butter 1 1/2 tbsp sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil 1/2 teaspoon glycerin 1/8 tsp of T50 vitamin E oil 20-30 drops of fragrance Instructions: Mix the salt and sugar together in a bowl. Add half the fragrance oil to salt and sugar mixture and mix thoroughly. Incorprate all the oils together and melt in a bain marie only until almost completely melted, remove from heat and then stir until completely melted. You should be able to stick your finger in the mixture without burning yourself. When the oils are comfortable to touch add the rest of the fragrance mixture to it. Incorperate wet and dry ingredients, adding more epsom or oil as necessary. Package into jars and let them cool.

Bath Salts

Created by Martha Stewart From the show Martha Stewart's Comforts of Home

There's nothing like indulging yourself in a good bath. Create your own soothing indulgence with a product most of us have in our kitchens: salt. These bath salts make great gifts to take to the host, Christmas presents, housewarming gifts and personal pick-me-ups! SUPPLIES 3/4 cup Epsom salt 1/4 cup Baking soda 1 1/2 cups coarse Sea salt

10 drops of essential oils 23 drops of vegetable food coloring HOW TO MAKE BATH SALTS In a large bowl, combine salts and baking soda. Add food coloring and desired scents. Stir mixture together. The drops of food coloring will break up and distribute throughout the salt. The food coloring will not stain your bathtub. Pour salt through funnel into large glass bottles. Martha Stewart recommends creating hand-printed labels for your jars of bath salts.

The point of this article is to show you how to make your own spa-quality scrubs for a fraction of the price. The good thing about making your own is you customize the fragrance and the ingredients that best suit your needs and moods. you use a liquid body wash, chances are you apply it with some sort of loofah, mesh scrubbie thing or wash cloth. This is great for everyday and does offer you a small amount of exfoliation. These recipes are good for about once a week and offer a lot more exfoliation and moisturizing benefits. By scrubbing off the top layer of dead skin cells your skin will feel smoother, your moisturizer will penetrate easier and you will help prevent annoying ingrown hairs and body breakouts. The act of rubbing in circular motions, towards the heart also increases circulation. Granular exfoliant options: Salt: You can use sea salt, kosher salt, epsom salts or just plain old table salt. I like to use table salt because it is cheaper and smaller grains mean you don't have to grind it yourself. Larger chunks of salt have irregular edges and are too scratchy for the skin so if you decide to use a larger salt be sure to grind it in a blender, food processor or coffee mill. All salts will have detoxifying and muscle-relaxing properties. The problem with salt is it will sting if you have any minor cuts or scratches you are not aware of. For this reason, never use a salt scrub after shaving, it will not feel nice! Also, in general the act of shaving is exfoliating (removing dead skin cells) so if you exfoliate before you shave you will get a closer shave and cut down on skin irritation. Also, the oil from the scrub can be used instead of shaving cream and will lubricate the blades of your razor. If you do not have sensitive skin you can use a sugar scrub after shaving if you want to keep the oil on your skin and skip moisturizer. Sugar: You can use brown sugar, white (granulated) sugar or natural cane sugar. White sugar is probably the cheapest but will work the same as natural cane sugar. Brown sugar is gentler and has a warmer, yummier fragrance. Sugar scrubs in general are gentler than salt scrubs and don't really have muscle-relaxing qualities but the act of scrubbing in a circular motion does increase circulation. Coffee: The information I obtained about coffee as a topical scrub surprised me. Coffee is granular and feels nice on the skin but the caffeine has added benefits. Applied topically coffee helps to redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of cellulite. It also acts as a vasorestrictor, tightening and shrinking blood vessels thereby helping eliminate varicose veins. It has been used for years in spas in Hawaii and on the coast of Bali. Others: Oatmeal is very gentle and won't aggressively exfoliate but it is great if you have dry, itchy skin. Flax seed is also very lubricating for dry skin. Crushed almonds are very exfoliating as well but may be too much for sensitive skin. Yogurt and milk contain lactic acid which will dissolve skin cells and act as a nongranular exfoliant. Moisturizing Options: Once you pick your grain of choice you are ready to add in your oil. You will add enough oil to turn your grains into the perfect slushy mixture. Not too oily but not too dry, either. The mixture may separate in between uses so be sure to stir gently before you apply it. You can use many kinds of oil, including jojoba oil, safflower oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, even olive or vegetable oil. I would not recommend mineral oil (baby oil) because this will not penetrate into the skin like the other oils will. Mineral oil is pore-clogging and once it evaporates your skin may be left looking dryer than before you used it. Once you massage the mixture into your skin and rinse, the grains will be gone and the oil will make your skin soft and hydrated. If you don't

like the feel of oil on your skin you can dip a loofah (one on a stick will work be the most convenient) into the oil then into your grain mixture. (you will have already put your fragrance and/or herbs or flowers into the grains) This will impart only a minimal amount of oil onto your skin but still be effective. If your skin is dry or itchy, avocado is very soothing and moisturizing and can be applied alone, mashed into a paste or added to your scrub. Save the pit for a natural massage tool to soothe achey or tense muscles. Fragrance Options: Your fragrance options are pretty much unlimited. You can use essential (aromatherapy) oils for an added emotional benefit or your favorite perfume oil. Perfume oils are too irritating for the face but are fine for the body. Possible oils: Vanilla: Great especially in the coffee or brown sugar scrub. Orange, lime, tangerine or lemon: For an uplifting effect. Rosemary, eucalyptus or peppermint: For clearing out the sinuses and stimulating the body Cinnamon or clove: For improving circulation and adding a spicy kick to your scrub. Rose, jasmine or ylang-ylang: for a romantic floral scrub. Geranium: For balancing your mood. Lavender: For promoting relaxation. You can mix and match and create your own personal favorite blend! Herb and flower options: Adding herbs and flowers to your scrub will make it look more attractive, add additional exfoliation and can have other benefits as well. For example: Shredded ginger will aid exfoliation. Linden flower is great for soothing frayed nerves. Comfrey is good for those with minor skin irritations. Yarrow is a rnusle-soothing Chinese herb. Lemon peel helps alleviate lethargy. Orange peel or St. John's Wort helps ease minor depression. Lavender flowers will help promote relaxation. Ginseng will help energize and increase circulation. Other Add-Ins: Bentonite or kaolin (Cosmetic-grade) clay will help detoxify and purify the skin as will seaweed. Honey will add moisture and shredded soap will add eliminate the need for using additional soap either before or after your scrub. Baking soda will add a pleasant fizziness and help clarify the skin. Saving Money: Scrubs can be pretty costly. Usually scrubs come in nice glass or plastic jars which add greatly to the price. You can find your own decorative jars and definitely if you have a scrub in a nice jar at home just rinse it and reuse it with your own exfoliating concoction!