Body scrubs

Body scrubs

Benefits of body scrubs

·         Slough off dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling smoother and looking fresh

·         Moisturising the skin

·         Improving circulation

·         Improve lymphatic flow

·         Improve detoxification

·         Method of absorbing therapeutic components of the scrub (the trace elements and minerals found in Pink Himalayan rock salt, the properties of the carrier oil, and the benefits of the essential oils)

How to use a body scrub

Stir before use to mix the essential oils, carrier oil and exfoliant together (it may separate), sit on the edge of your bath or stand in your shower (careful not to fall, the oils will make the floor slippery), wet the area you will scrub and take some scrub in your palm, rub into your skin then rinse.  

*Note: avoid using a body scrub on your face and genital area, both are area of more sensitive skin and will become easily irritated.

Limit a scrub to once a week (fewer abrasive sugars can be used up to three times a week).

3 basic ingredients to make a body scrub

1.   An exfoliant (1 Cup)

2.   A carrier oil (1/3 Cup)

3.   Essential oils (20 drops essential oil)

Use the above ingredients in a ratio of:

1 Cup exfoliant: 1/2 Cup Carrier oil: Up to 20 drops of pure essential oils

1.   An exfoliant

An exfoliant will serve to scrub away the dead, dry top skin layers, leaving your skin feeling fresh and renewed. The best exfoliants to use in a body scrub recipe are ones that will dissolve (this will save you having to clean up residues in your bathtub or shower after use!).

Commonly used exfoliants for body scrubs include

Salt Useful for muscles, different salts include Pink Himalayan, sea salt and Epsom salts. Avoid using common table salt, as the grit is too fine for a body scrub and the processing has involved bleaching. Salt will dissolve. Salts keep longer than other exfoliants – perfect if making a scrub as a gift!

Sugar Sugars are a gentler exfoliant option on the skin, a perfect choice for a less invigorating scrub. Brown or white sugars are fine to use, organic is preferred (available from Aldi). Sugar will dissolve. Salts keep longer than other exfoliants – perfect if making a scrub as a gift!

Sugar or salt? Sugar granules are more round therefore less abrasive that salt, making them the preferred exfoliant when using for facial scrubs. Table sugar is a quicker dissolving sugar, accounting for its milder scrub properties, but brown sugar can be blended well with a water-based cleanser or added to the bath.

Unrefined cane sugar contains nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium however are more abrasive on the skin.

Sugar will not sting like a salt will if there are grazes on the skin.

Salt granules are more angular and therefore more abrasive, so use on those areas with hardened skin (knees, elbows, feet).

Salts have wonderful properties, all of which have been stripped by the heavily processed table salt. Salt is known to aid detoxification, soothes sore muscles, and can be blended well with a cleanser to act as a deep-cleansing scrub.

Epsom salts are not technically a salt, they are magnesium sulphate, a wonderous detoxification agent that also acts to sooth sore muscles. Used the bath, they also allow the body to absorb magnesium.

Ground coffee: Coffee is very aromatic, and a coffee body scrub may just be the perfect pick me up to use in your morning shower routine. The caffeine in the coffee will reduce the appearance of varicose veins via its constrictive action on the blood vessels (vasoconstriction). Coffee will not dissolve.

Oatmeal: A gentle exfoliant, oatmeal is also softening to the skin (emollient). Oatmeal is so soothing on the skin that it is often used for dry skin as well as skin rashes and irritations, for example, eczema. Unlike other exfoliants in a body scrub, you can use water instead of carrier oil.

2.   Carrier Oil

*note: It is important you always choose a cold-pressed oil to avoid rancid oils or added chemicals. Also, if gifting a scrub let the person know to use it within 6 months to ensure the freshness of the carrier oils.

Carrier oil acts like the glue of the body scrub recipe and holds the essential oils to the exfoliant, with the added benefit of moisturising the skin. Choose a carrier oil that is not to fragrant itself (this ensures it will not overpower the added essential oils) and is not too thick (unless your skin is extremely dry) to ensure no unwanted residual oil remains.

Commonly used carrier oils include

Sweet almond oil

Useful for all skin types, and helps relieve itching, soreness, dryness and inflammation. This oil is not too thick or watery and absorbs quickly.

Grapeseed oil

A thin, antioxidant-rich oil

Olive oil

A common feature in any home, olive oil is rich in vitamins A and E. If it is too thick you can reduce its consistency by adding some extra-virgin olive oil.

Avocado oil

Rich in oleic acid (a healthy monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that is great for your heart), enhances wound healing of the skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect as well, vitamin E, and is the deepest penetrating oil of them all. It is thicker oil.

3.   Essential oils

·         Ensure they are pure essential oils and not fragrant oils

·         Never put them directly on the skin

·         Always find out if the oil you are using has contraindications (should not be used in certain conditions, for example, Neroli should not be used in pregnancy)

·         Use sparingly – Essential oils are highly concentrated plant

·         Pure essential oils should come in dark bottles

·         Things to look for on the label include common and botanical name, batch number and expiry date

Body scrub Recipes

Peppermint and Lavender Scrub Recipe

• 1 cup salt

• 1/3 cup carrier oil

• 10 drops peppermint essential oil

• 5 drops lavender

Ginger and Orange Scrub Recipe

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/3 cup (approx.) carrier oil

• 12 drops orange essential oil

• 3 drops ginger essential oil, or 1tsp ground ginger

Method

·         Place the exfoliant in a metal or glass bowl, stir in you add your essential oils, then slowly stir in the carrier oil until you reach the consistency of wet sand.

·         Transfer to a clean, air-tight glass jar

Kind regards,

                   Penelope Espinoza Hallett, Naturopath

                   BHsc (C.M.) AdvDip. Nat/N.D, Dip. Aroma, Dip. C.H., Cert. R.M., Cert. R.M., Cert. SBM, mNHAA