It’s no secret that many commercial “skin care” products contain loads of unpronounceable ingredients – and instead of taking care of our skin, most of these products are actually doing more harm than good. Many of those unpronounceable ingredients are actually quite toxic to humans; many are known carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, and instead of cleansing and moisturizing, they end up drying skin or clogging pores. The skin is the human body’s largest organ, and it rapidly absorbs anything that is put on it. What’s worse, unlike chemicals that enter the body orally, products applied to the skin enter the blood stream without first being detoxified by the liver.
I’ve really tried to cut down on the amount of chemicals and unhealthy ingredients I use on my body – like switching to natural shampoo, sunscreen with zinc instead of chemical SPF, and fluoride-free toothpaste. I’ve also discovered that, despite what mainstream cosmetic companies might have us believe, that oil is actually an amazing cleanser and moisturizer! I’ve swapped regular face wash for oil cleansing (something I’d like to do a post on soon), and discovered that different types of oils have various moisturizing properties.
This recipe is for an amazing and healthy body scrub – it smells delicious, is so simple and inexpensive to make (you probably have all the ingredients already), and you could eat it (well, if you wanted to…)! Rich in vitamin E, fatty acids and antioxidants, coconut oil is a nourishing, easily absorbed moisturizer. Sugar is a great, all natural exfoliator, and sloughs off dead skin while also stimulates circulation. Usually my skin is quite dry after taking a shower; however this sugar and coconut body scrub not only exfoliates skin, but locks in moisture, leaving your skin soft and super hydrated after bathing.
Have fun playing around with different essential oils; my first batch was a combination of lavender, geranium and a tiny bit of clove oils.
Moisturizing Sugar & Coconut Body Scrub Recipe
White sugar will yield a finer scrub, while a rougher sugar, like Demerara, will be more exfoliating; I use a mix of the two. You can also play around with proportions of oil to sugar, depending on how “scrubby” you want it to be!
Makes: approximately 1 cup
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 2/3 cup sugar of your choice
- 5-10 drops essential oil
Place coconut oil in a pot on the stove and heat on low until just melted; this should take under a minute! Remove from heat, pour in the sugar and stir to combine. Add the essential oils and stir well. Once it has cooled, check the consistency; if you want a thicker scrub, then add some more sugar.
This is best stored in a glass jar, but it is best to use a thick glass to avoid accidental breakage in the shower.
The consistency of the scrub will depend on the temperature of your bathroom; the steam from a hot shower should soften up the scrub, but it may take a little longer in the winter or be more melty in the summer. If you are concerned about oil building up on the floor of your shower, use the scrub at the start of your shower and shampoo last – the suds should take care of any oily residue.
Inspired by:
- http://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/homemade-sugar-scrub/
- http://www.savorysimple.net/rosemary-sugar-scrub/#more-4793
my sleepy kitchen 
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
This scrub sounds incredible! It would be perfect for the dry winters we have where I live. Thank you for sharing this informative post on Allergy-Free Wednesdays!
I find a lot of commercial scrubs quite drying, so that’s why I like this recipe so much! Hope you enjoy it in the months to come. Thanks again for hosting 🙂