Clean, fresh, soft skin can make you feel like a million bucks.
Crackling fires, a mug of hot cocoa and snow falling outside can make you feel cozy.
Howling winds and the extreme temperature of winter can make you feel like an old alligator.
Does your skin need extra boost to look and feel its best?
If so, why not try a homemade body scrub?
To make your own body scrub, you will need:
-
1 cup Sea Salt
-
3/4 cup Olive Oil
-
5-10 drops of an Essential Oil or 1 teaspoon Extract, of your choice (I used lemon oil)
-
A Container with an Air Tight Lid
To make, mix ingredients thoroughly, right in the jar. Seal. Shake well before use.
To give yourself a five star spa treatment:
- In the shower or tub, massage gently with body scrub, avoiding your face, and rinse. Pay special attention to dry, rough areas, like your knees and elbows.
- While skin is damp, smooth with a body oil or coconut oil.
- Pat dry, wrap in a warm towel, and relax for 15 minutes. While you are relaxing, you could give yourself a facial, enjoy a refreshing cup of green tea and listen to some of your favorite music.
The oil moisturises and softens your skin, while the roughness of the salt helps to remove dead skin, leaving you with a fresh, healthy glow. The sent of your chosen oil will lift your spirits, and stay with you, long after your treatment. Not only will you look and feel better, but you will be healthier.
Sea salt helps to purify your skin, rejuvenating cells, preventing infection and helping to eliminate toxins from your body. Sea salt helps to maintain the electrolyte balance inside and outside of your cells. It is universally accepted that sea salts can have a wonderful effect on circulation and metabolism.
Olive Oil is also a purifier. Taken internally, it cleanses the liver, reduces blood pressure, inhibit the growth of some cancers, benefit people at risk for or with diabetes, lessen the severity of asthma and arthritis, and actually help your body maintain a lower weight. Eternally, it performs a similar job, as your skin absorbs the minerals, vitamins, and toxins you put on it. Your skin also helps to get rid of toxins. Olive oil is high in antioxidants, particularly vitamin E.
So, you see, taking a few minutes for yourself will not only give you nice soft skin, but it will refresh your body and mind, leaving you peaceful and calm.
Getting an essential oil I actually enjoy is on my list of things to do.
Dear Joilene,
There is more than one way to obtain essential oils.
You can buy them in the form of pure oils (the best and most expensive way to go). You can also buy them in a carrier oil, or in am extract (an extract has the oil in an alcohol base).
You can also make your own, by infusing the olive oil with a favorite herb. This requires a bit of thinking ahead, but may be the best way to go. You know exactly what you have.
In the case of a body scrub, you could substitute a ground herb for the essential oil. My only caution would be to make sure what you choose won’t stain your skin. In this manner, you could add lemon peel, eucalyptus leaves, lavender flowers, dried rose petals, cinnamon, ginger, pine, or whatever you like best. If you suffer from stress and sore muscles, arnica flowers and st. john’s wart would be the way to go.
Humm…I may have to go crush some lavender for mine!
-Christa