Body scrubs are made of salts or sugars (white and/or brown) and natural oils such as olive oil, cocoa butter or, if you want a moisturizing effect, sweet almond oil. Body scrubs provide a gentle means of exfoliating the skin and can help to increase circulation. Yes indeed, there is more to a body scrub than meets the eye and, if you want to, you can make your own wonderful body scrubs at home. Just imagine, not only will you have silky, smooth skin, but the added satisfaction of knowing that you did it all yourself.

Before you get down to the nitty-gritty and make your own scrub, you first need to decide if you would prefer a sugar or a salt based scrub. A salt based scrub provides a greater degree of invigoration to your skin–which is a plus–but on the negative side, it can sting if you have any small cuts etc on your skin (have you recently shaved your legs?). A sugar scrub, on the other hand, might not provide the same level of invigoration, but neither is it going to be such an agitation to a sore bikini-line.

Once you have chosen the main ingredient for your body scrub you will then need to select an oil that is skin friendly. When it comes to selecting an oil it is a case of different strokes or different folks. Some might prefer a vegetable oil, others perhaps decide on baby oil or some other form of mineral oil. It is a personal preference, but the only oil I am willing to stroke on my body is grape seed oil.

Mineral oils can clog the pores and I find vegetable oil is a little heavy for my tastes and can sometimes leave the skin feeling a little greasy after bathing. Grape seed oil, however, is easily absorbed through the skin. It is even used in a lot of modern massage oils and that is recommendation enough for me. My second choice would be sweet almond oil, with olive oil sliding up a close third behind it.

Now for the nitty-gritty. First find a bowl that is big enough to allow you to mix your scrub. If your bowl is too small you are likely to find at least some of the mixture toppling over the rim and onto the floor, which is a pain, we are making body scrub here and not looking for excuses to scrub the carpet.

Once you have your bowl pour in your desired amount of salt or sugar and then add a small amount of fragrance. You can use any scent that you like. It is your scrub so you get to decide how it smells, which is another benefit of making it yourself. Next mix in enough of your chosen oil to make a thick and slushy paste.

You may, if you want, mix and match oils and even add a few other ingredients, if you so desire. Some dried herbs perhaps, or a little baking soda to clarify your skin. Or what about some liquid soap for that extra bit of lather? Honey will help moisturize and skin clays help to draw out impurities. Again, the choice is yours.

While you are developing your recipe, and trying to get it just right, be sure to write down the amount of each ingredient that you have used. That way you can be sure that when you do get it perfect you can continue to get it perfect the next time and every other time after that.

You can use your hands to test your homemade body scrub. If it appears to have too much liquid in it then add some more dry ingredients. If it is too thick, and does not run smoothly onto your skin, then add a little more oil. And if it looks as if you have just finished cleaning out the fat fryer… well… if at first you don’t succeed, try,try again. You probably won’t get it perfect on your first attempt and a little experimentation may be necessary, but developing your own body scrub, is a very personal thing and you want it to be just right. For you. The feel that you want, the texture that you want and the smell that you want. And you do want it, don’t you? Or else you would never have read this far. Well it’s time to stop reading now, so go and gather up your ingredients, find yourself a bowl and make that scrub!

By: Steve Caldwell

About the Author:
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