It’s been an unbelievably cold and snowy winter nationwide. However, most of the country is finally starting to see a few welcome signs of spring. As temperatures start to rise, you may be getting your spring and summer clothes out and looking forward to a change of wardrobe. But is your skin parched, scaly and miserable after a long winter of dry air?
You can spend a lot of money on products that promise to solve this problem. However, I’d like to show you how to use fragrant citrus and some inexpensive, simple household ingredients to create a sweet-smelling, all-natural salt scrub. It’ll moisturize your skin deeply, and leave you feeling invigorated, too.
This recipe produces a luxurious product that’s very similar to pricey store-bought scrubs. You’ll also be using the peel of your oranges—a part of the fruit you’d most likely throw away otherwise. Orange zest is very high in vitamin C, a popular ingredient in fancy skin creams and treatments. According to experts, topical vitamin C can reduce the effects of sun damage, soften wrinkles, and heal dry skin.
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| Microplane grater |
The process to make the scrub is really quick and easy. First, take an orange and remove about 2 tsp of zest. (Of course, your orange is still perfectly good for juicing or eating!) Here I’m using my microplane grater, which I love. It’s so much easier to use and clean than other graters.
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| Sea salt |
Mix your zest with about 1 ½ cups of coarse-textured (not fine) sea salt in a medium-sized bowl. If your salt is in very large crystals, you might want to whir it in a coffee grinder for just a few seconds to break it down a little bit.
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| Olive oil |
Add in about ½ cup of olive oil, almond oil, or liquid coconut oil (I used olive oil because I had some inexpensive oil on hand).
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| The scrub |
Stir. The amount of oil here is a matter of personal preference. You may prefer a slightly drier or slightly more oil-rich scrub.
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| Essential oils for additional fragrance |
Finally, you can add about 20 to 30 drops of an essential oil and stir, if you’d like to enhance the scrub’s fragrance. I had some sweet orange essential oil, so I used that. Lavender or peppermint essential oil would also harmonize nicely. This step is optional.
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| The final product |
Spoon your scrub into a decorative jar or container. You’re done!
To use the scrub, I suggest bringing it into the shower. Scoop out a tablespoon or so of scrub, gently rub it over an area of dry skin (making small circles), and rinse thoroughly.
This fresh, natural scrub will gently exfoliate, leaving your face and body feeling smooth and soft and looking brighter. It’s also a great and very easy-to-make gift. With just a few minutes of your time, you can add some “zest” to your day and enjoy healthier, glowing skin. You’ll be ready for swimsuit weather in no time--so let’s hope Mother Nature holds up her end of the bargain!
References:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/skin/vitaminC/
