Natural Beauty: DIY Invigorating Salt Scrub

Pampering myself is not something I’m exactly fond of, or used to, in the traditional sense of the word. While I appreciate quality body products, I don’t have drawers full of them, nor do I often evangelize about a brand or treatment; I prefer simple and wholesome and, ultimately, private body care. I do have two weekly indulgences, though, that I’ll reveal to my loyal Dumplings if you promise not to tell: face masks and body scrubs.

Since my face is, well, my face, I tend to leave the products I use in the former category to the pros; my worst mask experience was when I used an all-natural mask made with organic ingredients–about six months past its expiration date. I didn’t think anything of it until my face started burning five minutes into the mask treatment, and I looked like Clifford the Big Red Dog for several hours that night. See why I do these things in private?

But the latter is a DIY-er’s dream product: scrubs are meant to be washed off, so while their ingredients are important to keep natural, you don’t have to worry so much about ingesting or absorbing something dangerous. That being said, choosing natural ingredients is an overall more environmentally sound decision (think about all the scrub that gets washed down the drain, into the sewers and drinking water reserves and oceans full of fish…). It’s also just hard to get your hands on chemical additives, so why not take the easy route and turn to your kitchen cupboard?

That’s exactly what I did when I needed a new body scrub for summer. Rather than shell out double-digits for one at the store, I mixed up a batch of exfoliating bliss that is good enough to eat.* All the ingredients are indeed edible, and if you are okay with putting it in your body then it’s got to be just as good on it, right? The fresh, stimulating, but not overpowering scent, nurturing coconut oil, and fine, less processed, mineral-rich salt leave skin feeling smooth and pampered–whether you share it is up to you! 😉

*I know you’re wondering, so I’ll just tell you one last secret: yes, I did eat some! Just a tiny lick, really–and it was a rather salty lick at that…

Natural Beauty: DIY Invigorating Salt Scrub

Ingredients

1/4 cup fine sea salt

1/4 cup mineral salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon raw honey

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir with a fork. Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place.

Massage skin with salt scrub–preferably in the shower to avoid a mess! Give extra attention to areas that tend to be rough–feet, knees, elbows, etc. After showering, follow with a rich moisturizer. Your skin will glow!

Natural Beauty: DIY Invigorating Salt Scrub