BODY SCRUB

Full body scrubs have grown popularity in recent years. This treatment clears the skin of dead skin cells, encourages elimination of toxins and impurities through the pores, and brings a rosy, healthy glow to renewed skin.

Most people are familiar with body scrub products sold in stores, which gritty particules are held in suspension in a soapy, lotion like base. If you would like to create a natural version of this type of product, it is possible to do so by combining fine ground, dried plant derived materials to the gel base described below. Typically, crushed black walnut, almond or apricot shells provide the exfoliating factor in scrubs. Bear in mind that, if not fine ground, these can be quite gritty and are best suited to those with oilier, coarse skin. An excellent home replacement is raw, turbinado or demerara sugar, added to the gel base just prior to giving yourself a full body scrub treatment.

Other food based scrubs and exfoliants like almond meal, herbal powders and fine ground citrus peel can be added to the gel just before treatment. Use about 1 tbsp of scrub material to a full handful of gel base, or mix in a small bowl for convenience.

BATH AND SHOWER GEL
A multi-purpose bath and shower gel made with mild and gentle cleansing agents.

• 4 oz (120ml) distilled water or herbal infusion
• 2 oz (60ml) polyglucose
• 1oz (30ml) coco betaine
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 1 tsp (5ml) modified lecithin
• 1/2 tsp grapefruit seed extract or Germaben II

Combine all the ingrediets in a blender, adding the xanthan gum powder last. Run blender on the lowest setting for 5-10 seconds. The mixture will be white and frothy. Pour the liquid through a funnel into a clean bowl and cap tightly.

LEMON VERBENA SPA SALT GLOW
A superb refreshing and moisturizing all over body. This spa recipe combines purifying salts with cleansing essential oils and fine textured almond oil for moisturizing and to give your skin a healthy and glowing finish.

• 1 cup (8oz) coarse sea salts
• 8 oz (240ml) sweet almond oil
• 40 drops lemon Pure Essential Oil
• 20 drops lemon verbena Pure Essential Oil
• 20 drops grapefruit Pure Esssential Oil
• 10 drops juniper berry Pure Essential Oil
• 10 drops ylang-ylang Pure Essential Oil

Stir the essential oils into the sweet almond oil in a measuring cup or beaker. Place the salts in a glass kitchen jar with gasket-type closure. Pour the oil mixture over the salts, close the jar, and let the oils soak into the salts. After several minutes, invert the jar so that the salts become more saturated. Turn the jar right sde up one more time. To use, slip on a dampened hemp, cotton or natural mesh body mitt and take a handful of salts in your palm.

Standing in the shower, use the mitt with the salts to give yourself a 3-5 minute all over body treatment, using gentle circular motions. Add more salts as needed. Finish your session with a brisk, cool shower, and rub yourself dry with a clean towel. Your skin will feel invigorated and brand new!!

VANILLA SUGAR BODY SCRUB

• 2 oz (60ml) unfragranced gel base (refer to bath and shower gel recipe)
• 1/2 oz (15ml) vegetable glycerin
• 2 tbsp raw brown sugar
• 20 drops vanilla oleoresin
• 5 drops patchouli Pure Essential Oil
• 5 drops ylang-ylang Pure Essential Oil

Pour the gel base and glycerin into a small bowl and add the sugar and essential oils. Rub mixture over your body with your hands or a mitt, using circular motions. Follow with a shower with the faucet turned full on. Towel dry and appy a light moisturizer. You will feel and smell delicious.