If you’re not paying attention, your body’s skin can easily get weighed down with dead skin cells that create dry patches on your elbows, cracked skin on your heels or simply and overall, drab appearance. To restore softer, smoother skin that seems to glow from within, it’s necessary to slough away all those dead skin cells. While you can purchase high-priced exfoliators at the beauty supply store, many of them are filled with artificial fragrances and other chemicals that can actually cause more damage to your skin than benefits – especially if you have sensitive skin.
If you’d rather go a more natural route, you can simply check your pantry and refrigerator for the ingredients to combine homemade body scrubs that smell delicious and greatly improve the texture of your skin. Because the skin on your body is typically less sensitive than your face, you might want to try more abrasive scrubbing agents in your recipes. Here are five to try today:
Zesty Body Scrub
1 cup oil such as sweet almond, olive oil, coconut oil or your favorite body oil
2 cups coarse sea salt
Zest of one lemon
Mix together the oil and sea salt until you form a nice paste. Stir in the lemon zest for extra fragrance and energizing properties. To use, gently rub onto moist skin (like while you’re in the shower), focusing on dry patches, such as the elbows, knees and heels. Rinse off and follow up with a lotion to lock in the moisture.
To store the rest of your scrub, place it into a plastic jar with tight-fitting lid. Use remainder of scrub within a week.
Rise and Shine Body Scrub
½ cup brewed coffee grounds, cooled
3 tablespoons sea salt
Within a half an hour after brewing your coffee, mix the grounds with the salt to form a thick, coarse paste. Smooth generous amounts all over your skin, massaging in circular motions and focusing on extra-dry areas of skin. Wash off with a moisturizing body gel and follow with a hydrating body lotion.
Sweet Apple Body Scrub
½ cup granulated white sugar
1 cup unscented, unflavored applesauce
½ cup olive oil (or other oil of your choosing)
Mix all ingredients together and massage into the skin in sections, rubbing for a minute or two in each area. Rinse off and moisturize skin with your favorite body lotion.
Quick Brown Sugar Scrub
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup olive, coconut or almond oil
Blend sugar and oil together until it makes a smooth paste. In the shower, rub the scrub in circular motions onto the skin, wherever it is dry and needs exfoliation. Rinse off with warm water. Lock in moisture with your favorite body lotion.
Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub
1 can of pumpkin
¾ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Whisk pumpkin and sugar together until well mixed. Add cinnamon and mix again. Use this fragrant scrub in the shower as you massage it into damp skin, focusing on your knees, elbows, hands and feet. Rinse off with warm water and follow with a body moisturizer.
Photos: Thinkstock
