Have you ever raised a skeptical brow at all of the fancy scrubs, bubbles, masks, creams and oils lining the shelves of beauty departments? Often neon in color, craftily named and intensely fragranced, they tend to seem more like chemistry experiments than skin care products. But the fact of the matter is that skin is the largest organ in the body, and deserves to be treated well. Nourishing the skin certainly doesn’t have to be as fake, complicated and expensive as fancy spas make you believe. Try out this back-to-basics homemade Celtic sea salt scrub recipe with organic oils. It is a revitalizing exfoliating treatment, rich with topical vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that is sure to become one of your new favorite DIY secrets.

The skin is a dynamic, living, changing organ. As the skin grows, the top layer eventually dries out and sloughs off to reveal younger skin beneath. However, due to aging and other nuances of our modern world (including personal care product choices, diet or build-up from environmental toxins) this process can become greatly slowed. The skin is left appearing dry, dull and blemished. It is thus truly important to remove the damaged layer of skin for restoration of shine and smoothness of complexion, but also to optimize the nutrient exposure for the healthy growing tissue found below. Feed your skin by reveling in a wholesome, mechanical exfoliation process using your own sea salt scrub. By selecting quality ingredients and blending them yourself, you are doing more than restoring glowing skin for little cost: you are also reaping the benefit of absorbing delicate nutrients through a transdermal route. Follow our homemade Celtic sea salt scrub recipe below. Once you've perfected the formula, you'll be sharing your luxurious sea salt scrub with others as an impressive gift!

1 Part Organic Oil + 2 Parts Salt + 10-20 Drops Essential Oils

Organic Cold Pressed Oils

Different types of oils offer varying benefits for the skin, and have distinct tactile sensation and fragrance upon application. Depending on the current balance of your skin tone and moisture content, you can choose the type of oil that will be most appealing to you.

Try:

• Unrefined Olive Oil: powerful antioxidant value, high oleic acid content, reduces sun damage, stronger smell
• Cold Pressed Sesame Oil: excellent moisturizer, rich in Vitamins E and B complex, high mineral content, tranquilizing aroma therapeutic value
• Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil: easily absorbed, beneficial lecithin and unsaturated fatty acid content, highly recommended for dry or weathered skin
• Organic Almond Oil: light fragrance, beneficial emollient for most skin types, protein rich and high in Vitamins E and A
• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: healing lauric acid, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, pleasant light fragrance

Unrefined Salts

For your salt, choose a product that is unrefined and thus still rich with beneficial natural minerals. Both Celtic Sea Salts and Himalayan Salts are beautiful natural options. Depending on your preference and the sensitivity of your skin you can use a course or fine salt. For this recipe I used coarse Celtic sea salt as this works for me, however you do not want to damage the skin. If you try out your scrub and it leaves your skin appearing red or irritated, use a finer grit in your next batch.

Essential Oils 

Add essential oils from scents that are appealing and balancing for you, and mix to create a fragrance that is both harmonious and soothing. Lavender, Rosemary, Lemon, and Eucalyptus are common topical favorites. 

 

 

 

Now, Simply Mix Your Ingredients!

Now that you have made all of your ingredient selections, the process is easy. Place ingredients with proper proportions into desired container. You can use a mason jar or try VioLiv Glass to protect the integrity of your scrub over time. Blend gently using a spoon. To use your scrub, rub onto clean skin in easy circles then rinse with warm water. You can also add a dab of raw manuka honey for a smooth texture and anti-inflammatory value. Blending several types of oils to create a customized healing slurry is a fun way to get creative and optimize the value of your scrub. Enjoy!