Imagine retreating to a spa, spending the whole day breathing deeply, taking care of yourself, and rejuvenating your body and spirit. But time and money can get in the way of that reverie, so we also need quick and inexpensive ways to create our own mini-spa experiences at home.
One of my favorites is to combine simple ingredients into a sugar scrub that can be rubbed on hands, elbows, knees and/or feet to smooth and soften. An essential oil added to the ingredients can either help calm or enliven your mind.
I’ve become cautious about what I put on my skin since chemicals can circulate throughout the bloodstream within 30 seconds of application, so these natural ingredients work well. (A sugar scrub will not elevate the blood sugar of diabetics.)
You can make a batch for yourself, to give away to a friend, even to give as a party favor for a baby or bridal shower. It keeps for weeks in the refrigerator and can be used as needed.
Assemble these ingredients:
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- Essential oil of your choice. I am a distributor for and use Youngevity essential oils, typically lavender mailette for calming, or lemon or peppermint for energizing.
This recipe can easily be doubled.
Add the sugar to a mixing bowl, and break up any clumps before adding in the coconut oil. Then add the coconut oil, which should be softened but not liquid, and mix well. Finally, add 15-20 drops of essential oil, and combine with a spoon or handheld electric mixer.
A word about essential oils and safety
It’s best to dilute them with a carrier oil such as the coconut oil in this recipe, instead of applying directly to the skin.
Lavender is excellent for supporting respiratory, skin, immune, muscular, and glandular systems. Do not use it with any medications containing iodine or iron. Lemon is uplifting and purifying, and both lavender and lemon are safe for adults and children. Do not get the oils in the eyes or ears. Lemon is photo-toxic, so avoid exposure to the sun for a few hours after using it on your skin. You can purchase Youngevity essential oils HERE (and read my full disclosure statement HERE.)
The scrub can be stored in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for several weeks. This batch became single servings for a take-home party favor at a baby shower. I used a melon-ball scoop to divide the scrub out into 2-ounce cups with lids.
Create a party favor
To make the scrub as a party favor, I doubled the recipe and was able to make 36 individual servings. To help you plan your shopping trip, typically I use one 4-pound bag of granulated sugar for every two 14-ounce jars of coconut oil. That would create about four batches of sugar scrub. Youngevity essential oils contain about 200 drops of oil.
One of my favorite collections of Youngevity essential oils is the Basic Oils First Aid Kit, which includes lavender and peppermint oils that make great sugar scrubs, as well as tea tree oil and a blend called To Be Well. It’s a great starter pack for those new to essential oils, because it also includes grapeseed carrier oil and a booklet for further information.
Adding other ingredients to the sugar scrub
You can add other ingredients if you choose. For example, if making a lemon sugar scrub, adding the zest of a real lemon and a tablespoon of real lemon juice to the scrub adds a nice touch.
Are you going to give it a try, or have you created sugar scrubs in the past? Share your favorite recipes here if so, or in my “Faith and Sweat community” on Facebook. Ready to relax?
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