Scrub Away (Loving You series)

Where I live in PA, we are in the middle of winter, holding on to the hope of soon coming Spring. Although I am thankful we haven't experienced any major snowstorms or bad winter weather, I can say the cold, dry air is certainly making it's mark in other ways. And I must add, it isn't always pretty. I mean who wants to be seen with dry, frizzy hair and rough skin? If you have not yet noticed for yourself, our hair and skin needs change along with the seasons.

Because it's easy to become dehydrated during the dryer winter months, we must be sure to remove the dead cells in order for our skin to properly absorb any added moisture and hydration. One simple way to do so is with a body scrub, which can be used on all skin types.

If you have acne, extreme sensitivity or spider veins, you may want to steer clear since a scrub may be too harsh and irritate your skin more. As always, seek medical attention if you have a condition that requires professional treatment.

Body scrubs can be made using sugar or salt mixtures. These DIY scrubs are easily made with items you may already have in your kitchen or bathroom cabinet. Here are a few simple body scrub recipes according to skin type:

For Dry skin:

• 1 Tablespoon powdered milk
• 1 Tablespoon ground oatmeal
• water

Mix the ingredients adding water gradually, enough to make a paste. Allow to sit for 1 minute to thicken. Massage onto your face and neck, avoiding eyes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry. This can be used daily in place of soap. I will not dry out or irritate your skin.

For Thick, Oily skin (especially MEN):

• 1 teaspoon ground oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon ground almond meal
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered peppermint or rosemary
• herbal astringent, or water

Combine the ingredients to form a paste.  Let it sit for a minute to thicken.  Massage onto face and neck, avoiding your eye area. Rinse with lukewarm water.  Pat dry. This scrub is good for clearing breakouts on the chest, shoulders and back.

For Dehydrated skin:

• 1 Tablespoon applesauce
• 1 Tablespoon sunflower seed meal

Combine until pasty and massage onto face and neck. Keep it on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.  The sunflower seed oils will be absorbed into the skin to relieve dehydration.

For All skin types:

• 1/4 cup sea salt, or sugar
• 1/4 cup warmed oil, coconut or olive

Stir ingredients in a small bowl and gently massage onto body using light pressure.  For extra exfoliating benefits, use a wash mitt or loofah.  Scrub until skin shows a rosy glow.  Rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry.
This scrub is great for extreme dryness, removing the top layer of dead skin cells.  This particular scrub should not be used on the face or after shaving any body area; it could cause irritation.

All of these scrubs can be used on a weekly basis to maintain healthy, hydrated and glowing skin.

(If you don't find the ingredients already ground up, use a coffee grinder or food processor which will grind the whole ingredients until powdery.)

For more tips on DIY beauty read my other posts in the Loving You series on how to create a Steam Facial, Recharge with Aromatherapy, and Quench Your (Skin's) Thirst. Stay tuned for upcoming posts in the Loving You series, featuring Foot Care, Healthy Hair and Beauty Routines.  Subscribe to have posts sent to your email as soon as the blog is update.

I hope you find these tips useful.  Feel free to let me know what you think when you try them.  Be creative, and most importantly, enjoy the time to Love Yourself!