Invigorating Body Scrub Recipe
Homemade beauty products are much better for your skin and your pocketbook than commercial products readily available in stores. Since you know exactly what is going into the product, it is especially good for individuals who suffer from allergies and want to know exactly what is in a product. The simple ingredients in the recipe cost much less than a store bought product would cost. You can mix it up in smaller quantities, and always be assured of its freshness. The homemade product will not contain all the preservatives that can be found in commercial products. And, last but not least, the satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself can be very rewarding.
I hope you enjoy this scrub as much as my grandmother did. She said it really helped her arthritis. As I get older, I think I'll be whipping up a batch more and more often.
Invigorating Body Scrub
1/2 cup baking soda
2 T. sugar or salt
2 T. cayenne pepper
Olive oil or vitamin E oil
Mix together the baking soda, sugar or salt, and cayenne pepper. Add olive oil until it is of the consistency that you like scrubbing with in the shower. Place in a sealed non-glass container.
I recently saw a recipe on the internet that was very similar to this except it had approximately 1-1/2 tsp. each of nutmeg and cinnamon.
If the scrub is kept in the refrigerator between uses, it can be refreshing on a hot summer day.
The sugar or salt, and the baking soda are used to soften and exfoliate the skin.
The cayenne pepper soothes the skin as well as stimulating it. Many people are concerned that it burns the skin, but unless you are allergic to it, and you avoid the most tender parts of your body, this is not the case. As long as the cayenne is used in the small amounts such as those indicated in this mixture, it can be amazingly soothing to the skin. Cayenne pepper is also good for stimulating the circulation, and it has been used extensively to treat arthritic joints. Like I said, my grandmother swore it helped her. Also, temporary redness and warmth may occur because of the increased circulation.
Do not use this scrub on the face or other tender areas of your body. Wash hands well after using scrub before touching your eyes.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2011 Cindy Murdoch
