Making Salt Scrubs

Salt scrubs, sometimes referred to as salt glows, are found in almost every trendy bath and body shop around. For good reason. They are a wonderful sensory experience. They smell heavenly, but more importantly they leave you feeling and smelling pretty close to heaven too.

What most people don't know is how easily and inexpensively you can whip these up at home. Gifts for friends and family or treating yourself like a queen can be so easy.

There are just a few things to remember with any salt scrub. One is that salt is after all-salt. Ever hear the old saying "It was like putting salt into an open wound"? Well that saying is not meant for pleasure. Salt scrubs should never be used around cuts, nicks, broken skin...you get the idea. Trust me on this one, I have done this after shaving, not knowing I had nicked myself several times. Well there was no doubt in my mind where the nicks were. Ouch!

Also, with any scrub there can be the tendency to get a bit aggressive in the, well, scrubbing. I cannot stress enough...DON'T do this. What is meant to be a silky, sensuous, beneficial skin experience....Turns into a painful one, one not unlike a floor burn! Alright, so we have established that we are NOT going to do this!

Now...to the recipes. You can look online and find more salt scrub recipes than...Carter has pills...I couldn't resist.

Here are some to get you started. Remember what nice gifts they make. Change up the Essential Oil blends and the variations are almost endless.

Basic Salt Scrub

1 cup Fine Sea Salt

2 cups Carrier Oil (I like Jojoba Oil, but you can use what you like)

10-15 drops Essential Oil or Essential Oil Blend

Stir all together and store in a pretty jar. Remember that many of these Salt Scrubs will make the shower or tub VERY slippery...use caution!

Salt Scrub

3 tablespoons Jojoba Oil (again substitutions OK)

½ tablespoon Liquid Lecithin (found in health food section of your local market)

Mix together...May require some heating to totally incorporate. If so, cool and add:

¼ cup Fine Sea Salt

1 capsule Vitamin E

5-10 drops Essential Oil (Orange, Lavender, with just a touch of Eucalyptus is an idea)

Again, stir all together and place in your Jar.

Herbal Salt Glow

2 cups Fine Sea Salt

1 cup Jojoba Oil

½ cup Kukui Nut Oil

You may vary the above oils as you like. I find these wonderful, if you can find them.

1 teaspoon Vitamin E (again you can find this online or in drug or health food stores)

Ground, dried Herbs (such as Calendula Petals-pretty yellow, Lavender Buds-a nice purple, or Rosemary-a dark sage green)

I use anywhere from 1-2 tablespoons of the herb to a full ¼ cup.

15-20 drops of Essential Oil

Mix well, place into jar.

Here is one with Liquid Soap:

Sea Salt and Jojoba

½ cup Sea Salt

¼ cup Jojoba Oil

¼ cup Liquid Soap

½ teaspoon Essential Oil or Blend

Stir gently to incorporate ingredients. Place in jar.

Rosemary Mint Body Glow

2 cups Sea Salt

1 cup Epsom Salt

¼ cup Jojoba Oil

½ cup Liquid Soap

Ground Rosemary Herb

A few drops Rosemary Essential Oil

A few drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Use a light hand with the essential oils. Gently mix together and jar up! This smells just like a day at the spa.

This should be plenty to get you started both for yourself and for gift giving. These are so nice to pair in a basket with a milk bath in the same scent.

Have fun!