Homemade Goodness

It's so trendy right now to make our own spa treatments at home. I love this idea (so long as I still get to go to the spa occasionally for extra special spoiling). To stay spoiled in between spa visits, I use my own salt scrubs. They are super quick to mix up, are incredibly less expensive than spa-purchased scrubs, and the scent variations are practically unlimited.

2 cups coarse (or Kosher) salt

2 cups safflower (or canola) oil

10 drops essential oil *or*

1/2 cup fresh, bruised or chopped herbs

Mix the salt, safflower oil, and essential oil (or herbs) in a bowl. Store in a covered container. Use a tablespoonful of salt scrub daily to exfoliate, hydrate, and sanitize hands, feet, elbows, knees.....wherever you need the tingling, healthy treatment.

Homemade Salt Scrub

I use Morton Kosher salt. It's about $5 for a 3 - lb. box. That's enough salt for 3 recipes.

Find essential oils at health stores, craft stores, and some grocery stores. This isn't the same scented oils used for burning in home-fragrance burners. I like Nature's Alchemy brand. Lots of scent choices.

*Notes:

Of course I store mine in canning jars. But any container with a good lid works great. This is a perfect time to use that pretty thrift store find. I once saw salt scrub in a sweet, antique tea cup, with a little jelly spoon resting on the saucer.
Get creative with your herb blends. Rosemary and mint pair very well, as do lemongrass and basil.
Did you know that salt is a sanitizer? It's been used for millenia to cleanse the skin. The Roman Gladiators even used it with olive oil to scrape their skin clean.
To really save $$ use regular vegetable oil. It's not fancy but it works.
Do NOT use baby oil or mineral oil, as they are by-products of petroleum and don't absorb into your skin and just clog pores.
What a fabulous gift idea. Make several batches at a time and give plenty away to friends.
If you have very sensitive skin, you may choose to substitute sugar for the salt. Sugar scrubs work just as well.
How to not "mess up" this recipe:
1. If you're using herbs rather than essential oils, make certain to bruise or chop them. This releases their oils and causes them to give up their aromas.