The magazines we peruse, the beauty
products we buy, the ads that assault us: All tell us that we
need to have satiny skin. It's not just the look we care about,
either. Our sense of touch seems to demand a velvety softness.
You can offer your skin this much-desired tone and texture with a
body scrub made from just a few basic ingredients - sea salt,
essential oils and ground nuts. Scrub and brush impurities away Application Exfoliators for smoothing scrubs Carrier oils for moisture and softness Essential oils for fragrance and healing Green tea for toning and oily build-up Money saver Sea-Salt Body Scrub You can also use this scrub to alleviate
a dry, flaky scalp and dull hair - often the result of long-term
use of permanents and colorings. It rids your scalp of dry skin
and sebum build up, leading to shinier, healthier hair. Gently
massage 1-2 tbsp. of the scrub onto the entire scalp for 5
minutes; then shampoo and condition as usual. Because this scrub
can be harsh on the skin, use only 1-2 times a month. Almond and Bran Scrub Mix the almonds and bran. Add the tea;
stir until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Cool just to body
temperature. Add the lavender essential oil, thoroughly blending
the mixture. Use this scrub as often as once a week. Seed Scrub Combine the seeds and the cream or milk
in a small bowl and stir thoroughly. This scrub is gentle enough
that it can be used daily, even on sensitive skin. It's
especially useful in winter, when the dry air tends to starve our
skin of moisture. Scrub for Dry Complexion Grind dry ingredients in blender or electric coffee grinder
(drugstores sell colloidal oatmeal, which needs no grinding). Add
essential oil and stir to distribute. Store in closed container.
To use, moisten 1 tsp. with enough water to make a paste, dampen
your face with a little water and gently apply scrub. Rinse with
warm water. Sources:
Scrubs rid you of skin that's dry, scaly and
flaky, often the result of overexposure to dry heat or cold,
dehydration or plain neglect. In these cases, built-up cellular
debris has clogged pores and blocked the flow of sebum. A body
scrub can help reverse this process, encouraging blood flow,
giving moisturizers the chance to reach underlying layers and
supporting the skin's task of toxin removal.
Scrubs can be used once each week, although
a few gentle ones can be used more often (see seed scrub below).
However, if you have rashes, acne, sunburned skin or spider
veins, avoid scrubs, as they might worsen your condition;
instead, use a soft body brush. In fact, daily dry-brushing
before showering is useful for almost everyone. It helps
eliminate scaly skin from knees, feet and elbows. In the shower,
massage these areas again with a natural-bristle brush or loofah.
Spread a generous amount of one of the body
scrubs listed below onto damp skin. Thoroughly massage the body
with firm circular motions; start at the feet and work your way
up to the shoulders, massaging each area for just a few seconds.
Rinse off with plenty of warm water, and follow with an
application of moisturizer.
I know exfoliation sounds like a term more
suited to reforestation than beauty, but aestheticians consider
it one of their most important tools. Exfoliation is the removal
of dull, dead surface skin. Carefully scrubbing your face exposes
underlying, fresh skin and encourages the growth of the
undeveloped skin in the skin's deepest layers. It is important
that exfoliation be performed properly, using gentle, circular
movements. If overdone, too much new skin is exposed before it is
ready to face the world. Avoid the chemical exfoliants used by
some beauty salons and even natural products containing ground
almond shells, which are too harsh for the face.
A number of natural substances can serve as
exfoliating agents. Sea salt, fine or coarse, will help to remove
toxins, supply minerals to tissue and stimulate stagnant
circulation. It also aids in tightening and toning slack skin. A
sea-salt scrub battles the dimpled look of cellulite that often
appears on the thighs and buttocks by helping to break up fat and
water deposits. For removal of scaly, tough, dry skin, ground
almonds prove both thorough and gentle, and provide more
moisture. Wheat or oat bran is an excellent, non-abrasive and
non-irritating exfoliator for sensitive skin.
Grape seed, hazelnut and soybean oils, used
in many body scrubs, penetrate the skin readily. They supply
essential fatty acids to the skin, lending it increased
elasticity and a soft sheen.
Grapefruit essential oil gently stimulates
and refreshes, adding a slight deodorizing effect. Juniper oil is
especially useful for combatting water retention as well as
stress and fatigue. Essential oil of lavender can help heal
painful fissures and minor inflammations.
The caffiene contained in green tea helps to
tighten and tone the skin. The tea is also quite beneficial for
oily skin, as the tannic acid works to remove any excess oil.
Mix used coffee grounds that are still warm
with a dash of a carrier oil to make a scrub that is good for
cellulite-prone spots and thick and callused areas.
Confidentiality Statement: (for anyone who does not respect
copyright and/or is confused regarding this issue)
The information, data and schematics embodied in the document are
confidential and proprietary, being exclusively owned by Ellen J. Lord (aka Purpleflame or Firefly). This document is being supplied
on understanding that it and its contents shall not be used,
reproduced, or disclosed to others except as specifically permitted
with the prior written consent of Ellen J. Lord. The recipient of
this document, by its retention and use, agrees to protect the same
from loss, theft, or unauthorized use.
All information provided in this
article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the
following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing,
Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott
Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The
Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters
Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself
Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden,
Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A
Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home
and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D