Make a Lemon Body Scrub ~ Citrus Series

"Applied to the skin, it (lemon) has antibacterial and astringent effects,

which helps to clear up blemishes and brighten dull or oily skin and hair."

~ James Wong, Grow Your Own Drugs

And yet another luxurious use for the common lemon! To make a body scrub which looks like it came from a bath boutique, all you need is a few minutes and two basic household ingredients.

Body scrubs help to remove dead skin cells (exfoliate) and moisturize dry skin (making them perfect for winter). Your husband will appreciate the frugality and you will always have a gift on hand without running to the store at the last second. Don't forget to involve your children in these easy projects! They create memories while allowing you the time to actually make them.

Simple Supply List:

• 2 cups fine sea salt (or you could also use sugar)
• 1 cup of body oil (such as olive oil, coconut oil*, avocado oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil)
• clean jar/container with lid

Optional Add-Ins:

• zest of 1 lemon (or substitute with dried flowers, such as crushed rose petals or lavender, or crushed flaxseed, oatmeal, ground coffee)
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice (or honey or omit this altogether and use other additives listed)
• 5 drops favorite essential oil (lavender, lemon, etc) or 1 tsp. extract (vanilla, lemon, coconut)
• 1 tsp. vitamin E oil (for longer term preservation)

(*Edited to add: If using coconut oil, add the juice of one squeezed lemon to help it from hardening.)

Mix together your oil and salt (or sugar).

This is a pretty forgiving recipe.  Feel free to add more or less of anything listed to get the consistency and aroma you desire! If you like a thinner scrub, use a 1 to 1 ratio of oil and salt/sugar. I like it thicker (as in recipe above) so that is doesn't slip from my fingers when wet. 

Add your lemon zest (or any other fragrant dried herb/flower of choice).

Mix together.

You can also add a tbsp. of lemon juice at this point and/or five drops of your favorite essential oil.

Place your "lemon scrub" into a jar because it is already done!

Directions: In the shower, massage a small handful of scrub all over wet skin (avoiding sensitive areas, concentrating on dry ones), rinse off and pat dry. Don't wipe away the oil feeling since this will keep you moisturized without applying lotion. Suggested use is once a week. Not recommended for your face.

This is too simple! My daughter and I made a few different blends and had a blast creating these "spa bath and beauty products".

You are welcome to print off our lemon labels for your jars or use them as gift tags (see below). Simply download and print on card-stock (please let me know if you have any problems printing). Attach with a piece of ribbon, twine or paste onto your container. This could be used as craft time for the little ones too!

"Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me."

~ Psalm 51:10

Linked up to: Wildcrafting Wednesday