Buzz
Exfoliating salt scrubs are an amazing product for removing dead skin cells and moisturizing the skin. You can easily make a salt scrub at home with a few simple ingredients, following basic recipes or experimenting with your own creative ideas. You can also add colors and fragrances to enhance the scrub with interesting hues and relaxing or energizing scents. Once you're done, you can store your creation in cute jars, making a perfect gift idea.
Ingredients
Basic Exfoliating Salt Scrub
- 1 cup (300 g) salt
- ½ cup (120 ml) oil
- 5 - 15 drops of essential oils (optional)
Citrus-Scented Exfoliating Salt Scrub
- ½ cup (120 g) fine sea salt
- ½ cup (120 ml) oil
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) grated orange peel
Coconut-Scented Exfoliating Salt Scrub
- 2 cups (400 g) coconut oil
- 1 cup (240 g) Epsom salt
- 8-10 drops of essential oil
Exfoliating Salt Scrub for Oil Removal
- ½ cup (150 g) kosher salt
- ¾ cup (180 ml) grape seed oil
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) liquid castile soap
- 12 drops of essential oil
Coffee-Scented Exfoliating Salt Scrub
- 2 cups (480 g) fine sea salt
- ½ cup (30 g) instant coffee
- ½ cup (100 g) coconut oil
Spicy Peppermint Exfoliating Salt Scrub
- 1 cup (240 g) Epsom salt
- 1 cup (200 g) coarse sea salt
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) grape seed oil
- 6 drops of spicy peppermint essential oil
- 4 drops of red food coloring
Steps
Make a Basic Exfoliating Salt Scrub
Choose your salt. Salt is essential in exfoliating products as it removes dead skin cells and leaves the skin soft and smooth. You can use different types of salt, including table salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt, Dead Sea salt, kosher salt, or Epsom salt.
- Sea salt and Epsom salt are among the most common salts used for making exfoliating scrubs. The key is not the type of salt, but its fineness. For exfoliating, choose a finer salt as it will exfoliate more effectively than coarse salt.
- You can mix different types of salts in one product.
- White sugar, brown sugar, coffee, oatmeal, or ground nut shells can also be used as substitutes or additions to the salt in this recipe.
Select a carrier oil. Carrier oils serve as a base to bind the exfoliating salt while also moisturizing the skin. You can use specialty oils or oils you already have in your kitchen. To avoid slipping in the shower, opt for lighter or medium-textured oils that can be easily washed off:
- Grapeseed oil and jojoba oil have a light texture and a very subtle fragrance.
- Sweet almond oil has a medium texture and a mild fragrance.
- Vegetable oil, olive oil, and canola oil have a medium texture with a mild scent.
- Coconut oil has a medium texture with a strong sweet fragrance.
- Peanut oil, walnut oil, and hazelnut oil have textures ranging from light to medium, with nutty scents.
- Castor oil has a thick texture and is difficult to rinse off.
Create your own signature scent. A basic exfoliating salt scrub only needs salt and oil, but you can add fragrances and essential oils to personalize it. Choose fragrances that match the seasons or special occasions. Make sure the fragrances you choose are safe for use on skin.
- Citrus oils, such as lemon, orange, and grapefruit, offer a fresh and energizing scent, perfect for spring and summer scrubs.
- Floral essential oils, such as ylang-ylang, rose, and geranium, are sweet and represent the essence of summer.
- Spicy peppermint and cinnamon essential oils bring a lively, festive aroma, making them ideal for Christmas and winter.
- Lavender, vanilla, chamomile, and sandalwood offer a gentle and soothing fragrance.
Mix the ingredients. Find a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid to store the exfoliating salt scrub. Pour in the salt, followed by the carrier oil. Finally, add a few drops of essential oil or fragrance until you achieve the desired scent and strength. Stir the mixture thoroughly before use.
Store the exfoliating salt scrub. After transferring the scrub into the jar, seal it tightly and store it in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard in your bathroom. Salt acts as a preservative, so your exfoliating scrub can last for one to two years without spoiling.
- Sugar also acts as a preservative, but scrubs made with sugar should be used within a few months.
Make Sea Salt Scrub with Other Recipes
Try using citrus peels. A sea salt scrub with citrus fragrance is perfect for the morning due to its fresh and invigorating scent. It also feels refreshing after a workout or a nap. To make a citrus sea salt scrub, combine the following ingredients in a glass jar:
- Fine sea salt
- Sweet almond oil or jojoba oil
- Grated orange, lemon, or grapefruit peel, or a combination of all three
Mix up a luxurious coconut-scented exfoliating salt scrub. Coconut oil helps to cool and moisturize the skin, making it a great choice for the base oil in this scrub. Mix coconut oil, Epsom salt, and 6-10 drops of essential oil in a glass jar, stirring until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency. Suitable essential oils for this recipe include:
- Vanilla
- Patchouli
- Orange
- Rose
- Geranium
Make an oil-absorbing exfoliating salt scrub. This type of scrub is perfect for cleaning your hands after cooking, gardening, or cleaning the garage. With this recipe, you won't need soap, as the castile soap is already included in the formula, and the salt will scrub off dirt and grime.
- Mix the salt, grapeseed oil, and soap in a glass jar. Add 12 drops of essential oil. Stir the mixture well and store it in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room.
Wake up with a coffee-scented exfoliating salt scrub. This coffee-scented scrub is also an excellent way to start your day and can serve as a great alternative to the popular citrus scrub. Here's how to make it:
- Mix the salt with the coffee grounds.
- Add room temperature coconut oil (this will make the mixture soft and easier to blend).
- Stir the mixture well.
Get creative with a holiday candy cane-themed salt scrub. This colorful salt scrub is perfect for the holiday season and makes a lovely gift. To create this festive scrub, combine salt, oil, and 6 drops of peppermint essential oil in a bowl. Mix well and divide the mixture into two portions, transferring half to a separate bowl.
- Use red food coloring to tint one half. Stir thoroughly until the color is evenly distributed.
- Using a spoon, sprinkle a layer of red-colored scrub at the bottom of a glass jar, pressing it down. Then, scoop a spoonful of the white scrub and layer it on top of the red. Repeat this process until the jar is full.
- You can use liquid FD&C water-based dye for bright colors or mica powder for a soft, shimmering effect.
Using the exfoliating salt scrub
Moisten your skin. Fill your bathtub with water or turn on the shower and step in to soften your skin, making it easier to apply the exfoliating salt scrub.
- If you only want to scrub your hands and feet, you can fill a bucket or basin with water to soak your hands or feet for a few minutes.
- You can also use the scrub on your face, but be gentle and avoid getting it in your eyes. Fill the sink with water and use a washcloth or your hands to dampen your face.
Scrub your skin with salt exfoliator. Open the jar of exfoliating salt and stir the mixture with a spoon. Scoop out one tablespoon (15g) of the salt scrub and place it in the palm of your hand. Gently rub the salt into dry or rough areas of your skin, such as the hands, feet, and elbows. Use circular motions for 1-2 minutes to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells.
- If using the scrub on your face, be extra gentle. Avoid letting the salt get into your eyes.
- Be sure to use a spoon to scoop the exfoliating salt. Otherwise, bacteria, soap, and water from your hands may contaminate the mixture.
Rinse off the exfoliating salt. After gently massaging the salt scrub onto your skin, rinse it off with running water. If you’re taking a bath, you can dip the exfoliated areas into the water to rinse off the salt.
- For normal skin, it’s recommended to exfoliate no more than twice a week. Excessive exfoliation can lead to dryness, redness, irritation, and sensitivity.
- If you have oily skin, you may exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
- If you have dry skin, limit exfoliation to once a week or as needed to remove dry patches.
Tips
- You can also use a seashell as a charming and unique spoon to scoop the exfoliating salt.
Warnings
- Avoid applying the exfoliating salt on areas with cuts or scratches, as the salt may cause stinging.
