When I participated in the Caregiver Wellness Event at the
VA hospital in Gainesville, FL to offer free chair massage, I got a jar of homemade vanilla brown sugar body scrub. It was handmade by the VA Caregiver
Support Program of North Florida/South Georgia to hand out to caregivers at the fair. It smelled absolutely wonderful, and
I’ve used it every day since then.
It definitely makes the bath time more pleasurable and skin so smooth. It also smelled so delicious that…. I
ate it! I just couldn’t resist the
temptation. It tasted so good!
Their basic recipe is 1
cup brown sugar, ½ cup coconut oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil, and fragrance or spice. They used organic unrefined virgin coconut oil.
It’s all natural, so it’s safe enough to eat it, too. They made theirs with real
vanilla beans! No wonder it
brings out wonderful vanilla scent. They also made ones with cinnamon and pumpkin spice at another fair for caregivers, but I didn’t get a chance to try it. It must have smelled (and tasted) good,
too.
Sugar scrubbing is a perfect way to treat your body and mind. Not only does it exfoliate the skin while locking in moisture with oil, it stimulates the blood and lymphcirculation and also nervous system to lift your mood. It can be used as a form of aromatherapy.
Coconut oil used in this sugar scrub recipe softens, moisturizes and is easily absorbed by the skin. There are other beneficial properties
in the coconut oil:
- Capric, caprylic, lauric acids act as disinfectant and antimicrobial.
- Proteins contribute to cellular health and tissue repair. There are claims that it’s good for skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema, as it helps skin rejuvenate quickly.
- Although it is widely reported that coconut oil contains vitamins, they are in very low amounts.
And also, brown sugar has bonus benefits;
- Gentler than white sugar and suitable for sensitive skin
- A natural humectant (moisturizing)
- A natural source of glycolic acid (found in sugar) for supporting cell turnover
- Smells wonderful
As I talked about massage
products, oils, and personal care products in the post “Massage Products -- Safety of Personal Care Products,” I am an advocate of natural
and organic products. It’s peace
of mind to know what ingredients are in products, so I would love to make skin
care products myself with safe and beneficial ingredients I know and like. I’ve been thinking about making salt
and sugar scrub myself for quite some time now. I want to make my own recipe, and talk about it next time. It will be a great holiday gift, too!