My new favorite way to exfoliate my skin from head to toe is with my homemade lemony mint sugar scrub. It is extremely exfoliating; uplifting to the senses, incredibly skin softening and it helps add a lovely glow to my body. Best of all, it is super easy to make and requires some basic natural ingredients you might already have on hand.
The organic ingredients needed to make the lemony mint sugar scrub are lemon zest, lemon oil, peppermint leaves, peppermint oil, organic sugar cane, honey and olive oil or sunflower, grape seed, almond oil or jojoba oil. These ingredients are easy to find too if you do not already have them in your kitchen cabinets. They can easily be bought at your local whole food grocery store or herbal shop.
The materials you will need to make the scrub are a zesting tool, large glass wide mouth jar with a lid, mixing spoons, mixing bowl and some paper towel or an old rag on hand just in case a mess is made and you need to clean it up.
To make the lemony mint scrub you will need to zest three large lemons with a zesting tool into a large mixing bowl. Then you will need to add ten drops of lemon oil, a forth cup of dried peppermint leaves, ten drops of peppermint oil, three cups of organic sugar cane, half cup of honey and one cup of olive oil into the bowl as well. Next, combine the ingredients together with a mixing spoon until they are all combined together to create this gritty oily mixture with little lemony colored zest bits and dried peppermint leaves throughout it.
If you find the scrub is too thick, add in more oil until you achieve the texture you desire. If you find the scrub is too runny, add in more sugar until achieve the thickness you desire. When I make my scrub I like it slightly thick so it is easier to handle and easy to exfoliate with, but you can adjust the ingredients to achieve the texture scrub you wish to exfoliate with in your bath or shower.
Once you have made the lemony mint scrub, it is time to scoop it into the jars and place a lid on so the scrub stays fresh. After, place the scrub in the bathroom near the tub or shower to use easily whenever you are ready to exfoliate the skin.
The best way to use the scrub is by first taking a hot warm shower or bath for ten minutes to help soften up the skin with warm water. When the skin is warm and damp, it is much easier to exfoliate the dead layer of skin form the new skin without damaging the skin. Once your skin is warm and damp, take handfuls of the scrub and begin massaging it into the body and skin from head to toe until all the dead skin cells have been scrubbed away from the new layer of skin. You will want to use small circular motions when exfoliating and you will definitely want to take your time so you get the smoothest skin possible.
As you use the scrub for exfoliating, you will notice it provides a cooling soothing sensation to the body and skin, which is very relaxing too sore stiff muscles if you have any. You will also notice the uplifting refreshing lemony mint scent it has that helps boost your mood into happiness. I know the smell of this stuff always makes me feel happy.
Once you are done exfoliating the body, you will notice how smooth your skin feels and how glowing it looks. That is because sugar exfoliates well while the lemon helps give it some vitamin C to help brighten and tone it up. The peppermint in the scrub helps detoxify and cleanse the skin from impurities so it can be clear and bright with a more even complexion while the olive oil in the skin helps add moisture to plump it up so it can appear more youthful.
After you are done exfoliating the dead skin from the body, it is best to rinse down with warm water and pat the skin dry with a warm towel. Next, massage your favorite lemon or mint scented body lotion into your skin to help add protection and extra nourishment so the new layer of skin underneath can stay looking and feeling beautiful. I know my favorite lotion to use after using this scrub is the Peppermint Cooling Lotion from The Body Shop, but again use your favorite lotion.
To help keep skin youthful and beautiful naturally, use this lemony mint scrub a few times per month. However, don't overuse the scrub or you could irritate your skin. I find using it only a few times per month, is enough to keep my skin soft and bright naturally. I hope those of you who make this scrub love it as much as I do.
