My hands look about 164 years old. Ok, that IS an exaggeration. Not a day over 153. We have entered the time of year, certainly in Colorado, where it feels that the moisture Gods have packed up for the season and headed to Florida or some other place that is more forgiving on skin. It’s cold. It’s windy. As much water as I drink, my lips are constantly parched and any exposed body skin is dry with a pallor of ‘desert desiccation’. It’s not pretty.
Something I love at this time of year especially are scrubs. I remember the first time I experienced a scrub which was at the hands of prim cosmetics representative in the Origins department of a major department store. I was walking through when she stopped me. I was intrigued by her set up: a large tub of some beauty product, a clear basin of water that you’d expect to see on a laundry product demo Infomercial and a fluffy white hand towel. She proceeded to gently rub this salt scrub on the back of my hand, rinse and pat it dry only to reveal a silky, moisturized result causing me to buy several tubs of the scrub for myself and every girlfriend I could think of.
As much as I loved that product, and it was revolutionary at the time, it left my bathtub dangerously slick with oil and being salt based stung any knicks or cuts I might have been sporting at the time. The need to couple a relaxing, exfoliating bath with a high chemical oil spill recovery treatment to my bathtub right afterward eventually left my favorite product and I to part ways.
The great news is that I’ve created a homemade scrub that I love. It provides a gentle exfoliation without the risk to limb from falling in the shower on slippery surfaces, and is made of natural products: Orange Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub. Coconut Oil is all the rage right now with good reason. I won’t get into the dietary benefits now but it is a fabulous oil for your skin. It solidifies at room temperature so has a beautiful creamy texture and that ‘tropical-vacation-at-home’ smell I love. It also doesn’t go bad when kept at room temperature. For a natural beauty product kept in a bathroom this is a great thing. If it becomes too warm, set on a sunny window sill for instance, the oil will liquefy but when back at normal room temperature solifies again.
Sugar is wonderful in a scrub. The granules are finer so though the exfoliation it is not as aggressive as using salt nor drying as salt can be. One should never use salt on their face however sugar is a great exfoliator for the face and the body. It dissolves easily when used so your shower floor won’t be gritty with sugar. There is no sting factor as with salt coming in contact with shaving knicks or scrapes.
This scrub is very easy to make. In fact if it takes you five minutes you are doing something wrong! I’ve added orange essential oil to it for the bright, happy smell which is a wonderful pick-me-up. Citrus oil can be irritating to the facial skin so I would suggest body use only for this blend, however without the orange oil is fine for the face (and it might not bother your skin, it can with more sensitive complexions). The scrub is creamy and gently. I love what it does for my parched hands and the coconut oil soaks into the skin for a wonderful moisture benefit rather than merely coating the exterior of the skin with oil. I used it on one of my hands to compare the effect to my untreated hand; I love how silky smooth it is. I’d show you the before and after contrast but couldn’t stand the shame of you seeing how my hands look when I don’t use the scrub! I have included free printable labels for gift giving too!
DIY Orange Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups Coconut Oil
- 3/4 cup granulated Sugar
- 20-25 drops Orange Essential Oil (I recommend all natural or organic essential oils for best purity)
- Printable labels
Instructions
- Combine the coconut oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir by hand to fully incorporate.
- Add the essential oil and stir in.
- Store in fully sealed, glass jar(s) out of direct sunlight. Add a label and give as a gift.
- To Use: Scoop a small amount onto fingertips and gently rub in a circular motion on moist skin. Rinse and pat dry.
Sally says
This is so moisturizing! Great DIY gift idea.
Ashley Witcher says
I do have sensitive skin and allergies that is why I always opt to NATURAL. This is very rejuvenating. Thank you for posting and sharing this.
MaryAnn Bench says
I always hesitate to use Coconut oil in bath things because I’m nervous about it solidifying in my pipes :/ Any thoughts on this??
Toni Dash says
I personally have not had an issue with it and do use coconut oil scrubs often in the winter. Having said that, I don’t use huge amounts at a time and since it’s running down the drain with hot water I think that helps avoid an issue. Of course you need to do what you feel comfortable with too!
Megan says
I just printed them, and they look great! So excited to give these as gifts this weekend. Thanks again for your help.
Megan says
The scrub looks divine! I’m going to make this for Mother’s Day! Can you tell me if there is a label template you used for the labels? Thanks 🙂
Toni Dash says
Hi Megan! I actually made the template myself. The tags are printed out on cardstock and cut out. Hope that helps!
Megan says
Wonderful, thanks for the tip!
Toni Dash says
The label page is 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches so if you send it to your printer it will print a full page of labels. I assume you saw the link to the label sheet? All you should need to do is select to print it. Let me know if you need any help!
Rebecca says
Doesn’t the coconut oil leave the shower floor slick?
Toni Dash says
I suppose if you used a lot of it, it could Rebecca. I haven’t had that experience. When I’ve used a larger amount of any scrub with oil in the bathtub and it leaves any residue I’ve found a quick wash with Dawn Dishwashing liquid takes it away easily. I was told that is the best and least harmful thing to use to clean tubs in general and I’m sure it would work in a shower too.
Rebecca says
Thanks Toni! I am just a little concerned about using it in the shower as opposed to a bath tub, since I am standing. I don’t want to go slipping out of the shower and onto the floor!! I may try sugar with castile soap instead of an oil and hopefully it won’t be too drying.
Toni Dash says
I completely understand Rebecca. Unfortunately the coconut oil is really the benefit here with its moisturizing properties. Maybe only use a tablespoon or two (a little goes a long way) and be sure to rinse out the shower. If you do try it with castille soap you could add some coconut oil; or not! Let me know if you go that route how it works!
Rebecca says
Hi Toni – Just wanted to let you know about adding the castile soap to the mixture. I still have a “coating” of coconut oil on my skin, and my foot did slip while getting out of the shower, so the soap doesn’t do much in the way of keeping the shower floor from getting slippery. I am going to keep using it though, as it seems to be working well for the keratosis pilaris on my arms. I’ll just have to be extra careful getting out of the shower!
Heather C says
Thanks for this recipe, I needed some happy’s and this would indeed make some people happy