Lavender and Coconut Salt Body Scrub

This is the first post of a new and occasional series about using natural ingredients from your Garden,  for caring for you, your family and your home. I have asked my lovely friend Jayne Westerholt to share one of her tried and tested Recipes. One of her missions is to rid her home of commercial chemicals by creating simple and natural homemade remedies and skin care products. Jayne’s Lavender and Coconut Salt Body Scrub recipe is one of her favourites!

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Jayne say’s: All the natural products I make have been used by myself and my family (unless otherwise stated). This does not mean that the products will be safe for you personally. I always recommend testing the product on a small area of your body first in order to rule out possible allergies/adverse reactions. Simply rub a small amount of the finished lavender and coconut salt scrub onto the inside of your wrist and watch for any irritation or redness.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have diabetes: Please check with your health practitioner whether it is safe for you to use essential oils.

Here’s some of the beneficial reasons for using this lovely lavender and coconut salt scrub on your skin:-

The power packed ingredients of 

Lavender and Coconut Salt Body Scrub

Pink Himalayan Salt

This finely ground pink Himalayan sea salt is rich in minerals and trace elements including calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron (where the pink colour comes from) which may help balance your body’s pH levels. It’s the perfect consistency for exfoliating and removing dead skin.

Lavender Essential Oil

I’ve included Lavender oil and dried buds in this recipe but really, you can use any combination of oil or flowers you like. I happened to have a glut of Lavender buds left over from last year’s crop which I wanted to use up. Lavender essential oil is also said to have antibacterial and antiviral properties so it can also be beneficial in the healing of wounds, cuts and sunburn.

The calming and relaxing affect Lavender has on people makes this lavender and coconut salt scrub the perfect choice for using just before bedtime, especially if you are someone who suffers from a sleep disorder like insomnia.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil also has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is excellent for hydrating and nourishing the skin with no adverse affects. I use Coconut oil in most of my homemade skin care products. I find it absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy film and smells absolutely gorgeous to boot!

How to make Lavender and Coconut Salt Body Scrub

Ingredients

 2 cups (400g) Coconut oil

1 cup Finely ground Pink Himalayan salt

20 drops of Lavender Oil

¼ cup dried Lavender buds – for extra scent and texture

Method

Place the coconut oil into a bowl. Add the pink Himalayan salt and mix well.

Drop the essential oil onto a spoon and add to the mix.

Add the dried lavender buds and stir well to combine

Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into an airtight glass jar or container

STORAGE: Store this Lavender and Coconut Salt Body Scrub in an airtight container (Glass is best) in a cool dry place. If you are using dried flower buds, this mixture will keep for up to two months (if stored as stated).

How to use Lavender and Coconut salt  body scrub

As with any exfoliation of the skin, the best results will be obtained if the pores of the skin are open. Take a warm shower or bath to allow the pores to open in preparation for exfoliation.  Apply the scrub in a circular motion and allow the salt and oil to absorb into the skin thereby exfoliating and nourishing the dermal layers. After use, rinse your body with warm water and pat dry. I usually leave it at that but if you feel you still need to moisturise, try this nourishing Organic Body Butter recipe

Salt scrub is perfect for removing dry skin on your feet, legs and arms. You should avoid using salt scrub on the face though as the skin is usually more sensitive and the Himalayan salt could  irritate these areas. Sugar scrubs are a better choice for using on the face.

 

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Jayne was born and raised in South Wales before relocating to Munich, Germany in 2000, where she lives with her husband, two sons and their dog, an Australian Shepherd called  ‘Brilli’.

On her blog chalking up success.com Jayne loves to connect people with ideas and skills to improve their environment and create a life they love. She loves nothing more than transforming old furniture and flea market finds into beautiful pieces for the home and can usually be found with a paintbrush in one hand and a camera in the other! Sign up for her newsletter to receive a free e-book which will show you how you can transform your home with second-hand furniture in 10 easy steps. You can read more about that here:  10 Easy steps to transforming your home with second-hand furniture