Low-Tox Vanilla Coconut Body Scrub
What we put on our skin matters just as much as what we put in our body.
Did you know that your skin is your body's largest organ? It's true, and it's often overlooked in our daily health routines. Our skin does much more than appear beautiful – it acts as a barrier protecting against water loss and harmful agents like bacteria, viruses, and pollutants, it regulates our temperature via sweating, It contains nerve endings that gives us information about pain, pleasure, temperature and pressure and even help with Vitamin D synthesis. So it is important that we take good care of our skin. Just like how we avoid putting toxins into our bodies, we should also avoid constantly exposing our skin to harmful chemicals.
This is where this homemade DIY body scrub comes in. It uses 3 ingredients that you might already have in your pantry, is easy to make, and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or preservatives.
Ingredients
1 cup of brown sugar (you can swap for raw sugar if you prefer larger granules)
¼ cup of melted coconut oil
1 tsp of vanilla extract
Methods
Combine the brown sugar and coconut oil in a large mixing bowl, stirring until well combined. The texture should resemble wet sand. Adjust the sugar or coconut oil as needed for your preferred consistency.
Add the vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
Store your delightful creation in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Benefits:
Brown Sugar: Acts as a gentle exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover. It is a source of glycolic acid, also known as an AHA, which helps to break down dead, flaky skin and help support cell turnover.
Coconut Oil: Provides deep moisturization as well as anti-inflammatory benefits. The fatty acids in coconut oil also have antimicrobial properties that can help protect against harmful microorganisms.
Vanilla Extract: Apart from its lovely senses, vanilla extract has antioxidant properties that can help soothe and calm the skin.
I use vanilla as my flavour of choice (yes, I’m basic!) but here are other flavour combinations I have experimented with:
Cacao powder – for a scrub smell like lamington.
Coffee grinds – perfect for your morning pick me up.
Lavender essential oil - If relaxation is your goal, this is for you.
I hope you enjoy this non-toxic (and edible) body scrub as much as I do. Remember to patch test before applying all over your body as everyone’s skin is different.
