Vanilla Scented Sugar Scrub Recipe!

    It's a fine day to make a sugar scrub! As promised by my Instagram post this weekend, here's the recipe for a vanilla scented sugar scrub, as well as little note about why it's great to make your own! The recipe was adapted from Thank Your Body and the photo comes from The Novice Chef. Although this recipe is different from the one pictured, that is just about what mine looks like. One thing that's good to note is that this recipe is a scrub for sensitive skin, since that's what I have. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try looking at recipes specifically for your skin type. Without further ado, here's the recipe:

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup coconut oil (although avocado, olive, and almond oil also work)
2 Tbs honey
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract (you could also use 5 – 10 drops of your favorite essential oil)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined.

To use:

Apply the sugar scrub to your face, neck and throat. For this you won't need much, only a scoop that's a bit smaller than a golf ball. You might even want to use some on your hands to slough off dry or dead skin. Be careful not to scrub vigorously. Use a circular motion and work the scrub into your forehead, cheeks, chin and neck. Avoid the eye area completely. This skin is delicate and should never be exfoliated with a scrub.

Rinse the face using warm water and finish with a nice cool splash of water to close pores.

Of course you can use this scrub on your whole body, too. Always finish with a cool rinse and pat skin dry with a clean towel.

    Here's mine if you missed my Instagram post (@thosegoodvibes95). I put it in an old cookie dough tub and made my own label from graph paper, markers, and packing tape. I keep mine in the shower for an easy rinse-off. 

Why It's Great to Make Your Own:

    Store-bought exfoliating scrubs are not created equal. Some use tiny pieces of apricot pit or similar organic matter (a la St. Ives, every teenager's favorite) as their exfoliating component, while others (ahem, Olay and Biore for starters) use tiny plastic beads to get the job done. The problem with that is that those tiny plastic beads wind up as water and environmental pollutants, and are very hard to keep track of. On top of this, both types of exfoliants, organic and plastic particles alike, come in disposable plastic bottles or squeeze tubes. This generates unnecessary waste, especially when you can make your own, out of ingredients you probably already have, and put it in a reusable (or reused!) container.
    Need some more reasons to make your own? This stuff is awesome. It smells super good, leaves your skin very soft, and you know what's in it and that every ingredient is safe to use on your body! What more could you want? Happy scrubbing!
                                                                             Love,
                                                                                Madeleine