How to Make Vanilla Facial Scrub

After you make a batch of vanilla sugar from my previous post for cooking and sweet indulgences like tea and coffee, whip up a batch of vanilla facial scrub. It's a mild, sweet smelling scrub that has real benefits. It's all natural, easy to make and effective.

Here's the recipe:

Vanilla and Honey Facial Scrub

1 Cup packed brown sugar
Seeds from half a vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract)
Vitamin E from two capsules (400 I.U. ea.)
1/4 cup of honey
1/4 cup almond, olive or avocado oil

Combine ingredients and seal in an airtight container. Refrigerate the batch and remove a small portion (a tablespoon or two) to bring to room temperature before using.

Why it Works

This vanilla and brown sugar scrub is mild but powerful: the honey is a humectant (it pulls moisture into your skin) and the oil is a natural emollient that holds moisturizer behind a barrier until you skin can take advantage of it. The vitamin E helps repair damaged skin cells that get the brunt of wind and sun exposure (and works as a preservative). The honey also has antibacterial properties.

Although this is a pretty benign recipe, test for sensitivity on a small portion of your skin before using it.