Honey Lavender Face and Body Scrub Recipe

 

I'd like to share my favorite honey and lavender face and body scrub recipe. It's a soothing scrub removes flaking, dry skin and moisturizes at the same time. If you've managed to survive winter without a little flaking and itching, you're probably in the minority (especially where your feet and face are concerned). Both can be annoying and uncomfortable -- even painful. A little extra pampering come springtime does a body good.

Here's how the recipe works: The ingredients include gentle exfoliants, which are mild natural abrasives that remove layers of dead skin, humectants that attract and hold moisture on the skin, emollients that trap moisture (limiting loss through evaporation) and lots of minerals and other trace ingredients that help the skin heal and repair itself.  This is all contained in a neutral formulation that won't leave the skin's surface too acidic or alkaline. Pretty neat.

If you grow or use herbs, you probably have most of these ingredients in your cupboard, too.  Blend up a batch and keep it in the fridge.  Use it three times a week to start.  Once you begin to see improvement (after about 10 days), cut back to once a week.

Honey Lavender Scrub Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil (I sometimes substitute avocado oil or sweet almond oil. All are common skincare ingredients.) 
• 1-3/4 cups granulated sugar (You can also use raw sugar.)
• 5 tbsp. honey
• 3 tbsp. dried lavender buds
• Zest of one lemon (An organic lemon is best. It won't contain pesticide residue.)

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients and stir to incorporate.
2. Place the mixture in a non-reactive container, like a glass jar, and refrigerate.

To Use

1. Scoop a tablespoon or so of the mixture and allow it to come to room temperature.  This should take about 15 minutes.
2. Apply it to your face, feet, elbows, knees or any other spot that needs attention using your bare hands, a washcloth or a sponge.
3. Massage lightly in a circular motion for 30 seconds to a minute. 
4. Rinse using warm water, and apply a light moisturizer if necessary. Usually the oil in the mix is moisturizer enough.

The mixture will last a month or longer in your refrigerator as honey, sugar and lavender are all natural antibacterial agents.

Although an adverse skin reaction is unlikely, test a small area like the back of your hand overnight before applying large quantities of this recipe.

The recipe can be doubled.

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