Give the gift of a holiday glow!
I share one of my favorite simple DIY recipes for a botanical body scrub, a fun and easy gift to share with friends and family.
Seasons greetings! This will be my last post for 2023. I’ll be taking next week off to celebrate the holidays with my family. See you in 2024! Subscribe now to access the full archive 💚
Is there anything more decadent than a body scrub to achieve that healthy glow for your skin? You don't need to spend $100 or more at a day spa to enjoy the benefits of this relaxing and rejuvenating treatment for your skin. In fact, a natural botanical body scrub is simple to make at home with just a few ingredients, and it makes a fabulous holiday gift for friends, loved ones, or even for yourself! In this issue of the newsletter, I'll share my favorite recipe and some recommendations on different herbal ingredients you can use to customize the gift and enhance the experience.
Before we jump into the shopping list and recipe for the DIY body scrub, I have some fun news to share! My botanical research is featured in the December issue of Atlanta Magazine! This is available in the print magazine on store shelves in Georgia or you can access the digital version here. The article also highlights the important work done at the Emory University Herbarium, which is supported solely through philanthropy! If you are looking for a cause for your end-of-year giving, please consider the Emory University Herbarium! Every penny helps in our work to document and conserve biodiversity in Georgia and beyond 💚
Read on for the body scrub recipe and shopping list. Happy holidays to all!
The Shopping List
This recipe is great for making a batch of gifts. This recipe is for 8 ounce jars. A typical bath scrub will use 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture, so your gift will be sufficient for 5-8 baths. The rest of the supplies needed are things you likely have at home: a measuring cup, tablespoon, teaspoon, and mixing spoon or chopsticks (I like to use a metal chopstick to stir ingredients in the jar for small batch mixtures).
WIDE MOUTH (8 oz.) JARS. Mason jars with a screw top lid work fine for this. Or, for a fancier look, you can use jars with a swing-top/clamp lids.
DEAD SEA SALT. There are approximately 2 cups per 1 pound of sea salt. You will need 1 cup of sea salt per jar.
GRAPESEED or ALMOND OIL. You will need 2 cups of oil for every 1 cup of sea salt.
Grapeseed oil is quickly absorbed by the skin and does not leave an “oily” feeling. This is great especially for oil or blemish-prone skin for teens. This is my favorite oil as it leaves my skin feeling soft and well-moisturized after a scrub. This is my preferred oil. It gives the salt mixture a very faint green hue.
Almond oil is made from almond kernels. It is light and works well for most skin types. Avoid for anyone with tree nut allergies.
PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS. This is where you can really mix things up in terms of the gift options! Each jar will need 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of essential oil, depending on the strength of aroma you are going for. The simplest one to start with for a beginner would be lavender. It is also generally available at a good price online and in stores. Some other good examples of oils that you may wish to use alone or in mixtures include:
Bergamot
Chamomile
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Myrrh
Orange
Peppermint
Rose geranium
Rosemary
VITAMIN E (tocopherol). This adds an extra level of skin protection to your formula. This is optional, and adds a little extra luxury to your formula. You’ll need 1/4 teaspoon per jar.
DRIED HERBS. This is optional, and works best with certain formulas. I love to add a pinch of dried lavender flowers to my relaxing lavender scrub or crushed rose petals to my rose geranium scrub. I add 1-3 teaspoons per jar, per your preference.
How to make the scrub
Making the scrub is simple and fast! Follow these instructions:
Add 1/2 cup of grapeseed oil to your jar.
Add 1 cup of dead sea salt to the jar.
Mix the oil and salt mixture well until evenly distributed using a small spoon or chopstick.
Add 1/4 tsp. of Vitamin E oil.
Add 1/2 or 1 tsp. (depending on preference of aroma strength) of your essential oil (or mixture of essential oils).
Add 1 - 3 tsp. of your botanical (e.g., dried lavender flowers, rose petals, mint leaves, etc.). This addition is optional and up to your preference.
Continue to mix the jar contents with a spoon or chopstick until well blended.
To test your formula, scoop out a teaspoon of the scrub and rub it on your hand for 30 seconds. Gently rinse with water. Smell and feel the change in texture of your skin. You can adjust by adding a 1/4 -1/2 tsp. more essential oil if desired. One teaspoon total of essential oil is usually more than enough.
Sample shopping list on Amazon.com for 10 or 20 gifts of a relaxing lavender body scrub in 8 oz. jars.
Most of these ingredients can be found at your local supermarket and health food store. But, sometimes it is easiest to simply click and ship! Here are some examples of products you can use to create your body scrub gifts.
30-pack of 8 oz. jars with lids and labels (save extras for next year) - $28.98
buy 1 for 10 or 20 jars
Dead sea salt - 5 lb. bag. This will provide enough salt for 10 jars - $21.99
buy 1 for 10 jars
buy 2 for 20 jars
Grapeseed oil (68 oz) (This is enough to make 17 jars. You can use the remaining oil for the kitchen) - $12.99
buy 1 for 10 jars
buy 2 for 20 jars
Example of an essential oil: Lavender essential oil 4 oz. - This will provide enough for 24 jars. $9.98
buy 1 for 10 or 20 jars
Example of a botanical: Lavender flowers - 4 oz. Enough for 24 jars - $9.99
buy 1 for 10 or 20 jars
Vitamin E - 1 oz. This is enough to make 24 jars. - $9.99
buy 1 for 10 or 20 jars
TOTAL COST (does not include tax or shipping)
10 jars: $93.92 ($9.39 per jar)
20 jars: $128.90 ($6.45 per jar)
How to Use the Body Scrub
Whether you plan to use the scrub in the bath, shower, or massage table with a partner, begin by thoroughly moistening your skin with warm water. Take a small amount of the scrub and gently massage it onto your damp skin in a circular motion. Pay special attention to rougher areas such as elbows, knees, and feet, but be sure not to scrub too vigorously, as sea salt can be abrasive. Avoid any areas of damaged skin (cuts and abrasions) and the eyes. Rinse off the scrub with water. The sea salt, combined with the nourishing plant essential oils and grapeseed oil, will not only exfoliate but also leave your skin smelling great and feeling soft, rejuvenated, and moisturized.
The Takeaway
I love how adaptable this recipe is. I like to make my scrubs in the gift jars themselves because it makes it simple for me to create many different formulas for gift-giving this season. I've already made batches of lavender scrubs and am now moving on to scrubs infused with either rose geranium, lemongrass, or eucalyptus! I'd love to hear about what you create. Share in the comments below!
Happy holidays and I’ll be back in 2024!
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, speaker, podcast host, wife, mother, explorer, and professor at Emory University School of Medicine. She teaches college courses and leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription, with founding members receiving an autographed 1st edition hardcover copy of her book, The Plant Hunter.
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