Make your own sea salt body scrub to lift away dead skin cells and soften our skin with nourishing oils. Revitalize and pamper your skin in just a few minutes with this salt exfoliating scrub.
I have pretty dry skin, not just in the winter but all year long. The best thing that I have added to my skin care is exfoliating regularly, it really makes a difference in my skins appearance and feeling. Not only is this an easy body exfoliator made with natural ingredients, it is ready in under 10 minutes.
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What is salt scrub?
A salt scrub is a type of body exfoliator, very similar to Sugar Scrub, but instead of being made with sugar they are made with salt. This salt scrub will exfoliate and nourish, which is essential for healthy glowing skin. In addition to the salt, we add a carrier oil that adds in a bit of moisturizing to the scrub. It also makes the slip of the product nicer on your skin.
Sugar Scrub vs Salt Scrub – Which is Better?
Which is better sugar scrubs or salt scrubs? Neither one is really better than the other. They each provide their own set of unique benefits and serve a purpose in our skin care routine. They are both acting as a manual exfoliants and physically remove dead skin cells.
Sugar scrubs tend to be less abrasive on our skin. The main advantage to a sugar scrub is that they don’t sting. I’m sure we have all used a salt scrub right after shaving on our legs and felt that old familiar salt in wound stinging. The con to sugar scrubs is that they do not have a lot of benefits outside of exfoliating.
Salt scrub are nice because they not only exfoliate, they also have a detoxifying benefit to them. They help to pull the toxins out of our skin and ease some of that inflammation. I like to use salt scrubs on the dryer parts of my body (feet and elbows) as they have a little more exfoliating power. Now the con, if you have any small cuts on your body, you’re not going to want to use any salt on it.
What is the best salt for a salt scrub?
What kind of salt should you use for a homemade salt scrub? You might be wondering if you can use a epsom salt in a salt scrub? Should I use a sea salt in a body scrub? The cool thing about making your own salt scrub if you get to formulate it with all kinds of different salts. Here are a few that you can use:
- Epsom Salt – Although not technically a salt this is a wonderful ingredient to use. If is made up of magnesium, which is great for tense muscles. It is said that the magnesium penetrates the lower layers of your skin and it can help with softening the outer most layer of our skin.
- Dead Sea Salt – This is jammed packed with minerals. It has sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium.
- Sea Salt – The sea salt is made by evaporating the water out of sea water. Sea salt helps to clean out our pores and balance the oil production.
- Himalayan Salt – This salt is considered to be the purest form of salt and is packed with minerals. I am absolutely in love with how pretty the color is, it really makes a pretty salt scrub.
Regardless of the salt that you use, you only want to use a fine grain salt. Large grain salts are going to be abrasive and can damage your skin. I typically buy my salts in a large grain and I will use a mortal and pestle to make them a fine grain. You could also pop them into a coffee grinder to get them to a fine grain.
Other ingredients in a DIY salt scrub
What is the best oil to use in a salt scrub? This is another spot that you can customize this to make it your own. I used a combination of coconut oil and grapeseed oil. I would recommend staying away from the more expensive oils (argan or jojoba oil) as this is a wash off product and its like washing money down the drain, save those lovely oils for a leave on product.
In addition to salts and oils, I add a bit of polysorbate 20 in this salt scrub. Polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier that we need to ensure the oil rinses off your skin easily.
Here is a breakdown of all the ingredients I am using:
- Coconut Oil – I chose Coconut Oil because it is something that most people are going to have already in their pantry. It also helps to hold the scrub together a bit because it is a solid(ish) consistency.
- Grapeseed Oil – I chose Grapeseed Oil because it is relatively inexpensive. We want to save those expensive oils for a leave on product. This can easily be swapped out for an oil that you have on hand, including olive oil.
- Polysorbate 20 – We need the Polysorbate 20 to solubilize the oils in our scrub. It is also a wetting agent and dispersing agent. I like to use this at a 1:1 ratio to my oils. This includes the fragrance or essential oils that you use.
- Fragrance Oils – I am using White Tea and Pear Fragrance Oil. It Southern sweet tea, sparkling bergamot and crisp sliced pears with a light whisper of fresh cut wood comprise White Tea & Pear fragrance oil. It has top notes of bergamot, lemon, and apple are blended by middle notes of peach. However, if you prefer you can swap this out for an essential oil. The use rate for my fragrance is up to 6% for a wash off product.
- Glycerin – The Vegetable Glycerin is a humectant which draws and holds moisture on your skin. It also gives our scrub a lovely consistency and makes it stick together so it is easier to use.
How to make a salt scrub – DIY Sea Salt Body Scrub
Grind the salt. Since we need a fine salt, you are going to need to run it through a coffee grinder until the desired consistency. You can also purchase your salt in a fine grain if you prefer.
Place the coconut oil and grapeseed oil into a heat safe container and heat on a double boiler until it is completely melted.
When you remove from the double boiler, be sure to wipe the edges off the container off so there is no risk of getting water into your product.
Add the fragrance oil and polysorbate 20 to your melted oils and mix until combined.
Add the fine dead sea salt and mix well. If you would like your scrub a little thicker than mine, you can increase the amount of dead sea salt that you use.
Package and enjoy.
How to use a sea salt scrub?
How do you use a sea salt body scrub? Use the sea salt scrub while in the shower (or bath) to buff away dead skin cells. I especially like to use it on my feet and elbows.
- Thoroughly wet your skin with warm water.
- Apply the sea salt scrub to your skin. Gently, massage the scrub on your body in a circular motion to buff away those dead cells.
- Rinse off with water.
- After patting your skin dry, be sure to follow up with a moisturizer.
When should I not use a salt scrub?
You should avoid a salt scrub if your skin is irritate with a rash or sunburn. Or, if you have any open wounds as that will literally be putting salt onto a cut and it is going to burn.
It is important to note that a salt scrub is not going to be used on your face. You really need to be careful when it comes to your face as that skin is very delicate.
How often should you use a salt body scrub?
The rule of thumb is that you can use an exfoliating scrub up to twice per week. Personally, I find that once a week is perfect for me. Overusing an exfoliating scrub can cause irritation to your skin.
Storing and shelf life of your salt scrub
You want to keep this in an air tight container. This should be stored out of direct sunlight at room temperature. Since we did not add a preservative to the salt scrub, you want to be careful not to introduce water into your scrub. I like to scoop it out of my container and bring a bowl of it in the shower with me.
Although, it is going to depend on the shelf life of each ingredient that you use, it should be good for 1 year from when you make it. Unless if any ingredients expire before then.
Preventing the homemade scrub from hardening
Keeping this in an air tight container is going to prevent it from drying out. If stored at cold temperatures the coconut oil could harden up a bit on you. You can soften it back up by rubbing it in your hands a little bit before using.
Sea Salt Recipe – This Salt Scrub is a Game Changer for Dull, Stubborn Skin
Equipment
- Scale
Ingredients
- 5.22 ounce | 58% Dead Sea Salt
- 0.18 ounce | 2% Coconut Oil
- 0.09 ounce | 1% Grapeseed Oil
- 0.36 ounce | 4% Polysorbate 20
- 3.06 ounce | 34% Vegetable Glycerin
- 0.09 ounce | 1% White Tea and Pear Fragrance Oil
Instructions
- Grind the salt. Since we need a fine salt, you are going to need to run it through a coffee grinder until the desired consistency. You can also purchase your salt in a fine grain if you prefer.
- Place the coconut oil and grapeseed oil into a heat safe container and heat on a double boiler until it is completely melted.
- When you remove from the double boiler, be sure to wipe the edges off the container off so there is no risk of getting water into your product.
- Add the fragrance oil and polysorbate 20 to your melted oils and mix until combined.
- Add the fine dead sea salt and mix well. If you would like your scrub a little thicker than mine, you can increase the amount of dead sea salt that you use.
- Package and enjoy.