Have
you ever experienced flaky skin after a
shower? That
flakiness is caused by dead skin cells and is
part of a
natural removal process called exfoliation. As
new skin
cells generate, dead cells push to the surface,
creating
an outer layer of dead skin. The dead cells
flake off
when something rubs against your skin, like
when you
wash. That’s why it’s important to wash every
day;
otherwise, your dead skin cells will build up.
There are many types of exfoliators, such as
nuts,
sponges, stones, salt, sand and sugar, that’ll
help rid
your body of dead skin. Check out the
following ways to
use these natural products so your skin will
look and
feel great!
Nuts
Ground almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts are
rich in
natural oils. They make great additives to
cleansers and
body scrubs.
Sponges
Loofah sponges, which grow like gourds and
have the
appearance of large cucumbers, make great
body
exfoliators. They’re excellent for promoting
circulation
and giving your skin a healthy glow. But don’t
use them
on your face because they’re very rough.
Stones
Pumice stones help exfoliate dead skin and
calluses
from your feet. They work best after you have
soaked
your feet in water.
Salt and Sand
Salt can remove dead skin from your body and
scalp. It
dries out your skin, so don’t use it on your
face. Sand
has the same effect as salt, but it doesn’t
dissolve and
may clog your drain.
Sugar
Of all of the exfoliators mentioned, sugar is my
favorite.
It’s gentle enough for delicate skin because it
isn’t
abrasive like salt and sand. It also slowly
dissolves as
you wash. A sugar scrub makes me feel
energized, and
it may do the same for you! If you wanna give it
a try,
here’s a recipe.
Sugar Scrub
1 cup water
2 1/2 to 3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon coconut butter
6 drops of orange essential oil, ylang-ylang
essential oil
and jasmine perfume oil (Perfume oil isn’t as
expensive
as essential oil. Look for these products at a
health food
store.)
Find an air-tight container. Add the water and
1 cup of
sugar, letting the sugar dissolve. Using your
judgment,
slowly add the rest of the sugar until the
mixture looks
pasty, but feels soupy. Melt the coconut butter
in a
microwave and add it to the mix. Stir well, and
add oils.
Make a label for the container. Let it sit for one
or two
days so the sugar granules will soak up the
oils.
For best results after washing with the sugar
scrub, use
lotion on your skin. Enjoy!
