Salt Craze

     I was so exited about one of the Spring Flings - A Sea of Pink Sea Salt Soap Bar, that I got hooked on creating DIY recipes for salt scrubs and bath salts just for you! They may be old fashioned beauty treatments, but they’re still popular for a reason.  For centuries, people have used salt for a myriad of things, from health and healing to curing and preserving food.  Millions of people have flocked to float in the Dead Sea for its curative and rejuvenating properties. This salt bar was a bit challenging as salt quickly thickens raw soap and makes it difficult to pour easily, but it turned out beautifully.  The Spring Flings will be available March 20. They won't last long, so make sure to order yours as soon as they're released.  

​     As mentioned in the last post, salt draws out toxins​ leaving skin cleaner and healthier.  ​The basic difference between why we use salt scrubs vs sugar scrubs is that salt tends to be coarser and therefore not necessarily the best choice for face or sometimes the body.  However, it is ideal for heels, feet, knees and elbows.  Additionally, salt baths are regenerating because of their ability to draw out toxins in the body.  

     When making salt scrubs or bath salts always use sea salts, not table salt and make sure there are no additives. Basically, you are just combining sea salt, an oil or epsom salts, and essential oil. Sea salts are rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids from the sea.  Not only will they detox, but they are believed to draw white blood cells closer to the skin’s surface resulting in healthier, tighter looking skin therefore reducing the look of cellulite as well.  Creating either bath salts or salt scrubs is both easy and inexpensive.  Salt scrubs are “wet” and rubbed on affected areas whereas bath salts are dry and powdery and are added to baths to alleviate, heal or invigorate.  So once again, we go back to the question or preference for baths or showers.  For baths, you’ll want to use Bath Salts and for showers, use Salt Scrubs. 
     Salt scrubs, like sugar scrubs use oils like coconut and/or carrier oils such as, olive, avocado, sunflower etc.   Remember to store scrubs in plastic containers since they can be slippery and the jar can easily slip out of your hands in the shower. 
     Bath salts on the other hand do not usually have any carrier oils.  They can, however, contain essential oils for fragrance and/or for a specific purpose like relief of pain or to enhance mood.  Bath salts are generally a combination of sea salt, epsom salts, baking soda, essential oils and sometimes botanicals.
     Just as is the case with sugar scrubs, both Bath Salts and Salt Scrubs make nice gifts for yourself or someone else.  If for yourself, any container will suffice but if you are making them to give as a gift, you will want to use something a little fancier than the container leftover from your Chinese take-out.  I like to use 4 oz. plastic jars for any scrubs and mason jars for bath salts.  Glass jars are ok for bath salts because you don’t need to keep them in the shower.  Usually you can store them in a cabinet or on a shelf and pour the needed amount into a small cloth bag or even your hand. The bag is reusable and cleanup is easier.  We’ll talk more about decorating your gifts later.

​     Let’s get started with salt scrubs.  Salt scrubs make ideal foot soak scrubs. Soak your feet in soapy water that is as hot as you can take it.  Then, after a few minutes, use your scrub on your tired, cracked or dry feet.  This method keeps your shower or tub floor from getting slippery. Of course you can always use them in the shower if you choose.  By the way, I prefer to use fine sea salt or Pink Himalayan Sea Salt (for color) when making scrubs and coarse sea salt for bath salts.
     This first scrub is quick and easy and the essential oil can be a blend or a single oil depending on your need or desire. I love coconut oil but it will solidify at room temperature, so if you prefer a more liquid scrub, you should use olive oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil or another similar “soft” carrier oil. Here are some ideas for essential oils to use: Lavender for relaxing, calming and restful sleep. Lavender and Spearmint for migraines. Peppermint for headache, fever and respiratory issues.  Lemon to uplift your spirits.  Clary Sage for hormone balance and hot flashes.  Eucalyptus for congestion.

Moisturizing Salt Scrub
1 3/4 cup fine Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
1/4 cup Organic Sweet Almond Oil
5-15 drops Essential Oil of your choice
 
Mix sea salt and sweet almond oil in a glass or metal bowl until they are well combined.  Then add the essential oil and mix a little more.  That’s it!  Scoop your mixture into jars, label and enjoy! 
Don’t forget your labels!

​     Citrus Essential oils are loaded with Vitamin C which is essential for collagen formation. Vitamin C helps destroy free radicals, provides a radiant glow to your skin and naturally bleaches scars or spots on your skin.  You can read more about the benefits of Vitamin C in More Good Stuff. For this fresh and fun scrub you can use any carrier oil of your choice.  I like Coconut and Grape Seed for this one.  If you plan ahead, you can dry the peel of your fruit and grind it into a coarse powder to add to your scrub. Save the extra died peel and add it to a bath salt “kreation” of your own.  As far as essential oils, why not mix and match. Try Lemon- Lime or Tangerine-Orange or Orange-Grapefruit.  There are lots of possibilities so I made different colored labels for you.

Citrus Punch Sea Salt Scrub
1 cup Sea Salt
2/3 cup Organic Coconut Oil or carrier oil of choice
5-10 drops of any citrus essential oil (or a 5+5 combination)
1-2 tbsp. dried ground citrus peels (optional) **
 
** You can dry citrus peels quickly by placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in the oven at 200 degrees for about a half hour.  Flip over after about 20 minutes.  You’ll know they are ready when they are as hard as chips.  Grind them into a powder (a few chunks are ok) and store what you don’t use for another time.
 
Mix sea salt and oil in a glass or metal bowl until well combined, then add citrus peels if using them.  You may need a tablespoon or so of extra oil if you add dried citrus peels.  Peels will add fragrance as well.  Add your essential oils and mix well.  Scoop into jars, label and enjoy!   

​     The Rose is another flower that has been used for centuries as a natural beauty enhancer.  Roses are great skin softeners.  Always make sure you use organic roses (the same applies to other botanicals as well) in your scrubs and salts!  You don’t want artificial colors or pesticides leaching into your skin. For salt scrubs, dry the rose petals ahead of time if you want to include them in your scrub.  You don’t need to crush or crumble them unless you want to.  *Rose Essential Oil can be expensive.  You can use Rose Hip Seed Oil or Geranium as a substitute.  

​A Rose is a Rose Sea Salt Scrub
1 cup Pink Himalayan Sea Salt or fine sea salt
1/4 cup Organic Jojoba Oil (or other organic oil of your choice)
1/4 cup Sweet Almond (or other organic oil of your choice)
3-5 drops rose essential oil*
5-7 dried rose petals gently crushed
 
Mix sea salt and oil in a glass or metal bowl until well combined. Gently stir in petals and essential oil.  Scoop into jars, label and enjoy!  Click here for your free labels.

   These recipes will make enough to fill two 4 oz. containers and a little extra to keep for yourself.  Decorated or not, they're still lovely as gifts or as a little spa in a jar just for you.

Ready for the bath salts?  Click here for DIYs and labels in Salt Craze Too.