Exquisite Practices, Spring Revival: Week 3

Read on for a nourishing full moon salt scrub recipe…

There’s nothing like treating yourself to a deeply cleansing salt scrub at the end of a long day. It’s one of my favorite indulgences, and coming out the other side with soft, moisturized skin and the calming effects of aromatherapy simply cannot be beat. The beauty of a salt scrub is how easy it is to make: the base ingredients are fine sea salt and almond oil, then you can add your favorite dried petals, leaves and essential oils. I cobbled my Full Moon Salt Scrub recipe together from a few different scrubs that I’ve made in the past. It’s my favorite for calming crazy full moon energy (you know what I’m talking about!) or PMS, because of its anti-inflammatory, clarifying, and calming oils. I decided to shoot my scrub-making process with the help of Giotto and Heironymous Bosch – they brought the art, I brought the scents!

Full Moon Salt Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fine sea salt
• ¼ cup coarse sea salt
• 3/4 cup almond oil
• 4 teaspoons dried lemon balm leaf
• 20 drops bergamot essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 6 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 teaspoons crushed dried rose petals

Combine ingredients in a clean glass bowl using a wooden spoon. Transfer to an airtight glass jar and allow to age for 2 days. Enjoy!

As always, if you are pregnant or nursing consult your healthcare provider before using essential oils. They are very concentrated and can be absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin.

Bergamot oil is the star of this recipe. It’s antidepressant, relaxant and sedative qualities calm stress, anxiety and nerves. It’s also an analgesic, stimulating the body to produce hormones that lessen the sensitivity of nerves to pain so it’s excellent for headaches and muscle aches. It also has disinfectant properties so when used on the skin (especially regularly) it protects the skin from infections. I could go on and on! Check out Organic Facts for more info on bergamot.

Eucalyptus has many similar qualities to bergamot. It’s a disinfectant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory and is often used on skin conditions. It has a clarifying effect on the mind and is an excellent room freshener as it kills bacteria in the air. It’s also a vasodilator, promoting healthy blood flow throughout the body and making it excellent for diabetes, especially when massaged into the skin and inhaled as a vapor. Again, you can read more in depth about eucalyptus on Organic Facts.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Have any favorite ingredients that you like to add to your scrub? Let me know in the comments below. Cleanse on!

+ More salt and sugar scrub recipes here!