Body Scrub
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SKIN SO SMOOTH

Basic Body Scrubs

The purpose of a skin scrub is to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells. Scrubs can be gentle and soft, suited to sensitive skin (such as a paste of finely ground oat flour and cold-pressed vegetable oil or yogurt), or more aggressive such as with baking soda or even pumice stone powder. A scrub is both stimulating and soothing, and your skin gets a massage as you apply it.

Flours absorb excess oil from the skin and combined with the emollient quality of finely ground almonds or flax seeds the scrubs are very softening for the skin. Brown rice flour is a very nice flour to use because it is a bit grainy and relieves itches you never knew you had.

Fruit acids for a deep body cleanse are a terrific way to slough off dead skin cells. Also called alpha-hydroxy acids, fruit acids dissolve the glue that hold dead skin cells together, and include lemon juice, apple sauce, organic apple cider vinegar, berries, yogurt, milk, tomatoes, and even wine. Fruit acid juices can be used as the liquid for a basic body scrub formula (see below).

Grains can include flour made of brown rice, oatmeal, wheat, or anything you have handy. Legume flour is made of chickpeas, black beans, lentils, or other beans, and can be found in health food stores, or ground in a grain grinder, blender, or coffee grinder. Nuts or seeds can be ground in a blender or coffee grinder.

Basic Body Scrub Formula

Although the basic scrub formula calls for ground nuts, grains, liquids, and herbs, just about anything goes as long as it isn't too harsh on the skin.

2/3 cup finely ground nuts or seeds

1/3 cup grain or legume flour

1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground herbs such as the antiseptic herbs rosemary or lavender

enough liquid to make a paste

In a blender grind the dry ingredients to a medium-fine powder. Store in a glass jar with a screw top. When you are ready to make a scrub, pour about 1/3 of the mixture into a bowl, and stir in enough water to make a paste. After you get your body wet, scoop some of the paste on your hand and rub and scrub it all over your body, avoiding your eyes. Take your time and really exfoliate the dead skin cells. Rinse thoroughly.

Makes 1 cup