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This DIY salt scrub recipe is perfect for dry and damaged skin. This two-ingredient exfoliating salt body scrub contains skin-nourishing ingredients: Epsom salts and coconut oil!
Salt and sugar scrubs are some of the best DIY skincare recipes that anyone can make and use at home. Not only are they great for the skin, but they’re also safe and non-toxic.
What is a Salt Scrub?
Salt scrubs are an exfoliating product made with various types of salts and usually a carrier oil to moisturize the skin. Salt scrubs tend to be more abrasive than sugar scrubs and are best used for dry, challenging and damaged skin. I prefer to use salt scrubs on my feet, hands, and any areas of my skin that may have a callus (sometimes knees or elbows).
Salt Scrub vs. Sugar Scrub
A salt scrub is usually more abrasive and should only be used on the body or the feet and hands. However, for some skin types, salt is too rough to be used on the whole body. In this case, a sugar scrub would be a better option since it’s less abrasive. When it comes to using a scrub for your face, salt scrubs are not a good choice. Avoid using this kind of scrub on your face or any sensitive area.
How To Make Salt Scrub
To get started, you’ll want to check your coconut oil to see if it’s soft (room temperature) or solid. If it’s solid, you’ll need to warm it up on the stovetop gently.
Next, you’re going to mix 1/4 cup of soft coconut oil with 1/2 cup of salt. You can use any salt you like. I like to useEpsom saltsbecause they’re an excellent source of magnesium, and I feel so relaxed when I use them on my feet after a long day. Other good salt choices are Redmond sea salt, dead sea salt, or french grey sea salt.
Mix the salt scrub well and store it in an air-tight container or glass jar.
How To Use Salt Scrubs
- Use 1-2 tablespoons of the sea salt body scrub to exfoliate your feet, hands, and skin.
- Rub gently in a circular motion to massage and rub into your skin.
- Rinse off thoroughly with warm or hot water in the shower. You may want to use a drain catcher to collect the flower buds from going down the drain.
- Use 1-2 times a week.
Equipment and Materials:
Your local health food store will carry most, if not all, of the supplies and ingredients for this scrub. Amazon and Mountain Rose Herbs is my go-to online stores for shopping for herbs, spices, carrier oils, salts, and waxes. Below are direct links to the products I used in this recipe.
Salts:
- Dead Sea Salt
- Epsom Salts
- French Grey Salt
- Redmond Sea Salt
Carrier Oils:
- Virgin Coconut Oil (more on this, including my picks for the best coconut oil you can buy)
- Refined Coconut Oil (No coconut scent)
- Olive Oil
Dried Herbs And Flowers:
- Lavandin Flower
- Lavender Flower
- Calendula Flower
- Chamomile Flower
Organic Essential Oils:
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
Salt Scrub Add-Ons
This basic recipe is great all on its own, but sometimes I add other oils, herbs, or essential oils. These are some of my favorite add-ons:
- Olive oil:Olive oil is very conditioning and absorbs deep into the skin. I like to add one tablespoon of it to this salt scrub for added moisture.
- Herbs/Flowers:Dried herbs or flower buds are a great addition to this scrub. They add a lovely scent that isn’t too overpowering and make the scrub look beautiful. But, of course, there are skin benefits to many herbs and flowers too! For example, I used dried lavandin flowers in this recipe.
- Essential oils:One or two drops of organic essential oils can be a great addition to this scrub. Rosemary and peppermint are my favorites to use on my feet as they leave the skin feeling invigorated and refreshed.
FAQ
What essential oils can I use in the scrub?
I like lavender but other oils like orange and eucalyptus can be used too.
Can I mix coconut oil with Epsom salt?
Yes, coconut oil will mix with epsom salts to create this scrub.
Can I add color to this scrub?
Yes, natural colorants and dried herb powders can be used to color this scrub.
If you love this salt scrub recipe, then try out my DIY Lip Scrub, Grapefruit Scrub, Coffee Body Scrub, and Lemon Sugar Scrub!
Epsom Salt Scrub Recipe
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5 from 40 reviews
This homemade salt scrub recipe is perfect for dry and damaged skin. This two-ingredient exfoliating salt body scrub contains skin-nourishing ingredients: Epsom salts and coconut oil! This natural exfoliant scrubs dead skin cells off dry skin and contains minerals like magnesium.
- Author: Tiffany – The Coconut Mama
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 six ounce jar 1x
- Category: DIY
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup epsom salts, dead sea salt, or real salt
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
- 1 tsp dried herbs (optional)
- 1–5 drops essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the melted coconut oil, epsom salts together in a small bowl.
- If you’d like to upgrade this scrub with the add on’s, mix them into the scrub after you’ve mixed the coconut oil and salts together. I like to add a few drops of essential oils like lavender, orange, grapefruit and eucalyptus.
- Store in an air tight container until ready to use.This recipe will fill a 6-ounce jar.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 1
Originally published on July 7th 2013 and was updated with new images on October 22nd 2021.
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About Tiffany Pelkey
Tiffany is the founder of the wellness website Coconut Mama where she spent over a decade creating coconut-inspired recipes and tutorials. Tiffany lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and works as a freelance writer, recipe creator, and photographer. She studies aromatherapy and herbalism and loves to cook plant-based meals. You can follow Tiffany on Instagram.
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