Indulge in the Joy of DIY Scrubs
There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating your own scrubs at home. Whether it’s my delightful homemade lip scrubs in flavors like chocolate, candy cane, or vanilla honey, or my go-to sugar scrub, I find immense joy in the process. I also love my DIY version of Lush’s Ocean Salt Scrub and my calming chamomile foot scrub. What captivates me the most is the perfect mix of 1) exfoliating away dull, rough skin, 2) nourishing moisturizers that leave my skin feeling irresistibly soft and hydrated, and 3) the enchanting scents from essential oils. Each scrub feels like a mini spa experience right at home. My latest creation is a game-changer – a DIY shower scrub bar that exfoliates, hydrates, and soothes the senses!
This innovative scrub comes in the form of a solid bar. You simply go about your regular shower routine, and at the end, you glide the salt bar over your skin, giving those rough patches like elbows a little extra love. After rinsing off, just pat your skin dry with a towel, and voilà – soft, glowing, and deeply hydrated skin in no time! It’s quick, easy, and oh-so-rewarding.
Key Ingredients in Shower Salt Bars
- Cocoa Butter: Rich in fatty acids, cocoa butter works wonders in softening rough, dry skin, enhancing its resilience, and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.
- Kokum Butter: Similar to cocoa butter, kokum butter is packed with essential fatty acids that smooth and soften the skin while boosting elasticity. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant that aids skin regeneration and may reduce the appearance of cellulite.
- Mango Butter: This light, creamy butter is filled with skin-loving nutrients like vitamins E and C, helping to moisturize and enhance radiance.
- Coconut Oil: The lauric acid in coconut oil is known for its calming effects on inflamed skin.
- Lemon Essential Oil: This oil helps detoxify the skin and minimize the appearance of pores.
- Lavender Essential Oil: Renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, lavender oil soothes the skin and may help reduce redness and other discolorations.
- Rock Salt: Containing 84 of the 92 trace elements required by the body, rock salt is an exceptional exfoliant that leaves skin feeling silky smooth.
- Himalayan Sea Salt: This pink salt is a powerful exfoliator that removes dead skin cells, revealing healthier skin underneath while also boasting anti-inflammatory benefits.
Shower Salt Bar Recipe
Yield: 6 bars
Step 1: Prepare the Cocoa Butter
Add 1 cup of finely chopped cocoa butter to a heat-safe measuring cup or bowl.
Tip: I prefer using unrefined cocoa butter for its natural scent, but if it’s too strong for your taste, you can opt for refined cocoa butter (which has minimal scent) or simply use more kokum butter (2 cups of kokum butter instead of 1 cup each of cocoa and kokum butter).
Step 2: Add Kokum Butter
Add 1 cup of kokum butter.
Tip: If kokum butter is unavailable, feel free to substitute it with cocoa butter.
Step 3: Incorporate Mango Butter
Add ½ cup of mango butter.
Tip: You can also swap mango butter for shea butter if you prefer.
Step 4: Add Coconut Oil
Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
Tip: Ensure you use coconut oil that is solid at room temperature; avoid fractionated coconut oil as it remains liquid.
Tip: For those who dislike coconut oil, babassu oil is a suitable alternative.
Step 5: Melt the Butters and Oil
Tip: I recommend melting the butters and oil using the double boiler method. Place your heat-safe measuring cup inside a pan with about 1 inch of gently simmering water over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until completely melted.
Tip: Alternatively, you can melt the mixture in the microwave using 50% power and stirring every 30 seconds.
Step 6: Cool and Add Essential Oil
Allow the melted butters to cool for about 1 minute before adding essential oil.
Step 7: Essential Oil Blend
Add approximately 75 drops of essential oil. I like a blend of 40 drops of lemon essential oil and 35 drops of lavender essential oil, but feel free to adjust based on your preferences.
Step 8: Prepare the Rock Salt
Divide 1.5 cups of rock salt fairly evenly among 6 cavities in a silicone mold, using about ¼ cup of rock salt for each bar. You can adjust the amount of salt according to your liking.
Step 9: Combine Salt and Mixture
Pour the melted butter and essential oil mixture over the rock salt.
Step 10: Mix Well
Using a spoon or small stirring stick, mix the rock salt with the melted butter mixture to ensure everything is well combined, reaching the corners of each mold.
Step 11: Sprinkle Himalayan Sea Salt
While the bars are still wet, sprinkle about ½ cup of coarse Himalayan sea salt over the tops of the bars.
Step 12: Hardening Process
Allow the bars to harden completely before removing them from the molds. Depending on the room’s heat and humidity, this could take anywhere from 2 hours to overnight.
How to Use Salt Bars
- Begin by washing and cleansing your skin as you normally would in the shower.
- Gently massage the salt bar onto your wet skin, allowing the salt to effectively exfoliate.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Pat your skin dry with a towel (avoid rubbing; just pat to keep all those nourishing butters and oils on your skin for lasting hydration and glow).
Important: Keep the salt bar dry and away from heat when not in use.
Where to Find Supplies
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- Cocoa butter
- Kokum butter
- Mango butter
- Coconut oil
- Rock salt – easily found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores, typically referred to as ice cream salt or rock salt.
- Coarse pink Himalayan sea salt
- Silicone molds – I used Crafter’s Choice basic square mold #1605 for this recipe, but any silicone mold that produces a bar shape will work.
- Bamboo stir sticks
- Heat-safe measuring cup
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Please note: The products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a medical professional regarding your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it due to something you have read on this website.
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