As we’ve previously covered, body scrubs are essential for preventing old-body-young-face phenomenon.
Our friends at the adorable small batch vegan apothecary known as Meow Meow Tweet (so named for the founding couple’s pet cats and bird) in Brooklyn shared some of their best recipes and tips for whipping up your own natural creations from simple kitchen ingredients.
They recommend using sea salt (for a vigorous scrub) or organic demerara cane sugar (gentler for sensitive skin) as the base. All of the recipes call for virgin coconut oil, as it’s naturally anti-fungal and soaks into skin quickly for optimal hydration. You can also substitute olive, walnut, avocado or sunflower oils, though these options may feel thicker on skin.
Oil should be in liquid form when mixing. The easiest way to melt solid coconut oil is in the saucepan at low heat. Keep stirring until it’s just melted, and then take it off the heat to allow it to cool at room temperature. If using a microwave, nuke for 10 seconds at a time until liquefied. Heat can change the healing properties of oils, so the less heat used is always better.
1Lemon Poppy Seed Cookie Scrub
Bring on a glow! The natural vitamin C in highly acidic lemons helps rapidly turn over and brighten skin cells. Plus, the energizing citrus fruit helps deodorize and clean skin. This blend plays off a popular muffin recipe, with the added gentle exfoliation benefit of tiny poppy seeds.
Ingredients:
4 lemons
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup cornmeal
½ cup coconut oil
Directions: Zest the lemons, then leave the zest to dry for one to two hours. (If you don’t have a zester, remove the lemon peel with a vegetable peeler and then mince the peel with a knife.) In a bowl, mix poppy seeds, sugar, cornmeal, vanilla and lemon zest. Pour the oil over the ingredients and mix to combine. Store in a sealed jar for up to three months.
2Almond Joy Scrub
We dare you not to take a taste of this one! Almonds exfoliate to leave skin silky, while the antioxidants in cocoa help skin cells repair and renew. Coconut oil and flakes combine for a powerful boost of omega-3 fatty acids with incredible antibacterial and moisturizing benefits.
Ingredients:
½ cup almonds or almond meal
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon coconut flakes, unsweetened
½ cup coconut oil
Directions: Use pre-ground almond meal or grind the almonds in a food processor. (If you don’t have one, put the nuts in a sandwich bag and lightly hit with a hammer to pulverize.) In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Pour the oil over the ingredients and mix to combine. Store in a sealed jar for up to three months.
3Chai Masala Scrub
Black tea is chock-full of natural antioxidants like polyphenols and tannins that help aid in skin rejuvenation by neutralizing free radicals. In this delicious recipe inspired by the beloved latté, several eastern spices known for potent anti-inflammatory qualities combine for a beautifying treat.
Ingredients:
¼ cup black tea
1 tablespoon dry ginger, ground
1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground
½ teaspoon cloves, ground
½ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
½ teaspoon cardamom, ground
¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
½ cup coconut oil
Directions: Grind the black tea leaves to a powder. (If you don’t have a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle, put the tea leaves in a sandwich bag and lightly hit with a hammer or roll over with a rolling pin to grind the leaves.) The spices can be bought already ground, or you can use a grater to grate them. In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients and vanilla thoroughly. Pour the oil over the ingredients and mix to combine. Store in a sealed jar for up to three months.
4Java Mint Scrub
Mint’s storied use as an aromatic herb that sanitizes and scents makes it perfect for an invigorating scrub. Here, it combines with grainy coffee grounds to slough dead skin cells away while the natural caffeine releases to reduce swelling and inflammation by temporarily constricting blood vessels.
Ingredients:
½ cup coffee grounds
2 tablespoons mint leaves or 2 peppermint tea bags
½ cup sugar
½ cup coconut oil
Directions: If you’re using fresh mint, pluck all the leaves from the stalks and spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at the lowest temperature for one hour. Let the leaves cool completely before crumbling them between your fingers into a powder. If you’re using peppermint tea bags, snip open the bags and use the leaves. In a bowl, combine coffee, mint and sugar. Pour the oil over the ingredients and mix to combine. Store in a sealed jar for up to three months.
5Salt Scrub
If you’re a busy scrub lover who doesn’t have the time to DIY, we’re loving Meow Meow Tweet’s newest Salt Scrub, which features essential oils of bergamot, juniper, basil and rosemary for a soothing sensory experience.
