The likelihood that this post offers the majority of readers anything truly revelatory is slim. But I’m not looking to be revelatory. I’m just looking to remind you all to take a few minutes and commit to doing something nice for yourself (or someone else). I needed the reminder this week, you might too.
Body scrubs—whether they’re made from salt or sugar—are some of the very simplest things to make and so deeply satisfying to use. In this season when the air is cooling off and the moisture in it is wicking away, it feels especially helpful to restore a little bit of what’s been lost. For me personally, an expanding belly and the accompanying stretching skin is in need of extra attention these days. An exfoliating scrub rich with restorative oils is the answer.
The recipe, such that it is, couldn’t be easier: One part oil to two parts salt and a few drops of essential oil to make it smell nice. I used sea salt and almond oil because that’s what I had on hand. I used orange oil because its subtle scent isn’t overwhelming but it’s still uplifting during a morning shower when I’m struggling to wake myself up. 
The point here isn’t preciousness, it’s simplicity. A salt scrub like this one is a quick thing to put together while standing over your kitchen counter drinking a morning cup of coffee with eyes half opened. Measure if you must, but mostly just mix things together and get thee to the shower for some old-fashioned scrubbing.
I put my scrub into the little Weck jar with a plastic replacement lid I found at the local kitchen shop. It’s the same jar and lid that we used to keep the coconut oil in when Faye was in diapers. Easy access and no fumbling with clips or screw tops feels like a nice thing for easy access, but use whatever you have on hand. (Just getting the stuff made and put to use is the goal.)
Sea Salt Scrub
1 cup fine ground sea salt (we often use this kind)
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (jojoba or olive or most anything you have on hand would also work)
3-4 drops sweet orange essential oil
Mix ingredients together. Mixture will be quite moist but not terribly runny. Feel free to adjust either salt or oil until you find a consistency that you like. You can’t really mess this up. Scrub and enjoy and rinse out the tub when you’re done.
30 Comments
Your displays are always so pretty. Looks lovely!
This looks heavenly. My only worry: does this clog the drain, or does the salt sufficiently melt away?
Oh no! Melts totally away, you just want to be sure to rinse the oil so you don’t slip!
This looks wonderful. I made the warming sugar scrub a couple of years ago and loved it – as did the friends I gifted it to. Looking forward to trying the salt scrub – we are definitely entering the drying season and my skin loves the extra moisture. Thank you!
Love this idea! Was just thinking about replacing my beloved tub of Trader Joe’s lavender sea salt scrub with a DIY version, so this a very timely post for me. 🙂 Thank you!
Awesome! You can definitely do a mix of oils if you wanted to replicate it more closely!
Would it be suitable to substitute sugar for the salt? I like salty scrubs for summer but prefer sugary ones when the weather is dry.
Yes, of course!
I would love to know where those bottles are from and get more details on your labeling 🙂
Keeping the little things beautiful is like appreciating the little, happy moments in your life.
Thanks for the post!
xo,
Caitlyn
These are just blue apothecary bottles—the essential oil came in this one and the sweet almond oil, I decanted. (You can find them all over the internet or in lots of health and wellness stores.) The labels are just kraft address labels. (You can find them at office supply stores, amazon, etc.) (My removal of original labels that I find to be ugly and replacing them with these guys is just my own idiosyncrasy!)
If you were going to not use this in one go — would you store it just at room temp? Indefinitely?
I can imagine gifting this! What a sweet simple recipe.
Yes! It can be stored for a super long time without trouble, but if you’re making as gifts, I’d make relatively close to the time you offer it, just to extend the shelf life for the lucky recipient!
I keep meaning to do this…I refuse to pay $40 or more for something I can easily do myself. I think I’ll use sugar, though, because I hear it’s better for dry skin. Don’t know why, and it’s probably not true, but there you go.
You’re right! Sugar is a natural humectant, it draws moisture into the skin. Definitely good for itchy, winter skin.
True! Even better: brown sugar!
thanks for sharing – a necessity for sure! i have the same weck jars, but with the glass lids and clips which I am finding frustrating!
Ah! Thank you.
Agreed. Pretty to look at; kind of a pain to use!
Looking forward to make some for myself. Thank you:)
Thanks for this inspiration Erin! Made a coconut oil/sugar scrub last night – smells heavenly! 🙂
So good!
I definitely want to try this. I *just* used up a jar of coconut oil and think the glass jar would make an excellent receptacle for something like this 🙂
Hi Erin,
another expanding belly here (7th month to be exact) and in need of some pampering. I was wondering what essential oils are considered safe during pregnancy and which ones should be most avoided..any tip? Lovely pictures by the way
Hey Alessia! Congratulations! There’s a ton of information about this on the internet—and definitely chat with your healthcare provider about specifics—but in general citrus oils like grapefruit, orange, and lemon are typically considered safe during pregnancy!
Thank you for sharing this. I love that its so simple to make and i don’t have to rush out to buy anything. Huge (new fan) of your blog. Thanks a million x
I love a salt scrub so much more than a sugar scrub. And I’ve never mixed with almond oil, before. I can’t wait to try this out! Thanks!
Just an FYI. Citrus oils tend to make you photosensitive for about 24 hrs. after using. With all this late autumn sunshine we have been experiencing, please take care.
I’m totally doing this tonight! Thanks for the recipe and inspiration, it’s so dry here a nice scrub will do the body good! 🙂
Hi Erin,
I made this salt scrub exactly as written and it seperated. A lot of the sweet almond oil floated to the top of my container. That said, it’s still a nice body scrub.
It’s a natural homemade scrub, so totally normal for it to separate. You could try adding more salt if you’d like it to be less liquids or just give it a nice stir before use!
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