man it’s dry out. sub zero temps will do that. it’s SCIENCE.

good thing i’m addicted to body scrubs.

good thing they’re easy-peasy to make.

my favorite store bought scrub of all time is Fresh’s Brown Sugar Body Polish. at nearly 70 clams a jar i had to try to make my own.

the basic recipe is very… basic. it’s a 1:2 oil to grain (salt or sugar) ratio. you can use a variety of oils. sweet almond oil. safflower oil. jojoba oil. a mixture of oils. any kind of body oil. i like to use sweet almond oil, it feels a little lighter on the skin and not so, you know, oily. i stay away from olive oil, as it’s very thick. different oils have different oiliness. viscosity. learn it.

here are two scrubs that i love and make regularly. the amount of essential oil is all preference, so feel free to play with that.

DIY FRESH BROWN SUGAR BODY SCRUB

3/4 cup turbinado sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or any carrier oil)
essential oils: grapefruit, lemon, orange, bergamont (start with 2-5 drops each)

1. COMBINE the oils in a medium glass or metal bowl and stir. adjust the scent to your preference a few drops at a time.
2. ADD the sugars and stir until mixed well.
3. STORE in an air tight container.

DIY LAVENDER SALT SCRUB

1 cup dead sea salt, medium grain (epsom salt can be used too)
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or any carrier oil)
essential oil: lavender (start with 5 drops)

1. COMBINE the oils in a medium glass or metal bowl and stir. adjust the scent to your preference a few drops at a time.
2. ADD the salt and stir until mixed well.
3. STORE in an air tight container.

DISCLAIMER: the oils will make your shower slippery; please make sure your drain is working properly. also, salt is wonderful and healing but will burn like a major B if you have a cut. so there’s that.