Lavender Salt Scrub

Sometimes the simple things are the sweetest. Or the saltiest. The scrubbiest. This lavender salt scrub is simple as can be, and yet the results, the experience, can be profound. Lavender is named for its traditional use as a bath herb and has been known and used for centuries in soaps, scrubs, and lotions. It’s not many herbs that can claim such a long and uninterrupted reputation for soothing and cleansing. The aromatic compounds in the plant are also antimicrobial, and the aroma itself has soothing, calming properties. This salt and flower scrub exfoliates the skin, working the lavender compounds into the dermis, while the salt scrubbing stimulates the immune and lymphatic systems. Herbalist Brittany Wood Nickerson, in her book Recipes from the Herbalist's Kitchen: Delicious, Nourishing Food for Lifelong Health and Well-Being, says that this salt scrub is "excellent for detoxification, and can help prevent and support recovery from cold, flu, sinus infection, ear infection, and other common illnesses.” The two ingredients work so well with each other, that the third is optional. But for ultimate bathtime indulgence, work a little olive or almond oil into a portion of the scrub, and use it to form a paste that will moisturize and nourish the skin. Adding the oil one use at a time lengthens the keeping qualities of the scrub.

Makes about 1 cup.

Directions

In a mortar and pestle, grind the lavender flowers to a powder. Add a little coarse salt, if desired, to add a little friction and make the flowers grind finer.

Combine the powdered lavender with the fine sea salt in a bowl or jar and mix well. If desired, add a few drops of lavender essential oil, and mix well.
Store the salt lavender mixture in a tightly lidded jar, away from direct light.

To use the scrub, put a few tablespoons of the salt scrub in a bowl, and add enough olive, almond, or other body oil of your choosing to form a paste.
Gently massage the paste, a pinch at a time, into bath-moist skin for 30-60 seconds, and rinse. The gentle scrubbing is not just to cleanse and moisturize, but also to stimulate the skin, so take your time and gently scour the whole body. Be aware that the oil may leave a slippery residue on the tub or shower, which is easily wiped off.

Breathe in. Feel the skin tingle, and imagine stress slipping away, like water down the drain.

Over to You

It’s part of our mission here at Mountain Feed to help you make your own homemade, healthy home products more often. Stop by and say hello on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Or, as always, you can do it the old-fashioned way and come by the store to speak with one of our in-house experts.