Taking care of your skin certainly is a healthy habit and leaves you with a beautiful glow. However,  with our hectic lifestyles, it also can give us those precious minutes of pampering we all truly need.

Can you picture a leisurely soak in the tub, with sweet scents amidst the glow of candlelight, perhaps a flute of wine and a continuous playlist of some soulful, slow jams playing in the background? Ahh…

I’m sure you instinctively guessed that aromatherapy – inhaling the delicious aromas from essential oils – promotes physical and psychological well-being. It’s even said to stimulate brain function. Making use of particular natural ingredients is a beauty bonus: great for the body and the wallet.

This year, why not share the love? With the holidays here, prettily wrapped natural body care products you’ve put together yourself for the sisters in your circle, will be greatly appreciated.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Best Body Oils For Moisturizing Dark Skin
These essential oils are best combined with a carrier oil. Carrier oils are neutral – usually lighter in consistency and perfect for diluting and application. Note that essential oils from the fruit, seed, leaf, bark, root or flower of a plant are quite potent. Direct application to sensitive skin could cause irritation. Just a drop or two will do the job, resulting in an amazing scent experience with healthy benefits.

With so many essential oils to choose from, we have a few suggestions which augment body care for women of color:

Bergamot Oil – (similar to orange) good for blemishes
Carrot Seed Oil – good for hyperpigmentation
Chamomile Oil – soothing and softening
Clove Oil – natural anti-inflammatory agents ( one drop is all you need in body products)
Frankincense Oil – aromatic and great for hyperpigmentation
Lavender Oil – soothing with antibacterial properties
Patchouli Oil – promotes new cell growth and has antifungal properties
Rose Oil – good for rejuvenation
Sandalwood Oil – fragrant and good for soothing itchy skin
Tea Tree Oil – antibacterial ingredients good for skin ailments

All essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil.  You can either create your blend before adding it to your sugar/salt solution or a drop at a time for desired scent.

Best Ingredients For Body Care Scrub Products

The scrubs are easy to make in 3 parts with ½ cup of the salt or sugar, ½ cup of the oil and a few drops of the essential oil.

Natural Exfoliant *removes dead skin cells
Sea Salt (large crystals are great for relaxing)
Brown Sugar (good for removing dead cells)
Epsom Salts (perfect for foot scrubs)
Oatmeal (gentle)

These Carrier Oils act as great moisturizers for your skin.
Grape Seed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil
Nut oil (sweet almond, coconut etc.)

If you’d rather purchase a body scrub , give the body butter scrub a try. It’s packed with Shea butter, sea salt, turbinado sugar and great carrier oils.  There’s a hint of lemon, lemongrass and lime essential oils for scenting.

Essential oils can provide a smell that’s wonderful with soothing and/or invigorating properties.
Lavender
Vanilla
Peppermint
Citrus Zest (grated peel of grapefruit, orange and/or lime)

Zesty Sea Salt Scrub
Try combining 1 teaspoon of your preferred citrus (grated peel) with ½ cup of sea salt and ½ cup of your favorite carrier oil.  Any body treatment using citrus ingredients is best done at night since citrus oils are photo sensitive.

Sweet Sugar Scrub
Mix vanilla, your favorite oil and brown sugar in the proportions above for a scrub good enough to eat.

Make it a pretty gift.

You could use a medium sized mason jar or a set of mini ones. Make sure the jars you select keep air out so that your products can last.
How about putting your scrub in a sealed plastic bag and then in a mini burlap bag with a drawstring.

Then add personalized labels and tie with ribbon. It’s a good idea to list all the ingredients for your recipients. This could be on your label or on a separate slip of paper or card.

If you’re making a gift basket, add a matching colored loofah or bath sponge and even scented candles to your array of natural products.
Your homemade beauty products are also perfect for stocking stuffer’s or a special gift for many on your list.

There’s nothing like a great pampering session for yourself. Isn’t it great to feel good and be good for to You?

As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care