There are thousands of cooking recipes involving olive oil, ranging from main courses to desserts. BBC Food alone has over 3,700 recipes involving this ingredient. Yet, not many people seem to realize that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) can also be a powerful ally in skincare routines. While using olive oil as a makeup remover may be a well-known trick, olive oil body scrub recipes are less so. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Benefits Of Using Olive Oil In A Body Scrub
Exfoliation has manifold benefits to the skin when properly done. It keeps pores clean and unclogged by removing dead cells, accelerating the skin renewal process. As a result, it leaves the skin with a fresh, healthy, and younger appeal. So, it’s paramount to pay attention to the ingredients in your body scrub or, better still, make the perfect homemade hand cream yourself.
Typically, olive oil and sugar scrub recipes deliver a much gentler exfoliation. At the same time, they deeply hydrate the skin, feeding it with healthy fats and antioxidants. Additionally, it improves skin texture, preventing ingrown hairs and soothing sensitive skin. Considering the hefty price tags on top-brand body scrubs, this is a much more cost-effective option.
How To Make Your Own Olive Oil And Sugar Scrub At Home
It’s quite impressive that so many benefits derive from the simple combination of two ingredients: olive oil and sugar. Despite the number of ingredients, there are different nuances to the recipe. Firstly, only the best EVOO should be used for this purpose, as refined oils may have undesirable chemicals. Also, different types of skin may require different types of sugar.
White granulated sugar may suffice for general body exfoliation. However, it can be too abrasive for those with sensitive skin, in which case, it’s better to use brown sugar. Not all parts of the body will require gentle exfoliation, though. Rough areas around your feet may need raw sugar, which has much coarser grains. In any case, the rule of thumb is two parts of sugar for one part of olive oil.
How To Use An Olive Oil Body Scrub
Unlike some painful and deeply unpleasant beauty treatments, exfoliation is often a spa-like, “me time” thing. It begins with the preparation of the skin in a hot shower or bath. The warm water and its vapor will open the pores, dampening the skin and preventing irritation. The body scrub must be gently applied in circular motions. Dry spots like knees and elbows may require extra effort or even a different combination of olive oil and sugar, as previously explained.
When the work is done, it’s time to rinse your body to remove any remaining residues. Greasy patches on the skin can cause problems later, which is why it’s advisable to use a mild body soap at this point. Areas like behind the knees and groin are typically the most overlooked. Finish it by drying your skin out with a soft towel, applying a moisturizer right after, for a prolonged hydration effect.
Timing may also be a factor here. If you’re planning to shave your skin, it’s better to do so right after exfoliation. In fact, it’ll be much easier to shave soft skin, preventing ingrown hair and after-shaving irritation. Since razors glide effortlessly on soft skin, shaving after exfoliation reduces the chances of razor burns and other lesions.
You Can Also Customize It
The basic recipe is pretty simple, but it leaves plenty of space for customization. For instance, it’s possible to add therapeutic scents, like lime and orange for a more energized feel, or lavender for relaxation. It’s possible to replace sugar with ingredients like ground coffee and salt. Consider adding honey to the mix for extra humectant properties and an even softer touch.
Meanwhile, ingredients like dried camomile and citrus zests can add texture and aroma at the same time. Popular variations of this recipe include combining brown sugar with ground coffee, honey with lavender oil, and lemon zest with sea salt. The secret here is to adjust the grains according to how coarse or soft you want them to be, and the after-smell.
However, you should be careful whenever trying a new recipe and run the patch test, that is, applying a small portion of the new combination on your elbow and leave there for 24 hours, to see if there’s any adverse reaction. In case of allergic reactions, you should stop the application immediately and look for professional help.
How Often Should You Use A Body Scrub?
It’s impossible not to love the soft touch of the skin right after exfoliation. Yet, unfortunately, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. The main point of this procedure is to remove the layer of dead cells that regularly pile up over the skin. So, if it’s done over a layer of healthy skin, the result can be allergic reactions, chemical burns, irritation, and inflammation.
For most skin types, doing it once or twice a week is enough to keep it hydrated and soft. However, that may be too much for dry and sensitive skin, in which case, a frequency of once every 10 to 15 days is advised. More importantly, it should never be done on sunburnt skin or right after shaving, or in special conditions, like during active eczema. Suspend the application immediately after any sign of discomfort.
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