This Cucumber Body Scrub is the skincare version of light Spring lunch… because, I know my body has been asking for fresh greens, both inside and out! :)
Green smoothies made a comeback in my morning routine and green scrubs just feels right! It’s a Spring detox – bright and refreshing, cleansing and will leave you feeling soft as a bunny!
This scrub is packed with fresh basil leaves – but you’ll notice from the picture – there are no leafy bits to get stuck all over your skin and shower floor. Hands up if that’s happened to you!!
What I want to show you is not just how to create a scrub, but how to create a good experience!
Because being crunchy, does not mean you should feel crunchy! Thank you very much.
Every time I use this scrub (well, ever since I figured how to make it right!) no matter how tired I feel going in – I come out feeling restored. It’s just so Spring-y that it reminds your mind and body that the world is up and at work. And I like that!
So if you’re feeling like you need a detox, like you want to shake off any sluggishness in your body – please make this for yourself!
This is a fresh scrub, made with fresh ingredients
Basil: Around this time of year – we start feeling a little more active, spend a little more time outdoors and often that comes with a bit of soreness. And that where basil is so helpful – it’s a soothing herb that relieves pain and irritations, it helps reduce inflammation from bug bites and rashes. It’s also incredibly antibacterial and cleansing, which helps to prevent breakouts.
Grapefruit Peel: Just the scent alone does it for me, it’s like sunshine! You could use lime or lemon peel, but I do like grapefruit for a scrub, because the essential oil stimulates and boosts your circulation. Used regularly, this helps with cellulite.
Cucumber: We have that old image of cucumber slices and spa treatments – it’s a little cliche – but cucumber really are the ultimate skincare. It’s very hydrating and helps with inflammation, to reduce puffiness or irritations. But, also the dark-green skin of the cucumber is where the vitamins are, like most fruits and veggies. So we’re throwing that into our scrub too! Cucumbers gives you a boost anti-aging vitamin C and skin-plumping vitamin A.
Sea Salt: This is the exfoliant of our scrub, which helps to stimulate your skin, clear away build up and bring out a beautiful glow. You can use sugar, but sea salt is especially helpful for detoxing. It cleans out your pores and clears out bacteria that can otherwise cause inflammation or breakouts.
Make it on a slow Sunday or when you find yourself in the kitchen… craving something, but not sure what…. try making skin-food instead!
You don’t have to use it all right away – it might be your after work treat, or something you look forward to waking up to. Store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Spring Detox Cucumber Body Scrub
- 1 handful fresh basil
- 1/4 cup rice bran oil (or oil of choice)
- 3 inch slice of cucumber
- 1/2 cup fine sea salt
- peel of 1 grapefruit
- 8 drops grapefruit essential oil (optional)
- Start by peeling and dicing the cucumber – and then set aside the skin.
- In a blender, blitz the salt and the peeled, diced cucumber together until it’s all well combined. Just a few seconds.
- Pour it out into a big bowl. I think it’s worth taking the extra step here to press it through a sieve so that there’s no accidental bits of cucumber left in – that way you get a very smooth scrub!
- Now it’s time to make the oil blend. In the same blender, combine the oil, fresh basil, cucumber skin and grapefruit peel.
- Blend for a few seconds until it’s all well combined
- Strain out the grassy green oil – and discard the pulp. Use a very fine sieve or a nut milk bag. You can also use a cheese cloth. We just want the pure oil!
- Now in a big bow, mix together the cucumber salt with the green oil.
- Stir it all together
- If you have essential oils, add in a few drops. I’d go with grapefruit or lavender. They’re both inexpensive and will kick things up a good notch! 🙂
- Storage: keep it in the fridge in an airtight container. Will last 1 week
ps – the basil oil blend on its own… it’s actually delicious! Try it! If you don’t use all of the oil for your scrub – It also makes a yummy base for a marinade or salad dressing. And I’m not kidding around when I say that there is something so magical about making food this way – breaking down the barriers and seeing the full spectrum of opportunity.
It’s very freeing, wildly efficient and simplifies life. If that’s too strange to think of right now, it’s okay. Stick with the scrub 🙂
Militza xx