Winter is going strong here in East Tennessee, and with a fire burning non-stop in the wood stove, the air in our home is dry—and so is my skin. One of my favorite things to do when my skin feels dry is to skip the soap in the shower (except for the important areas, if you follow me) and use a sugar scrub instead.
Sugar scrubs are great! Not only do they work to exfoliate the skin, but the carrier and essential oils they contain help to nourish the skin. Plus, you can add herbs to them, making them even more beneficial.
Seeing how it’s winter, I decided to whip up a winter sugar scrub using some herbs growing outside my front door. Seeing how pine needles are plentiful this time of the year, I decided to craft my winter sugar scrub around them. Besides smelling good, pine needles can benefit the skin with their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making them a perfect fit for my sugar scrub.
Below you’ll find the recipe for this sugar scrub. I would advise you to make it and let it sit for 2-4 weeks to get the maximum benefit from the pine needles you include in it. You can use it immediately, but the longer the pine needles have to infuse into the oil, the more you reap their skin-supporting properties.
White Pine Winter Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 12 drops of pine essential oil (Pinus sylvestris) (I like Plant Therapy brand.)
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped pine needles (optional)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix well, and store in a glass jar.
To Use:
Scoop out a small amount of sugar scrub and gently buff your entire body (except your face and neck) using small circular motions.
Substitutions:
- Feel free to use any carrier oil (sesame, grapeseed, almond, avocado) you’d like as long as it totals 3/4 cup.
- You can also use brown sugar or salt in place of white sugar.
- Use any essential oils you choose to alter the smell.
You can learn more about my winter skincare routine right here.
Happy winter, folks!