Note from Mommypotamus: Today’s guest post comes from Julia Lenser of Coco’s Well. Thank you for stopping by to share this recipe, Julia!
My neighbor down the street has the most INCREDIBLE meyer lemon tree. Just walking into her backyard with the sweet citrus smell is intoxicating. As someone who loves creating my own beauty and food recipes – like this DIY diaper rash stick or these real food caramel chews – when I see a Meyer lemon tree I see enormous potential. And lucky me my sweet neighbor lets me sneak into her backyard whenever I please and grab a handful.
We are in a drought here in California, which for me means itchy, dry skin. I decided to use my latest stash of lemons to make a body scrub that would remove dry skin while hydrating at the same time. Oh. and did I mention I wanted to make sure it smelled like you stuck your face in a lemon tree? That’s where the lemon essential oil came in. I made up one container for myself but this recipe could easily be doubled or tripled and would make the perfect gift. I like to use this citrus sugar scrub recipe to soften my hands, to remove dead skin from my feet and to make my legs silky smooth.
Just as a warning, be careful using this citrus sugar scrub on your feet in the shower because the oil in the scrub makes it very easy to slip (my husband wanted me to add this warning…no explanation needed). I loved the smell of this body scrub so much I also created a lemon body butter.
Citrus Sugar Scrub Recipe
Mommypotamus note: Cold-pressed lemon and lime essential oils are photo-toxic. However, steam-distilled citrus oils are not – always use steam distilled in this recipe. Sweet orange essential oil is not photo-toxic.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil (where to buy coconut oil)
- 1/4 cup olive oil (where buy olive oil)
- 1 cup of cane sugar
- 20 drops lemon essential oil – substitute lime, grapefruit or orange oil if desired (where to buy steam-distilled lemon essential oil)
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest (or limes/grapefruits/oranges)
Instructions:
- Melt the coconut oil until it has liquified
- In a bowl mix together the olive oil, coconut oil, sugar, lemon oil and zest
- Mix until well combined and store in your favorite glass jar
Use liberally on your body but avoid the face and eyes.
Note: Citrus oils can cause the sun’s effect on skin to be magnified, so use appropriate measures to protect skin from burning.
About Julia
Julia Lenser, founder of Coco’s Well, is a wife and SAHM. Self-described as the messiest cook in world, she loves cooking nourishing food for her family. Julia loves to help people discover that there are refreshing healthy ways to love yourself and your children while laughing along the way.
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Love this idea, Heather! Such easy ingredients too – all that I have on hand, as well! Can’t wait to try this – I bet the scent is so invigorating!
Julia, do you get hydrated by the rain like a plant?
I can’t wait to try this! I recently made a Lavender Salt Scrub, now this one is next on my list!
What is the shelf life?
hi heather ! love your recipes. whats the shelf life of this scrub ?
Because this recipe doesn’t contain any water it has the potential to be shelf stable for more than a year without the essential oils (from the peels and those that are distilled). However, because essential oils are more fragile and can oxidize over time I’d recommend using it within three months.