Fall is here, which means humidity levels are dropping as outdoor temperatures cool down. Low humidity levels cause dry air, which may aggravate existing skin conditions or problems. This is especially true to people with eczema, psoriasis, or other dry skin disorders. On top of that, the combination of indoor warmth robs the skin of moisture, so you can never escape dry environments.
So what do you do to encourage healthier skin as the weather dries out and cools down? Embrace fall for all the beautiful ingredients it has to offer, of course! That’s why we created this apple cinnamon sugar scrub! Not only does it smell like freshly baked apple pie, but it also helps to both exfoliate and moisturize the skin. Just keep in mind that it does not contain real apples because it would spoil very quickly. Instead, the scrub contains apple cider essential oil, ground cinnamon, cinnamon essential oil, white and brown sugar, and coconut oil. You most likely have the sugars, cinnamon, and potentially the coconut oil in your pantry already, so you only have to go out and get a couple ingredients for the recipe.
How Does Sugar Benefit The Skin?
Brown sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment to hydrate the skin. Brown sugar is much gentler than raw, coarse sugar, so it exfoliates the skin in a much gentler way. Exfoliating dead cells from the outer skin helps to give the skin a more radiant glow. It also helps to prevent bacteria from building up in pores, helping to hydrate and promote healthy circulation to the skin. People who are prone to acne can opt for brown sugar exfoliating scrubs to help prevent acne and blemishes. Lastly, brown sugar exhibits antibacterial properties, which work to clean the skin and keep it simultaneously hydrated.
Raw or granulated sugar is a bit more coarse than brown sugar, so you may want to avoid it if you have sensitive skin. Because this recipe mixes granulated sugar with brown sugar, the scrub is not as rough. Sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, which is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that can penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. That process works to break down the “glue” that binds skin cells together. Why does that matter? Well, that helps to stimulate cell regeneration, which encourages the growth of new skin cells to make your skin appear younger. Glycolic acid may also benefit people with sun-damaged or aging skin.
DIY Apple Cinnamon Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
- 3/4 light brown sugar
- 3/4 granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup refined coconut oil
- 15 drops apple cider essential oil
- 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
Instructions:
- Make sure that your brown sugar is not clumpy. If it is then go ahead and crumble it with your hands to break it up. You can also put it through a mesh strainer to break it up.
- Add the sugars and ground cinnamon to a medium-sized mixing bowl and mix gently before adding the coconut oil and essential oils. Mix well until fully combined.
- Spoon the mixture into a pint-sized glass jar and screw on the lid. Use when you need to exfoliate and moisturize the skin.
