Don’t you love when you can make something that is both practical and beneficial? This lemon and peppermint hand scrub is exactly that! It works to exfoliate your hands and leaves them feeling refreshed and incredibly soft. Want to know the best part? You can whip up a batch of this scrub in about five minutes!
If you like DIY homemade skin care products, then this is a recipe you are going to love. It is much simpler to make than a whipped body butter or skin salve, so it is a great entry point to DIY beauty products. Yes, it is easy to make, but what is the purpose or need for a hand scrub? You regularly wash your hands, which can dry them out, especially if you use very hot water. To avoid cracking or dryness, you want to exfoliate them to remove dead skin and hydrate them at the same time. We’ll explain how the hand scrub does that by highlighting some of the standout ingredients and what they do for your skin.
Jojoba Oil
The molecular structure of jojoba oil is nearly identical to the composition of sebum, an oil that the skin naturally produces. It contains anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamins, and antioxidants that help to nourish the skin and fight free radicals. Unlike other oils, jojoba oil is actually a wax ester, so the skin absorbs it easily without conflict. Research shows that jojoba oil can be effective in easing or treating common skin conditions like acne, rash, dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis.
Sweet Almond Oil
Believe it or not, sweet almond oil offers mild protection for ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage. It contributes to softer, smoother looking skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines, due to the vitamin E content. Additionally, sweet almond oil contains fatty acids that help the skin retain moisture, helping soothe chapped, dry, or irritated skin.
Fine Sea Salt
This is the exfoliating ingredient in the hand scrub. Sea salt works to cleanse, heal, and nourish the skin, but make sure that it is finely ground. Coarsely ground salts or Kosher salts can be harsh on delicate skin. If you know that your skin is sensitive, consider swapping this ingredient for brown sugar, which is a wonderfully gentle exfoliant.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains a number of antioxidant compounds, a couple of which have demonstrated an ab slitty to kill certain bacteria. Terpinen-4-ol is one of the compounds in tea tree oil that increases white blood cell activity. That activation helps the immune system fight off foreign invaders. The germ-fighting properties makes tea tree oil a valuable natural remedy for people with fungal skin conditions because it works to kill the infection and promote healing.
Lemon Essential Oil
Not only does lemon essential oil smell marvelous and zesty, but it also exhibits powerful antibacterial properties. Studies show that lemon essential oil has properties that may help clear up the skin by killing harmful viruses and bacteria. Plus, it reduces inflammation and the smell of it may help you fight exhaustion.
Lemon And Peppermint Antibacterial Hand Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fine sea salt
- 3 tablespoons sweet almond oil
- 3 tablespoons pure coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
- 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
- 5-10 drops lemon essential oil
- Lemon zest (optional)
Instructions:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and then spoon the mixture into a jar or desired storage container with a lid.
- When it comes time to use the hand scrub, scoop a small amount into the palm of your hand and gently rub it all over for 20 seconds.
- Wash your hands with lukewarm water to rinse away. Use once or twice daily and avoid introducing water into the scrub container.
- Store the scrub in a cool, dry place for up to a couple months. If the scrub starts to smell rancid, then it is time to throw it out and make a new batch.
