Raspberry Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

Raspberries and sugar crystals make a sweet combination for sloughing away dead skin cells and getting your skin to really glow. This is one of my go-to sugar body scrub recipes. It is pretty easy to make and the berries give this diy natural skin care recipe an extra special nourishing boost. I am a big fan of summer berry picking, so I always have plenty of berries in the freezer. They are great in skin care recipes, and they are a super skin healthy food that you should enjoy in abundance all year long!

The sugar crystals (use organic!) exfoliate, a little getting rid of the old and in with the new action. Raspberries are great for your skin. They are not only antioxidant-rich, but they are also a great source of skin healing vitamin E. I like to use apricot kernel oil to give this scrub some excellent softening, skin protecting action, but you can also use olive oil or any other nourishing skin care oil. The milk is another source of nourishment for your skin, and it helps to soften the scrub. And finally, for that gorgeous scent, a couple drops of essential oil. 

To make this raspberry sugar body scrub, you will need:

• 1 cup organic sugar crystals
• 4-5 tablespoons apricot kernel oil
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 6-10 raspberries
• 3 drops vanilla essential oil
• 2 drops bergamot essential oil

Mix the sugar, milk, and oils. Mash your raspberries and stir into your homemade sugar scrub. Inhale the beautiful scent and get ready to give your skin a delicious, nourishing treatment! Let me know what you think. 

Sandalwood and Apricot Face Mask for Younger Looking Skin

One of the best face mask ingredients for younger looking skin is sandalwood essential oil. I use it in this skin care recipe with apricot kernel oil to help those beneficial constituents penetrate my skin. Apricot kernel is a good skin penentrator, and it is of course a great source of moisturizing fatty acids and vitamin E. I also use coconut milk powder (if you haven't noticed yet, I love coconut for my skin, coconut oil, powder, milk, you name it), for the extra nutrients that mature skin needs; proteins and vitamins to help with cell regeneration.

To make this homemade mask you will need:

• 1 tablespoon apricot kernel oil
• 3 drops of sandalwood essential oil
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut milk powder  

Sandalwood essential oil is expensive! Fortunately you only need a tiny amount, so purchase the smallest bottle size that you can find. Mountain Rose Herbs — full disclosure I am an affiliate! (and a customer) — does have a reasonably priced option, 1/4 oz for $32, totally organic. Other retailers, and larger sizes range from over $50 to well over $100. Essential oils do degrade, so go small.

Sandalwood is a dream for face masks for younger looking skin — moisturizing, toning, and excellent for relieving fluid retention (puffiness!). Add 2 to 3 drops to a tablespoon of apricot kernel oil. Stir in just enough coconut milk powder to make a moist paste. Spread over your skin after cleansing with warm water and your favorite facial cleanser. Rinse off after about 20 minutes.

This is a wonderful hydrating treatment to use to help balance the effects of the elements, and to simply help soften, tone, and to fight wrinkles. It is my Sunday night mask during the windy, cooler months. Easy to make, easy to use, and effective — love it!