Use This DIY Scrub To Have Naturally Glowing Skin
It is no secret that the winter season is not skin's best friend. The dry cold air literally sucks the life out of our skin leaving it extremely dry and sometimes even scaly! In order to keep your skin silky smooth, it's time for operation “keep skin on fleek" to be in full effect.
My skin has been screaming for help but I was not feeling the $20 price tag for a product that I could literally make in my kitchen. Plus, I'm always up for a good DIY project and of course saving a few bucks, so this practical DIY Coconut Sea Salt Scrub seemed like the perfect project to wrap myself in after a long day. For under 10 bucks and 10 minutes, I made a scrub that has my skin feeling absolutely wonderful!
What You'll Need
A Jar/ Container (for your scrub)
Sea Salt (preferably fine)
Coconut Oil (+ any other oils of your choice)
Fresh Lemon Juice (optional)
A Mixing Bowl & Spoon
Step 1: Measure
Add two-parts fine sea salt to one-part oil (you can use courser grains of salt if you plan on using the scrub primarily for feet and elbows). No matter how much of the scrub you plan on making, just make sure the ratio remains 2-to-1. The sea salt helps to lightly buff the skin, while the oil helps to add some moisture and serves as a base.
In my mix, I used both coconut oil (2/3) and grapeseed oil (1/3). I also squeezed ½ of a small lemon into my mixing bowl. Fresh lemon juice, when diluted, has great benefits for the skin such as brightening/evening skin tone and extra exfoliation. To be on the safe side, use the scrub at night time only if you decide to add lemon; exposure to the sun with lemon juice on the skin may cause burning.
Related Article: EYE CREAM, MAKEUP REMOVER + 19 OTHER AMAZING USES FOR COCONUT OIL
Step 2: Mix & Store
In your mixing bowl go ahead and mix all of the ingredients with a spoon; there's no special method. When it looks like a heterogeneous mixture, you're done mixing. Put the scrub in a jar that will keep air out. I found mine in the Dollar Spot section of Target (my favorite part of the store FYI).
Step 3: Massage & Be amazed!
Now it's time for the moment of truth! Hop in the shower and wash as you would normally. After your last rinse, massage your scrub all over your body to get rid of some of the top layer of dry skin that winter has brought on. Be careful! The oil will make the shower slippery so please, proceed with caution or have a bath mat down.Now wasn't that easy?
My Results
This DIY scrub left my skin feeling so good that I didn't even have to moisturize after getting in the shower because of the coconut oil penetrating my skin and, of course, the sea salt scraping away the layers of dead dry skin. Even on the days that I don't use the scrub, my skin feels much more comfortable than it did before incorporating the scrub into my body-care routine. I used fine sea salt, so I was able to use the scrub two to three times a week instead of just one. Take the time out to listen to your skin to determine what works best for you. Do this treatment at least once a week and your skin will be thanking you by the time Spring makes an appearance.
Are you currently using a DIY Scrub? Share with us below!
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why You Should Implement The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack Into Your Daily Routine
A new cleaning hack could allow you to do away with Saturday cleaning altogether because your house is already tidy. Closing shift cleaning is a viral trend originally named by influencer Clara Pierce, who shared with her followers how she keeps her apartment clean and how that leads to productivity and a better overall experience in her apartment daily.
"Whenever I'm really trying to set myself up for success for the next day, I close up my apartment like I'm closing a shift at work. Sometimes, the closing shift involves cleaning my entire apartment, and other times, it involves cleaning it 10% to make sure that it's better for the next day," Pierce shared with her followers.
The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack
@clararpeirce goodnight 😴🫶🏼 #closingshift #closingshiftcleaning #nightroutine
The closing shift video has garnered over 3.8 million views, and the hashtag #closingshiftcleaning now has over 71.3 million views, proving that TikTok users are benefiting from this cleaning trend. Now that we've entered the spring equinox, I applied this trend to my own home and discovered that spending an hour tidying my home daily versus having days where I clean for hours was far more productive.
The day-to-day ways that your home can become messy with dirty dishes, clothes, boxes from packages, etc., can easily create an environment that isn't conducive to rest. My home is my sanctuary, and with a busy schedule, making time on the weekends for one big clean wasn't giving me the experience that I needed in my home.
But taking the time every night before I went to bed to clean allowed me to wake up in an environment that not only looks good but feels good for my space and my mind. It also helped me to develop a routine to clean my dog's food and drink bowls nightly so that he was also benefiting from the closing shift routine, as the FDA recommends washing pet food bowls and utensils "after each use" and cleaning water bowls daily.
Decluttering experts such as Rebekah of Organize for Love have shared similar organization skills across social media platforms and through their offerings for those looking to organize their homes and lives. In this Instagram post, she discusses the importance of scheduled decluttering as well as having a routine to clean.
Have you tried the closing shift cleaning hack for your daily routine, or are you team "get somebody else to do it" with a weekly housekeeper? Please sound off in the comments, and let's get to cleaning.
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