Sugar scrubs and salt scrubs are lovely exfoliating products that pamper our skin while helping us get rid of dead skin cells. The problem with regular sugar scrubs and regular salt scrubs, however, is that they leave everything so slippery when you’re done. That’s where emulsified scrubs come in!
Emulsified sugar scrubs are basically a lotion-like product that combines the best of two worlds: the exfoliating goodness of a scrub, and the non-oiliness of a lotion! Using an emulsifier in the scrub means that when you rinse off the scrub, the oils bind with the water instead of sticking to your shower, sink, or bathtub. No more slippery tubs, no more falling in the shower!
Because I know allergens are a cause for concern, I’ve formulated a number of different scrub recipes! Whether you’re allergic to nuts, shea, or avocados, I’ve done my best to ensure that no one ingredient is in ALL of my scrubs. This way, even if you’re allergic to an ingredient in one of the scrubs, you can still use the ones without that ingredient in it. As always, please use the tag system to filter out allergens you are concerned about.
A note about preservatives
Phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, and sorbic acid are all preservatives that are essential to keeping you safe and healthy. All three of these used together are a great barrier against bacteria, yeast, and mold, which have a way of messing up anyone’s day.
Vitamin E and rosemary oleoresin extract (ROE), while popular antioxidants that greatly extend the shelf life of oils, don’t do anything against the really nasty microorganisms that can really make you sick (and at the bare minimum, gross you out a lot! No, really.) These are antioxidants, but they are not preservatives. Vitamin E and ROE will not do anything against bacteria, yeast, or mold, and it’s amazing just how fast the little nasty buggers grow and reproduce! While I understand wanting to keep skincare natural, I also want to make sure that no matter how my products are used, no one gets ill or sick from using something I’ve made. The responsible thing to do is to preserve my products so that you get the maximum enjoyment out of them.
Coconut-sensitivity alert
Coconut-allergic folks, I know you are desperately wondering if you can use these scrubs! Sadly, the four new scrubs I’ve just made contain coconut-derived emulsifiers. However, I have some ingredients on order that I think will be just the ticket (definitely not derived from coconut or palm), and I am eager to get my hands on them so I can work on the new formulas. Stay tuned!
