Chamomile Facial Sugar Scrub

Ever since I saw the young lady on "Shark Tank" (love that show!) tout her facial sugar scrubs, I have been wanting to give them a try.

She claimed that a sugar scrub is actually very good for sensitive skin.  I thought that was really interesting seeing as I have very sensitive skin and rosacea, and I have been told to stay away from scrubs as they will only irritate my skin further.

But I LOVE sugar scrubs for my hands and my body; they make my skin feel like buddah (not to be confused with Buddha - although my belly is very rub-able after a good sugar scrubdown) and I want my face to feel like buddah too.  Dumb ol' sensitive skin...

So I read up on various ingredients, took the plunge, and made one...and now my cheeks feel super soft and I'm a happy girl.

White sugar is not only a great {frugal} exfoliant, it also contains alpha hydroxy acid (like the stuff you pay a lot of money for in over the counter facial products.)

When choosing which oil to use for your face, you may want to look at the comedogenic ratings index to see which will be most beneficial to you.  Some may have a lower comedogenic rating than others but also may be too drying (like castor oil) whereas some may have a higher rating but have beneficial properties that outweigh the rating (like coconut oil.)

I chose the ingredients that I did for specific reasons:

• Chamomile Tea - anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-redness, and has antioxidants
• Coconut Oil - antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, moisturizing, and is a natural sunscreen 
• Lavender Essential Oil - antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and smells divine
• Lemon Juice - antibacterial, anti-fungal, helps fade dark spots and get rid of blackheads

Chamomile Facial Sugar Scrub

1 3/4c. Granulated Sugar
Juice from 1/2 a Lemon
1/4c. Oil of your choice (I used coconut but next time I am thinking of using hemp)
1/4c. Strong Chamomile Tea
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Brew chamomile tea leaving tea bag in the tea until it cools.
Once the tea is cool, put all of the ingredients in a jar and stir well.
The consistency should be somewhat like paste.
To use, put a spoonful of the mixture in your hands and using a circular motion, gently massage the sugar scrub over your face, lips, and neck.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Leftover scrub can be kept in a cool dark place.

This is part of Full Plate Thursday and SITS.