Spoil Your Body : Coconut Vanilla Body Scrub

When you regularly exfoliate your skin with a sugar scrub, it becomes healthier in appearance and function.  By sloughing off dead skin cells and encouraging skin-cell turnover, the body’s largest organ works efficiently to expel toxins and take in nourishment, becomes uniform in appearance, is softer to touch, and leads to radiantly healthy skin.  Sugar scrubs are gentler, better moisturizers and can be used by all skin types.

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Unrefined Coconut Oil: The saturated fats in coconut oil are medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides, when applied on the skin, they keep it smooth. Due to the presence of these fats, coconut oil also retains the moisture content of the skin, as the fats eliminate moisture loss through the pores on skin (1). Capric/caprylic/lauric acids have strong disinfectant and antimicrobial properties which when applied on the skin, protects from microbial infections that can get into open wounds or even enter the body through the pores (1). Rich in vitamin E, it is essential for healthy skin growth, repair of wear & tear on the skin, keeping skin smooth and protecting against cracking (1) Above all, it prevents premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, since it has good antioxidant properties. Coconut oil is also rich in many proteins that keep skin healthy and rejuvenated, both internally and externally (1).

• Raw Cane Sugar: Acts as a natural exfoliator, does not clog pores, helps eliminate blemishes and restores balance to skin’s oils (2). Sugar contains glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that is crucial for maintaining healthy skin.  The natural glycolic acid in sugar not only helps condition and moisturize the skin but protects it from toxins.

• Vanilla Extract: Has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to soothe and calm irritated skin, used to reduce skin infections and aid in wound healing (3). Vanilla Bean Extract contains Vanillin, a polyphenol with powerful anti-oxidant properties which help protect against free radical damage and the effects of environmental stresses on the skin (3). Vanilla also contains B vitamins, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid, all of which help to maintain healthy looking skin (3).

• Vanilla Bean Pod: In addition to all the above mentioned benefits derived from vanilla extract, the bean pod lends its natural fragrance to the scrub.

• Vanilla Essential Oil: The antioxidant property of vanilla essential oil neutralizes these free radicals and protects the body from wear and tear and infections (4). It also repairs the damage already done to the body and stimulates repair. This oil has a relaxing and calming effect on the brain and the nerves that provides relief from anxiety, anger, and restlessness (4).

The coconut vanilla body scrub that I purchased at the Lil Flea, comes in a 250 mL plastic container with a screw top lid. White in color, the scrub is of a semi-solid consistency (weather dependent due to the presence of coconut oil), is gritty in texture and  delightfully fragrant (you literally need to resist the urge to gobble it up!).
 
To use, I scoop the required amount with a spoon and apply it to wet skin and massage in circular motion over entire body and shower as usual. This has no soap base so will not foam and some might feel the need to use a soap based cleanser after.

The graininess of the sugar exfoliates skin, while the oil hydrates and nourishes. The scent, well, it couldn’t smell more like summertime! 

The star ingredient, coconut oil is subtly fragrant and slightly miraculous. As an exfoliant, including coconut oil as an agent with other exfoliating or grainy materials like salts and sugars can vastly improve the effects. Not only does it successfully scrape off excess dead skin but also cleans out whatever substances have blocked the pores without leaving the skin feeling irritated. The natural soothing nature of the oil combines with the grainy, exfoliating material perfectly, and leaves your skin with an even color, closed pores, and a soft/hydrated texture.

This one is a super moisturizer, and can practically double as dessert!!!