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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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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