I was so not a ‘bath person.’ Then I had a baby, and now I am 100% a bath person. My love affair with baths started when I began to give Henry ‘big boy’ baths. It looked so fun and relaxing that after I tucked him into bed, I would go take my own bath. And that’s when I discovered that baths rule! It’s peaceful and quiet, and I get to read a book. Sometimes I even eat dinner in the bathtub. That explains the quinoa stuck around the edges.
You think I’m joking, but I’m not.
Anyway, part of my bath routine is giving myself a nice sugar face scrub. Remember when I gave up all forms of primping for 60 days last year? As a result, I don’t own a lot of beauty products anymore. Lots of stuff got tossed in the aftermath of The Naked Face Project, and I never replaced my near-empty tubes of moisture and creams. But this winter has been rough on my skin, especially my face. So dry and scratchy! This two-ingredient face scrub has been a lifesaver because I always have the supplies on hand.
It’s super simple:
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted for 20 seconds in microwave
3 tablespoons white sugar
Combine, rub on your damp face, and make little circle motions while you read a good book in the bath tub. I’m really in love Divergent right now!
Actually, my two ingredient face scrub has four ingredients because I like to add in a drop of vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon. Not sure these ingredients ‘do anything,’ but they sure smell nice. And yeah… I eat the scrub off my fingers when I’m done rubbing it into my face…
I let it sit on my face for about 10 minutes and then rinse it off. I don’t use a soap. The nice thing about this scrub is that the sugar acts as an exfoliator while the coconut oil acts as a moisturizer. Your skin will feel SO soft when you’re done. I only do this at night because then I can go to bed with a coconutty face.
I make it in small batches (and keep any leftovers in the fridge) because coconut oil is expensive. I’ve seen other recipes online that use olive oil; if you were seeking a total body scrub, I’d go with olive oil just because of cost.
As I tell Henry all the time… I may not have toys in my bathtub, but I do have sugar face scrubs, books, and glass of wine. It’s hard to get me out of the bathtub these days.
Booyah.
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{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }
Vanilla actually calms the skin and can help with any redness…so it is doing something!
My husband takes a bath every day instead of a shower!
I am not much of a bath person. This week end my body gave into a cold, so I took a bath with essential oils. My youngest daughter came in and asked what I was doing. I told her “trying to take a relaxing bath.” She said, “Where’s the candles? You need candles for a relaxing bath.” No sweetie, I need to be left alone for a bit to take a relaxing bath.
Bawhahahhahahahahha!!!
If you or somebody you know has a costco membership – ask them to pick up the HUGE tub of coconut oil! Its a BARGAIN!
the tiny jar from TJ’s is about $6.
Costco’s is $16.99 for 54oz of the glorious stuff.
I use it for scrambling eggs and cooking. But you can be sure that once my current face scrub runs out, I’m making my own with lime, coconut oil and sugar!! #winning
I was just going to say the same thing! I buy those tubs at Costco too – but here it’s $15.99 (yay!) I use it for EV – ER – Y – THING! My husband jokes that it’s a magic elixir
I know… I seriously can’t imagine buying things like quinoa, coconut oil, almond butter, various organic canned goods etc. etc. at a place like TJ’s. The prices just seem astronomical in comparison to Costco! My grocery budget would be ridiculous if I shopped there.
This makes me really want my Costco membership back!
The sugar scrub is great, but you may want to reconsider your stance on moisturizers, especially in winter when your skin can chap. One with SPF could really be beneficial for your skin! Maybe WF or EF has a good natural line?
I’m thinking you’re right! Thanks to winter + breastfeeding hormones, my skin is dyin.
I definitely agree–I think a daily moisturizer is a must for healthy skin during all seasons, even if you don’t want to wear makeup. I wouldn’t consider a daily face lotion a “beauty product”—I consider it as essential as a daily shower! One containing SPF is definitely a must.
I just had to chime in to agree with this – especially on the SPF. I can’t imagine not using a moisturizer as a dry skinned person – it’s not vanity, taking good care of your skin is important to your overall health. And it’s def. important to use SPF year round – treat yourself to a new bottle, you deserve to have nice, SPF’ed, non chapped skin.
Like you, I try to stay away from all the synthetic stuff – I seem to react to pretty much everything! It doesn’t have SPF, but I use straight-up jojoba oil on my face. It’s pretty inexpensive from TJs, and a little goes a looong way. I love that it’s totally unscented and only has one (natural) ingredient. Woo!
Coconut oil naturally has SPF 7 with no additives
I ahven’t taken a bath in ages! But one of my friends got me some natural bubble bath product for my birthday so I should take the time!
Wine and a book sounds ideal right now! What is this book about?
Also, cinnamon is really good for your blood flow so it is doing something
Love that the scrub is also edible
haha I love that you eat the scrub off of your fingers- that sounds like a great perk of making your own scrub.
I love baths, especially during winter. It’s just so nice to have a hot bath, as it’s pretty much the only time you can do absolutely nothing for an extended period of time.
I will definitely be making that scrub- and a bath is never complete without a glass of wine
I’m in love with coconut oil!
I have a big jar of coconut oil sitting in my pantry and I’ve been seriously needing some new uses for it. Definitely going to try the scrub!
Popping in to say that Divergent is awesome. And after you finish that series, you should read Paranormalcy….That is all.
I need to make this!
Love Divergent! The second one is even better. I can’t believe we have to wait until fall for #3!
I order Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil on Amazon. It’s much cheaper than buying little jars in the store, shipping is free, and I get the “subscribe and save” option so it just shows up on my door every couple months!
My goodness, if I had those 3 things I would NEVER get out of the bath tub!
I love that book series! It’s really good.
thanks for the face scrub recipe!
i also use coconut oil and sometimes i get bummed about the price, but then i remember than my old face cream cost like $20+. and i’m pregnant, and i use it on my belly…and my belly lotion was like $13 for a smallish tub.
so though coconut oil is expensive, it’s way cheaper than all that!
Thanks for reaffirming that I do NEED a bathtub in my master bathroom(for the house we are building). Hubs is trying to replace for a sauna, haha don’t think so!
I love a good bath but I find it so easy to just in there that the water often gets cold or the bubbles so away. I still need to come up with a fix for that!
I keep a jar of coconut oil in the bathroom for deep conditioning my hair. I try to do that at least once a month. Just smoosh enough into your hair to decently coat it, clip your hair up, and do other stuff around the house for two hours. Then shampoo it out. Voila! Keep in mind that coconut oil melts once it reaches 75 degrees..I learned the hard way not to leave the house in the summer with it on my hair because it starts dripping down my neck.
As for face cleaning, I swear by the oil cleansing method — 25% castor oil, 75% jojoba oil (you can do 50% castor if you have oilier skin since it’s quite drying). Massage your face, then soak a washcloth in hot water and rest it on your face to soften the oil. Wipe the oil away, then repeat the washcloth step until your face is clear of oil, but still feeling moisturized. It seems counter-intuitive to put oil on your face, but my skin has never looked so clear!
Divergent is a wonderful book!
We just got some coconut oil so I am definitely trying this out tonight. I wish I could take a bath- right now we have some serious mould issues and the tub is seriously ewwww despite my bleaching attempts. (We have to have the bathroom redone completely
)
Hi Caitlin,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years and was recently trying to find the post on the books that you read while pregnant. I can’t find it. Can you point me in the right direction or tell me which ones you read? Thank you!!
Since you love dystopian society books, you will LOVE that Divergent trilogy!! I read the first two books in about 10 days! Amazeballs!!
Actually, I wrote a review on them. I’m by no means a big-wig blogger, but I like to write when I can: http://circletwentytwo.com/?p=3786
PS- I know I need more pictures up there, I just don’t always have anything beyond my iPhone on me to snap photos
Love this recipe, but I have to ask —- does your cat go crazy for your face afterwards? When I put coconut oil on my face, my cat practically likes my face off. Gross, I know… but also kind of cute.
hahah groooossss!
I’m a shower person but every once in a while I love to take a quiet bubble bath and read running magazines in the tub. It feels like such a luxury.
this sounds interesting
I like to try new products!
I really need to read Divergent! I’m a student teacher in an English class and my students cannot get enough of this series. I think it’s going to be the next Hunger Games – apparently dystopian novels are the new “thing.”
I never take baths, especially not in my college apartment where too many other people have used my tub. It sounds sooo nice though – maybe I’ll have to take one next time I go home, and try that face scrub!
love this! i had leo in september and my skin is going through that post-pregnancy dry spell so i’ll give this a go! thanks
Great idea. I bet quinoa would be an excellent grain to add to your scrub, in fact – good for exfoliation! And I agree – when I see my daughter relax into her tub, I think “hmmm…”
I used to be a shower person too, then I started taking baths late at night.. I always sleep like a baby afterwards! So relaxing. I need to try out your scrub, sounds simple enough for me not to screw up and I prefer homemade scrubs over ones were the ingredients list seems never-ending with at least 7 chemicals thrown in along the way.
Mmm that face scrub looks great! I might have to whip that up, my face could use it in this dry winter.
I love baths but rarely take them. I may need to try this scrub though. Lately my face has been a mess :/
I’ll definitely have to try this! (Though I wont have a coconut face, since I don’t have coconut oil–I’m an olive oil gal.)
Great idea. I melted coconut oil and maple syrup together the other day to make granola and it tastes amaze balls!
I just started Divergent last night. Likin’ it already…
There’s just *something* about a bath. I love sipping tea and reading a magazine and using an extra special, scented lotion afterwards. It feels absolutely luxurious.
Baths rule!!! My dog is obsessed with the bubbles and stares at me while I’m in the tub until I give her some bubbles to eat
Divergent is awesome! Insurgent is just as good….I cannot wait for the third one.
I love the whole future with a strong female thing. 
Excuse me while I put down the iPad and go do this, starting…now.
The thought of you eating a face scrub off your fingers made me laugh. The. I thought about it and realized I probably would too.
Have you ever been to Lush? They make bath bombs…. Sounds like something you’d like!
I love this! My mom gave me a homemade hand scrub that I have been loving (it uses baby oil and leaves my old lady looking hands so soft) but I have never made my own. This would make a great gift!
I bought my sister body scrub stuff as part of her Christmas gift and I’ve used it a little bit of it. I might have to try making my own, although I’m not a fan of coconut stuff… Not to mention I don’t take baths much, but that might have to change…
Dystopian novels are my favourite! Going to have to try and find this one – read the reviews on Amazon and it sounds great
xo Emily
ooh! i am so tempted to go try that scrub now but am about to fall asleep.
definitely tomorrow!
This sounds amazing! I would love to do this right now!
I tend to take baths once in a blue moon – but always feel great after one. Need to start scheduling it into my week.
I made my own body scrub – using olive oil, brown sugar, a little vanilla and some lavender oils. I swear, the second I open the jar I relax. I bought a cheap little kilner clip lid jar from IKEA and store it in that. Stir it up before using and it is great. Plus it is about €15 cheaper than the one I used to buy. Before I had a mortgage. I miss those days…..
Will definitely be trying the coconut oil for a face scrub. thanks for the idea.
Sounds AWESOME. Totally doing this tonight!!
Thanks for sharing! It’s such a simple recipe and a huge money saver I’m sure!
I’m a bath girl in the winter and a shower girl in the shower! There is nothing better in the freezing cold months than a relaxing bath!
I keep coconut oil in the shower too for when my hair is SUPER dry in the winter months. I’ll have to try this
I’m LOVING Divergent right now too! I’m about halfway through and totally sucked in… Are they making a movie out of this series?
That would smell amazing!
I love coconut oil! I’ll have to try out that scrub…sounds awesome! I also just downloaded Divergent on iTunes and I cannot WAIT to get into it! I’ve heard raving reviews!
I love these! They’re all very attainable…you go girl!
It’s nice to hear you’re into baths and natural face scrubs. You deserve it!
You may want to re-think the vanilla extract though – most extracts are alcohol-based and alcohol can dry out your skin. You’d be better off adding some vanilla bean powder or paste, or maybe even vanilla essential oil for the fragrance?
Adding some lemon juice would help as it is acidic and great for clearing blemishes when used consistently over a period of time.
Did you know that even milk cream is great for the skin as it is rich in Vit E? I use it all day long on my skin (not as a scrub, I just rub some cream into my skin) and I wash it off gently with a little chickpea-flour mixed with water and it leaves my skin feeling fresh and soft.
I’ve had oily skin since I was a teen and even now that I’m 30, I still have oily skin, though not nearly as bad. I tried this scrub Monday night and LOVED the way my skin felt afterwards. I even used what was leftover on my body (it was awesome for shaving my legs!). I liked it so much, I decided to use a little coconut oil on my face as a moisturizer the next morning.
Let me tell you, this has been a revelation of a lifetime! Normally during the day, I have to use those oil absorbing sheets cause my face gets oily, but after moisturizing with coconut oil I didn’t need to use them. I tried the OCM method before with olive oil and castor oil but it made me break out and my skin didn’t feel nearly as soft!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Yay!
I LOVE this recipe! Thank you so much for posting, but how much does this make????
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