I like my salad tossed but...

That doesn't mean I want to smell like one!

I've been reading in a lot of magazines lately about DIY body scrubs and I think it is a great idea. Body scrubs are very easy to make and there isn't too much a store-bought scrub can do that a homemade scrub can't. One thing I thought was puzzling was that most of the articles recommended using olive oil in a homemade scrub.

While olive oil is a great moisturizing oil, I don't think there are too many of us that want to smell like a salad or pasta when we are done moisturizing (unless your boyfriend is into that sort of thing ;)).

For a sweeter, more feminine, less "Olive Garden" smell to your scrub, try adding jojoba oil or sweet almond oil to natural cane or brown sugar. Remember, you want enough oil to give it a nice, slushy consistency, but not so much that they sugar is swimming in it. Use the same guidelines except with salt to create a muscle relaxing scrub (just watch those cuts and scratches!), or with coffee grinds to make an invigorating scrub that is said to help reduce cellulite and prevent varicose veins (I will definitely have to investigate this).

If you have any experience with at-home scrubs please share! And if you've tried coffee grinds let us know if the caffeine is really as much a miracle ingredient as it is made out to be! Have a great Thursday, just remember the weekend is right around the corner.

love, iCandy

My two favorite moisturizing ingredients

Jojoba Oil- I first bought this at Trader Joe's aftere I read that jojoba oil can help with dandruff and is good at taming frizz and moisturizing the scalp. Although it is more greasy in my hair than I'd like, a quick shampoo takes care of that, and all of its other uses quickly make up for it.

I use it on my elbows, on my feet, on the ends of my hair, on my knees, and once a week, on my entire body. What makes it so great is the chemical structure is easy for your skin to absorb and instead of sitting on top of it, it melts into your skin and makes it super smooth and supple.

Jojoba oil is included in a lot of products, everything from lotion to hair conditioner. If a product has jojoba oil, it is sometimes an indicator of a higher quality product, as is shea butter and avocado, so if you are spending a few extra bucks on something, make sure it's worth it.

Find Desert Essence Jojoba Oil at your local Trader Joe's or online HERE.

I'm sure there are hundreds of other things it can do (make your own body scrub, anyone?) and as soon as I figure them out I will definitely keep you posted.

Coconut Butter- A few years ago at Trader

Joe's (it always comes back to you Trader Joe) they carried a coconut butter lotion. It was the most natural, luxurious, most amazingly scented lotion I have ever used.

Although the lotion was discontinued and I still haven't found a suitable replacement, I now know how great coconut butter is as a moisturizing ingredient. So, if you're ever in need of a moisturizer, now you have two amazing, natural ingredients to choose from, so put that chemical filled drugstore brand lotion down and get back to the basics!

100% Pure makes a coconut body cream that is vegetarian, isn't tested on animals, and has coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut extract. If that doesn't satisfy my coconut craving, I don't know what will.

Have any dry skin secrets? Let me know!

love,

iCandy