Before you get started: What You’ll Need

• 1 teaspoon cane sugar or brown sugar – Sugar is the perfect natural scrub texture for lips, dry hands, or body scrub. Brown sugar is super soft, perfect for sensitive skin, and easier to apply as a scrub. Cane sugar is coarser (than brown sugar) and is fantastic for exfoliation. 
• 1/4 teaspoon honey – Honey is a natural nourishing agent that hydrates the skin and exfoliates. Honey contains antioxidants and natural healing properties and may help repair chapped lips and stressed-out skin (source). I also use honey to make a soothing lip balm. 
• 1/4 teaspoon carrier oil – Oil is used as a moisturizing and main ingredient to make the product scrubbable. Use organic coconut oil (in the cooking section), jojoba, sweet almond, or olive oil. 

Optional Extras for Flavoring

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 2 drops pure vanilla extract
• 1 drop peppermint or lavender essential oil

How to make a DIY Lip Scrub Recipe

• Step 1 Combine Ingredients – Stir the sugar, honey, oil, and desired flavorings in a small bowl. At first, it’ll seem like there’s not enough moisture to get everything to combine, but keep mashing—you’ll end up with a thick paste. If you’re using coconut oil, melt it first in the microwave so it’s liquid. 
• Step 2 Apply on Lips or Store – The scrub is ready to use as soon it’s made. Use it immediately (my recipe makes enough for 1 application). Or triple the recipe and spoon into an airtight container. Store at room temperature and use once a week. 

How to Use This Natural Lip Scrub for Soft Lips 

Now that you have a homemade lip scrub, it’s time to use it. Here’s how to use this lip exfoliator to create the healthiest, softest lips.

• Step 1 Spoon on Fingers – Take a small amount of the scrub onto your finger. While leaning over a sink (to catch the fall out), massage the sugary mixture into your lips, buffing off any dry skin.
• Step 2 Rinse – Once your lips feel sufficiently scrubbed, rinse away the scrub remnants with some warm water. 
• Step 3 Moisturize – Follow up with some lip balm (like this shea butter lip balm, easy-to-customize lip balm, honey lip balm, or lanolin lip balm) and enjoy your freshly polished lips!

What to Avoid Doing

• Don’t Over Exfoliate – While this recipe is popular during the cooler months, you may also use it in the warmer months. Just be careful not to overuse it. 1-2 times a week is a great way to keep lips healthy and smooth.
• Don’t Use Coarse Sugar – Choose a soft sugar, like granulated sugar, brown sugar, or cane sugar. Do NOT use coarse sugar granules like Sugar in the Raw or coconut sugar.
• Don’t Use on Broken Skin – If your lips are severely chapped with broken skin, don’t use this easy recipe. This will only cause pain and can cause more damage to your dry lips. Allow your lips to heal before using sugar scrubs or any exfoliator. 

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Exfoliating DIY Homemade Lip Scrub

This delightful lip scrub combines two simple ingredients to make an exfoliating scrub for soft, hydrated lips.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword diy exfoliating lip scrub, exfoliating lip scrub homemade, lip scrub recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 1 tablespoon (double or triple recipe if desired)

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $1

Equipment

• 1 small bowl for mixing the scrub
• 1 small airtight container only if storing for later

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon organic cane sugar or brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil or olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon honey

Extra Flavor Ideas

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 2 drops pure vanilla extract
• 1 drop essential oil such as: peppermint or lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Combine Ingredients – Stir the sugar, honey, oil, and any flavorings desired in a small bowl. At first it'll seem like there's not enough moisture to get everything to combine, but keep mashing—you'll end up with a thick paste. If you're using coconut oil, melt it first in the microwave so it's liquid. 
• Apply on Lips or Store – The scrub is ready to use as soon it's made. Use it immeadiately (my recipe makes enough for 1 application). Or triple the recipe and spoon into an airtight container. Store at room temperature and use once a week. The recipe will keep for up to 3 months.

How to Use:

• Take a small amount of the scrub onto your finger. While leaning over a sink (to catch the fall out), massage the sugary mixture into your lips, buffing off any dry skin. Once your lips feel sufficiently scrubbed, rinse away the scrub remnants with some warm water. 
• Follow up with some lip balm (like this shea butter lip balm, easy-to-customize lip balm, honey lip balm, or lanolin lip balm) and enjoy your freshly polished lips.

Notes

Sugar Note: Choose a soft sugar, like granulated sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar. Do NOT use a coarse sugar granules like Sugar in the Raw or coconut sugar.

This recipe makes enough for a one-time use. You may also double or triple the recipe and store in a container for up to 3 months if desired. 

More Recipes for Moisturized Skin & Lips

• Shea Butter Lip Balm
• Easy to Customize Lip Balm
• Lanolin Lip Balm
• Honey Lip Balm
• Best Natural Face Moisturizers

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DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients) appeared first on Live Simply.

There are some great masks and exfoliators on the market, ranging from just a few dollars to over a hundred dollars for a 4 ounce tube or bottle. I shared a few of my favorite store-bought options in my body care book.

If you like to save money, and enjoy the art of making something, then making your own masks and/or exfoliators is the way to go. 

Today, let’s talk about making a homemade exfoliator. I’ve rounded up my favorite homemade exfoliators, all of which cost just a few cents to make and can be made in under 5 minutes. 

I like to exfoliate my face once a week, in the morning. Occasionally, I’ll use an exfoliator twice a week when my skin is feeling meh. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, which, when left on the skin, can block pores and cause skin to look dry and dull. I also like to mask once or twice a week. Both of these practices make a big difference in the overall condition of my skin. 

1. All-Over Sugar Scrub

Pantry Ingredients: Sugar and Oil  

This scrub may be used on the entire body, including the face and lips. For this reason, I like to use this scrub in the shower. The sugar sloughs off dead skin cells and gets the blood flowing to the skin. Sugar also naturally hydrates the skin. It’s important to use a very fine sugar when making this exfoliator. This scrub may be too abrasive for acne-prone or sensitive facial skin (see the next two options for a better fit). 

2. Gentle Oat Exfoliator  

Pantry Ingredients: Oats, Almonds, Salt, and Liquid (oil, water, etc.)

This exfoliator was inspired by S.W. Basics. The ground oats, ground almonds, and mineral-rich salt gently remove dead skin cells. The final product is incredibly gentle on the skin, making it an ideal facial exfoliator even for more sensitive skin.

3. Gentle Baking Soda Exfoliator

Pantry Ingredients: Baking Soda and Liquid (water, hydrosol, or milk)

Baking soda may be used as a gentle exfoliant on the face. Just like with the oat exfoliator, the powder must be mixed with a liquid to create a paste before applying it to the face. For a liquid, I prefer milk (cow’s milk or coconut milk) or water (or rose hydrosol).

The post 3 Made-From-the-Pantry Products that Naturally Exfoliate the Face appeared first on Live Simply.

I’m going to share each of the items we’ll be including in the spa kit baskets. I hope these ideas inspire you to create your own spa experience/kit for yourself or a special someone in your life. If you’re gifting this spa kit (all or just a couple of the products), I recommend printing the recipes and instructions for the recipient.

Pamper the Feet: Foot Soak

This recipe combines salt, baking soda, dried rose petals, dried chamomile, and dried lavender to create a soothing, relaxing, and skin-softening foot soak. This also makes a great hand soak–just add a bit of the salt mixture to a bowl of warm water, and soak your hands. The foot soak will keep for a couple of months.

Pamper the Body: Body Butter

Body butter can be used as an alternative to lotion, since its primary job is to moisturize the skin. Body butter can be used to moisturize the feet after the foot soak, as a moisturizing massage cream, or as a daily body moisturizer. Body butter will keep for about six months (or longer).

Pamper the Face: Facial Exfoliator

Now it’s time to care for the face. This simple facial exfoliator is made with pantry ingredients–sugar and oil, that’s it! Massage the exfoliator on the face for a few seconds, and then rinse with warm water. Follow-up with a moisturizer. This exfoliator will keep for a couple of months.

Pamper the Face: Face Mask Powder

It’s best to make a homemade face mask when you’re ready to use it. With this in mind, to make a spa kit product, we’re going to include a container of bentonite clay and the printed recipe. Since the recipients probably won’t have aloe on hand, we’ll include a note that water may be used in place of the aloe.

If you’re using the kit to pamper yourself, then you don’t need to pre-portion the clay in advance. Simply mix the clay, honey, and water or aloe. Apply the mask to your face, let it rest for a few minutes, and then rinse the face with warm water.

You can use the face mask on the same day as the exfoliant, or space them out.

The post How to Make Your Own Natural Spa Kit appeared first on Live Simply.

Even though it’s technically sandal weather year-round in Florida, I try my best to feel part of the “seasons” by wearing more closed shoes during the fall and winter months. I’ve also been known to live in jeans during the cooler seasons, too. Then again, I live in jeans year-round #momuniform.

As spring and summer approach, I pretend there’s a slight weather shift, too, and pull out my spring and summer capsule wardrobe–which includes multiple pairs of sandals, dresses, and shorts. This also means it’s time to shave those grizzly bear legs, soften those hardened heels, and pretty-up those overgrown toenails. TMI? Sorry…

The good news is that we’re going to take care of at least one of those issues today, because I know I’m not alone. I just happen to admit these things on the world wide web.

In the early days of spring, I’m really good about making a pedicure appointment and caring for my feet. But then life takes over–the kids are home from school, we travel, and I try to squeeze in recipe and photography projects in the little spare time that’s left. That well-intentioned pedicure appointment schedule just doesn’t happen anymore. Plus, I have a hard time spending $35 every two or so weeks on my toes and heels. I’d much rather spend that money on going out to eat and having someone else do the dishes. An empty and clean sink is the way to my heart and wallet ;).

The good news is that I’ve found a homemade solution. A solution that allows me to save money and care for and soften my feet, without ever leaving my home. Say hello to my homemade foot soak.

This foot soak is incredibly easy to make. And despite the fancy-sounding floral ingredients, it’s also very affordable.

The base of the foot soak is made with two kitchen ingredients: mineral-rich salt (the same salt I use for cooking and baking) and baking soda. The salt, along with the warm water and baking soda, helps to soften the skin and provide beneficial minerals for the skin and body. The baking soda, although a small amount, may also help to deodorize the feet.

Crushed flowers are also added to the soak to create the ultimate spa-like experience. Lavender, rose, and chamomile all provide a soothing and relaxing experience (and soothe the skin). Nourishing oil is used to moisturize the skin.

I also like to add a few drops of essential oil to the salts for a relaxing scent. My favorite essential oils at the moment are Plant Therapy’s Soft Skin (a synergy blend–a mix of essential oils) and Love Vanilla (the same synergy I used in my body butter tutorial).

This foot soak is wonderful to make on the weekend and use later in the week. I’ve also used this foot soak immediately after making it–no prep necessary. And with Mother’s Day fast approaching, I’m planning to include a jar of this foot soak in a gift basket for my mom and mother-n-law.

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Skin Softening Floral Foot Soak

A relaxing floral foot soak to help soften, deodorize, and soothe the feet. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Foot Soak

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 TB dried rose petals *
• 1 TB dried lavender *
• 1 TB dried chamomile *
• 1/2 cup salt ** mineral-rich
• 1 TB baking soda
• 2 TB nourishing oil such as: extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or sweet almond oil
• 6 drops essential oil *** (optional)

Instructions

• Place the rose petals, lavender flowers, and dried chamomile flowers in a spice/coffee grinder, and pulse just two times until chopped. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle for this. Set aside. 
• In a medium-size bowl, combine the salt, baking soda, and nourishing oil of choice. Stir the mixture to combine. Add the dried flowers to the salt mixture, and stir to combine. 
• Spoon the salts into a 6 or 8-ounce jar, and seal the jar with a lid. Store the salts until you're ready to use the foot soak, or you can use this mixture immediately and skip the storage jar. 

To Use:

• Fill a gallon-size bucket with warm water (My water is pretty hot, around 140F according to our electric kettle. Hot tap water, straight from the faucet, also works.) Pour the salts into the water. Stir the salts and water with a long spoon (I use a wooden spoon from the kitchen). Grab a towel to place near the bucket--you'll need this later. 
• When the temperature is comfortable, place your feet in the bucket. Soak your feet, relax, and a enjoy a few minutes of quiet time.  
• When you're done soaking, remove your feet and place them on the towel nearby. I like to rinse my feet off in the sink or the bathtub, since some of the flowers stick to the skin. Once rinsed, apply body butter or a moisturizing lotion to your feet. If the heels of your feet are rough, you can also rub them with a pumice stone after removing your feet from the soak, and then follow-up with a fresh water rinse and moisturizer. 

Notes

*I purchase my herbs and dried flowers in bulk (usually via Amazon) for do-it-yourself projects. If you only need a small amount, I recommend finding a health food store with Frontier Co-Op Bulk Bins. These bins will have everything you need for this foot soak. The beauty of these bins is that you can purchase a very, very small amount of what you need. So the end cost is just a few dollars, or less than that. 

** I use Real Salt (fine) or a Himalayan salt (fine) from Costco. This salt isn't bleached or stripped of its natural, beneficial minerals. Most of the time this salt is pink or gray, or multi-color. You could also use epsom salt in this recipe, but you'll probably need a bit more (about 2/3 cup?) since the granules are much larger. 

***I like to add a few drops of essential oil to the salts for a relaxing scent. My favorite at the moment are Plant Therapy's Soft Skin (a synergy blend--a mix of essential oils) and Love Vanilla (the same synergy I used in my body butter tutorial). Other options: peppermint, lavender, geranium, eucalyptus, and tea tree. You can also create your own custom scent by using two different essential oils (like lavender and geranium--3 drops each). 

The post Skin Softening Floral Foot Soak appeared first on Live Simply.

With just a few ingredients, like a nourishing oil, vinegar, and honey, I’m able to cleanse, tone, and moisturize my skin. Yes, I enjoy makeup (right now I’m obsessed with 100% Pure and W3LL People), and I just recently started using an eye cream in the morning. For the most part, I don’t need a gazillion ingredients and special products to care for my skin.

I was reminded of this fact recently after purchasing an exfoliator online. I had learned about this particular exfoliator from a YouTube video. The product was expensive, but the advertising sucked me in. This is going to make me look ten years younger. I’ve got to try it!

Just admitting that thought probably opens me up to a ton of judgment, but it’s 100% true. (Being real and vulnerable is hard). I’m sure we’ve all been there, right?! We’re bombarded with messages like that every single day.

Friend, I purchased the exfoliator and despite the iffy ingredient list, I started using it. True story.

After just two weeks of using the product, I had a “come to Jesus meeting” with myself in the shower. Why did I fall for such marketing hype? I can’t even pronounce or decode any of the ingredients in this scrub, ugh. Kristin, you need to get back to the basics and stop believing silly marketing messages. 

I fell for the hype. The hype that a special lab-formulated product was the miracle product of the 21st century. And somehow the marketing hype made me feel like a simple solution, such as a homemade exfoliator made with sugar and oil, couldn’t possibly be good enough. Crazy, right?!

I tossed the exfoliator that day, right after taking a shower. I couldn’t even bring myself to donating it because of the ingredients.

And a little side note, I’m clearly not against store-bought products. In a couple of weeks I’m going to share my favorite store-bought skincare products. The point of my story is that our choices, whether they concern food, cleaning products, or a skincare routine, should be intentional and informed; not based on marketing hype. 

Since that time, I’ve returned to using a homemade exfoliator.

I’ve shared a few homemade exfoliator scrubs in the past (like this charcoal scrub, this honey scrub, and this green tea scrub). Those scrubs are all wonderful, and I adore making them. But I don’t want anyone to feel like using homemade skincare products is a fancy, time-consuming, or complicated choice. There are so many ways to customize a natural skincare routine, so it’s important to know the basics–like how to make a lip balm or exfoliator, and then how to customize those options–like making a honey lip balm or green tea exfoliator.

Right now, in my personal skincare routine, I’m using a basic two ingredient exfoliator/scrub on my face twice a week. I make the scrub in a small jar, and keep it on my bathroom counter for a week or two. Measuring the ingredients, stirring the ingredients, and then applying the finished scrub to my face takes less than a couple of minutes from start to finish. And the best part? It works even better than the fancy scrub I purchased. And I feel so much better about the ingredients.

Sugar: Cane sugar, or brown sugar, is fine and gentle enough to use on the skin. The sweet crystals are used as the “scrub” portion of this exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells and get the blood flowing to the skin. Sugar also naturally hydrates the skin. I recommend sticking with a very fine grain sugar, such as cane sugar or brown sugar, versus a coarse sugar like coconut sugar. If you have very sensitive skin, like I do, then using soft brown sugar may be the best option.

Oil: If you’ve been around Live Simply for long, you know that I’m a huge fan of using nourishing oils in my skincare routine. In this particular recipe the oil moisturizes the skin, as well as removes oils and dirt. There are many nourishing oil possibilities. I like to stick to just olive oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil. If your skin tolerates coconut oil, then you could also use coconut oil. The only issue with coconut oil is that it will harden when the outside environment is cold.

If you’re new to homemade skincare, or you don’t want to fuss with extra ingredients or making a large amount of exfoliator, I think you’ll love the simplicity of this homemade exfoliating scrub.

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Two-Ingredient Exfoliator Scrub

A simple two-ingredient exfoliator scrub made with sugar and oil. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Exfoliator Scrub

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 4 applications, depending on amount used

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2 TB organic sugar such as: cane sugar or brown sugar
• 1 TB nourishing oil such as: olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil

Instructions

• Add the sugar to a small storage container. Stir in the oil. I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of oil, then adding more oil if needed, until you've reached your desired consistency. 

To Use:

• Scoop a small amount of the scrub on your finger tips. Gently massage the scrub on the face, using circular motions, for about 30 seconds. Rinse the scrub off with a wet washcloth. I usually follow-up with a moisturizer. 

Video

The post How to Make a Simple Two-Ingredient Exfoliator Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.

It’s time for another DIY beauty post which should really be titled, “How to make a beauty product that resembles dirt and will scare away your family.” But who would actually click on a post with that title? Maybe a few of us would be tempted, particularly at 4pm when a mom desperately needs a quiet bathroom break. Alone.

Once again, we’re going to play around with activated charcoal. Remember the black, scary-looking powder we used last month to make a skin-clarifying face mask? Well, it’s back, and this time we’re using it to exfoliate the skin. First, let’s recap the details about activated charcoal.

According to Dr. Axe (which many other sources confirm), “Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins and chemicals in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn’t reabsorb them. It’s made from a variety of sources, but when used for natural healing, it’s important to select activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other natural sources.” As described in my story, activated charcoal is sometimes used to help treat (food) poisoning. Dr. Axe goes onto to share that activated charcoal works through a process called adsorption, which he describes as “the chemical reaction where elements bind to a surface.”

Thanks to its detoxifying properties, I’ve found that activated charcoal has been a great addition to my natural skincare routine, particularly as someone who is prone to breakouts. I’ve also started experimenting with adding a bit of charcoal powder and coconut oil to my toothbrush at night to help whiten my teeth. I’ll report more on this experiment at a later time, if it works ;).

Since I’ve been enjoying the activated charcoal face mask (posted last month), I wanted to experiment with a beauty product that I could mix together and let sit in my bathroom for a couple of weeks.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about a mask, but the act of having to get out the ingredients and mix it all up for a one-time use is a bit too much sometimes for a tired mom at 10pm. And since I don’t want to scare my family (well, most days), 10pm is the only time for such a scary-looking beauty product. My solution? A charcoal exfoliating facial scrub.

I’ve been using my Honey and Sugar Body Scrub for quite some time, and absolutely love the way it makes my skin feel. Based on my research, I use a scrub twice a week to help exfoliate my face. Anything more than that seems to be over-kill for my skin, and usually results in dry skin and breakouts. I decided to initially try using the base of my honey scrub, oil and sugar, and then simply add a bit of charcoal powder to the mix. The result was an oily and “dirty” product that was hard to apply to my skin. My conclusion? Way too much oil for a charcoal scrub.

After playing around with the concept a few more times, I found that less oil was needed for this scrub. The final product was a black, sandy-looking scrub that left my skin feeling clean and refreshed.

Before I share the recipe, let me just add one important note.

If you didn’t like playing in the dirt as a kid, you’re probably not going to like this exfoliating facial scrub. This scrub definitely reminds me of making mud pies as a child, but with a grainier feel. If dirt just wasn’t and still isn’t your thing, it’s okay, I’ve got you covered with a couple of other options. I recommend trying my Honey and Sugar Body Scrub or Green Tea Exfoliator.

Now, who is ready for a detoxifying mud pie spa experience?

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Activated Charcoal Exfoliating Facial Scrub

Who is ready for a detoxifying mud pie spa experience?

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Facial Scrub

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 /3 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup organic cane sugar or white sugar
• 2 TB extra virgin olive oil not an oil “blend.”
• 2 activated charcoal capsules, about 1/2 tsp of powder
• 3 drops skin-nourishing essential oil optional

Instructions

• Add the cane sugar and activated charcoal to a bowl or storage jar (pictured:

  ).
• Shake the jar or whisk the ingredients together to combine the sugar and charcoal powder. Add the olive oil to the mixture, and stir to combine. The sugar and charcoal should look like wet, black sand. Seal the jar until use.

To Use:

• Apply a small amount of the scrub to the palm of your hand, then massage it over a clean face for about 30 seconds. Rinse the scrub off with a warm washcloth. I personally use a scrub on my face twice a week. I've found that over-exfoliating my skin leads to break-outs and dry skin. Twice a week is the magic number for me.
• After exfoliating, I use a rosewater toner and face oil for a moisturizer. When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so I recommend using a spoon to scoop this scrub from the jar (water on hands = water in the jar).

Notes

I like to use frankincense essential oil for my skin-friendly essential oil. The smell is incredibly pleasant and uplifting for a facial scrub.

I think you could probably use another nourishing oil, like jojoba or sweet almond oil, in place of the olive oil.

It’s important that your sugar is soft, which is why I recommend using organic cane sugar or white sugar, versus something like coconut sugar or sucanat. I bet brown sugar would also work in this scrub, and it would probably pair nicely with the dirt look provided by the charcoal, lol.

From my experience, the black charcoal powder easily washes off cloth surfaces once they are washed in the washing machine with laundry soap. After rinsing your face, your washcloth will probably look like it visited your garden and played in the mud. That said, I don’t recommend using your favorite white Anthropologie washcloth to rinse off this mask.

The post Activated Charcoal Exfoliating Body Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.

I’m going to keep today’s post super short, like Live Simply history-making short. Why? Two reasons:

Reason 1: I know we are all super busy right now. Busy with gatherings, making treats (have you made the sugar cookies yet?), and wrapping presents.

Reason 2: I’m just beginning to make homemade presents and shop from my Christmas list. Talk about major procrastination this year. Despite my procrastination, I have a plan and my calendar space marked off, so present making and shopping officially starts once I hit publish on today’s post.

Today’s post is the last post I plan to share on Live Simply for 2015. At end of each year, I take two weeks off from officially blogging to spend time taking care of the back-end tasks that are so important for a blog, but often get neglected due to content creation, recipe development, writing, and photography.

During this two week break, the Live Simply Team will be working hard to improve the blog: making it more user-friendly when it comes to navigation, updating old photos, etc. You may have noticed that we’ve already started to make a few (better) changes around here, like my new shiny profile photo on the sidebar and new family pictures on the homepage slider (like the one below).

We’ve also been working hard to offer new lifestyle resources for the Live Simply Family. As a result, I’m excited to share that the Real Food Crash Course has been updated! The improved course offers new recipes, prettier pictures, and even a couple of extra printables. This crash course is designed to help you jump-start a real food lifestyle with real food tips and seven recipes to get you started.

I’m also excited to share that we’ve developed a brand new crash course for natural cleaning. This free crash course is designed to help jump-start your natural cleaning journey with a few tips and three easy cleaning recipes. If you’re interested in receiving both crash courses, subscribe to the Live Simply Family Newsletter.

So while the blog may be quiet as far as new content goes, I’ll still be here, working hard to make improvements on the back-end of the blog and interacting via comments. I’m also excited to spend this break working on some new content (food recipes and do-it-yourself natural living tips and recipes) from my ever-growing “to share” list. It’s a long list, friend!

Now, onto today’s recipe: Nourishing Honey and Sugar Body Scrub.If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea or a simple way to nourish your skin during this dry season, I encourage you to make a jar (or two) of this incredible body scrub. This skin-loving scrub is both invigorating and nourishing, and it can be used on your entire body. I know I said today’s post will be short and I’m already up to 491 words…496 now, so let’s take a really quick look at the ingredients…really quick!

Sugar: Good ol’ sugar is a humectant which may help the skin retain moisture. Sugar also contains glycolic acid which may help encourage cell turnover and fresh-looking skin. Not all sugar is created equal when it comes to homemade skincare. I highly recommend using a softer sugar (such as: organic white or brown sugar) for homemade scrubs. The abrasive nature of more natural sugars (sucanat, coconut sugar, raw sugar) may leave the skin irritated and red.

Raw Honey: Raw honey is simply honey that hasn’t been pasteurized. Due to the lack of pasteurization (heating), raw honey is naturally rich in antibacterial and probiotic properties. Honey is also gentle on sensitive skin, but tough enough to remove dirt and other impurities. If you can’t find raw honey in your area (although many stores/markets now sell raw honey, so take a look before dismissing this ingredient), pasteurized honey may be used.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and antioxidant properties. Since we know aloe is great for the skin, why not add it to a body scrub? Aloe vera provides soothing and moisturizing benefits.

Olive Oil: Yep, the same ingredient used to make homemade salad dressing may also be used on the skin. Olive oil contains three important antioxidants which may help keep the skin from aging prematurely. Oil is also known to help cleanse the skin by drawing out unwanted oils.

Bottom line: This homemade scrub is good stuff! So make a jar for yourself (as a little end-of-the-year pampering present) and a few jars for the special ladies in your life.

See you in 2016, my friend!

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Nourishing Honey & Sugar Body Scrub

Now, onto today’s recipe: Nourishing Honey and Sugar Body Scrub.If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea or a simple way to nourish your skin during this dry season, I encourage you to make a jar (or two) of this incredible body scrub.

Course Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Sugar Body Scrub

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 1/2 cups

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic white sugar or brown sugar–The sugar should be soft not large granules.
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 TB honey
• 1 TB aloe vera gel Look for a gel that doesn't require refrigeration.
• 10 drops lavender essential oil or other skin-friendly essential oil like rosemary essential oil.

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• Store the scrub in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place (the linen closet or medicine cabinet).

To Use:

• Apply a tablespoon at a time to your hands. Gently massage the scrub over your entire body for 30 seconds. Rinse the scrub from the skin with water and a washcloth.

Notes

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use a spoon to scoop this scrub into your hand (wet hands = water in the scrub).

The post Nourishing Honey & Sugar Body Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.

Four basic ingredients and two minutes currently stand in between you (and me) and a homemade spa treatment! Oh, and this blogpost…I’ll keep the chit-chat to a minimum.

Early in my teaching career I discovered a necessary job perk: spa day! I loved the kids and my chosen career path, but as anyone in the world of teaching knows, being a classroom teacher is hard work! My typical day started around 6am (in the classroom, not waking up) with meetings, planning, and cutting papers. I would finally return home late in the evening, around 6:30pm, with a large bag of papers and a computer full of emails. I loved watching my classroom kiddos flourish each year and become confident learners, but the additional job responsibilities were exhausting. Kuddos to all my teacher friends.

Due to the high-stress nature of the job, I adopted a yearly “spa day.” I chose one day each school year to take off and spend time relaxing at a popular spa in our area. This was my “sanity day.” The one day each year I would leave behind the stress of a rigorous schedule and early mornings for lavender scented linens and cucumber-mint water.

One of my favorite treatments was a green tea exfoliating facial session. The 30 minute experience always left my skin soft and rejuvenated–something a tired teacher was in desperate need of.

It’s been five years since my last “sanity day.” The good news is the spa experience didn’t end with my last year of teaching. Now that I have two little kids at home, I’ve learned to recreate mini spa sessions during my daily five minute sanity break (AKA: shower time). My DIY spa alternatives cost just pennies and only require basic household ingredients to make. A spa experience that saves money? I think so!

Because the exfoliator was my favorite treatment, let’s start our pampering time with this super simple four ingredient homemade version. First, before we get to the exfoliating and super smooth skin that follows, let’s take a look at the ingredients:

Green Tea: This simple ingredient can be found just about anywhere these days, from grocery stores to coffee shops. Green tea contains antioxidant properties that may help to reactivate cells and fight against damaged skin. There are many ways to use green tea in a skincare regime (and many companies now include this ingredient in high-end beauty products). In this recipe, the green tea leaves are added directly to the scrub to exfoliate the skin and get rid of unwanted pollutants.

Sugar: Good ol’ sugar is a humectant which may help the skin retain moisture. Sugar also contains glycolic acid which may help encourage cell turnover and fresh-looking skin. Not all sugar is created equal when it comes to homemade skincare. I highly recommend using a softer sugar (such as: organic white or brown sugar) for homemade exfoliating scrubs. The abrasive nature of more natural sugars (sucanat, coconut sugar, raw sugar) may leave the skin irritated and red.

Olive Oil: Yep, the same ingredient used to make homemade salad dressing may also be used on the skin. Olive oil contains three important antioxidants which may help keep the skin from aging prematurely. Oil is also known to help cleanse the skin by drawing out unwanted oils (read more about cleansing with oil).

Raw Honey: Honey (particularly honey that hasn’t been pasteurized) is a powerhouse of nutrients for the skin. It’s loaded with antioxidants and natural enzymes to help cleanse and nourish. Honey may also fight against acne thanks to the antibacterial properties.

Bottom line: This homemade exfoliator is good stuff!

Who knew a spa experience could be so simple? Four ingredients. Two minutes.

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Homemade Green Tea Exfoliator

Who knew a spa experience could be so simple? Four ingredients. Two minutes

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Green Tea Exfoliator

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 14 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 TB dried green tea leaves 2-4 tea bags depending on size of tea bag
• 1 cup organic white sugar or brown sugar, the sugar should be soft not large granules
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TB honey
• 10 drops lavender essential oil optional

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• Store the exfoliator in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place (the linen closet or medicine cabinet).

To Use:

• Apply a tablespoon of exfoliator at a time to your hands. Gently massage the skin (face and/or body) with the exfoliator for 30 seconds. Rinse the exfoliator from the skin with water and a washcloth.

Notes

This recipe makes enough exfoliating scrub to cover the entire body and face 2-3 times. Due to the abrasive (exlfoliator) nature of the sugar, I recommend using this scrub every 1-2 weeks, especially if you have sensitive skin. Make sure water isn’t introduced into the mixture in between uses (hello mold growth and bacteria). Use a spoon to scoop the mixture from the jar. To make a small batch, simply reduce this recipe by half.

The post DIY Homemade Green Tea Exfoliator appeared first on Live Simply.

I’ve never been much of a “dirty” person. In fact, I much prefer living in the city… the lack of dirt and abundance of Target stores sells me on the need for city life.

Lately, I’ve felt a rustling, a changing at my very roots. I blame the flock of nine hens roaming my city backyard. Those egg-layers are slowly turning my heart from “I need paved roads and a Target shopping trip” to “Give me the country and maybe a cow.” Crazy, I know!  My longing for land, a large garden (despite my black thumb), chickens, and even a cow has awakened. Dustin’s not fully there, yet. I’ll give him some time.

Of course, every good country gal (or wanna-be) needs a garden…rows of fresh veggies, an orchard, and window sills lined with herbs. Each season I set out to build such a garden (minus the orchard).

Our garden consists of a thirty-foot-long raised bed, packed with life-giving dirt. It’s the perfect garden size for a city dweller. Over the past couple of years it’s enjoyed a fair share of success and failure. Really, if I’m honest, much more failure than success. I’ve learned gardening is all about: planning, strategy, patience, and diligence. It’s much more than just planting a seed and reaping an edible harvest.

Three years into gardening and I’m finally starting to master the art of growing a few veggies and herbs. I’m enjoying the warmer weather and a bit of dirt under my nails (it’s the chickens’ fault). My focus this season is tomatoes. With the anticipation of summer, I planted five tomato plants late in March (planning and strategy). They are just starting to produce the juiciest tomatoes you’ve ever tasted.

Who needs Target when you have tomatoes and chickens?

Between gardening and outdoor summer activities, my hands suffer lots of punishment. A price I’m willing to pay for juicy, home-grown goodness.

This hand scrub was created after receiving a jar of coconut oil and salt hand scrub for Mother’s Day (thank you, grandma).  After just one scrubbing I was hooked. My clean and moisturized hands longed to be scrubbed one more time. Since I’m always thinking of you, my dear friend, I decided to recreate that luxurious scrub and share. Scrubs for everyone!

Today, I bring you my new favorite hand scrub (perfect for a wanna-be gardener’s hands) made with just three simple ingredients for the ultimate pampering experience: coconut oil, sea salt, and lemon grass essential oil. The coconut oil hydrates overworked hands while the salt softens and vanishes dead skin cells. The lemongrass is a personal preference due to its sweet scent.

Here’s to getting dirty, knowing a sweet pampering experience is just a scrub-a-dub away.

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DIY Hand Scrub

The coconut oil hydrates overworked hands while the salt softens and vanishes dead skin cells. The lemongrass is a personal preference due to its sweet scent, but also works as a bactericidal (AKA: bad-to-the-bone bacteria killer).

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Hand scrub

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup salt
• 1/3 cup coconut oil melted*
• 7-10 drops lemongrass essential oil a different essential oil may be used

Instructions

• Melt the coconut oil.
• In a storage jar (I use a glass mason jar), add the sea salt. Pour the coconut oil and lemongrass over the salt. Mix together with a spoon.
• To use: scoop a small amount with a spoon or your fingers. Rub all over hands (and/or body). Rinse with warm water. Do not use this scrub on the face or neck, only the body.

Notes

*Coconut Oil Note: If you live in a cold climate, where plumbing pipes get cold, I recommend using either olive oil, grapessed oil, or fractionated coconut oil. The problem with coconut oil is that it returns to a solid state when cold, so this can cause issues if your home gets cold or there is coconut oil sludge in your pipes. 

The post DIY Hand Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.