In the Kitchen: Homemade Olive Oil Scrub

When you’ve lived in one of the coldest urban environments for the past 5 years, you witness how brutalizing the cold can be on your skin. Especially if you have dry skin, like moi.

I thought, in preparation for the colder months ahead, I would share a few skin-saving tips and a less traditional “In the Kitchen” feature, a recipe for a body scrub you can make at home.

Here are a few of my tried-and-true, Minnesota-proof skincare tips:

1. Don’t be afraid of oil-based body scrubs. This one leaves your skin feeling soft, moisturized, and clean. You can use this on your face, but it is best to avoid doing so in the winter. A gentler exfoliant would do just fine. I use a Clarisonic brush (and it works wonders). If you do use this scrub on your face, rub very carefully and avoid delicate dry spots, as it can be too harsh on sensitive winter skin. Follow with a thick moisturizer.

2. Keep a really great lip balm on hand. At all times. I’m forever a fan of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment .

3. Facials. I save up for these indulgences over the summer because they are SO worth it! It’s a nice treat for the mind, body, and soul.

4. Moisturizing Masks. I use this biweekly. The trick is to not keep masks on too long, 10 minutes is all you need. Wash them off with a nice warm towel.

5. Consider a hydrating serum. I use Dior Hydra Life Serum. It has a lovely citrus-y smell.

6. Water. Most of us never get enough and a girls gotta protect her skin from the inside out.

Do you guys have any recommendations for protecting your skin against the elements?
28 Comments

Oh Thank you!! Thank you!! I just moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota (and hour from Canada and on the border of Minnesota/North Dakota) and am so so nervous about this up and coming winter. I will be applying all of these practices to my everyday , so thank you so much!
Hopefully you post more on this topic!
Amy

Amy added these words on Oct 27 11 at 8:25 am

My favorite for my lips is Karite Lips (http://www.amazon.com/MODE-VIE-GLOBAL-NATURAL-PRODUCTS/dp/B0006NXS28). I have used so many lip balms and nothing is better. I have turned so many friends into believers. It mends, not just covering. I would love to hear what you think.

Desi added these words on Oct 27 11 at 9:14 am

thanks, desi! sounds amazing- can’t wait to try it.

Kate added these words on Oct 27 11 at 9:18 am

what is that sans-serif font? I love it!

margaret added these words on Oct 27 11 at 9:30 am

Futura Bold

Kate added these words on Oct 27 11 at 9:33 am

I’m a big fan of Rodin Luxury face oil. It is a bit expensive, but AMAZING. In the winter I put a few drops of it in my bath at night. It moisturizes your whole body.

Victoria

Victoria added these words on Oct 27 11 at 11:40 am

I love love love my new clarisonic but I am running out of the sample face wash it came with and don’t know what to get. What do you suggest?

Name Aya added these words on Oct 27 11 at 12:51 pm

i’ve used Purity for years, but if i had a bigger budget, i’d used Fresh Soy Cleanser

hope this helps!

xx

Kate added these words on Oct 27 11 at 1:48 pm

Thank you Kate!
This does and help and you’re lovely!

Name Aya added these words on Oct 27 11 at 2:07 pm

Oooh, this looks fun. Try the lavender body scrub from Trader Joe’s. It’s like $5 and is super good — plus has a very moisturizing oil so you don’t need extra lotion. Well, maybe in MN you do :)

DENISE. added these words on Oct 27 11 at 4:20 pm

I’m from Holland so it can get pretty cold here as well. I too use olive oil + sugar to scrub, usually in between depilating my legs (and waxing the rest), to prevent ingrowth. For face I would recommend powdered sugar as it’s less harsh, I don’t add oil to that however, just some almond oil afterwards to restore the balance (hopefully, I’m no dermatologist, but it works).

Rose added these words on Oct 27 11 at 4:23 pm

Oh that is a great idea! Thanks, Rose!

Kate added these words on Oct 27 11 at 5:38 pm

I swear by Aquaphor as a lip balm. My lips used to peel all the time until I started using it upon my dermatologist’s recommendation. Now I keep little tubes of it everywhere – in each of my handbags, in my car, at my desk, by my bed, etc. Super cheap, and you can find it anywhere.

Josephine added these words on Oct 27 11 at 6:21 pm

I love this idea! Totally trying this asap.

Kasey added these words on Oct 27 11 at 6:54 pm

i so needed this… thank you for all the great tips!

Elise / Pennyweight added these words on Oct 27 11 at 10:29 pm

YES great for winter.

Joy added these words on Oct 27 11 at 11:34 pm

I’ll definitely be making this scrub – thanks for the tip! As a fellow dry-skinned Minneapolitan, I have been scheming ways for my skin to survive winter, too. I make my own skin oil, and use it every day day (two-three drops in summer, three-four in winter, always mixed with six or seven drops of water): 1 oz. organic almond oil (the best kind you can afford), 10 drops organic rose essential oil, 10 drops organic sandalwood oil, and a dash of vitamin E oil. It’s magic, I swear. In the depths of winter, once a week (or as needed), I wash my face with organic heavy cream. Cedar Summit is awesome for this, if you’re in Minnesota and can get it. Just dampen the face, then use the cream as you would a cleansing milk, rinse off and you’re set. Got the tip from the Ayurvedic beauty book “Absolute Beauty” by Pratima Raichur, who also makes an amazing line of skincare products.

Gina added these words on Oct 28 11 at 10:43 am

Gina! This is amazing. I’m totally going to try out your entire skin routine. I’ve been wanting to add a skin oil to my regimen.

Kate added these words on Oct 28 11 at 10:55 am

This scrub makes a wonderful Christmas gift!

Angela Dal Bon Custom Invites added these words on Oct 31 11 at 7:15 pm

[...] the cold draws near i can feel my skin hating me more and more.  thank goodness for this olive oil scrub with an easy peezy [...]

treat yourself. | a little wit. added these words on Nov 03 11 at 10:25 am

[...] lotion (ok…sometimes good ole Jergens works!) leaves me unsatisfied. I like the simplicity of this recipe and will probably buy a few jars + essential oil favorites and make holiday [...]

Get + Togetha » blogspotted: olive oil scrub. added these words on Nov 09 11 at 4:42 pm

i made + used this last night – what a treat! perfect. if you have leftovers… does it keep out or should i throw it in the fridge? thank you! <3

Julia added these words on Nov 11 11 at 10:56 am

awesome! i just keep the jar in my shower. it keeps for about 30 days without refrigeration. you can keep it in the fridge, but it gets too hard to use. so glad you enjoyed it :)

Kate added these words on Nov 11 11 at 11:08 am

[...] Credit: Citrus Salt Scrub, Rosemary Mint Scrub, Soothing Lavender Scrub, Brown Sugar Oatmeal Scrub, Honey and Oil Scrub, and Coffee Scrub. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]

FUN FRIDAY | SERVPRO of West Columbia and Lexington added these words on Nov 11 11 at 2:56 pm

[...] olive oil-honey sugar scrub sounds divinely [...]

Pretty DIY Gifts for the Girls | Beauty Bets added these words on Nov 16 11 at 5:04 am

[...] by Kate’s recipe for sugar scrub, I decided to make cute labeled jars of this get-me-through-the-winter concoction [...]

Honey Olive Oil Scrub | Gourmet Style Girl added these words on Dec 21 11 at 11:24 am

Hi there are lots of themes that you can incorporate which can be more complete fine tuned for bing search.

Amos Potteiger added these words on Apr 17 12 at 3:09 am