When I was younger, I noticed my grandma had sugar cubes in the bathroom. I remember asking her what they were and she would say, “They are natures remedy for softer skin.” I laughed at her and said, “Grandma they are used in your coffee in the morning.” She ended up saying, “Not these ones honey.”
As I got older she began making her special vanilla bean moisturizing sugar cube scrubs for exfoliating the body with me. I thought it was funny and relaxing. I loved smelling the vanilla beans as we made the cubes because it was so calming to my mind and body.
Now that I am older, I still make this old classic beauty treatment she once taught me to make and I even use them to help soften and exfoliate my body naturally. After all this time, I finally know why she called the sugar cubes in the bathroom natures remedy for softer skin. Sugar truly works wonders for bringing smoothness back to the skin naturally.
The Natural Ingredients Needed
The natural ingredients you will need to make the scrubs are six vanilla beans, cocoa butter, shea butter, white cane sugar, Tonka oil, beeswax and almond oil. In my kitchen, I always have these ingredients on hand, but if you do not you can easily find them at an organic whole food super market or bulk herb shop in your local area. Sometimes you can even order them online.
Materials Needed
The materials you will need to make the cubes are silicone molds or ice cube trays, medium size saucepan, a mixing spoon and a measuring cup with a spout for easy pouring. All these materials can be found at local craft stores and kitchen stores if you do not have them on hand.
Instructions
To make the scrubs, I always measure out a cup each of cocoa butter, shea butter and beeswax and toss them into my saucepan and begin melting these ingredients on low heat. You do not want them to boil.
Then, I add in a tablespoon of almond oil and ten drops of Tonka oil, which is an oil with a really sweet warming scent. After, I slice up my vanilla beans and scrape the seeds out into a small mixing bowl and add four cups of sugar in with them. Then I combine the seeds and sugar together and set them aside.
As soon as my butters, waxes and oils have melted and infused together in the saucepan, I remove the pan form the stove and add in the vanilla bean sugar mixture. Then, I combine the ingredients together until I get a thick gritty vanilla scented golden mixture with vanilla bean seeds throughout.
After, I scoop the mixture into the silicone molds and press it into them until each mold is filled up and tightly packed in. Then, I place the molds into the refrigerator to chill out and harden for two to three hours.
As soon as the cubes are a solid form, I pop them out of the molds and store them in a pretty glass jar in the bathroom on my counter top to grab with ease when I am ready to use them. However, on hot summery days, you may want to store your scrub treatments in the freezer or refrigerator because they do tend to soften and melt into a messy.
Using the Scrubs
Now, I find the best way to use the cube scrubs is by getting into the shower and rinsing down with warm water for several minutes to help soften and dampen up the skin a bit. Doing this helps make the dead layer of skin on the body easier to exfoliate.
After, I take one of the scrubs and rub it all over my body from head to toe using circular motions and taking my time until all the dead flaky dry skin has been removed. As you do this, you will smell the warm calming vanilla scent that comes from it. The vanilla scent will help calm the mind and relieve stress naturally. You will also notice the butters, waxes and oils from the scrub melt into the skin as you exfoliate it.
As soon as you are done exfoliating, I find it is best to wash up with a good moisturizing shower gel in the shower or a bath to help cleanse and pamper the skin up a bit more. My favorite moisturizing shower gel to use after exfoliating is, “It’s Raining Man,” from Lush Cosmetics, but you can use whatever one makes you feel good and happy.
After your exfoliating and your shower, you should have silky soft smooth glowing skin that is ready to be moisturized and kept beautiful with a good moisturizing body cream or lotion. Then, you can get dress and enjoy your happy smooth nice vanilla scented skin throughout the day.
End Notes
To help maintain the softness and smoothness of your skin, you can use this scrub as often as you feel you need too. However, I only use mine two to three times per week because I have sensitive skin and do not want to overly exfoliate. Over exfoliating can be damaging to the skin and even irritate it, but again you are the best judge to what your skin needs when it need sit.
I hope those of you who make these cubes have fun making them, and I hope those of you who use them enjoy the pampering experience they can provide. I know I always do and my grandma did too.
