How to Make Exfoliating/moisturizing Salt Rub

A couple of years ago, while walking through a local mall, I actually stopped when an employee at one of those kiosks asked me if they could demonstrate one of their products to (and on) me. I know, but I didn't have anything better to do right then.

They told me that their product was made from the natural salt of a Middle Eastern sea that will go nameless since it is the main part of the brand name of their product (but the name could be translated as "no-longer-living Inland Ocean".) It worked very well at taking the rough dead skin off of my hands and the oil in it moisturized them very well. I was impressed with the product, and daunted at the price (around $35 per ounce.) Good product, much too expensive.

But, I figured I could probably make something like it. As soon as I got home I started looking up recipes for it on the old interweb, and found one that I was able to modify to my liking. You can make it for as little as 10% of the cost of the name-brand! Read on for more!

Special thanks to my daughter, K.C., for taking some of the pictures for me.

Step 1:

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Salt (I use Coarse Kosher or Fine Grind Pacific Sea Salt)
1/3 Cup Cooking Oil (I like Grape Seed, Sesame Seed, Olive, or Canola Oil)
Oil from 2-3 Vitamin E Capsules
Scented Oil, Optional (The kind used to scent soaps, citrus scents work well. I'm using Cucumber Mellon in this picture.)

The amounts listed above are approximate. The exact amount varies due to the grind of the salt.

You can get most of the above ingredients at the larger dollar stores, meaning this can cost you as little as $3 (for unscented). A savings of over 90% from what they want at the Mall Kiosks, and you get more for the bargain!

Step 2:

Measure out the cooking oil and put in a small mixing bowl. Cut open 2-3 Vitamin E gelcaps and squeeze the contents into the oil (this is technically optional, but the vitamin E will prevent the cooking oil from becoming rancid. You can use this preservative as a selling feature as well: "With Vitamin-E!!!") Add a few drops (2-3) of the scented oil, if you intend to use it. Mix the oils together.

Step 3:

Measure out the salt, and add it to the oil mixture. Mix it together until all of the salt is oily, and then put it in an air-tight container. Depending on the grind of the salt, the oil may be completely mixed in, or there may be a puddle of the oil on the top. Try using it before you pour off extra oil. You may like the result, and the oil tends to soak in somewhat over several days anyway.

If you want, I can add a picture of this. But it does seem pretty self-explanitory.

Step 4:

Warnings: Do not use this mixture for rough skin on the bottom of your feet or on your face. Using this on the bottom of your feet will result in slipping and falling. I don't want to hear about someone making this and hurting or killing themselves with it by accident. Skin on the face is too sensitive to use this mixture on. It is for rough and/or dry patches on the hands, elbows, and knees mostly. Do not use this on an open sore, like cracked open skin. That would hurt like the dickens.

To use: Scoop out about 1/2-1 tablespoon of the mixture and rub it on the rough and/or dry skin like a waterless hand sanitizer. The salt will remove the rough and/or dry skin through mechanical means, while the oil will make the skin soft. When finished, wash off with water (no soap, or you will simply remove the oil that is moisturizing your skin.) It is best to use this on knees or elbows in the shower.