The best beauty secrets are often hidden among Mother Nature’s flora and fauna. Forget spending a fortune on overpriced creams, lotions, masks, and salves, go out to your kitchen garden or check your pantry for organic remedies and common beauty solutions. Here are some of the best recipes and natural ingredients to begin a journey toward a healthy and nontoxic beauty regime.

Venus’ Very Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrubs exfoliate the skin while helping it stay nourished with moisture. This recipe could not be simpler yet is a delightfully decadent DIY scrub in the tub.

All you need are four simple ingredients:

  • 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
  • 1⁄4 cup white sugar
  • 1⁄4 cup organic olive oil
  • 6 to 8 drops vanilla essential oil

 

Into a small bowl, measure out equal parts white sugar and brown sugar. Start with 1⁄4 cup of each type of sugar. Mix sugars together thoroughly using a wooden spoon. Now, add in the olive oil—the amount used depends on your taste. Do use enough oil, though, to coat the sugar well and create a pliable texture. Lastly, add in a few drops of vanilla; I go with at least six drops. You can also try variations on the recipe using all brown sugar and other essential oils. My absolute favorite is equal parts vanilla oil and amber oil, which I call “vamber.” It is great to get ready for a date night out on the town. You will look and feel like the goddess of love herself.

Pleasure of Paradise Sensual Scrub

Sandalwood, amber, and vetiver are all rich, earthy scents that combine well together.

  • 5 drops sandalwood essential oil
  • 5 drops amber essential oil
  • 2 drops vetiver essential oil
  • 1⁄2 cup Epsom salts
  • 1⁄2 cup baking soda

 

Combine essential oils with Epsom salts and stir in the baking soda. Mix well; the mixture will become a richly scented paste. You can use it a couple of different ways: one is to slather it onto yourself and shower off with a loofah and thick washcloth. But my favorite way to completely soak up this earthly pleasure is to roll it into a ball after you mix it and place under the faucet as you are running a hot bath. The entire room will smell like paradise. Soak it all in; lie back and enjoy this fully.

If you want to store some for the future or give this scrub as a thoughtful gift, you can store it in a lidded plastic one-cup container or roll it into bath bomb balls and let dry on wax paper or paper towels. This recipe will make three palm size bath bombs. Note, you will be asked for more!