So I know you come here for home decorating and crazy English women making videos of junk but today I thought we'd talk about my feet.
I don't suppose this is going to win me any home-decorating awards but I love a little play with potions. Always have done.
I can remember mixing up things in the bath as a little girl, for some reason we had this opaque blue Tupperware jug in our bathtub, in fact I know the reason it was there, for hair rinsing…back then in England not too many people had showers (don't cringe those of you Stateside). Really I'm being serious. So I used to mix up things sitting in that tiny bathroom…and now I find myself strangely drawn again to that mixing up and stirring.
But I'm no handmade cosmetic person, more a dabbler with a few essential oils.
Moons ago before I had a house on either side of the world, three children ++++ all that goes with that (you know, don't you?) I was a bit of a cosmetic junkie. I liked nothing better than to treat myself to a nice little item from Chanel.
And I used to buy a sugar scrub from Origins. Well those days are, while not long gone I hope, at the moment, are off the radar, and so I've tried just about every other version of scrub on the market that doesn't break the bank.
Nothing cut it. Not one even came close to that Origins magic, so for the sake of my feet, which are ahem, not my best feature I decided to have a go at making my own.
And now, what do you think, of course I feel ridiculously stupid for all those jars of sugar scrub I bought from Origins. All those pennies sitting in their bank for jars filled with, yep that would be…oil and sugar.
The first time I made this, typical of me, I suddenly decided to do it when I shoulda been making dinner, well my kids like Patchouli in their rice 
. Then, I used what I had which was extra virgin olive oil, regular white sugar and lavender. Since then I have turned this into a sugar scrub marathon trying all sorts of brews…I've tried sunflower oil, regular olive oil, sweet almond oil, groundnut oil. And here's the verdict, any of them work, sweet almond is great but the most expensive. I've settled on extra virgin olive oil (nice and thick and oily), dried lavender buds (got mine in herby shop), Patchouli & Lavender essential oils and raw sugar (more grainy for exfoliation).
Pour some sugar in a jar, lug on some oil, throw in the fragrance and the dried flowers..stir…done. Boo to Origins.
If you have only ever thought of those fancy jars of scrub as some irrelevant luxury for those people who have time to care about stuff like that, think again. Make up one of these little concoctions and turn 2 minutes or less in the shower or the bath into a beauty regime and your skin, like mine has, will thank you…
Don't tell me you don't get your money's worth here at the Beach Cottage *wink, I don't just paint things white you know…
have a good weekend folks, I'm feelin' better, yeehaw (tho I said that on Thursday) watch out beaches treasure hunting- haunts and anything not painted white I'm-a-coming…
blob
Sea salt(or Kosher salt) and olive oil work,too.I never thought of adding essential oils,tho.
Duh!Slaps self on the head……
Wow I too had one of those jugs same colour for the same reason when growing up in uk w no shower!!! Too funny lol
Big fan of essential oil and gee isn’t lavender some much nicer than tea tree?
Only a couple of weeks to go though till bub here then I’ll be able to reach my feet – if I can find the time!
Happy your feeling better – go gently
~Justine~
Love love love essential oils! I must give you my recipe for my ‘floral water’ aka toner. Perhaps I will post it on my blog…….btw what sort of shop has those flower bud thingies?
lg xx
I have a major thing for essential oils too and your concoction sounds wonderful!
Be sure to stop by and visit me today as I highlighted my favorite Aussie bloggers (and non Aussie’s living Down Under).
Happy Weekend Sarah.
Oh, i love it when kitchen/pantry items become so much more! We used use brown sugar, beer and a tea bag to bless my house. It might sound strange, but it’s true: http://pachamamahouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/weeks-57-59-bless-this-house-pacha-mama.html
Sarah – I’m going to do that tomorrow!
Enjoy the weekend -
Marsha
Love it Sarah!!
I’m thinking perfect Present, imagine a jar with a pretty label, or whatever to tizz it up a bit.
Good too for those School Mother’s Day Stalls
Thanks for sharing with us
Happy weekend to you and glad you’re feeling better
You make me laugh out loud!!!!!
Okay, so can you tell me what the equivalent to raw sugar is in the UK, I have been trying to work that out since I got here!
Fun post to share with us for weekend experiments. Finding ways to treat ourselves frugally is always a good idea. Have a fun weekend in the spring sunshine.
Aren’t these Le Parfait jars the coolest ever? Got one at the local fleamarket a couple of weeks ago, accompanied by three nameless lookalikes. What’s in it, you’ll ask – well, brown sugar, what else!
And your scales are pure magic, too!
As for the mixing – I stick to the quicky version of coffee/sea salt. It does its job for me!
This one I have to try. I have the worst feet – thanks to my fathers genes I have awful feet.
Sounds like a fabulous concoction
Alison
Ooooohhh! I love sugar scrub, it’s a magical potion.
Honey, I thought being so close to the beach you’d have learned that a good long walk along the side of the water is better than any pedicure on earth. I can’t wait until next month when we take a little trip to see the sea and walk until my feet are silky smooth. It’ll take a few hours, but I plan on walks in the morning and at night. Walking in the edge of the salty sea is the most relaxing things on earth!
I became a fan on Facebook, followed you on Twitter and left a comment on your interview (which was great by the way.)
Here from SITS.
I found your blog through SITS. I absolutely love body scrubs and have been spending way too much money purchasing them. I had never thought about making them before but thanks to you I’m going to try it.
You have a lovely blog by the way.
Hello, you have the most fabulously wonderful site here and I had to leave this comment for you ! Your posts are beautifully written, creative and original too, and you have interesting pictures.
It’s all perfect !
Thank you for sharing your site and best wishes…. ‘Happy September’….
This is one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time…..can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Have a happy weekend.
Vicki
Sarah
I followed your recipe for the sugar scrub, sans the essential oils. I used sugar, olive oil, lavender flowers and a spritz of perfume. Not only my feet, but the rest of me enjoyed the scrubbing. Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing this.
p.s. love your entire Beach Cottage ambience!
Hurray – I already have all the ingredients. And my feet are in need of a little post-summer attention. I’m wondering if coarse salt would also work…
I’ll have to try your recipe. I started making mine around two years ago and I too hate to think what I used to pay for them!
Love this post! Glad you are feeling better!
ummm, interesting. I’ll be giving this one a try, Sarah…
Hi Sarah!
I, too, have experimented with making sugar scrubs, which feel soooo wonderful and really make a difference on dry skin! Also, I’ve made some pretty weird face masks and stuff for my hair with avocados, and mayo, and oil and other things, but they were way too icky to make again. I think I’ll stick with the sugar and oil, it’s the way to go!
Glad you’re feeling better. Have a great weekend!
Heidi – Heart and Home
Just gorgeous. I just found your blog and really like it a lot. Am adding it to my favorites!
All the best from good old Germany,
Silke
Sarah, of course you are so much more than the “paint it white girl!” Do you have a magic potion for an ailing foot, for a clumsy Texas gal like me?
Brenda
Your scrub sounds like a wonderful idea, except for the patchouli oil. Oh that stuff is stinky to me, lol!! I’ve never heard of putting it in rice though. Maybe I’d actually like it that way. Years ago I used to buy a lotion made with sweet almond oil. Made me hungry for dessert.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Enjoy your weekend.
Hi! Since you’re trying out…things, maybe you’ll enjoy my Complete Pedi Treatment:
1.Heat 2 glasses of whole fat milk with 7 glasses of water until the temperature is tolerable
2.Mix 1/2 teacup of sugar with 2 spoonfuls of body lotion (usually I use the ones I don’t like-a good way to get rid of them!) until they become an even mixture
3.Soak feet into the milk for 10 minutes or as long as the milk turns cold
4.Remove one foot at the time and scrub thoroughly with the sugar mixture
5.If you have very scuffed feet use a pumice
6.Put feet again into the milk and try to remove the sugar off them
7.Do not wash off your feet.The milk should stay on your skin. Just pat dry with a towel
8.Apply generous amounts of a very hydrating cream like Nivea or any handcream.
9.Do not try to walk or put shoes on! You will create a mess!Instead wear cotton socks and your feet will love you!
Your blog is such an inspiration! Keep posting and I promise I’ll send you huuuge waves of friendship and love all the way from Greece!
What a fabulous quilt! You have put me to shame by finishing yours – I have squares I cut out over 20 years ago that I’ve never finished piecing together – they are of my children’s clothing when they were small. Ah, one of these days….
sarah..just a tiny question. Should this be mixed in a particular measure or simply mix till a scrub consistency is reached? I am going to try this today
Honestly, I’m a cosmetic Junkie too and of course, not that you’ve not tried since you are from England, still, in case you haven’t: Do try Lush’s “bare naked fig handmade soap”. It’s worth the cash + it’s one of those magic stuff that gives you luscious skin, as you step out of your bath and holds it all day long.
Rukmini Roy recently posted..DIY: Sandalwood and Rose Bath Salts
thanks I love LUSH!
yes to a scrub consistency….just mix it until you can rub it on easily…you can’t really go wrong
xx