Black Beauty "Matters": Black Salt Body Scrub
It’s unfortunate to see what’s going on in the world right now. Since we are totally in support of “Black Life Matters” and all the protestors out there, we are here to share our view on this matter as well as some wellness wisdom.
In this blogpost, our Glow & Green team decided to use black-colored skincare ingredients such as Black Salt in the DIY recipe. The ingredients like this, we love so much in our wellness and beauty world.
By acknowledging the value of black-colored ingredients, we want to support and break the stigma around racism.
The color of the skin doesn’t decide the qualities of the person. It is not at all tolerable act. If we follow the same analogy in our DIY beauty world, lava salt acts as an exfoliator the same way as other types of white salt. But in some scenarios, black lava salt is more beneficial than regular white salt.
To make sure that voices are heard, and we act on this as well. We also pledge to be muted by our Instagram account (@glowngreen) and join the movement!
We believe that the perception behind "the color black" needs to be changed, and we all should treat every skin tone equally. That’s why we came up with a simple, affordable, and effective body scrub recipe using “Black Salt.” This salt is also called Black Hawaiian Salt or Lava salt.
Lava salt is infused with activated charcoal. Thanks to activated charcoal, it assists the body in removing harmful impurities. It also contains essential minerals to help maintain the body’s normal functions.
In this body scrub, we are also adding peppermint essential oil, vegetable
glycerin, and some turkey castor oil. Peppermint essential oil will add therapeutic values in the recipe.
In contrast, vegetable glycerin and turkey castor oil will act as your functional ingredients. Vegetable glycerin is a popular humectant in the DIY world. At the same time, turkey castor oil will provide those emulsified effects in the recipe. Now let’s talk benefits first:
Benefits of Black Salt
Natural Exfoliator
This salt helps slough off dead skin cells and flakes, leaving you with fresh, revitalized skin.
Soothes sore joints and muscles:
Having a long, hot soak in lava salt water is a great way to relax, unwind, and soothe those aching joints and muscles. The substance in lava salt helps ease muscle cramps.
In contrast, the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying agents help reduce joint swelling, soreness, and stiffness.
Help fight off pro-aging free radicals:
Many of the minerals in lava salt fights off oxidation in the skill cells by eliminating free radicals, helping your skin looking younger and more vibrant. It’s fibroblast-protecting and hydrating properties also help to keep the skin looking plump and refreshed.
Purifies your pores:
Lava salt has excellent antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. That helps cleanse and detoxify the pores by driving out oils, dirt, and other impurities. The infused activated charcoal helps to eliminate body acne.
Prevents Hair Fall:
Receding hairline is a common issue faced by both men and women of this era. Hair fall seems to be getting worse due to stress and pollution in the surroundings.
Try using black lava salt to boost your hair growth. This recipe is not about hair, but I am sure this salt can be used in scalp scrub.
Black Salt Body Scrub:
1 Cup Hawaiian Black Salt/Lava Salt (I bought mine from here)
0.5 Cup Turkey Castor Oil
2 Tbps Vegetable Glycerine
25 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
(optional)
Since essential oil is optional, here are my tips on that:
Some essential oils can be highly irritating to the skin. That’s why direct skin contact with essential oils should be avoided. Do not use any undiluted essential oil directly on the surface, especially the skin of infants, children, or pets, unless directed by a healthcare practitioner. This recipe is for adults only.
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Store in a clean, airtight jar. If you want to use essential oils, it is best to store the scrub in a dark cabinet to prevent oxidation. We are not adding any preservatives in this formula that’s why I recommend making it a small batch.
How to apply body scrub?
Start by applying to hands and feet, then arms and legs, working with circular motions toward the heart. I talked about the massaging technique in our dry brushing blog post.
After bathing/showering, follow with a moisturizer such as body butter or body-calming oil. If you have cut yourself, then, I will avoid using this body scrub.
Shelf Life
If no essential oil is inside the body scrub, then shelf life is over a year. If you add an essential oil then, I recommend using it within 3-6 months so that the oils don’t oxidize over time. Also, during the usage, make sure that water doesn’t go inside.