Q&A for How to Make Your Own Salt Scrubs

Try sweet almond oil in your homemade salt scrub. It has a medium consistency and a mild odor, so it works really well.

Yes, vanilla extract is okay. It compliments citrus or lavender essential oils well.

Plan on using 2 parts salt to 1 part oil. For example, you could make a salt scrub using 1 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of oil. After that, you can add more salt if it is too wet, or more oil if it is too dry.

Extracts that are oil-based should be fine, but will not provide the same benefits as a pure essential oil. Extracts that are alcohol- or water-based will settle on top of the oil so will not remain mixed. Therefore you will have to stir the scrub before each use to ensure the extract is evenly dispersed.

If you are planning to use it on your face, use a salt with a finer granule. If you are planning to use it on your body, the choice is yours.

It doesn't have to - it can be any container you like. Glass jars are just the most typical container to use for this sort of thing. They're also probably the nicest-looking, as well as the safest for anyone concerned about chemicals leeching from containers into the stuff inside them (some people avoid plastics or metals for this reason, for example).

If the salt granules are very small, then the scrub can be suitable for the face, as long as it is used gently. Larger grains can create small cuts in the skin and worsen the skin condition over time. However, scrubs like this are best used only on the body, not the delicate facial skin. Never use near your eyes or the surrounding fine skin.

Sit the jar containing the coconut oil in a bowl of warm to hot water. Coconut oil solidifies at a lower temperature than others, it just needs warming and this easy trick will melt it.

No. Most essences are synthetic and could be harmful. Stick to natural products.

It depends on how much salt scrub you are making, and how much you want it to smell. Start with about 1 to 3 drops, then add more as needed.

It is actually okay. Anything that you can eat is safe for your skin. However, it is rather sticky, far more sticky and greasy feeling on your skin (not to mention the tub) than meadowfoam seed oil, argan oil, or even almond oil. These all absorb more rapidly into your skin than cooking oil.

Scrubs are used for exfoliation, not to change skin tone. However, if you want to color your scrub, use soap dye. You may also use a small amount of food coloring, but be careful not to add too much.

It's best to use it twice a week, the salt could cause facial issues if used more frequently.

Soap dye works the best. You can get it at most health and beauty stores. Some food dyes will also do the trick, but be careful with the amounts as too much food dye will color your skin.

You can, but it will be more ideal to use olive or argan oil. Vegetable oil can be more greasy than others.

Salt and oil may prevent this. Salt alone is good too, just make sue you moisturize afterwards!

Try to avoid using food coloring, because yes, it will stain the skin. Use coloring specified for cosmetics. There are plenty of inexpensive options on Amazon or eBay.

Yes. While some people worry about chemicals from the plastics dispersing into the scrub, this is highly unlikely to happen.