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Himalayan Salt Scrub DIY
  • Beauty

DIY Himalayan Salt Scrub Recipe + Tutorial

Katie WellsMar 2, 2022
Reading Time: 4 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » DIY Himalayan Salt Scrub Recipe + Tutorial
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Why Make a DIY Salt Scrub? +−
    • The Best Salt for a Homemade Salt Scrub
    • Pink Himalayan Salt Benefits
  • Choosing a Carrier Oil+−
    • Grapefruit Essential Oil Benefits
    • Soothing Peppermint
  • Himalayan Salt Scrub DIY+−
    • Tips for Using
    • Storage Tips

Looking for smoother, fresher feeling skin? This Himalayan salt scrub DIY is easy, simple, and great for exfoliating away dead skin cells. Body scrubs like this are just one of the homemade beauty products that are a staple in my home!

Why Make a DIY Salt Scrub? 

Just the act of rubbing the skin helps stimulate fluid flow, reduce cellulite, and improve your skin’s overall tone and health. Dry brushing is a great way to do this, but a Himalayan salt scrub DIY also stimulates the skin and provides even more benefits. Adding essential oils ups the benefits even further and adds a hearty dose of mood-boosting aromatherapy.

This recipe is great for a body scrub, but salt can be too harsh for sensitive skin on the face. If you’re looking for a good face scrub, try this anti-inflammatory cumin sugar scrub recipe.

The Best Salt for a Homemade Salt Scrub

Salt (like sugar) helps exfoliate dead skin and increase circulation, but unlike sugar scrubs, it can contain healthy minerals. Regular iodized table salt is stripped of vital nutrients, so it’s not my first choice. Here are some different types of healthy salt to use for a salt scrub recipe.

  • Epsom salt is basically magnesium, and I love it in my homemade foot scrub.
  • Dead sea salt is really high in minerals, especially magnesium. A 2005 study found major skin benefits from soaking in it! 
  • Pink salt, also known as Himalayan salt, has dozens of trace minerals in it. 
  • Real Salt is very similar in mineral content to Himalayan salt. Instead of being mined in Pakistan, though, it comes from Utah. 
  • Celtic sea salt has trace minerals and is also a healthy choice for a sea salt scrub. 

While all of these are good choices, obviously I’ve opted for Himalayan salt for this particular recipe. You could substitute one of the other healthy salts if you prefer, though. Just make sure it’s finely ground.

Pink Himalayan Salt Benefits

Himalayan salt is my favorite natural salt to keep around because it’s so rich in minerals and trace elements, like calcium, magnesium, and iron. When consumed, it can help balance electrolyte and pH levels, strengthen bones, and support circulation, to name a few things. This salt scrub DIY nourishes skin with all of the minerals and trace elements of the salt.

Choosing a Carrier Oil

Most scrubs include a carrier oil of some kind to help the scrub glide over the skin. This recipe uses coconut oil for its amazing skin benefits and some lighter sweet almond oil to tone it down while still moisturizing. I’ve also included a small amount of castile soap to help cleanse the skin as you moisturize for a truly all-in-one scrub.

If you don’t have almond oil on hand, other options include olive oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or fractionated coconut oil. Just make sure the oil you choose to replace the sweet almond oil with is liquid at room temperature.

Grapefruit Essential Oil Benefits

Grapefruit essential oil helps stimulate the lymphatic system and eliminate excess water weight. It also helps boost circulation and diminish the appearance of cellulite. One 2005 study found that just smelling grapefruit can boost metabolism and speed weight loss. It’s also high in limonene, which helps protect cells from free radical damage. It smells amazing in this DIY granite spray, too!

Some aromatherapists, including essential oil expert Tisserand, consider grapefruit to be phototoxic if used above 4%. This means it can cause sun sensitivity if left on. There shouldn’t be a concern here though, since the grapefruit is washed off and is at .5%.

Soothing Peppermint

Although more commonly used for digestion and to aid in clear breathing, peppermint oil with its menthol content also makes an invigorating salt scrub. Peppermint helps wake you up and increases energy. It can also help balance oil production for clearer skin. I like using it to help soothe headaches. 

Since it’s a strong essential oil, make sure it’s properly diluted, and don’t use it on very young children. In this body scrub recipe, we’re only using a tiny fraction of a percent just for the scent. 

Himalayan salt scrub DIY

Himalayan Salt Scrub DIY

Katie Wells
This easy salt scrub DIY leaves skin feeling smooth and fresh.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Servings 12 ounces

Equipment

  • Small glass bowl
  • Silicone spatula
  • Pint size mason jar with lid

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Himalayan salt finely ground
  • 2 TBSP coconut oil
  • ⅓ cup sweet almond oil
  • 1 TBSP castile soap
  • 30 drops grapefruit essential oil
  • 2 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions
 

  • In a small glass bowl, add the coconut oil, essential oils, and sweet almond oil. Mash it all together with a fork or silicone spatula.
  • Add in the castile soap and Himalayan salt.
  • Store your Himalayan salt scrub DIY in a glass jar.

Notes

To Use: Rub all over your body in circular motions to cleanse and exfoliate, then rinse off with warm water. 
Shelf Life: Will last for about 6 months if stored properly.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tips for Using

  • Since this product is made with oil, be careful when using it in the shower as it can make the floor slippery.

Storage Tips

  • Store in a cool, dry place at room temperature and apply with dry hands. This doesn’t need a preservative because it doesn’t contain water. Be careful not to introduce water to the homemade body scrub in the shower.
  • You can also add some vitamin E to give the scrub an antioxidant boost and help prevent the oils from oxidizing if preferred.

Ever used a salt scrub? What are your favorite scents to use? Leave us a comment, and be sure to share this post with a friend!

Make your own soothing Grapefruit Mint salt scrub using finely ground Himalayan salt, almond oil and essential oils to soften and pamper skin.

Sources
  1. Group, E. (2017). The Benefits of Himalayan Salt. Global Healing.
  2. Proksch, E., Nissen, H. P., Bremgartner, M., & Urquhart, C. (2005). Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. International journal of dermatology, 44(2), 151–157.
  3. Redmond. (N.D.). What’s the difference between Real Salt and Himalayan salt?
  4. Shen, J., Niijima, A., Tanida, M., Horii, Y., Maeda, K., & Nagai, K. (2005). Olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats. Neuroscience letters, 380(3), 289–294.
  5. Tisserand, R. Young, R. (2013). Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Category: Beauty

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (38 Comments)

  1. Josephine

    February 1, 2017 at 10:25 AM

    How far in advance can you make this? Can you make bulk of it for shower favors?

    Reply
  2. Julie

    January 31, 2017 at 7:53 PM

    How long does this scrub keep for?

    Reply
  3. Sharifa Patel

    January 31, 2017 at 1:30 PM

    @ Khyati. It’s Grapefruit Essential oil, not Grapeseed carrier oil

    Reply
  4. Patricia

    January 28, 2017 at 6:09 AM

    Hello! Thank you for making this easy to follow DIY himalayan salt scrub. 🙂 I’ve read somewhere before that this type of salt has a lot of benefits, and generally being a salt, it contributes a lot to the improvement of the skin since it gently exfoliates dead skin cells without being to harsh towards the body’s natural protective layer so I think this is really a good alternative from those scrubs that can be seen from the malls.

    Reply
  5. Alicia

    January 23, 2017 at 2:56 PM

    Does anyone have a suggestion on an oil to use besides peppermint? I will be breastfeeding soon and can’t use that then…

    Reply
    • Melissa Auxier

      March 12, 2017 at 9:57 PM

      Lavender is a great all purpose oil, very calming.

      Reply
  6. Nina

    January 23, 2017 at 11:17 AM

    I’m afraid of using the glass jars for a container since I tend to drop everything. Is plastic OK?

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      January 23, 2017 at 11:48 AM

      I’m not a fan of using plastic: https://wellnessmama.com/23757/plastic-dangers/

      Reply
  7. Khyati

    January 22, 2017 at 10:17 PM

    The grapeseed essential oil… is this the regular grapeseed oil that we get in big bottles or is it different?

    Reply
  8. Mary

    January 22, 2017 at 1:25 PM

    Do you ever add magnesium salts to your salt scrub?

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      January 22, 2017 at 4:48 PM

      Yes, sometimes 🙂

      Reply
  9. Lindsay

    January 19, 2017 at 12:29 AM

    What Castile soap scent would be best, peppermint? Almond?

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Teneko

      January 22, 2017 at 9:55 AM

      There’s also citrus castile soap and unscented. I was just thinking about making this with the unscented Dr Bronners. I usually use the citrus one in the orange bottle.
      Coconut oil is so stiff. What do you use to mix it? Just a sturdy wooden spoon or what?

      -T.

      Reply
  10. Nancy

    January 17, 2017 at 10:20 PM

    Hi Katie. Usually your essential oil links link to Mountain Rose Herbs website. I see the grapefruit and peppermint oils here link to plant therapy and eden’s garden. Do you typically use these brands and so you still buy essential oils from mountain rose herbs?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      January 18, 2017 at 7:47 PM

      I buy from both 🙂

      Reply
    • Tolu

      March 4, 2018 at 2:27 AM

      This recipie sounds inviting. Can it be used as a face scrub too?

      Reply
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