diy body scrub (no salt, no sugar)

welcome back! today we’re mixing up a super simple, gently exfoliating body scrub that doesn’t involve sugar or salt.

as always, no links provided are affiliates nor do i benefit in any way. they exist only to help guide you on sourcing from trusted brands.

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INGREDIENTS

  • raspberry seed powder
  • your favorite carrier oil (jojoba, almond, olive, etc.)
  • optional – up to 1% essential oils, or clay, or butter, or ground oats, or flower petals, etc. get creative!

HOW TO

  • in a clean, dry bowl, add 4 ounces or 1/2 cup of the finely ground walnut shell powder
  • add 2 to 4 ounces or 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your favorite carrier oil and stir (will vary based on your desired consistency)
  • add any optional ingredients, tweaking the recipe to get the perfect consistency

use on damp skin and rinse thoroughly. follow up with your favorite body oil or body moisturizer. store in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight.

what will you add to your body scrub? what carrier oil will you use?

share your formulas below or with me on ig @_alexandraraye

XO, ALEXRAYE

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exfoliating raspberry jelly

hi crunchies!

today we’re going to create a lightweight exfoliating jelly. it’s fun to use and functional. it can be used on your face, body, and scalp.

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*pic from Uvive Health

this scrub is super easy to make, but please note that this contains water and needs to be preserved… no exceptions. if you don’t, you have to use it within 48 hours and store it in the fridge. any more time and you’ll be putting some nasty bacteria on your face, even if you can’t see it with the naked eye.

the preservative we’ll use is pricey but a “natural” one. the company puts it on sale for 25% off every few months, if you wanna wait and see. there are cheaper options available, so feel free to research and see what works best for you.

INGREDIENTS

hibiscus is a nice water-soluble colorant, but is also known as the “botox plant.” i posted about it a few years ago here.

HOW TO

  1. soak your hibiscus flower/tea bag in a cup of hot water until it turns a light to medium pinkish red. you don’t want it too dark because it can potentially stain counters, clothes, and light skin tones. once steeped, strain.
  2. add the 1/4 tsp powdered aspen bark extract and fully incorporate.
  3. very evenly and finely sprinkle your 1/4 tsp xanthan gum powder over the top and let it sit for at least 2 hours at room temperature. *do not stir* or it will clump into what we call “fish eyes.”  once hydrated and gelled, stir well.
  4. stir in your raspberry seed powder.
  5. store in a squeezy container for easy use.
  6. gently scrub from head to toe and rinse with warm water. follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

easy peasy and leaves you hydrated and smooth all over!

what are your favorite all-over exfoliators?

XO, ALEXRAYE

 

hibiscus 2.0 – hair & skin tonic

if you’ve followed me long enough, you’ll remember i first posted on the hibiscus flower for beauty uses about 3 years ago. now that i live in mexico and hibiscus, or ‘flor de jamaica,’ is abundant here, i’d thought i’d give a little update post for this wonderful flower.

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hibiscus can be used both internally and externally, for a multitude of purposes.

when used internally, it’s been touted for cholesterol level and blood pressure maintenance, to help nausea and promote appetite, and to calm nerves. when used on hair, it increases shine and softness, and decreases hair fall. when used topically, hibiscus, a natural source of alpha-hydroxy acids, known to promote cell turnover, gently polish/exfoliate, increase elasticity, even skin tone, lighten spots and blemishes, control break-outs, and balance oils. it’s quite the power plant!

there are various parts of the plant that can be used and prepared differently. if you’re wondering whether you could benefit from incorporating hibiscus into your diet, please consult a certified herbalist and also conduct your own research.

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for this post, we’ll make a really strong hibiscus tea that you can store in your fridge for a few days. this tea can be applied directly to your scalp and hair to help with dry/itchy scalp, dandruff, and dullness.

you can also apply it to your clean face before bed for a nice dose of vitamin c and AHA acids that will gently polish and brighten your complexion. it’s a powerful anti-aging flower and will help with fine lines, spots, and increasing elasticity.

HOW TO:

start with a large coffee mug, enough water to fill it 75%, and a handful of whole, dried hibiscus flowers. big bags of these flowers are at my local grocery stores, but i used to buy them from Mountain Rose Herbs. i’m sure amazon would carry some, too.

put your flowers in your mug,  boil your water, pour the boiling water into the mug, let steep, and let it cool to room temperature. done! keep in a sealed bottle or jar in your fridge. use nightly. discard remaining liquid (or drink it – it’s tangy and delicious!) after 3 days.

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please note that if you are fair-complected or have light colored anything in your bathroom, hibiscus can leave stains.

bonus: blend the leftover flowers up really finely and apply as a face pack for a gentle flower acid exfoliation. moisturize after.

have you used hibiscus for any beauty recipes? do you drink it? it’s such a popular drink here in CDMX, usually served iced and slightly sweetened.

XO, ALEXRAYE

exfoliating MSM face mask

hey crunchies! today i have something i’m very excited to share with you (and i hope you’re excited about what it does!). i gave you a little teaser on instagram, but it definitely looked like some sort of melted ice cream. haha!

exfoliating and healing MSM mask

it’s an exfoliating face mask that also:

Continue reading exfoliating MSM face mask