Lavender-Rosemary Scrub

The Topic: DIY Body Scrub-a-dub-dub

The Dish: Um, how is it June already? Seriously. While I don't have the answer to how almost half the year is gone, I do know one thing: My skin is not exactly ready to make its summertime debut. Back home, I'd always know that warm weather had arrived when Mom would show up with a freshly made jar of fragrant body scrub, complete with homegrown herbs and this look on her face that said, "Honey, it's cute that you think you're ready to wear shorts but you need this."

Now that she's a few thousand miles away, it's time to do the grown-up thing and make my own. Guess what? You can too! It's easy, cheaper than buying those insane $45 magical scrubs, and, of course, totally customizable. (While this recipe calls for a nice rosemary-lavender-lemon combo, follow your nose with any herbs and essential oils you prefer.)

This basic body scrub will do wonders for dry, dull, depressed skin. If you're already on the bandwagon of growing your own herbs at home (or on a fire escape—check out our upcoming anniversary issue for more details, hint hint), then it'll save you even more money. If not, don't fret: This recipe yields about 3 cups of scrub, and it lasts—a little goes a long way. In fact, you could probably share some of your bounty and earn points with friends and family, too.

Mom's Ultimate Lavender-Rosemary Scrub

Makes 3 cups

What You Need:

1 cup sea salt

1 cup raw sugar

1/3 cup fresh lavender, washed and destemmed

1/3 cup fresh rosemary, washed and destemmed

20 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops rosemary essential oil

5 drops lemon essential oil

Grapeseed oil (see instructions)

4 airtight glass jars

What You Do:

1. In a food processor, place salt and sugar, and process until well-blended, about 15 seconds. Add lavender and rosemary and process again until well-blended. Add lavender, rosemary, and lemon essential oils and process.
2. In an airtight jar, place mixture and allow to set in a dark place for 2 to 3 days to allow the herbs and essential oils to integrate with the scrub.
3. In a separate airtight jar, place 1 cup of mixture and slowly pour in grapeseed oil until just covered. Stir thoroughly, adding more oil if necessary to reach a thick, pourable consistency, with no oil sitting on top. Repeat with 2 remaining jars.

The Final Word: For best results, use on dry (or slightly damp, if you have very sensitive skin) skin before showering, rinse with warm water, and pat dry. Summertime skin success!