By Alexis Wolfer

Young or old, unless you own stock in a moisturizer company, by the time March comes around your skin is likely Parched (yes, with a capital P!).

From playing outside in the frosty winter air with nieces and nephews, to hours of staying indoors in the dry heat, our skin takes a beating. Sucked of moisture, our skin needs more than just a few pumps of your favorite Aveeno lotion (FYI they have a new Daily Moisturizing Sheer Hydration lotion you’ll love, come the humid months of summer!).

Fact is, unless you first scrub away the dead, dull (yup, it’s gross) outermost skin cells that are preventing your moisturizer from doing its job, your lotion can’t penetrate and hydrate. Plus, those dead skin cells are largely responsible for your ashy, winter complexion, so let’s say sayonara!

What I love about this DIY body scrub (yes, it’s just for the body – click here for one for your face) is that not only does it get the job done, but it also feels especially decadent. With luxurious rose petals (which are packed with antioxidants!), hydrating honey, chemically exfoliating and moisturizing coconut oil, and manually exfoliating sugar, this body scrub will leave even the most winter-weathered skin soft and smooth.

And, because this is all-natural and affords you the opportunity to alter the amount of “scrub” you get, it’s great for skin of all ages -- which makes it a great snowy day indoor activity to do with nieces or nephews!

Rose Body Scrub

The petals from 1 rose
1 tbsp raw honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
White sugar, as desired

Roughly chop the rose petals either by hand or in a blender. Stir in the raw honey and coconut oil until smooth. Slowly add white sugar until you achieve your desired consistency (adding less for the more sensitive skin of your young nieces or nephews!).

Apply to your legs, arms, feet, elbows and more (avoiding your neck and face) in gentle circular motion. Rinse with warm water to wash away the sugar, leaving the oily residue on your skin as moisturizer.

For more all-natural beauty recipes, click here to order my book full of ‘em!

Photo Praisaeng
Published: March 4, 2015