by Katharine Koeppen, RA

You may be on lockdown, but that doesn't mean you can't indulge yourself a little. A twice-weekly body scrub can go a long way toward elevating your mood if you're feeling depressed, bored or stir-crazy.

This luxurious scrub uses exotic date sugar as one of the exfoliants. Date sugar is coarsely ground and gives a wonderfully effective texture to the scrub, as well as a divine aroma. If you can't find date sugar online (I'm able to get it fresh from the date farms in Coachella Valley), you can substitute additional brown sugar in the recipe. It doesn't quite have the same skin-softening properties as date sugar, but is an excellent exfoliant and easy-to-find pantry staple.

Aromaceuticals Date Nut Body Scrub

1 C        date sugar (the coarser, the better)
1 C        brown sugar
1/2 C     macadamia nut or kukui nut oil 
1/4 tsp  ground cinnamon 
13 dr     green mandarin essential oil
7 dr       cardamon essential oil 

In a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowl, mix together all ingredients to make a thick paste. You may need to use slightly more or less nut oil to get the right consistency. Spoon into a glass jar and store tightly closed. Use a generous amount on wet skin and apply in a circular scrubbing motion.

Aaaaaah!