Homemade Coconut Coffee Body Scrub. You will hear this a lot, not only from me but from all the health bloggers out there. 2016 is the year of self-care. It’s about putting yourself first and doing something that makes you feel good and is something that is just for you.

It’s about taking the time for yourself.

It’s not about being selfish. It’s not about abandoning commitments or sticking the kids in front of the television to keep them occupied. It’s about sneaking in little moments and doing something for you, that will make you feel better. The flow on effect will be that you are happier, calmer and in a better mental state to face the day.

Over the years of selling my organic skincare range at the local markets, I would often have women comment that they don’t have time for a face or body scrub. That they barely have the time or energy to cleanse and moisturise.

These are the same women who want to take care of themselves, who have the desire to be the best they can be. However, they all feel that it is a little bit too hard and that they don’t have the time for it. Yet, this doesn’t stop them from wanting it, and in turn, leaving them feeling a little deflated that they are not quite where they want to be in regards to self-happiness and contentment.

My advice in this scenario is to not try and take it all one at once. I get that the reality of waking up early (especially before the kids), meditating for 20 minutes, followed by some yoga and a green smoothie is not going to happen for most people, no matter how much they desire it. Nor do they have the time or finances to book in weekly massages and facials to pamper themselves with self-care. Sound familiar?

So in the spirit of all the health ‘hacking’ that is going around the web at the moment, here is my offering of how to give yourself some self-care time that will only take 5 minutes, cost less than one dollar but will leave you feeling energised and your skin glowing.

This Coconut Coffee Body Scrub is a similar version to one of my best selling body scrubs. I simplified the recipe to ingredients that most people will have in their pantry so that you can go and make it today. Coconut oil is so healing for the skin and nourishes it without leaving it greasy. I have added the coffee as the aroma is so invigorating in the morning, plus the caffeine is a great circulatory stimulant. You will feel the blood pumping after this scrub. You can choose what type of sugar that you want to use. If you have sensitive or delicate skin, you may prefer to use a finer grain such as white sugar. For those wanting a more invigorating scrub can use a raw sugar for a courser grain.

COCONUT COFFEE BODY SCRUB

½ cup coconut oil

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon instant coffee

2 drops of vanilla essential oil (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Use this scrub in the shower on damp skin once a week and you will notice the benefits after the first use.