Simply Scrumptious Candy Cane Foot Scrub

Ingredients:

Candy canes
Coconut oil*

Equipment:

A bowl and spoon, for mixing
Measuring cups
Something to crush the candy
A jar for storage

* You can substitute any oil you like for the coconut oil, such as olive or almond.

I started out by unwrapping my candy canes and putting them in a resealable plastic bag, then giving them a few whacks with my rolling pin. This was very noisy and not very effective. It broke them up but didn't really crush them the way I wanted.

So I switched to using a meat tenderizer. It did a much better job of whacking, but I eventually ended up shaking the pieces out of the bag onto my bamboo cutting board and using the metal end of the tenderizer to grind them. This turned out to be the best way to get the coarse sugar texture I was going for.

Of course you can use a food processor, if you have one, and save yourself all this trouble. But it won't be as much fun.

I measured my crushed Candy canes to get an idea of how much oil I would need. I had 1/2 a cup of candy, so I measured out 1/8 cup coconut oil. How much oil you use is a matter of personal preference. I don't like my scrubs to be too oily, and in fact don't usually use oil at all, so I found the 4:1 ratio just right.

I heated the coconut oil for about 15 seconds in the microwave to liquefy it so that it would be easier to blend in. Then I added it a couple of teaspoons at a time to the candy. I wasn't sure if I would want the entire 1/8 of a cup, and coconut oil is a little pricey so I I didn't want to waste any.

I also added a couple of spoonfuls of plain white sugar at this point, which technically makes this a 3 ingredient scrub. It was very humid and the candy cane wanted to clump together. Adding a bit of sugar helped to fix this.

You could also add other ingredients at this point if you want to. The peppermint from the candy canes is not really that strong so a few drops of peppermint oil could be added, for example, or any other essential oil/fragrance you like.

That's all there is to it. Transfer your sugar scrub to a clean jar and it's ready to use or give as a gift.

To use, start by soaking your feet and then apply the rub while they are still wet. Rub gently in a circular motion, rinse off and pat dry. At the end of a hot summer day, your feet will thank you!

This scrub can also be used on the hands, face, and anywhere you want to exfoliate. You could even use it on your lips, since it is completely edible. But the texture is a little bit rough, so be careful if you have sensitive skin.