How to Make a Gardener’s Hand Scrub and Hand Cream

I’m sure some of you can relate to this! We own those beautiful well-made gardening gloves…yet we never wear them. There is just something so therapeutic about getting your hands in the dirt and actually touching those delicate seeds and transplants. And I don’t care what anyone says, it feels good to rip those weeds out of the ground!

“We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is nurturing us.” -Jenny Uglow

Gardening season is hard on the hands.

Gardening season is so amazing for the soul but can be hard on the hands. Planting, digging, harvesting, weeding, trimming bushes, lawn maintenance…it all can leave hands dirty, dry, and rough. Playing in the dirt really dries out my skin. Anyone else?

Gardener’s hand scrub and hand cream to the rescue!!!

With this easy to make, all-natural hand scrub and cream, we can let the plants restore and heal our skin again. The gardener’s hand scrub cleans, exfoliates and moisturizes and it only takes 3 minutes to make. I have also found it useful when getting off grime and tree sap! Follow it with the gardener’s hand cream and your hands will be feeling luxurious after a day of putting in some work!

Helpful Essential oils

When I’m making homemade skincare recipes, I want natural ingredients that work, but are also safe for the skin. The hand scrub contains Castille soap for cleansing, sugar and salt for exfoliating and coconut oil for moisturizing. It combines the cleansing and refreshing benefits of lemongrass, lemon, lavender, and peppermint essential oils. For the hand cream, I combined the amazing moisturizing effects of sandalwood hydrosol, almond oil, vitamin E oil, beeswax and mango butter combined with the healing properties of lavender and rosemary essential oil.

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Gardener's Hand Scrub

Yield: 7 ounces

Author: Holly Brandenberger

Prep time: 3 MinTotal time: 3 Min

This DIY gardener's hand scrub cleans, exfoliates and moisturizes those dry, dirty hands after working in the garden! It only takes 3 minutes to make!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup liquid Castille soap
• 1/4 cup refined coconut oil (the solid kind)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup salt (I use fine sea salt)
• 12 drops lemongrass essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions

1. On stovetop or in microwave, melt coconut oil into liquid. Melt until it just turns into liquid and is not hot or boiling.
2. Allow to cool slightly.
3. Mix together Castille soap, coconut oil and essential oils.
4. Add in salt and sugar to the mixture.
5. Pour into glass jar for storage.
6. Optional: Add some lemon zest or dried flowers to the top.
7. Scrub is now ready to use. Apply small amount to hands and scrub under warm water.

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Gardener's Hand Cream

Author: Holly Brandenberger

Prep time: 8 MinCook time: 2 MinTotal time: 10 Min

This luxurious all-natural plant-based hand cream is perfect to moisturize dry hands after working in the garden!

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood Hydrosol
• 1/3 cup Aloe Vera leaf gel
• 3/4 cup Sweet Almond oil
• 5 tablespoons Mango butter
• 2 tablespoons Beeswax
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• 20 drops Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
• Natural Preservative (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine hydrosol and aloe gel in glass measuring cup. If using natural preservative, add in and stir well. Set aside.
2. Gently heat mango butter and beeswax in double boiler over low heat (or a glass pyrex, bowl or canning jar over a small saucepan of simmering water) until melted. Stir thoroughly.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4. Add Vitamin E oils and essential oils to beeswax/butter mixture and stir well.
5. When semi solid, transfer to blender and slowly add hydrosol and aloe mixture pouring small amounts at a time.
6. When mixture is white and creamy, remove and pour into sterilized glass storage jar.
7. Store in refrigerator and use within 1 month. (If using a preservative, shelf life will be longer)

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