Did I mention how frugal I am yet? No? Well, if there is one word that describes me, it would probably be frugal - though perhaps in a "penny wise, pound foolish" kind of way (more to come on that topic, when I finally finish my coasters project... any day now).
My frugality sometimes results in odd impulses and principles. Case in point: I hate throwing away any part of my bamboo stalks after I trim them back for the summer. We have large clumps of bamboo scattered around our house, and every summer we have to rescue doors, windows, and balconies from the onslaught of foliage that has accumulated over the last twelve months. This year, I decided to do something with every piece of the scrap bamboo.
For the tops of the pruned shoots, which has the youngest and softest leaves and stems, I came up with this recipe. The bamboo provides anti-aging benefits, fights free radicals from the environment, and provides long-lasting moisture. The bamboo fibers and sea salt exfoliate dead skin cells, and the mint, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice cleanse the skin of dirt and dead skin cells. Finally, the aloe, olive oil, and baking soda soothe and moisturize the skin, and the coconut oil leaves behind a long-lasting fresh scent.
This scrub/wash leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, but not oily. You may notice a slightly slick feeling immediately after you bathe, which goes away within 10-20 minutes. If the feeling lingers any longer, reduce the amount of olive oil used to 1/4 of a cup and adjust water as necessary to achieve the right consistency.
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup young bamboo shoots
1 cup mint leaves
1 large aloe leaf
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp corn starch
18 drops coconut essential oil
Directions:
(Note: the picture shows a food processor, but I recommend a mixer so that you don't end up with uncut pieces of bamboo stem)
Wash bamboo, aloe, and mint leaves. Combine all ingredients in a blender, starting with dry ingredients. Mix ingredients together on lowest setting, then blend on highest setting until the mix has a puree consistency (like plain yogurt) and no large pieces of bamboo, aloe, or mint can be seen. Add water in small amounts if needed. Divide mixture amongst two clean airtight containers. Will keep for 1 week at room temperature, or up to 1 month in the fridge.
When bathing, pour a generous amount into your hand and rub all over your body, taking care to scrub areas where dead skin cells tend to accumulate (e.g., elbows, knees, legs, arms). Rinse and you're done!
