If your skin needs some exfoliation, but you’ve found the traditional 'salt scrub" of the Western spa-world to be too abrasive, give Ayurveda a try. Garbanzo flour has been used for centuries to cleanse and stimulate the skin, move the lymph, and draw out fluids.

This is particularly beneficial for Pitta and Kapha body types whose skin tends to be oilier. However, if you have dry skin you can still do the scrub. Just be sure to replace the moisture afterward with a good body oil or all-natural skin lotion.

Supplies needed:
• 1 - 1 ½ cups garbanzo/chick-pea flour (try Whole Foods, health food stores, and Indian groceries – they will usually have it in stock)
• 1 - 2 cups oil (sesame, coconut, sunflower, safflower, olive, almond, grapeseed … whatever you have on hand.)
• Large mixing bowl
• Large spoon for mixing
• Old sheet

Directions:
Since this tends to be messy, do it in your bathroom. Lay out the old sheet on the floor right next to the shower so you don’t have to worry about all the bits of body scrub that fall off your skin.

Put the garbanzo flour in the bowl and slowly start adding the massage oil, mixing it as you go. You may not need to add all the oil – see what works for you. In general, you want the flour/oil paste to be like a thick cake batter – not too runny, but not clumpy like a cookie dough. You can always add more oil, or more flour, to get the consistency you like.

Take off your clothes and turn on the shower so it’s ready for you when you’re done scrubbing. Then scoop up some of that yummy paste and start plastering it to your skin. Rub it into your legs, arms, torso, back, neck, and even your face if you like. Spend a little extra time on any rough areas like your elbows and feet. When you feel sufficiently scrubbed, step into the shower to rinse. The paste comes off quite easily and leaves your skin feeling silky-soft and smooth. Take an extra few minutes to rinse even after you think all the paste is off your body, rub it out of your cuticles, and from in between your toes.

After your shower, finish with an application of body oil or lotion to replace moisture if needed.

To clean up, gather up the old sheet, take it outside and shake it out. Then you can throw it into the laundry. Any extra paste left in the bowl can be scooped into the garbage. The dirty dishes can be washed in the sink as usual.