Have you had enough of winter and feel ready to shake off that damaged skin layer winter has left behind? Or are you simply ready to treat yourself to something special?

If you answered "yes" to these questions then head for the kitchen and with a few readily available supplies you can get started. Body scrubs are a good starting point. They are easy to create, easy to use and leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated and your mind calm and relaxed.

Using a chemical-free body scrub once or twice a week is a great way to feel pampered and luxurious. The benefits scrubs offer are numerous and are great for an attitude adjustment; effectively exfoliating dead skin cells, remove ground in dirt and excess oil and they combat cellulite.

Don't worry if you have no experience in making your own natural body scrub, the following recipes are simple and most ingredients are already sitting in your kitchen cupboard.

Exfoliating Scrubs

Dead skin cells are removed by rubbing a course material across the skin. Ingredients such as salt, preferably sea salt, oatmeal or sugar are great for an effective and quick scrub.

If you have sensitive skin oatmeal is a great beginning. It is gentle and provides a calming effect. If cost is not a consideration you can use coffee, seeds of edible plants or almonds.

When grinding ingredients, keep in mind that the exfoliating properties are more effective with courser products. If you have never exfoliated be sure to start with gentle circular motions, otherwise you may irritate or damage your skin.

Moisturizing Scrubs

To add moisture to one of the scrubs above, listen to the experts and stick with holistic plant-based ingredients. Oils such as coconut, apricot kernel, jojoba, Vitamin E and olive oil are all great choices. Basically, any mineral oil will do the trick, but remember to steer clear of petroleum-based ingredients since these tend to cause more harm than good.

Another secret is to add a touch of honey to the base scrub and oil. Honey is also an antibacterial and is effective in the prevention and elimination of blemishes or acne. For an effective moisturizing scrub add enough oil or honey to create a paste that is somewhat thick.

Fragrant Scrubs

Essential oils not only offer a wonderful fragrance but have healing properties as well. Adding a few drops of essential oils such as lemon or citrus, sandalwood, lavender, vanilla or eucalyptus add an entirely new dimension to your scrub. It's even possible to add several oils together to create a fragrance that is totally yours.

Do a little research to be sure to select an oil that is suitable for your particular skin condition. For example, lavender oil is known to be relaxing while eucalyptus is stimulating but can be irritating to sensitive skin. The exciting thing is that you have the ability to do a little experimentation or can create two or three different scrubs to use depending on your mood.

Combining the Ingredients

Obviously, use a clean and sterile container. Start with the dry ingredient first, then add the oil of your choosing. But, start slowly with a small amount of oil continuing to add more until the paste is smooth and thick enough to spread without dripping or running.

To top it off, add a couple of drops of an essential oil for fragrance. Mix it all together thoroughly and enjoy.

Quite a simple process really, and you have created the opportunity to spoil yourself with a home spa treatment. These also make great gifts for virtually any occasion.

After you realize how simple the process is and the extent of the benefits they offer, there is little doubt you will go on to develop several individualized recipes.