As I took to the bathroom last night for a bit of a pamper, I noticed that one of my all-time favourite beauty products had almost run out. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish (£23, 330ml, from the REN website is a sublimely scented body scrub, containing no nasties like parabens, and packed with essential oils. Rosa damascena is the one you notice, plus others such as geranium oil, all mixed together with cane sugar in a base of sweet almond and olive oils. Used on dry skin (for a more robust scrub) or on wet (a softer polish), it gets rid of dead skin cells and moisturises, leaving you smelling gorgeous.

Anyway, as I say, mine had almost run out (I suspect my other half has been at it), so I decided to top it up, as I wasn't within reach of a REN stockist. All you need is some oil, sugar or salt and essential oils. Oil-wise, sweet almond is the best (that's Prunus dulcis to those of you who read your labels), but you can use olive or sunflower oil. Pour in enough sugar or salt to give a grainy paste, not too sloppy, not too stiff - a suitable consistency for rubbing onto your skin. Then add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil/s. (If you don't have any, don't add any!) Stir with your fingers, then scoop out and exfoliate away!

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