So, we’ve been chatting with our bioesthetician and it seems we may have been a bit OTT in our fear about Michael DeJong’s Citrus Derma Bath, as featured in Clean Body: The Humble Art of Zen Cleansing Yourself. And, as long as you blend the ingredients in the correct proportions you should be ok… 

“That combo is actually not that bad,” says Ishtar. “Lemon juice is extremely acidic but when combined with olive oil (which I believe has a neutral pH) and table salt (neutral) you get a mildly acidic pH. The key here is mixing equal amounts of olive oil and salt and then add lemon juice until you get a pH balanced blend (for exfoliating purposes anything from 4.6 to 4.8 will do the trick). I recommend using perfectly ground Dead Sea salts, rich in minerals and trace elements. If the salt is perfectly ground and the correct pH is maintained (ed: Ishtar has promised to find, there is no risk of dryness as the olive oil will keep the skin moisturised. However, this scrub should never be used on the face and probably isn’t suitable for sensitive skin types.”

Ishtar says there are several milder exfoliators for people struggling with the salt scrub. Honey and oatmeal is one of her top recommendations. And Ghee and flax meal is another, although it is very messy, she warns!