Loofah Sponge

The Loofah Sponge
Natural Beauty Tools

Mother Nature gives us many tools to enhance our natural beauty. Some tools are grouped to be used together and others are used alone. These tools help to make bathing a pleasure.

The Loofah sponge has been used for years to remove dead skin cell from the body. The loofah sponges sold in stores today contain bits & pieces of chopped loofah. This is not really a sponge but a gourd that can be grown in your garden. You can buy loofah seed anywhere seeds are sold. The seeds are slow to germinate, & it takes about 75 days to produce a loofah sponge from seed. The plants grow on vines and may need some wire, string or trellis to support them. You can expect the fruit to be up to eight inches in length.

The gourds are ready to harvest when the skin turns brown. The gourds need to be dried in the sun, and then soaked in water until the outer skin disappears. You will not only have plenty of skin scrubbers for the entire year, they make excellent gifts. This may sound like to much for work, loofah sponges can be purchased at most stores in the skin care section in many shapes and sizes. The sponges can also be used in the kitchen as a natural pot scrubber. The loofah sponge should never be used on the face as they can be too harsh. A loofah sponge can be kept clean by washing it with mild soap and allow it to dry after each use. It is suggested that we replace the loofah sponge about every two months.

The Pumice Stone is another natural tool for our feet. We can thank the volcanoes for this natural beauty tool. In Southern Oregon pumice stones are plentiful. Pumice stones are cooled bits of volcanic lava and are used to remove dead skin and callused from the feet, knees, elbows and hands. They work best when wet. Soap the stone and rub it over your skin.

Cotton: Cotton is a very soft natural fiber. Cotton balls are excellent for applying or removing makeup or skin care products. Cotton is naturally soft and absorbent. Cotton balls and pads can be purchased at most drug store.

Sea Sponge: The sea sponge is an animal that lives at the bottom of the ocean. Sponges are one of the oldest animals; for centuries people have used their skeletons for cleansing and bathing because they are soft and absorb a large amount of water. You can purchase sea sponges at most drugstores and natural food stores.