Sugar may not be good for your insides, but a sugar scrub can be very good for your skin. Those expensive scrubs in department stores and spas… they cost pennies to make! Sugar scrubs are a simple beauty recipe with countless variations, and they can be incredibly moisturizing and exfoliating to the skin.

I use scrubs on my face, body, and (especially) feet to slough off dead skin and moisturize. The result? Silky skin with minimal effort!

If you are new to making your own beauty products (or even if you are a veteran natural beauty alchemist) I highly encourage you to try out these homemade sugar scrub recipes.

Why Use Sugar Scrub?

Taking time out from mom-life to take care of ourselves isn’t always easy, but let’s face it… skin needs TLC to stay healthy. Switching to more natural cosmetics and beauty products may mean leaving some of your favorite products behind.

Not to worry! In my experience a natural skin care regime can work even better (and certainly is better for you). In many ways natural beauty products have simplified my routine since I can mix up what I need with simple ingredients I already have on hand.

Here’s the highlights of my skin care routine these days:

Dry brush before showering (here’s how to do it)
Exfoliate and moisturize with a scrub in the shower
Apply a natural lotion post-shower
Oil cleanse my face, adding a facial sugar scrub once or twice a week for exfoliation
Finish with a quality nourishing face serum (this one is my absolute favorite)

I make up for the money I invest in a few high-quality store-bought beauty products by making the rest myself at home. Sugar scrub is so easy and fun to make, it’s one item I’ll never buy.

These also make a great DIY gift idea! Just put them in a cute mason jar and apply a decorative label or tag. Now you have a pampering and practical gift for an expecting/new mom, or for Christmas gifts or Mother’s Day gifts!

Men get dry skin, too. Make a manly scented version by trying some of the suggested essential oil combinations in this post.

4.07 from 48 votes

DIY Sugar Scrub Recipe

This is the perfect recipe for beauty DIY beginners. Fast, fun, and simple!

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Yield: cups

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Small, wide-mouth mason jar

Materials

1 cup granulated sugar (white or brown)
½ cup olive oil (or coconut oil)
essential oils (optional)

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients and stir to combine.
Store in an airtight container, such as a wide-mouth mason jar.

Notes

To use:
In the shower, scrub your skin with 1 tablespoon of the mixture and rinse well. It will leave your skin feeling like silk. Goodbye dry skin!

Sound simple? It is!

Sugar Scrub Variations

Ready to mix it up? Change your sugar scrub to suit the season. All of these variations use simple ingredients found at most grocery stores.

Pumpkin Pie Scrub: 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup coconut oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil, and ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or just ½ tsp cinnamon)
Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub: 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup almond oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil and 1 tsp real vanilla extract
Lemon Sugar Scrub: Great hand scrub for after washing dishes! 1 cup white sugar, ½ cup olive oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil, 15-20 drops (or more) of lemon or orange essential oil
Gentle Lavender Sugar Scrub for Face: 1 cup white sugar, ½ cup almond oil, ½ tsp vitamin E oil, ½ tsp real vanilla extract, and 15 drops lavender essential oil. Or make this gentler oatmeal version.
Vanilla Latte Sugar Scrub: Need I say more? Seriously… make sure you have coffee on hand to make a vanilla latte because it will have you craving the real thing. Find the recipe here.
Sugar Cookie Lip Scrub: Better than lip balm, in my opinion, since it exfoliates and moisturizes in one step. Here’s the recipe.
Mint Chocolate Lip Scrub: I also recently came up with this flavor that will leave you with deliciously smooth lips. Get the recipe here.
Homemade Foot Scrub with Magnesium: Perfect for pedicure season, this foot scrub is therapeutic as well with the addition of magnesium.
Cumin Sugar Scrub for Face or Body: Not all sugar scrubs have to smell like dessert. This more exotic scrub is packed with antioxidants for glowing skin.
Himalayan Salt Scrub: Salt is typically coarser than sugar and slower to dissolve, which makes this salt-based scrub recipe great for heavy-duty exfoliation. (If you have sensitive skin, stick to sugar scrubs.)
Sugar Scrub Cubes: Make this cute and compact version of a scrub in single-use cubes. No mess and you can even make them colored with purifying French rose clay. Here’s how to make them.
Chai Sugar Scrub: All the scents of your favorite chai latte in a luxurious moisturizing scrub! Here’s the recipe.
Gingerbread Body Scrub: My favorite recipe to give at Christmas. Get the recipe here.

How to Store

These last on the counter for up to 2 months (or more). Take care that extra water doesn’t get into the scrub when you use it as it won’t last as long or work as well.

One warning: these smell good enough to eat! Actually, they are good enough to eat, but don’t… sugar is bad for your intestines!

This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Ever made your own sugar scrub or facial products? What is your favorite combination? Let me know below!

This easy sugar scrub recipe is natural and chemical free. It naturally removes dead skin and leaves skin glowing and healthy.

Sources

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

476 responses to “Luxurious Sugar Scrub Recipe for Silky Smooth Skin”

Criss

August 12, 2014

Hello there :*
Do you think that I could use the scrubb based on sugar on a daily basis? Some people say that sugar is too exfoliating and that it should be used only once a week. Did anybody try use it daily? These days is so hot outside (around 35 Celcius) and if I try use oils for the skin, they just aren’t absorbed because of the fact that I am always sweating (I don’t have AC at home). I really want to keep my skin mosturised and using the scrubb makes it feel so hydrated 🙂
So as a final conclusion:
Is it safe to use sugar based scrubbs on a daily basis or should I use coffee instead of the sugar?

Reply
Tierra

August 11, 2014

What brand of brown sugar to get? And what brand of olive oil to get? And do I get extra virgin olive oil? How long to keep it on my face? I’m new to this whole exfoliating thing.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  August 11, 2014
  
  I’d aim for all organic if possible, and yes, use extra virgin olive oil from a reliable source to make sure it is pure. You don’t need to really leave it on long, just massage in gently and rinse clean.
  
  Reply
Margaret

July 26, 2014

I use Kerr 8 oz 1/2 pint) wide mouth canning jars, I bought mine at Ace Hardware but you can get them on Amazon- They were cheaper at Ace….

Reply
Margaret

July 26, 2014

My 11 year old daughter has had kp (Keratosis Pilaris) all of her life. It is not terrible but is more noticeable at times on her face. As of now, it does not bother her BUT she is 11 and I’d like to find something natural to help it before she gets to the age that she does care.

Cutting back on grains and dairy has helped and I am slowly cutting those things out completely for other reasons as well.

Thanks so much and I love your site. I made some of your lotions yesterday, added DMAE to one, and am going to make the bug repellent bars and sunscreen bars today. We live in South Florida and spend alot of time in the sun and in the Keys so both will come in handy!

Reply
Brent

July 15, 2014

I’d be a little wary in using vanilla extract in a scrub, definitely not a facial scrub. Vanilla extract is a tincture, meaning its base is ethyl alcohol, which might be counter-intuitive. Of course, the oils in the scrub might counteract that, but I think a better option would be to use vanilla bean paste. I bought mine at Williams Sonoma (Nielsen-Massey is my all time favorite brand for anything vanilla, and lots of groceries carry it now.) It includes the pod seeds, which could also add to the exfoliating properties of the scrub. You’d use the same amount of paste as you would extract. Just thinking out loud.

Reply
Alice De Luca

July 14, 2014

I use:
Sugar
Coconut oil
Mint
Vanilla extract
Lemon juice
Water
It works for my whole body I use maybe once or twice a month. I got it from my sister who is “naturalist” and I live by it 🙂

Reply
Kristina

July 11, 2014

Are these safe as feminine washes too?

Reply
Melissa

July 9, 2014

Do you recommend a specific container? I would like to use a 4oz. Do you have anything in mind? I would like to know if it matters if I use a container that is BPA free. Does it matter?

Thanks.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 10, 2014
  
  Yes, it does. BPA is terrible for you. I’d look for a glass container.
  
  Reply
  1. Therese Burch
    
    September 15, 2014
    
    Can a plastic container be used for the scrub, since it will be in the bathtub???
    
    Reply
    1. Kelly Williams
      
      November 23, 2014
      
      Essential oils will eat through plastic (ask me how I know!) and need to be stored in glass containers. I have no experience with them in scrubs. I found this thread by Googling “homemade essential oil facial scrubs” because I want to try making it. It’s possible that mixing the oils into olive oil and sugar would cause it to be thin enough throughout that it wouldn’t eat plastic, but I personally would not take the risk.
      
      Reply
      1. Therese
        
        November 23, 2014
        
        Since I asked my question last (Sept. 2014) I have made the scrub and kept it in a plastic container for 2 months. I have finished it now and never had any problem with it being in a plastic container. I can’t imagine having a glass container in the shower/bathtub.
helena

July 7, 2014

I use a sugar scrub, and add tumeric, or papaya or pinapple juice. Made in small batches with each use. enzymes in papaya and pineapple really good for skin. cranberry juice is also good.

Reply
Criss

June 25, 2014

Hello Katie, I discovered your blog yesterday through the article of 101 use of coconut oil and since then I spent hours reading it 😀 Your articles are so helpfull, your readers are so wonderfull and everybody is talking from experience and actually giving great advices! Thank you and and thank you, “mama readers”.
I am about to make my first ever scrub (olive oil, coconut oil, white sugar, a bit of castor oil and grinded coffee) and I wanted to ask if this scrub should be used on a daily basis or only 2-3 times a week. Also, should it be used only on the body or on the face too?

Hugs from Romania!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  June 25, 2014
  
  A lot of that will be down to personal preferrence and skin sensitivity. Generally it’s better to limit abrasive scrubs on your face, so while you can use it there, I’d keep it to once or twice a week. Otherwise, use it as often as you want! If you are not certain what your skin will tolerate, start slow and work up.
  
  Reply
  1. Criss
    
    June 26, 2014
    
    Hello,
    I tried it yesterday and my skin feels so hydrated now, I will definately continue use it instead of my normal products and I will try some of your recipes after I will buy vitamin E, almond oil and some other ingredients. Thank you for all your help and keep up the good work!
    Kisses!
    
    Reply
Casey

June 5, 2014

The ingredients for the Vanilla Brown Sugar scrub, how much does that make?

Reply
Hannah

May 28, 2014

I am going to try this. I was wondering about using grapeseed oil instead of the coconut oil. What do you think?

Reply
Kathryn Hyams

May 11, 2014

Love you site…. I am making some sugar scrubs for a craft fair……

Reply
Jan

May 10, 2014

Just made some of this with olive oil, white sugar, and tea tree, peppermint, and orange essential oils to use as foot scrub. It smells and feels terrific! Some is going in a basket with homemade foot soak for my mom for mother’s day. Thanks for the recipe. I may even try to whip up some of your lotion and scent it to match.

Reply
Jena

May 10, 2014

I made my first sugar scrub with a few tablespoons of sugar, a little olive oil, and the juice from an orange that was too dried out to eat. It was really nice!

The next I made was for my mom’s tea-themed gift for Mother’s Day. I call it Green Tea Lemonade. I used sugar, olive oil, the tea from 1 tea bag, lemon zest, and lemon juice! You can’t smell the green tea, but the tea made it a nice green color and of course is very good for skin! So that made up for it. I also made a lemon scrub or myself and my sister. Excited to start giving different variations as gifts!

Reply
1. Penny
  
  November 14, 2014
  
  Could you please share your recipe with me. I would love to make these for Christmas gifts.
  Thank you.
  Penny
  
  Reply
Lisa

April 24, 2014

Just made a scrub by adding ground cacao nibs to the Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub. Used white sugar and increased the almond oil a little. Smells so yummy!!!!!

Reply
paula pateman

April 22, 2014

can you use baby oil in place of the other oils mentioned. would that be ok in a scrub with sugar etc

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  April 23, 2014
  
  It will work, I just avoid mineral oil
  
  Reply
  1. Jen
    
    November 7, 2014
    
    Baby oil IS scented mineral oil.
    
    Reply
terry pierce

April 19, 2014

I am pre-diabetic. Will a sugar scrub add itself somehow, into my inner organs/ Through my pores,mane?? Is it safe for someone with pre-diabetic issues?

Thanks,

Terry

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  April 23, 2014
  
  It will not get to your organs or your blood
  
  Reply
Erika

April 7, 2014

I tried this yesterday and am so glad to have found your site!

To keep the scrubs affordable, are you using processed white sugar (e.g., store brand white)? The only sugar I have at home is rapadura which worked very nicely as a scrub, but it’s not cheap and I feel a little angst watching it go down the drain 🙂 Also, do you think it matters if you use coffee grounds after they’ve been made into coffee? I love the idea of using something I was going to compost anyway.

Reply
Ann Fure

March 24, 2014

I would like to make sugar or dead sea salt scrubs to sell –
Is it not a good idea with the sugar because it only has a too short shelf life? How long is it?
What kind of shelf life does a dead sea salt scrub have?

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  March 24, 2014
  
  Both should have a pretty long shelf life as long as they don’t come in contact with liquid
  
  Reply
  1. Ann Fure
    
    March 24, 2014
    
    body scrub has oil in it, so does that mean that the shelf life is short? Do you know how long? Is it the same for both sugar & dead sea salt scrubs?
    
    Reply