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.

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”

Lily

September 10, 2015

Which oil should i put in my sugar scrub to even tone skin and lighten dark knees and elbows? Does coconut oil makes skin even tone?

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Lily

September 10, 2015

Can i put fresh lemon juice to my sugar and coconut oil scrub?

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Pi

September 5, 2015

I like this recipe but it feels oily and makes the shower floor feel gritty… any tips??

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  September 7, 2015
  
  Use a little less oil if you feel like it is not working, or use a lighter oil, perhaps. As for the gritty… The sugar in the scrub should dissolve thoroughly in the shower water, so I am not sure why you are experiencing that.
  
  Reply
narma

September 1, 2015

welll.. i kinda have a question.. can we use sea salt bath scrub daily?? and is it okay to use sugar scrubs on face weekly?? thank you..

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Judi

August 21, 2015

For cleaning showers, shower doors, tubs, and hot tubs, I have found that a tablespoon or two of dishwasher detergent in warm water with a cloth or soft brush cleans easily and well. For the hot tub, just fill the tub with warm water, add the detergent and let it swirl; then refill tub with plain water and swirl to rinse. Keeps vents clean and fresh. Don’t forget also to rinse tub and shower thoroughly to remove any irritants to the skin.

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Emmy

August 14, 2015

Is it okay to use this scrub every night or should I space out every use (e.g. every two or three days)?

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  August 15, 2015
  
  You can use it everyday if you want, but your skin may not like it. If you notice you are having a negative reaction (excessive oil, irritation, etc.) definitely back off.
  
  Reply
Nina

August 5, 2015

Do you know if the oil will harm the jets in the tub? I have air jets in my tub and wonder if the oil will effect the jets over time. Any ideas?

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Yuneydys Rondon

July 22, 2015

Hi, I’m somewhat new to DIY organic beauty products. For the past three months My daily care routine consisted of washing my face twice a day with raw honey (which worked wonders on my acne/pores but also dried up my face a bit). I showered with a honey coconut milk lavender body wash, I also used the sugar scrub which pretty much consisted of your recipe above, I also used coconut milk shampoo and conditioner. Suddenly I noticed little worms among other insects in my shower stall and fruit flies all around my house, also mold accumulated. I’m starting to believe it’s because of all the edible products I used daily. since it never happened before in my house. Has this ever happened to anyone? I’d like to keep making my organic beauty products, but I must say I’ve stopped for three weeks and the situation has improved. Please advice.

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shrav

July 20, 2015

Hi katie, could you please tell me some home made remedy for painless folliculitis on the upper arms caused by pitiryosporum. Too many asymptomatic papules but looks awful.

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Lindsay

July 16, 2015

I read to shave, exfoliate, then shave again. Do I rinse the scrub before shaving the second time?

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 19, 2015
  
  I would… It could clog your razor.
  
  Reply
Dani

July 5, 2015

hi Katie, have already started using this, and had amazing results….. Thanks for the recipe….very stupid question, but can I use it as a daily scrub? If not how frequently can I use? Do you recommend for my 18 months old son ?

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 6, 2015
  
  If you feel like you need daily exfoliation, sure! If you notice you are having an adverse reaction, such as breaking out, or skin irritation, of course you can dial it down to a less frequent application. For your little guy, I don’t think that anything in the scrub would harm him, but it might irritate his skin to rub it (even gently) with something this rough.
  
  Reply
Maria Barattucci

June 24, 2015

I am just starting to make my own sugar scrubs, I am confused about the coconut oil, I bought a solid, should I have purchased a liquid coconut oil? Thanks for your help.

Maria

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1. Carmen
  
  June 29, 2018
  
  Nope, solid is good… once you start stiring it it will become softer (and if it is warm in your house then it will melt after some time).
  
  Reply
Sarah

June 23, 2015

Question, when you make your own scrubs, should there be an oil layer on the top? If so how much would be normal?

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  June 23, 2015
  
  It can settle, but how much oil is on top depends on how long it has been sitting. The longer it sits, the more oil will settle out. I usually just stir it back together periodically.
  
  Reply
Michele

June 7, 2015

My favorite batch of scrub came together by chance! I wanted to make a coffee sugar scrub but used Kahlua flavored coffee that had been in my cubbord for a long time. With an added vanilla fragrance oil, the scent in intoxicating! By far my favorite! I didn’t really measure but equal parts sugar and coffee and then I used coconut oil and vanilla fragrance.

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Lauren Nichols

June 1, 2015

I’m going to try to make a scrub with raw cane sugar, coconut oil, vitamin e, and rose geranium. Do you think the coconut oil smell will overpower the rose geranium?

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Nancy

May 29, 2015

I have a septic tank. Will coconut oil that people have said clog up the drains be even worse with a septic tank? I would love to make home made scrubs but am afraid of drain problems.

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shrav

May 13, 2015

Hi Katie, first of all I would like to thank you for giving us so many home made recipes. I have tried them works out amazingly. I have very bad black heads on my nose and now white heads(enlarged pores) around my nose has started. my skin is dry but slightly oily on the nose. could you please suggest some remedy to get rid of it, thank you

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dylan pike

May 10, 2015

made a awesome mothers day gift!!!

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sierra h

May 5, 2015

I’M SO EXCITED TO GET STARTED!!!!!!

since i read most of the comments here, let me summarize. maybe that will help some of you!

*If you feel the oils will clog your drain, someone suggested in a squirt bottle:
~ 2 cups white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking powder (not soda), 30 drops lemon ess. oil.

*good brand for ess. oil if you have sensitive skin: Young Living

*Oil alternatives: extra virgin olive oil, fractionated coconut oil (liquid, so whip it before mixing with other ingredients/ warm up, for best outcome), grape seed oil, avocado oil, rose-hip seed oil, etc…

****some recipes given by others:

PUMPKIN PIE: 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 tsp vitamin E, 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice (or cinnamon)

VANILLA & BROWN SUGAR: 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup almond oil, 1/2 tsp vitamin E, 1 tsp real vanilla extract

LEMON: 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 tsp vitamin E, 15-20 drops (give or take) of lemon or orange ess. oil

PEPPERMINT: 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 10 (give or take) drops peppermint ess. oil, and (optional) crushed holiday candy.

NAMELESS: sugar, ground coffee, cinnamon, oil, ess. oils

NAMELESS: sugar, raw honey (good for acne but will solidify quicker than other ingredients- extra mixing might be needed), almond extract, vitamin E

NAMELESS: brown sugar, oil, sunflower oil, caramel extract, castile liquid soap

NAMELESS: sugar, oil, tea (green tea was mentioned, but black tea or whichever), lemon zest (which will require you to refrigerate for shelf life), lemon juice (also will need to refrigerate for) but may as well use lemon ess. oil as alternative to juice.

*FOOT SCRUB ~ NAMELESS: sugar, oil, tea tree, peppermint, orange ess. oil

NAMELESS: sugar, oil, mint, vanilla bean paste (NOT extract due to sensitivity and dryness), lemon ess. oil

*OIL CLEANER FOR YOUR FACE: 1 oz olive oil, 5 drops tea tree, 15 drops lemon. (THIS LASTS ALMOST FOREVER DUE TO INGREDIANTS)

NAMELSS: sugar, oil, honey, lemon ess. oil, parsley

***from what i have read on here generally if you do not get water inside of your airtight contianer then your scrub should last about 2 months

***salt and coffee can be a sub, but salt is hard on your skin after too much use

***oats can be a sub as well.

***cocoa powder is an ingredient that will help soften the mixture too

***most people here do not see it as a problem to store in plastic container, although glass seems to be preferred, but consensus is that it needs to be air-tight.

HOPEFULLY THIS HELPED SOME PEOPLE!!

Reply
1. Julie
  
  May 7, 2015
  
  i use glass for containers by my sink. I use PET plastic jars which are safe for essential oils for the shower. However if you have an open jar in the shower you are going to get moisture from water in the jar. That is where you are going to get mold and bacteria into your scrub. I don’t use in the shower at all. I have jars next to my kitchen sink and sink in my laundry room. If I were using it in the show I would scoop out what I need and put it in a small open container such as a salt cellar or old clean lid on the side of the tub before I turn on the shower.
  
  Reply
2. Dawn
  
  July 20, 2015
  
  THANK YOU SIERRA H for summarizing all of the many recipes, tips and tricks. That was a lot of work, and I appreciate it.
  With so many comments over the past year, this blog is getting increasingly difficult to read. Too many people aren’t reading previous posts, so they keep asking the same questions over and over.
  It would be so helpful if people would add the ingredient measurements when they talk about a wonderful scrub they make so we can all try it!
  
  Reply
3. Leanne
  
  April 5, 2016
  
  are we talking normal sugar bought at the supermarket and cooking olive oils?
  
  Reply
  1. Julie
    
    April 5, 2016
    
    I use organic sugar and yes it is from he grocery store. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Costco. For scrubs I like Almond, Avocado, or Apricot oils which you can get at any health food store. I buy avocado oil at Costco.
    
    As for measuring oils and sugars I put in oil and stir and add more until the oil barely covers the sugar. I really like Rosemary and Spearmint EO and I put in a tiny amount of T-50 Vitamin E oil. NOT the stuff in the capsules you get of E, that is not natural E and can irritate the skin. I order t-50 online.
    
    Brown sugar I get at the grocery store to.
    
    Reply
neringa

May 1, 2015

Hello

Thanks for your website and all the info you provide.

I just made a scrub from the recipe above except I used regular white sugar.

My question is – do I store it (small plastic container I used) somewhere dry and dark or can I leave it in the bathroom? Also, how long is it going to last before going bad? Thank you for your time and help! 🙂

Reply