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With a few simple ingredients, you can make homemade sugar scrub bars. These make the perfect handmade gift for anyone on your list.

Homemade mini sugar scrub bars on wooden table with stripped towel.

Something about homemade sugar scrub bars makes me feel fancy and girly. I love keeping a jar next to my sink to exfoliate my skin, especially during the wintertime when my hands can get so dry.

In a house of mostly boys, sometimes my daughter and I have to have a girls’ night. This can consist of going shopping and out to eat, or it can be a simple “spa night” at home.

We give each other pedicures, use a mud mask, and lather up in homemade sugar scrub. She loves to help me DIY things, so sometimes we make stuff too!

Partly my idea, and partly hers, we came up with these homemade sugar scrub bars. She is obsessed with making anything (you should see some of the things she has come up with) in my silicone molds.

This was a perfect project to do together because it was so easy, and the ending product is perfect for a little girl who wants to be pampered. 😉

When making these for yourself, be sure to make a few extra for gifts! They work great for anyone on your list!

PIN IT FOR LATER

WHY SUGAR?

We all know that consuming sugar isn’t the best thing for our health. In fact, I think it is safe to say it is one of the worse things. People can argue all day about the best diet to eat, from keto to vegan, but one thing is for sure; they all say sugar is bad.

But did you know that sugar can have benefits for the skin when used topically? It can be used to exfoliate and moisturize the skin, just like my homemade coffee scrub. It can pull moisture from the air and into the skin. When used as an exfoliate, it can remove dead skin cells and expose healthy glowing skin.

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WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB BARS?

For this recipe, we are going to use a soap base. You can make your own or purchase one. A soap base can be a solid or a liquid. We will be using a solid soap base that comes in a bar and melting it.

You will also need coconut oil for this recipe. The coconut oil will help to hold the sugar scrub together in the shape you decide to make, and it will add extra benefits for the skin.

Coconut oil is very moisturizing, can heal skin imperfections, and it can reduce inflammation.

WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS ARE BEST FOR THE SKIN?

This is the fun part, friend! You get to add whatever essential oils you want to customize your sugar scrub. The essential oils will give it added benefits and a beautiful scent. You can add one oil or a blend of oils.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Lavender– soothing and calming

Wild Orange– uplifting and energizing

Frankincense– anti-aging and skin imperfections

Bergamont– purifying and cleansing

Roman Chamomile– gentle and relaxing

Peppermint– cooling and soothing

CHECK OUT THESE FUN BLENDS

PAMPER SKIN

10 drops lavender
10 drops frankincense

Frankincense and lavender are known for rejuvenating the skin, repairing skin imperfections, and good for dry, flaky skin. Use this blend when hands are dry or cracked.

This is my favorite blend to use!

CITRUS BLISS

6 drops wild orange
5 drops lemon
4 drops lime

This is a fun, refreshing blend of all citrus essential oils. Citrus bliss is a great blend to use if making this for a child or if you love a fruity smell.

WARNING: Citrus essential oils are photosensitive, so be sure not to use this blend before going out in direct sunlight. Personally, if I wash my hands with a scrub made with citrus essential oils, I will make sure to rinse it off before being exposed to any sunlight. If you are one with sensitive skin or burn easily, this is something to be cautious about.

EARTHY

8 drops sandalwood
6 drops peppermint
4 drops rosemary
2 drops melaleuca

This has a beautiful earthy yet fresh scent. If you are making this sugar scrub for a man, this would be a great blend to use.

Sugar scrub can be beneficial for rough, working man hands. The peppermint adds a nice cooling effect to the skin.

SWEET FLORAL

8 drops lavender
6 drops Roman chamomile
4 drops rose
2 drops wild orange

I love all things citrus and floral. The smell is beautiful and calming. This blend would be perfect for a Mother’s Day gift or for a best friend’s birthday.

These oils are wonderful for the skin and can help with skin imperfections and blemishes.

COOLING

6 drops peppermint
5 drops wintergreen
4 drops lime

This minty citrus blend is very refreshing and can help open up airways, soothe sore muscles, and help you wake up feeling energized.

Try using this blend as a soothing back massage if feeling achy or sore.

Looking for a way to exfoliate without using any products? Learn how to dry brush!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB BARS

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup coconut oil (This is my favorite kind.)
1/2 cup melted soap base (You can find it here or make your own.)
1 cup of organic sugar
Silicone Mold
Natural food coloring (optional)
20-25 drops essential oils (Check out my favorites in the list above!)

INSTRUCTIONS

In a small saucepan, melt your soap base. To make this faster, you can shred or cube the soap bar.
Add the coconut oil and sugar. Stir until well combined.
Mix in your food coloring if using and stir well.
Pour the mixture into your molds.
Allow the mixture to harden completely, and then pop them out of the molds. This takes about 4 hours, depending on the size of the molds you are using.

You can store these in a glass mason jar, Ziploc bag, or an airtight container. These will be good for one year, but I doubt they will last that long! 😉

HOW DO I USE MY HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB BARS?

Wet the skin where you plan to use the sugar scrub and then rub the bar onto the skin. Massage the sugar mixture into the skin to help exfoliate the skin. For best results, let it sit on the skin for a couple of minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

My favorite place to use these is on the face, hands, and feet.

Try this peppermint mocha face scrub for sensitive skin, especially the face.

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