Homemade Sugar Scrub

Homemade sugar scrub is an inexpensive way to give yourself a spa day at home. It’s also great for removing makeup before bedtime. And with only 3 ingredients that you likely already have on hand, now is the perfect time to make this simple, natural exfoliant.

Something about a sugar body scrub makes me feel fancy. Maybe because of the way my skin looks after I’m done? Regardless, I always love having a jar of it on my bathroom vanity.

And since this recipe can be made for practically pennies, there is no guilt in using it as often as you like.

Sugar scrub is an inexpensive and natural way to exfoliate the skin gently. The small sugar particles help slough away dry, dead skin and reveal the fresh and healthy skin underneath.

My skin always looks and feels much healthier after using homemade sugar scrub. You may notice the same benefits!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Sugar scrubs are an inexpensive alternative to expensive commercial products. They smell good and feel nice against your skin while not breaking the bank! You can use them at home or take them along when traveling (you can even make homemade sugar scrub bars for an easy on-the-go option).
• The sugar scrub will leave your hands feeling moisturized and clean. It’s especially helpful during the dry winter months for restoring dry, cracked skin.
• You can also use it as a gentler alternative to salt scrub for cracked skin on the feet or as a face exfoliating scrub. The best part is that only a couple of ingredients and a jar will wrap up this simple DIY project. 
• Sugar scrub makes a lovely gift, too! It will give the recipient the feeling of a decadent spa day right at home. Package it in a cute jar and gift it for Mother’s Day, Christmas, a hostess gift, and more.

What Goes Into This Recipe

• Olive oil: The addition of oil in this recipe helps to moisturize and soothe the skin while exfoliating. Olive oil is an affordable option with lots of skin-healthy benefits.
• Organic cane sugar: White sugar is my favorite for sugar scrub. You can also use brown sugar as a gentler option or coconut sugar for a harsher exfoliant.
• Essential oils: Use any combination you like or see my suggested blends below.
• Mason jar or other storage container

Substitutions and Variations

• If you don’t want to use olive oil, any liquid oil will work well. You could substitute with fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil. Regular coconut oil is not a suitable substitute, however, as it solidifies at temperatures under 76° and won’t work as intended.
• Sugar may be too abrasive for those with very sensitive skin. For a gentler option, you can use brown sugar (it makes a great, gentle, homemade lip scrub) or blended oats instead of white sugar.

How to Make Homemade Sugar Scrub

How to use this scrub

• Feet: Scrub into the bottom of the feet to help remove cracked, dead skin.  
• Face: Add a dime-size amount to the palm of your hand and gently rub it into the face. Let it sit for several minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
• Elbows/Body: You can use this on the back of the elbows to exfoliate dry, flaky skin by massaging into the area of concern. Rinse off with warm water. 
• For Soothing: Use the cooling sugar scrub blend for a soothing back massage after a long work day. 

Expert Tips

• Though it’s tempting to use sugar scrub every day because of how great it makes your skin feel, it is not intended for daily use. Be sure to limit the use of sugar scrub to 1-2 times a week.
• Be sure to always moisturize the skin after an exfoliating treatment. I like to use homemade anti-aging face cream on my face and homemade body cream on the rest of my body.
• Find an oil that works best for your skin. If your skin prefers a different oil, feel free to substitute it for the olive oil.
• It’s always a good idea to do a patch test when trying new products. Apply the product to your inner arm and check for any signs of irritation before proceeding with use.

Essential Oil Sugar Scrub Blends

Choose from one of these blends below and include it in your sugar scrub recipe, or make up your own blend!

Pamper Skin

• 10 drops of lavender
• 10 drops of frankincense

Frankincense and lavender are known for rejuvenating the skin and repairing skin imperfections. Both these oils also work well on dry, flaky skin.  

This is my favorite blend, and I use it often in the winter to help with dry, cracked hands.

Citrus Bliss

• 6 drops of wild orange
• 5 drops of lemon
• 4 drops of lime

This is a fun, refreshing blend of all citrus essential oils. Use this in the morning to feel energized and smell great all day long! 

Note:  Citrus essential oils are photosensitive and can cause the skin to burn when exposed to direct sunlight. 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 Blend

• 8 drops of sandalwood
• 4 drops of peppermint 
• 4 drops of rosemary
• 2 drops of tea tree 

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

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

Sweet Floral 

• 8 drops of lavender 
• 6 drops of roman chamomile 
• 4 drops of rose 
• 2 drops of wild orange 

I love all things citrus and floral, and that’s just what you’ll get with this blend. The scent is beautiful and calming and pairs excellently with a homemade night cream that would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Try using this blend after waxing with homemade sugar wax to help with bumps or blemishes. 

Cooling

• 6 drops of peppermint 
• 5 drops of wintergreen 
• 4 drops of lime

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

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

You can also find more fun blends in my 5 Christmas sugar scrubs post!

Recipe FAQs

I hope you enjoy this simple sugar scrub recipe! It would make an excellent gift for someone or perfect for pampering yourself. 

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• DIY Scalp Scrub
• Dead Sea Salt Scrub Recipe
• Whipped Lavender Sugar Scrub
• Best Foot Scrub to Remove Dead Skin

If you tried this Homemade Sugar Scrub or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!