Simple Summer Body Scrub Recipes

Enjoy these 5 simple summer body scrub recipes for vibrant, soft, and smooth skin. With incredible aromas of summer and deep exfoliating properties, these recipes are perfect for a girls’ spa night.

What is a body scrub?

A body scrub is essentially a skin exfoliator, often using sugar or salt as the abrasive.

Body scrubs can be used year-round, especially when dealing with flakey, sun-kissed skin in the summer and dried, dead skin in the winter.

A homemade body scrub is usually made with a natural exfoliator and paired with a lovely smelling fragrance.

I use essential oils because of their incredible benefits for the skin. And like a homemade foot scrub, body scrubs can leave your skin soft and smooth.

As a result, body scrubs are vital in preventing dry, flaky skin, skin imperfections, and even wrinkles. 

I had fun coming up with a few scents that reminded me of summer! These simple summer body scrub recipes make an excellent girl’s day, spa night, or gift. 

Why I use sugar in these summer body scrubs

I love a good ol’ homemade sugar scrub. Something about it just makes me feel fancy and girly, yet they are so easy to whip up.

You can put together a sugar scrub with just a couple of ingredients in minutes and make it as fancy or simple as you want. 

SUMMER BODY SCRUBS

I am so excited to share these fun summer body scrubs with you. You will notice a lot of mint, fruit, and coconut.

All the things that scream summer to me! These recipes not only smell like summer in a jar, but they will get your skin swimsuit ready! 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE. 

SWEET MANGO BODY SCRUB

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/2 cup of organic sugar 
• 1/8 cup of avocado oil (or any other carrier oil) 
• 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
• 1/2 cup of fresh mango slices 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Mix the sugar and avocado oil in a small bowl. 
2. Add in the essential oils and stir well. 
3. Puree mango slices in a blender, adding a dash of water if needed.
4. When ready to use, mix the sugar scrub and mango puree together. 
5. Apply the body scrub to damp skin, massaging it in gently in a circular motion. 
6. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing off with cool water. 

NOTE: If you don’t want to use all the sugar scrub at one time, you can store the sugar and oil mixture separately from the fruit mixture.

Keep the sugar and oil mixture in an airtight container at room temperature, and store the fruit in the refrigerator. 

STRAWBERRY MINT BODY SCRUB

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/2 cup of organic sugar 
• 1/8 cup of avocado oil (or any other carrier oil) 
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries
• 6 mint leaves  

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Combine sugar and avocado oil in a small bowl. 
2. Add in the essential oils and stir well. 
3. Blend the strawberry slices and mint leaves in a blender. Add a splash of water if needed. 
4. When you’re ready to use, mix the sugar scrub and strawberry puree together. 
5. Apply the body scrub to damp skin and massage it in gently. 
6. Allow it to sit for several minutes before rinsing off with cool water. 

NOTE: Store any extra sugar scrub separately from the fresh fruit to prevent spoiling.

PINEAPPLE ORANGE BODY SCRUB

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/2 cup of organic sugar 
• 1/8 cup of avocado oil (or any other carrier oil) 
• 10 drops of wild orange essential oil
• 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple chunks

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Combine sugar and avocado oil in a small bowl. 
2. Add in essential oils and stir well. 
3. Puree pineapple chunks in a blender with a teaspoon or two of water.
4. When ready to use, mix the sugar scrub and pineapple puree together. 
5. Apply the body scrub to clean, damp skin, a little at a time using a small circular motion.
6. Allow it to sit for several minutes before rinsing with cool water. 

NOTE: Store any extra sugar scrub separately from the fresh fruit to prevent spoiling.

CUCUMBER MINT BODY SCRUB

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/2 cup of organic sugar 
• 1/8 cup of avocado oil (or any other carrier oil) 
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil 
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 1/2 cup of fresh cucumber slices
• 6 mint leaves

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Mix the sugar and avocado oil in a small bowl. 
2. Add in the essential oils and stir well. 
3. Blend the cucumber slices and mint leaves in a blender with a little water if needed.
4. When ready to use, mix the sugar scrub and cucumber puree together. 
5. Apply the body scrub to damp skin and massage it in gently. 
6. Allow it to sit for several minutes before rinsing with cool water. 

NOTE: Store any extra sugar scrub separately from the fresh cucumber to prevent spoiling.

COCONUT LIME BODY SCRUB

INGREDIENTS 

• 1/2 cup of organic sugar 
• 1/8 cup of coconut oil, melted 
• 10 drops of lime essential oil 
• 1 key lime
• 1/4 tablespoon of coconut shreds 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Mix the sugar and avocado oil in a small bowl. 
2. Add in the essential oil and stir well. 
3. Add the juice of one lime and the coconut shreds to a blender and blend until smooth.
4. When ready to use, mix the sugar scrub and coconut lime puree together. 
5. Gently apply the body scrub to damp skin.
6. Allow it to sit for several minutes and rinse off with cool water. 

NOTE: Store any extra sugar scrub separately from the lime and coconut shreds to prevent spoiling. 

Summer body scrub ingredients 

Sugar

You will find sugar as the natural exfoliant in each of these recipes. I do prefer using organic white sugar; however, regular sugar and even brown sugar will work just fine.

Sugar is a very gentle exfoliator, safe for the body, scalp, face, or even the lips, as you’ll see in my coconut & sugar lip scrub.

Carrier Oil 

Every scrub will need a carrier oil to hold the ingredients together. I use avocado or coconut oil in these recipes, but really any carrier oil can be used.

Popular options that work well with these recipes include olive oil, sweet almond oil, rose oil, or jojoba oil. Use what you have on hand!

Or choose from one of these carrier oils listed here.

Essential Oils

Adding in a mint or citrus essential oil really adds to these recipes. The cooling effect of peppermint can be very soothing to the skin and help with tension.

If you add citrus essential oils, note that they are photosensitive and should NOT be used in direct sunlight.

Since this scrub is meant to be washed off after use, it shouldn’t be an issue. But definitely test a small area first if you plan to be outdoors.

Fruit Puree

The added fruit purees make these scrubs really fun for summer!

As noted in the recipes, only combine enough scrub and fruit for one use and store the rest separately.

Why not use salt in body scrub?

While salt is great for exfoliating the skin, it is a much harsher abrasive than sugar and, as a result, may not be suitable for all skin types.

Salt is most commonly used in body scrubs that focus on the feet, elbows, and knees.

Try this green tea matcha scrub made with finely ground Celtic sea salt that is great for the whole body!

Tips

• Shower first and make sure the skin is damp for the best results.
• Scrub gently in small circles to avoid skin irritation.
• Test a small patch area before using any new skin care product.

What to try next? Check out these fall body scrubs that work great and smell fabulous too!