5 DIY Christmas sugar scrubs

These 5 DIY Christmas sugar scrubs are quick & easy to whip up in under 10 minutes. Made with just a few simple ingredients, these sugar scrubs will leave your skin feeling moisturized and refreshed! They’re also scented perfectly for the Christmas season to pamper yourself or gift to friends.

I love all of the scents around the holiday season: cinnamon, fir tree, peppermint, cookies, the list goes on! Homemade sugar scrub is an easy way to take care of my skin, leaving it smooth and glowing.

These 5 Christmas sugar scrubs not only smell festive, but have some fun add ins to color or scent them too! They pair well with Christmas soaps or even a whipped lotion in a fun, homemade skincare gift basket.

Benefits of Using these DIY Christmas Sugar Scrubs

Sugar scrubs don’t just leave your skin feeling smooth, but they have other benefits too!

• Exfoliate dead skin: This is the main reason people use sugar scrubs. It exfoliates dead skin, leaving it feeling smooth and moisturized.
• Unclog pores: Since sugar scrubs exfoliate dead skin cells, it also unclogs pores, which helps prevent acne and ingrown hairs.
• Moisturize skin: These sugar scrubs have jojoba oil added in. This oil mimics our natural skin oils, making it suitable for all skin types, and leaving it moisturized.

But don’t be too overzealous, exfoliating too often can actual harm your skin barrier. This would give you the opposite effect of what you’re trying to achieve.

Reasons You’ll Love Making These

They make great homemade gifts. Dress them up in cute jars, perhaps garnish with some twine, and attached your own handwritten note! They can be an affordable stocking stuffer or friend gift.

They are easily customizable. If you have an essential oil blend you enjoy using around Christmas time, then you can use it in place of the ones I have listed here.

They leave your skin smooth and exfoliated. Exfoliating is the removal of dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. When you use sugar scrubs, you’re using a form of physical exfoliation (the other would be chemical).

They are moisturizing. Sugar is also a natural humectant, meaning it will pull moisture from the environment to your skin helping the jojoba oil to moisturize your skin.

They are festive scents! If you’re anything like me, once fall hits, you ride the scent train all the way until New Years. You can even opt to make these sugar scrubs look festive with add ins such as ground cinnamon or red sprinkles!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Cane Sugar: Yes, this is the same sugar that you get from the grocery aisle! Just make sure the granules are small so they aren’t too abrasive on your skin. I prefer to get organic cane sugar.

Jojoba Oil: This is my go to, especially when I’m making scented products. You can swap for other liquid carrier oils (olive, hemp seed, avocado, etc) but be aware of the scent! I find most to be overpowering and unpleasant to smell. So if you’re aiming for a certain scent, make sure to go for a neutral scented carrier oil.

Essential Oils: Depending on which sugar scrub you decide to make, you’ll need different oils. I love using Eden’s Garden oils and carrier oils. You can even try out some festive blend if it’s close to Christmas time and they’re selling them. (Please note the link is a referral link and I may get credit if you decide to buy from them. But the referral is genuine, I’ve been buying from them since 2019!).

5 DIY Christmas Sugar Scrubs Ingredients

Feel free to adjust the essential oils to your smell preferences! If the scents are too strong, keep the ratios the same but add a few less drops.

Candy Cane

I love peppermints and their smell! This blend is peppermint and vanilla to give you the refreshing scent of peppermint along with the sweet smell of vanilla. Red sprinkles are an optional add in to create the traditional red and white colors of a peppermint.

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 10 drops peppermint (can substitute for spearmint if wanting to make kid friendly)
• 5 drops vanilla
• 1 Tbsp red sprinkles

Christmas sugar cookie

This is a fun, sweet, and uplifting scent. You get the sweetness from the vanilla but the uplifting feeling from the citrus scents in here.

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 8 drops vanilla
• 6 drops lemon
• 6 drops orange

Christmas tree

If you love the scent of Christmas trees, then this one will be a hit. The piney scents of fir and cypress along with the woodsy smell of cedar blend perfectly for that classic Christmas aroma. The mica or clay is an optional add in to give you some green color.

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 8 drop fir
• 4 drops cedarwood
• 6 drops cypress
• ½ tsp green mica or french clay

Spiced Orange

This warm, cozy blend smells like stovetop potpourri simmering on a winter day! The combination of cinnamon and sweet orange creates an inviting, festive aroma that feels just like Christmas.

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 15 drop sweet orange

Sugar Plum

A sweet and slightly spicy blend that’s both cozy and refreshing. Vanilla softens the citrus notes while grapefruit adds brightness, making this blend a cheerful twist on a holiday classic.

• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 8 drops vanilla essential oil or extract
• 6 drops orange essential oil
• 4 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 2 drops cinnamon essential oil

How to Use & Store Your DIY Christmas Sugar Scrubs

Using your homemade sugar scrub is easy! Scoop out a small amount with a clean spoon or dry fingers and gently massage it onto damp skin in a circular motion. This helps exfoliate away dry, dead skin cells while moisturizing at the same time. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Your skin will feel soft, smooth, and refreshed.

You can use these sugar scrubs 2–3 times a week, depending on your skin type. Just be sure not to over exfoliate, since doing it too often can irritate your skin barrier (as mentioned above).

How to Store:
Keep your Christmas sugar scrubs in an airtight container, like a small mason jar or glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If you bring one into the shower, try to avoid getting water inside the jar to prevent bacteria or mold growth. You can also use a spoon or scoop to prevent your hands from contaminating the scrub too.

Shelf Life:
Because these scrubs don’t contain water, they’ll last about 2–3 months when stored properly. If you notice any change in smell, texture, or color, it’s best to make a fresh batch.

Tip for Gifting:
If you’re making these as gifts, you can prep them a couple of weeks ahead of time. Add a cute label, ribbon, or tag with the scent name and “use within 3 months” note to make them feel extra special!

if you’re looking for more Christmas ideas, these would pair great with this!

• 5 Beginner Friendly, Melt & Pour Christmas Soaps
• whipped body butter