Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe

This homemade sugar scrub recipe helps to pamper tired feet, scrub scaly elbows, or just provide all around exfoliation. You only need three ingredients to whip this up and there are ideas for essential oils to add to this sugar scrub. Give yourself a spa day by using this sugar scrub recipe and go make this whipped body butter to use afterward.

homemade sugar scrub benefits

Have you ever noticed that toxin free body care items can be a little, well, pricey? If so, you’re not alone. Making your own homemade sugar scrub can be relatively inexpensive. Exfoliating your skin a couple times of week also helps to rejuvenate your skin and promote new cell growth. 

This homemade sugar scrub can be used on your entire body, although I personally would shy away from using it on your face unless you’re using an oil you know your face won’t react to. For me, that would be rosehip or argon oil. You can also check out my sugar scrub for your face recipe here.

what sugars can I use in a homemade sugar scrub recipe?

It all depends on what part of your body you’re using it on.

For the face or those with sensitive skin, you want more finely ground such as granulated white or brown sugar.

To use on your entire body application, coconut sugar, raw sugar, granulated, or brown sugar may all work for you.

For heels and elbows, a thicker sugar like raw sugar, turbinado, or even coarse salt work well for these areas that need exfoliation.

essential oils for sugar scrub

Since certain essential oils can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun, you may want to avoid citrus essential oils (lemon, orange, bergamont, lime, etc) in this sugar scrub. I tend to use mine at night, so I don’t mind using lemon in it.

skin soother

• 10 drops lavender
• 10 drops frankincense

If you’ve checked out my face lotion or face scrub posts, then you’ll know that lavender is good for soothing and for skin health. Frankincense is known for it’s anti-aging benefits and antimicrobial properties.

relaxation blend

• 10 drops lavender
• 8 drops chamomile

Lavender and chamomile are both known for their relaxation effects!

pick me up

• 7 drops lavender
• 7 drops lemon
• 6 drops peppermint

Something about this combo always puts me in a good mood! Because peppermint can be overpowering and leave your skin feeling tingly, so you may want to decrease it by a drop or two then increase another the same amount.

energizing

• 8 drops orange
• 8 drops lemon
• 4 drops lime

Adding lime to orange and lemon is one of Justin’s favorites blends. I was surprised the first time I added lime to this blend how it does help make this blend more energizing!

sugar cookie

• 6 drops vanilla
• 4 drops lemon
• 2 drops sandalwood

Great for when you need this sugar scrub in the wintertime or just enjoy the scent of sugar cookies. 🙂 

grounding blend

• 3 drops vetiver
• 1 drop patchouli
• 1 drop vanilla 

Vetiver encourages grounding and relaxation while patchouli gives you that sense of calm!

vanilla tea

• 10 drops vanilla 
• 1 drops allspice
• 2 drops cardamom
• 1 drops nutmeg
• 1 drops ginger

Enjoy the warming scent of ginger, nutmeg, and allspice blended with sweet vanilla.

more helpful information & FAQs

Storing this sugar scrub in glass is best. I honestly just try to find jars in the grocery aisle I can keep and reuse. If I’m making this or a lotion as a gift, I put it through a hot, sanitizing cycle on my dishwasher to ensure it’s clean.

You’ll be able to store this for about 6 months, but ensure no water gets into your homemade sugar scrub. Since there’s no active preservative, it can grow moldy if you introduce moisture.

You can also use wide mouth, jelly mason jars (if you’re willing to spare them!) I’ve also seen little flip top jars from Ikea at my local thrift store (yes, I bought them and used them). 

Also, you may wonder do I have to use almond oil? The answer is no, but you want to use an oil that is liquid at room temperature. Regular coconut oil will not work but fractionated coconut oil would. You could also use grapeseed, argan, rosehip, jajoba, or most other carrier oils you find on an essential oil company’s website like Eden’s Garden or Plant Therapy. 

other fun DIYs for pampering yourself or gifts

• whipped body butter lotion
• shower steamers
• pumpkin spice melt and pour soap
• DIY sugar face scrub & mask

save this easy, homemade sugar scrub on Pinterest

What are some of your favorite DIYs to make?