It is no secret that I am addicted to a sugar scrub recipe and I love to make my own homemade sugar scrubs! I recently made a Lemon Sugar Scrub and it is so scrumptious and makes my skin feel so soft, I use it all the time. But today I wanted to talk about how to make a homemade sugar scrub recipe so that you can begin saving money, and controlling your ingredients while getting an amazing sugar scrub every single time!
How to make a Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe
Let's chat all things sugar scrubs, shall we? I love them. They make my skin feel soooooo fabulously soft and smooth. But because I often have skin sensitivities to store-bought products, I find it easier, cheaper, and safer to make my own.
But before we go on....I have super exciting news! I have a brand new digital book sharing 20 amazing scrub recipes with you! I am also doing a really deep dive into ingredients, substitutions, and frequently asked questions so you will be armed with all the information you need to create scrubs on your own! Go HERE to purchase.
Sugar Scrub Recipe Ingredients | Why it is important to know what's in your scrub
The wonderful thing about homemade sugar scrubs is that you have the ability to control your own ingredients. Unfortunately, many companies, even companies who claim that their products are natural, clean, or organic, often don't fully disclose everything in their products.
For example, if you ever see the word "parfum" or "fragrance" on an ingredient list, that can represent any number of ingredients that may or may not be good for your body. Most companies who use good things to scent their products disclose it, like essential oils. But most companies can use this label as a way to put whatever ingredients they want into their products without disclosing it. Because it is labeled as a fragrance, it is considered proprietary information and the FDA does not require disclosure.
Now I understand the need for companies to be able to keep their recipe a bit "top secret" but I personally feel that it can also be used as a loophole to put whatever ingredients they want into the product without having to fully disclose it.
What this means is, you never ever fully know what you are putting on your body when you buy sugar scrubs from most stores.
Since the skin is the largest organ of your body, it is important to take good care of it and know what you are putting in and on your body.
Also, parfumes and fragrances almost always give me a headache. They are also responsible for a lot of bad skin reactions that you may have from products.
THIS is why I make my own sugar scrubs! Because I want to control my ingredients to prevent bad reactions.
Save Money with a Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe
Yup. This is another reason I make my own sugar scrubs. It saves me SO MUCH MONEY! At any store, I would easily pay $10 or more for a sugar scrub, but I can make it at home for pennies with ingredients I already have at home. I love saving money in any way I can but I never like to do it at the expense of my time. Fortunately, make your own sugar scrub only takes about 5 minutes, and since I always have the ingredients on hand to make this, I never ever have to leave my home! This saves me time, and money, and I am a HUGE fan of saving both of those things.
What is a Sugar Scrub for?
Sugar scrubs are perfect for exfoliating dead skin off of your body. Sugar scrubs are my BFF for my knees, elbows, and feet. I also love to use them on my tummy, back, arms, legs, and lips. And when you make your own sugar scrub, you can customize your ingredients so that you are able to exfoliate and moisturize in one step! Woot woot!
Sugar Scrub Recipe with Essential Oils
As I mentioned above, "parfum" and "fragrances" are often unknown ingredients, and a huge benefit of making your own sugar scrub is knowing exactly what goes into it! That is why I always use Young Living Essential Oils for my Sugar Scrub Recipes. I didn't always use them, because I didn't always know better. But now I make no other choice except YL essential oils. They are the only company that I trust for their oil purity and I know that I will get quality oil every single time. Plus with no hidden ingredients, I know exactly what is going into my DIY recipes.
You can learn more about Essential Oils or how to buy essential oils HERE.
DIY Sugar Scrub with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is my go-to base for all of my sugar scrub recipes. I love it because it is thick and creamy which works well for a sugar scrub. But before I go any further, you need to understand that there are two types of coconut oil.
Regular coconut oil is thick and reminds me of the consistency of shortening, but it also melts easily in your warm hands so the consistency isn't hard or rough at all. The downside of using regular coconut oil is that your scrub if left in a cool place, can get very hard. Moving it to a warm location or simply holding it in your hands for a few seconds should warm it up enough to use for your scrub.
Fractionated coconut oil comes in liquid form. While I used to prefer making scrubs with regular fractionated coconut oil, I now prefer using fractionated coconut oil. I find it easier to use, and my scrub stays softer. You can easily exchange regular coconut oil for fractionated coconut oil in this recipe below and still get wonderful results. I typically use about 25%-50% the amount of fractionated coconut oil as I would regular coconut oil for the best consistency.
No matter which one you choose, coconut oil is easily accessible, inexpensive, smells great, and moisturizes your skin too! When you use coconut oil in your sugar scrub, your skin will be exfoliated and moisturized at the same time.
DIY Sugar Scrub Recipe Tips and Tricks
Today I am going to share a basic DIY Sugar Scrub recipe with you. This recipe is one of my favorites, but it is also super customizable too! A few things to note:
- Coconut Oil will get hard in cooler temps and liquid in warm temps. If you keep this in a cool place, don't worry, scoop a little bit out of your jar with a spoon, and just by holding it in your hands for a few seconds it will warm right up and be easy to use.
- Melting the coconut oil prior to mixing it with sugar will make this recipe come together really easily but is not required. If you melt your oil, you can use a spoon to mix everything together. If you do not melt it, grab your electric hand mixer and let it mix everything together for you.
- You can easily exchange regular coconut oil for fractionated coconut oil in this recipe below and still get wonderful results. I typically use about 25%-50% the amount of fractionated coconut oil as I would regular coconut oil for the best consistency.
- This basic sugar scrub recipe calls for equal portions of coconut oil and sugar, but you can adjust this as desired. Use less coconut oil for a drier scrub, and more coconut oil for a thicker, more moisturizing scrub.
- Granulated Sugar is perfect to use for a DIY Body Scrub. This also works well for your lips. But if you are looking for a sugar scrub for your face, you will need to use a finer sugar than this, like superfine sugar or brown sugar. Granulated sugar is too rough for your face.
- Brown sugar is a great alternative to granulated sugar and in fact, I will share a Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe with you down below too.
- Food coloring is ALWAYS optional. You do not need food coloring in a sugar scrub to make it work. Some people love how it looks, but quite a few people do have reactions to food coloring. If you want to add color to your scrub, I recommend using a Natural Food Dye like this one HERE. However, you can also use liquid food coloring as well.
- Please oh please oh please. Use high-quality essential oils. Most essential oils you buy in the store say flammable and not for topical use. These essential oils are not pure and they are truly not meant for your skin. I only trust Young Living Essential Oils and you can read all about why and learn how to get your hands on them HERE.
- You will want a container to put your sugar scrub in that seals. I will link to some jars with lids below, but I also love using 4oz mason jelly jars! You can use what you have on hand, or buy something extra special if you prefer. The options with containers for scrubs are truly endless.
- Share the love! I love making sugar scrubs for myself, but I also find so much joy in giving these away! Add a ribbon or a bow and sugar scrubs make the perfect gift for your best friend, your mom, your daughter, your niece, your neighbor or your kids' teachers. Seriously, spread this love around my friends!
Basic Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe
This recipe is for a BASIC homemade sugar scrub. You can modify it as needed.
(Affiliate links included for your convenience. By purchasing the items through my links, you never pay a penny more, but you help to support my blog. Thank you.)
Ingredients:
- 陆 cup Granulated Sugar
- 陆 cup Organic Coconut Oil
- 15-20 drops Young Living Essential Oil in the scent of your choice
- Natural Food Coloring (optional)
- 8 oz Jar with Lid or 4 oz Mason Jars or 8oz Glass Jars
- Avery 2" Round Labels (a great way to add a label to your sugar scrub)
Directions:
- Melt your coconut oil and use a spoon to stir the sugar into it. If you prefer not to melt your coconut oil, grab an electric hand mixer and combine the coconut oil and sugar that way. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Add your food coloring (optional) and essential oils and mix until combined.
- Place your sugar scrub into a container and seal shut.
- Add a label if desired!
Enjoy yourself and share one with a friend too!
And if you are ready to do a deeper dive into learning all about scrubs, ingredients, substitutions, and more, be sure to check out my brand new book containing 20 of my favorite sugar scrub recipes!
Here are a few more of my favorite Sugar Scrub Recipes:
Pink Lemonade Brown Sugar Hand Scrub
Anna T Hagins
why do you say granulated sugar is too rough then give a recipe using granulated sugar
Ashley Phipps
Hi!
Thank you for taking the time to write. What I said was "Granulated Sugar is perfect to use for a DIY Body Scrub.聽 This also works well for your lips.聽 But if you are looking for a sugar scrub for your face,聽 you will need to use a finer sugar than this.聽 Granulated sugar is too rough for your face." I love granulated sugar for many scrubs, but it is just too rough for my overall face. This recipe shared is not specified for a face scrub, but a basic recipe. Feel free to sub the sugar in this for a finer sugar if you want to use this on your face! Thanks so much!
Sue
She says too rough or use on the face
Skyler
This will be my first time making a homemade body scrub. Your recipe sounds great and simple enough for me to do. I was just wondering, how long does this last after you make it? I don't want to use expired scrub later on. 馃檪
Ashley Phipps
I鈥檝e never honestly had one go bad...I use it before that happens! I have had sugar scrubs keep fine for several months before. But you could also 1/2 or 1/4 the recipe if you鈥檙e worried you won鈥檛 use it in time. 馃檪
Linda
This is my first time making a sugar scrub. While I'm not using it for myself, I'll be using it for my cat whose skin requires a good exfoliating due to her breed. I want to thank you for posting this, saving me oodles of money in the long run. I do have one question however, if I make too much for 1 or 2 baths, do I store this in the fridge, or just in the cupboard? Will the sugar added to the coconut oil spoil the length of keeping it in the cupboard?
Ashley Phipps
I鈥檝e never honestly had one go bad...I use it before that happens! I have had sugar scrubs keep fine for several months before. But you could also 1/2 or 1/4 the recipe if you鈥檙e worried you won鈥檛 use it in time. 馃檪 I keep mine at room temperature, but the fridge would be fine too.
Judy Cash
If you melt the coconut oil,
1. Should you let it cool before you put it in a jar?
2. How long before it sets up?
3. Should it be stirred to give it that fluffy look?
Ashley Phipps
Hi! Thanks for all the questions. If you use a glass jar, you really don't need to wait to put it in the jar. They can handle a little warmth. But you only want to BARELY melt the coconut oil, you don't want it hot, just barely melted. It may take a few hours to set up depending on the temperature it is kept at (put it in your fridge for it to set up quicker). But if your home is warm, it will just be softer then if your home is cold. In my post image, I did not melt the coconut oil, I just mixed it together with a hand mixer which does give it a more fluffy look. If you melt the coconut oil and still want a fluffy look, you will need to mix it with a hand mixer after the melted coconut has set a bit. Best of luck!
Marimar
Yay! I cant wait to make this. Approximately how many 4 oz jars does this recipe make?
Narda Lou Kinsler
I'm wondering about coconut oil in the bathtub. Won't the oil make the tub slick? Could we substitute a body wash instead? I by a sugar scrub that is wonderful and organic but pricey. I want to make my own. And what about salt? Is it a good substitute for sugar?
Thanks for sharing your talents!!
Ashley Phipps
Salt is a lot harsher than sugar. While it can be used for a scrub, I would be really careful as to where I used it because it can be pretty rough. (It would be great for feet, but not sensitive skin areas).
Salt can also be quite drying.
I personally have not experienced issues with my shower becoming slick when using this, but I can not guarantee that other's will not have a different experience. You can always sub for something you are more comfortable with, the results will just be different 馃檪
Alicia
Rough estimate how many 4 oz jars this recipe makes?
Ashley Phipps
1/2 cup sugar fills a 4oz jar pretty well
Paige
Would it be okay to substitute coconut oil with olive oil? I've seen that other places but just wanted to double check. Also I think I am going to use the "stress away" Young Living oil in the scrub...would that be okay?
Ashley Phipps
Hi! Olive oil is definitely a more "oily" oil. You can use it, but it will change the texture and feel of the scrub and make it feel more oily. A better sub would be fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil, rosehip oil or almond oil. You can see the proportions of liquid oil to sugar for a sugar scrub in my Peppermint Sugar Scrub recipe here: https://simplydesigning.net/peppermint-sugar-scrub/ And of course you can use whichever essential oil scent you prefer in this! It is just a great basic place to start! Best of luck!
Cyndi
I made this last night. Mine set hard.. did I do something wrong?
Ashley Phipps
Probably not. Sometimes, if you used regular coconut oil, it can set back up again if it is in a cold place. I usually keep mine in my bathroom and it is always warm in there and stays nice and soft. Just let it warm up a bit and it will get soft. Alternatively, you can take it out of the jar and add in a liquid oil like fractionated coconut oil, almond oil etc and that should keep it softer. You can also always just use a liquid oil instead of a harder one. I personally love using coconut oil, but if you tend to keep your house colder, it might not be as easy to work with.
Nicole
Hi thanks for your post! Just made the scrub, but when I put it in the had the sugar was still separated on the bottom, did I do something wrong?
Belle
Thank you so much for this post! I made two scents last night to give as gifts today for Christmas: Lemon and Lemon-Eucalyptus. Had to add a little extra sugar to obtain the consistenvy I wanted, but it worked perfectly! Merry Christmas!
Debbie Jackson
I'm making Peppermint Sugar Scrub as gifts for attendees at a Baby Shower, so I need quite a bit. If I'm doing 16 cups of sugar, 16 cups of coconut oil, can you tell me how much of the essential oil I will need? Measuring out by 'drops' is difficult to know how much to purchase.
Cortney
Your event might have passed, but a general rule of thumb for YL oils is 100 drops per 5ml bottle and 300 drops per 15 ml bottle.
Ashley Phipps
Hi.
I recommend using 15-20 drops of oil for 1/2 cup oil & sugar. So with 16 cups, you will make 32 batches of my recipe. That will mean you will use between 480-640 drops of essential oil depending on how strong you like it.
5 ml bottles of Young Living essential oil have between 80-100 drops of essential oil and 15 ml bottles contain 260-300 drops of essential oil. So, I would snag (2) 15ml bottles of oil and use about 15 drops per batch. Peppermint tends to be a stronger smell so I think 15 drops would be enough!
Hope that helps and have fun!
C.J.
Mine is liquidy... is it supposed to be like that?
Ashley Phipps
Hi! Coconut oil is solid at colder temperatures and completely liquid at warmer temperatures. So the consistency of anything made with it can vary depending on the current temperature. If yours is really liquid-y I would throw it in the fridge to harden up a bit. And then try to keep it in a cooler location.
Nobi
I made this last night and it was wonderful! But then When I woke up in the morning to go use it again, and the coconut had completely solidified! Right know I put the jar in a bowl of warm water to see if I can break it down. What did I do wrong?
Ashley Phipps
Hi! Coconut oil is solid at colder temperatures and completely liquid at warmer temperatures. So the consistency of anything made with it can vary depending on the current temperature. But if you can just scoop a bit into your hands it should warm up and soften almost right away and be perfect to use! Coconut oil is awesome like that!
Raina
I have 8 oz 16 oz in 20 oz jars I'm trying to find a good spoon so I don't have to buy three different type of spoon do you have any suggestions or spoons that you've used.
Ashley Phipps
Hi. The spoon in the photo I believe came with a jar I bought at a craft store many years ago. I am so sorry I don't have a better resource for it. I don't think you need to buy three different spoons though, I would just look for a small spoon like a sugar spoon used for tea. Best of luck.
Gabby
Will 4 oz mason jars be big enough for this recipe, or do they need to be 16 oz?
Maurice Johnson
Do you use a preserative in your scrubs? If so, how much preserative did you use?
Ashley Phipps
Hi,
I do not use a preservative in my scrubs.
All homemade products made with natural ingredients, with no preservatives, & that comes in contact with water (ie reaching a wet hand into the container), typically stay free from bacteria growth for about 5 days when kept in a cool, dry location. This is why I love to make scrubs in small batches!
I suggest keeping scrubs in an airtight container & in the fridge. Also, use a clean, dry spoon to scoop scrub into your hands, instead of reaching into the container with your hands. These will help with preservation.
If your scrub smells bad, don鈥檛 use it, simply throw it away and make a new one. This sometimes happens if your carrier oil goes rancid. Thankfully, scrubs are so inexpensive & easy to make. So simply make a new batch.
Have a great day.
Ashley
Andie
What oil should be used if people have allergies to coconut? I don't want it to be too slippery if I used avocado oil.
Ashley Phipps
You can really use any prefered oil as your base. Grapeseed oil is usually a great choice to try as it usually works well with all skin types.