Since there’s less to do in the garden this time of year, I often find that I get a bit “craftier” in autumn. So I decided to try my hand at making some DIY beauty products this week and what better place to start than with DIY body scrub!
I love regularly using an exfoliating body scrub, but I hate all of the synthetic fragrances and other harsh chemical additives they often contain (if you haven’t watched the ‘Stink!’ documentary yet, I highly recommend it!) But this homemade sugar scrub recipe is made of all natural ingredients and it’s earth-friendly and easy on your wallet too!
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How to make homemade body scrub in 3 easy steps
Body scrub recipes can be elaborate affairs with essential oils and “fancy,” skin nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil. But for this first recipe, I wanted to keep things simple, so I stuck to very basic ingredients. And it just so happened that I had all of the items I needed to make this exfoliating scrub right in my kitchen cabinet!
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup of brown sugar (packed). Either light or dark brown sugar will work!
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil. Use the regular, solid coconut oil for this recipe, not fractionated coconut oil.
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- A storage container. I used an upcycled storage container from my old body scrub, but if you need to purchase new storage containers, these tiny, plastic Mason jars are adorable. I’d recommend sticking to plastic containers, not glass, so you won’t need to worry about them breaking in your bathtub!
- A mixing bowl.
- A spoon.
The process:
1. Add your ingredients.
To get started, add your sugar, coconut oil and vanilla extract to your mixing bowl. For this recipe, you’ll want your coconut oil to be soft, like the texture of peanut butter or toothpaste. If your coconut oil is very firm, you can make it easier to mix by running the coconut oil container under warm water.
2. Mix well.
Next, mix your ingredients together with your spoon until they’re fully combined. If you see any chunks of solid coconut oil, keep mixing!
3. Scoop your sugar scrub into your favorite storage container!
Now, all that’s left to do is to scoop your sugar scrub into your storage container and it’s ready to use. Who knew making sugar scrub was that easy!
How to use sugar scrub?
Homemade sugar scrub can be used right away when you take your next bath or shower. You can apply this sugar scrub mixture with your hands or with an eco-friendly washcloth or body brush… it’s up to you! I like applying this product with circular motions, but you may find that you prefer a different exfoliating technique.
How long does sugar scrub last?
Homemade sugar scrub doesn’t need to be refrigerated and you can keep it right in your bathroom. But if you want to keep your sugar scrub for as long as possible, be sure to store your scrub with the lid on and avoid getting extra water into your container. When properly stored, sugar scrub should last for about 6 months!
While making sugar scrub is definitely easy, you can also create a larger batch of sugar scrub all at once and store your extras in your freezer for a year or more! Just make sure that if you’re freezing scrub (or other liquid products) you use plastic containers. If you use glass containers, freeze your scrub with the lid OFF and then screw the lid on after your scrub is frozen to keep the glass from breaking in your freezer.
How to package homemade sugar scrub as a gift?
Sugar scrubs look luxe on their own when they’re packaged up in Mason jars or other appealing containers. But if you want to give your homemade scrubs as a hostess gift or holiday present, you may want to add labels to your sugar scrub or package your scrub up in a holiday gift basket.
I think these scrubs would look adorable in an upcycled gift basket (secondhand stores always have nice baskets!), along with some goat’s milk soap, a natural loofah (did you know you can grow loofah seeds in your garden?) and maybe a bath bomb or two. But you could also gift your scrubs along with some choice snacks and a nice bottle of wine.
Why make your own homemade exfoliating scrub?
Sugar scrubs are easy to make and, if you love being a bit crafty, you may enjoy making scrubs just for the sake of making. But homemade sugar scrubs are also much more budget-friendly than store bought alternatives and you can make these scrubs in bulk to save even more money. Plus, if you make sugar scrubs, you can personalize them however you please by adding in food dyes, swapping out essential oil fragrances or adding in other fun mix-ins like dried lavender.
But beyond personal reasons, creating your own homemade sugar scrubs is an easy way to make your home that much more sustainable. Unlike storebought products, homemade scrubs can be made with all natural, organic items, so you won’t need to tangle with chemical fragrances and other nasties. Homemade scrubs can also be packaged in upcycled containers, eliminating the need for more single use plastic products.
On top of that, many people don’t realize that the exfoliating beads in store-bought scrubs are often made of plastic! Once those itty bitty bits of plastic wash down your bath drain, they break down into microplastic particles that can find their way into groundwater and the environment as a whole. But homemade sugar scrubs are totally plastic free and they only use the natural exfoliating properties of sugar to freshen up your skin!
Frequently asked questions about DIY sugar scrub
Is sugar or salt better for a scrub?
Sugar and salt can both be used in exfoliating scrubs and neither ingredient is necessarily better than the other. Salt scrubs tend to be more intense than sugar scrubs though, so if you have sensitive skin, you may want to stick to sugar scrubs.
How often should you use a sugar scrub?
Exfoliating sugar scrubs can be used about once or twice a week. Applying exfoliating products can sometimes cause skin irritation, especially if your skin is on the sensitive side.
How long should I leave sugar scrub on my body?
Sugar scrubs don’t need to soak into your skin… just apply them, rub them in and then wash them off.
