DIY: Sugar Scrubs

Posted by: Heidi - June 22, 2012. DIY

This post is part of our ongoing “Do-It-Yourself” series. Got an idea for a great DIY, or have one that you’d like us to feature? We’d love to hear about it!

Every other week my husband has what we’ve come to refer to as “dude night,” (they made up a theme song… no joke) which means I get a ME night. I’m not very girly but I love pampering myself every once in a while, so on my nights in I usually take a bath or do my nails.

I used to love buying smelly stuff from Bed, Bath, & Beyond, but then I started reading about what they put in them- you know, all those crazy, unpronouncable names on the ingredients list- and stopped using most of their bath products. I’m now realizing how easy it can be to make many of these products myself, free from chemicals and additives, and way cheaper. I only wish I’d known before!

A sugar scrub can be as simple as getting a quarter cup of plain sugar and mixing it with a bit of water, and making a more sophisticated scrub that easily rivals the store-bought stuff is easy and inexpensive. Here’s your basic formula:

1 cup granulated sugar
½ – 1 cup oil of your choice (more on this below)
a few drops essential oil (more on this below, too)

I like to combine them in a mason jar. Easy, right? So here are a few of my favorite recipes.

Lavender Scrub

1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup coarse sea salt
½ cup oil of your choice
2 tablespoons almond oil
1 tablespoon vitamin E
several drops lavender oil (how many depends on your preference)

Brown Sugar Scrub

2 cups brown sugar
½ cup oil of your choice
¼ cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Holiday Spiced Scrub

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons ginger
1 cup oil of your choice

What oil to use- I recommend using extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, or refined coconut oil… unrefined coconut oil will have a strong coconut scent (which is fine if you like coconut!). Don’t use vegetable or canola oil if you can help it- those oils aren’t going to be beneficial for your skin.

Essential oils- Want to try your hand at aromatherapy? Try blending some of these basic essential oils, or use them alone:

Citrus (lemon, orange)- invigorating, awakening