DIY Sugar Scrub Recipe (Easy Homemade Body Scrub)
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
This easy DIY Sugar Scrub leaves skin soft and smooth using just sugar, oil, and optional essential oils. It’s inexpensive, customizable, and made without questionable additives found in many store-bought scrubs.
Today I'm sharing one of my favorite DIY personal care products of all time–a Homemade Sugar Scrub. Unlike most store-bought scrubs, it has no chemical additives and costs far less than store-bought scrubs.
In order to keep as many toxins out of our homes and off of our bodies, I try to make as many homemade personal care items as possible.
My First Sugar Scrub
I'd never tried a scrub until I was at an antique car show where a woman was selling beauty products and offering free scrub demonstrations.
Hesitatingly, I tried the scrub, feeling skeptical (I'm pretty skeptical about a lot of things….see my post on Are Essential Oils a Scam? ~ A Skeptic Looks at Thieves Oil for an example).
I wondered what the big deal was.
Well, I tried it and really loved how my hands felt and looked after rubbing that scrub all over my hands and rinsing it off. Smooth and revitalized and younger-looking.
However, I didn't like the price or the ingredients.
I looked online to verify what the “incriminating ingredients” were, and though the exact product I tried isn't there any longer, get a look at the list on one of their comparable products:
Ingredients in Store Bought Sugar Scrub
- butylene glycol
- sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
- polyacrylamide
- C13-14 Isoparaffin
- Laureth-7
- Fragrance (who knows what's really in that, but it almost always means artificial fragrance)
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
And the price was $16.00 (marked down from $18.00) for only 6 oz.
There had to be a cheaper and less toxic way to get smooth skin.
Fast forward several years.
One day, a sweet friend from church gave me a handmade sugar scrub and I loved it so much that I decided to learn how to make my own.
Why You’ll Love This Sugar Scrub
This sugar scrub is great for so many reasons. It's
- inexpensive
- customizable
- a super easy gift
- moisturizing
- made with simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry
- no questionable ingredients
- no wasteful packaging
How Much Can You Save Making DIY Sugar Scrubs?
Here's an outline of the money savings, based on prices at the time this post was originally published:
- Granulated sugar is $2.68 for 5 lb at Aldi (that's $.54/lb)
- Grapeseed oil is $6.75/ltr at the buying club I run out of my home.
My Cost:
- Sugar: $.27
- Grapeseed Oil: $1.59
- Essential Oils: approximately $.14, depending on the oil chosen
I didn't include the container because you can reuse that unless it's for a gift.
The retail price of the above mentioned version I tested was $18 for 6 oz., but you can make a homemade sugar scrub for only $2.00!
What Oil Is Best to Use in a Sugar Scrub?
Really you can use any oil you like, but I personally like using cold pressed, organic oils for their nourishing properties. Olive oil is especially moisturizing and can possibly help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks. Friends of mine have touted their family's use of olive oil for ages for this reason.
This Cold Pressed Organic Olive Oil is a good option for this purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Essential Oils Are Best for a Sugar Scrub?
You can really use any essential oil or blend that you like. You can even do fun combinations like those in this list of Christmas Essential Oil Blends for creative gifting options.
Do Sugar Scrubs Cause Plumbing Issues?
Although sugar dissolves easily in water, oils and butters can contribute to buildup over time in some plumbing systems, particularly in older homes. This scrub uses oils that are liquid at room temperature, which are generally less likely to solidify in pipes than heavier ingredients like coconut oil or shea butter.
Still, it’s best to use moderate amounts, wipe excess oil from skin before rinsing if desired, and run warm water down the drain after use.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar or other granulated sweetener
- 1 cup cold-pressed olive oil (organic grapeseed or avocado oil are other good mild oil options)
- 2-4 drops lavender essential oil (or other essential oil as desired. Go here to read about the company that I recommend.)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Store in a glass container (essential oils will damage the plastic and metals change the properties of the oils).
Notes
To Use
1. Take a small amount of the scrub with a small spoon. 2. Rub all over your hands and fingertips (or feet, or wherever you'd like extra softness) for about 1 minute. 3. Let sit on your hands for 3-4 minutes (enjoy this time to rest in your day :-)!) 4. Rinse off and pat dry with a towel.More Frugal DIY Body Care Recipes
If you're interested in more DIY personal care options, these might be of interest.
- Homemade Facial Oil Cleanser
- Rose Water Facial Spray
- Easiest Ever Homemade Deodorant
- Easy and Moisturizing Foaming Soap
- Homemade Eye Makeup Remover
- Alcohol-Free Hairspray
- Nourishing Lip Scrub
- Nourishing Hair Rinse
- Hand and Body Cream, and
- Tooth Powder
This homemade sugar scrub makes a fabulous gift!
I've even included it in my Easy Mother's Day Gifts roundup along with other great ideas for Mom.
Don't Feel Like DIYing?
Here's one good option for buying a reasonably priced scrub if you don't feel like making your own.
- The Rowe Casa Body Scrub comes in several lovely scents including Coffee and Vanilla!
- Bubble and Bee has some great salt scrubs to choose from.
- Poofy Organics has a number of nice scents too.
Have you ever used sugar scrubs?
Love it.. thanks for linking up at friday fun party.. 🙂 Pinning it for making on weekend..
Thanks! I’m glad to have found your blog! Thanks for the pin!
I’ve been making my own sugar scrub for years! And it looks like we’ve come up with the same recipe. My favorite essential oils to add are ylang ylang and frankincense. It is soooo much more affordable and healthier.
Thanks for the oil suggestions! I’m still getting my feet wet with the oils (pun intended)….and haven’t done much with either of those yet. Looking forward to trying that!
I was just thinking, today, that I need to schedule a pedi. Hmmm, maybe I’ll just whip up a batch of this, try it myself and save a bundle. Thank you for the inspiration!
You’re welcome! My hands still look beter than they have in a long time and I haven’t used this for about 3 days now :-).
Believe it or not, This is exactly what many main spas use. I strongly recommend pouring warm honey ( in the tub) and leaving it for a little bit and then rinse off with warm water. The honey and sugar come right off and you won’t believe the moisture this combo gives. It’s absolutely splendid.
Nice tip! Thanks for the info!
I saw a comment on another post about sugar scrubs that has left me wondering. Will some of the sugar absorb into your skin when used in this way?
Beth, what comment did you see? I was wondering the same thing, but from my search on the internet I didn’t find that it will be absorbed. I guess if it turns out it might be or if you are concerned, you could use coconut or palm sugar or even xylitol. The exfoliating issue is what is important – not that it is sugar (from what I know). If you find more out, please share!
It was a comment at the following blog about her body scrub e-book, Simple Scrubs. https://adelightfulhome.com/simplescrubs/ I believe the comment was by someone name Cherlyann (???). She was very appropriate in her comment, but she just pointed out that someone who might have health issues related to sugar consumption might want to be careful about using sugar scrubs (and she gives an example of a friend who was exposed to sugar “fumes” when working in a bakery). I know the fumes thing is different than exposure through the skin, but it did make me wonder about the impact since we do know that we absorb through our skin as well as through “eating.” I just didn’t know if that would apply to sugar scrubs as well. For now, I’ve switched to using epsom salt instead of sugar in scrubs I make. It seems to be a little more “harsh” than the sugar, but I know it has other benefits, too. Thanks for you input. 🙂
Thanks, Beth. I did a little more hunting and the only info I could find stating that it is absorbed into the skin was on forums with people chatting about it.
Can you think of a good source to call about this? I find this very interesting. The fumes are for sure different because it is powdered sugar in the air that is being ingested. Absorption into the skin is determined by molecular size, as far as I can understand it.
Oh Adrienne, you’re speaking my language lady. I love homemade beauty products! Sugar makes an excellent scrub! Love it!!
Hugs,
–Amber
You wouldn’t necessarily have to heat the coconut oil to mix it. Usually mine will liquify enough just from stirring.
Almond oil is great in sugar or sea salt scrubs. Also johoba oil because it is closest to our own produced skin oils.
I’ve heard very good things about almond oil, but heard it goes rancid easily. I too love jojoba oil as you can see from my face wash post. Thanks for the comment!
You must have known my feet were in dire need of something. I’m curious if you think using coconut oil would work. I’m assuming that I’d need to melt it so it would pourable before trying to mix this altogether. Thx
It will for sure work! You will, of course, end up with a much thicker product. I think in warmer weather (over 76 degrees) you won’t need to heat it, but cooler than that and you will. Enjoy!
like you’re reading my mind.. been looking up body scrub recipes all week for bridal favors! Thanks
So glad! I think that’s a fabulous idea!