Summer bodies are made in the kitchen! Everything you need to easily DIY a luxurious body scrub can be found in your kitchen, for half the price of what you would spend at Sephora. And these scrubs give your skin that silky soft summer glow that we all want.
And I am sharing my favorite diy sugar scrub recipes that are so delicious, you’ll want to eat them. And you definitely can, but I’d pass on that lol.
Benefits of a sugar body scrub
Sugar is a natural exfoliant. Using it a a scrub helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal softer and smoother skin.
Using a sugar scrub also:
- Promotes efficient circulation and skin cell turnover
- Draws out impurities and clears congestion
- Frees ingrown hairs and smooths razor bumps
And the ingredients in my sugar scrub recipes add even more benefits:
- Lemon: brightening, anti-bacterial, deodorizing
- Lime: natural antioxidant
- Honey: antiseptic and antibacterial, humectant – which draws moisture into the skin
- Grapefruit: antibacterial and antioxidant
Sugar scrub ingredients
There are 2 ingredients that make up the base of all 3 scrub recipes:
- Sugar – white granulated sugar has the best consistency. For a lighter scrub you can also use brown sugar. But, do not use raw or turbinado sugar, the granules are quite large and maybe too harsh for your skin.
- Oil of your choice. Some of my favorites are coconut, sweet almond and safflower oil. Just stay away vegetable or canola oil.
Sugar or salt, which is better?
In my opinion, there is only one reason to use salt in a homemade body scrub and that is if it will be exclusively used on the feet. Salt granules are larger and make for a much more aggressive exfoliation. Sugar scrubs are gentle enough to also be used on your lips – which I often use to rid my lips of dry flakes. Click here to watch the video tutorial for my homemade lip scrub.
Tools needed
- Small to medium airtight plastic or glass container
- Fork
- Spoon
- Fine grater or micro plane
Honey-Lemon Sugar Scrub
- Step 1: Wash the lemon thoroughly with soap and water and dry with a cloth or paper towel.
- Step 2: Depending on the size of your container, scoop 2 parts sugar and 1 part oil into your container. For example, 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup oil.
- Step 3: Mix the two together with the fork.
- Step 4: Now add a 1/2 part honey to your oil and sugar mix. Using the example in step 2, it would be 1/4 cup honey.
- Step 5: Grate the rind of the lemon into the mix but, be careful not to grate down to the white part.
- Step 6: Mix well. The consistency should be lumpy and not too wet. Add more sugar or oil as needed.
Lemon-Lime Scrub
- Step 1: Wash the lemon and lime thoroughly with soap an
d water and dry with a cloth or paper towel.
- Step 2: Depending on the size of your container, scoop 2 parts sugar and 1 part oil into your container. For example 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup oil.
- Step 3: Mix the two together with the fork.
- Step 4: Grate the rinds of the lemon and lime into the mix but, be careful not to grate down to the white part.
- Step 5: Mix well. The consistency should be lumpy and not too wet. Add more sugar or oil as needed.
Grapefruit & Brown Sugar Scrub
- Step 1: Wash the grapefruit thoroughly with soap and water and dry with a cloth or paper towel.
- Step 2: Depending on the size of your container, scoop 2 parts sugar and 1 part oil into your container. For example 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup oil.
- Step 3: Mix the two together with the fork.
- Step 4: Grate the rind of the entire grapefruit into the mix but, be careful not to grate down to the white part.
- Step 5: Mix well. The consistency should be lumpy and not too wet. Add more sugar or oil as needed.
Sugar scrubs without coconut oil
There are 2 camps, people who love coconut oil and those who hate it or have adverse reactions to it. I love it for my body, but it does make my face break out. My recipes are completely customizable, so feel free to swap out coconut oil for another one of your faves.
How to use your body scrub
These scrubs can be used everywhere from the neck down, I do not recommend using them on your face. And always use on freshly cleansed skin.
Scoop some of the scrub into your hands and gently rub into your skin in a circular motion. This helps loosen the dead skin and give the skin a nice massage. Once complete, simply rinse with water or wipe off with a warm, damp cloth.
How often should you use the scrub?
I don’t recommend using your scrub everyday as that may be too harsh for your skin. Limit usage to just a few days per week.
Other uses for the sugar scrub
- For shaving. The light layer of oil left behind on the skin is perfect to shave with. I exclusively shave this way and no longer purchase shaving creams.
- Natural Deodorizer. After handling raw meats, garlic or onions. Wash your hands first then use the lemon scrub to completely remove any lingering odors.
How long does the scrub last?
My recipes contain no water, so as long as the scrub is kept in an airtight container and free from water, they can be used over and over without spoiling.
The amount of combinations you can make for these scrubs using ingredients in your kitchen are endless. I didn’t even mention the ingredients in your spice cabinet that make great additions to this scrub.
What other combinations can you think of?
With Love,
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