Homemade Sugar Scrub
Buff away dry skin and reveal a radiant glow with this DIY Homemade Sugar Scrub! It requires just two simple ingredients and is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and edible. This gentle exfoliant leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and nourished. Plus, it makes great gifts!
This is my all-time favorite DIY sugar scrub recipe and I have been using it for years. Whether after a soak in the tub or the end of a shower, it scruffs away dead skin cells leaving me with freshly exfoliated and moisturized skin.
I want to share with you how easy it is to make your own exfoliating scrub from scratch with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. It’s a budget-friendly way to get spa-worthy results, better than expensive store-bought scrubs, and will leave your skin glowing, soft, and supple!
Sugar Scrub Benefits
- Smoother, softer skin: Regular use helps to remove dead skin cells, revealing smoother, softer skin.
- Improved skin texture: Exfoliating can help to improve skin texture by unclogging pores and removing impurities.
- Enhanced skin hydration: The oil’s moisturizing effect helps to hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple.
- Brighter skin tone: Scrubs can help promote cell turnover, which can lead to a brighter, more even skin tone.
Get your glow on and feel the difference after the first use!
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What Kind of Sugar Can I Use?
Sugar is a natural humectant that helps lock in moisture and hydrate your skin, making it the perfect base for our homemade sugar scrub. There are three main types of sugar you can choose from:
- Pure cane brown sugar is the least abrasive, making it a good choice for sensitive skin and facial scrubs. Since it is the gentlest, a brown sugar scrub can be used up to 4 times a week.
- Pure cane sugar (unrefined white) is good for all skin types and contains essential nutrients to feed the skin. It can be used 2 – 3 times per week.
- Turbinado sugar (raw) is naturally the coarsest due to its large granules and makes for a great body scrub. It is the least processed of the three sugars and holds the most essential minerals. Body scrubs made with raw sugar can be used up to 2 times a week.
Personally, I prefer pure cane and brown sugar. Both are great for sloughing and not too irritating. I encourage you to try the different types to see what works best for your skin type.
What Type Of Oils Can I Use?
When I started making my own exfoliating scrubs, I used extra virgin olive oil because it’s a pantry staple and always on hand. Now that I make it regularly, I like to use other oils such as avocado and sweet almond oil.
Here are some great oils to consider for various skin types:
Apricot Oil absorbs well, is non-greasy, and works as an enriching emollient, perfect for soothing skin and preventing dryness. Best suited for sensitive, dry, and mature skin types.
Avocado Oil is heavy in texture yet soothing and leaves no greasy residue. Avocado oil supports skin elasticity. It’s nutrient-rich, hydrating, and great for mature skin.
Coconut Oil is moisturizing and conditioning and has antiviral and antibacterial properties. Look for unrefined coconut oil. You can also use Fractioned Coconut Oil, which is non-greasy.
Grapeseed Oil naturally contains vitamin E and fatty acids that retain and moisturize the skin. It’s non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores and is a good choice for those with acne-prone or oily skin types.
Hazelnut Oil is a pale amber oil with a pleasant smell, similar to almond oil. Because of its astringent qualities, this oil is beneficial for oily skin. It will also absorb quickly and is useful as a base for oily or acne-prone skin.
Hemp Seed Oil is conditioning and regenerative. It is perfect for moisturizing dry, damaged skin and works well for eczema and psoriasis. It reduces skin aging and is anti-inflammatory. Hemp seed oil penetrates the skin quickly.
Jojoba Oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It’s odorless, non-greasy, and penetrates quickly. This is a good moisturizing conditioner and nourishes all skin types.
Olive Oil penetrates deeply into the skin, making it good for overly dry skin. One reason olive oil is so powerful is that it’s a “humectant,” which means it draws moisture into your skin. It is also good for soothing dry, itchy skin.
Sesame Oil is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is recommended for psoriasis, eczema, and arthritis, and as a skin softener.
Sweet Almond Oil is rich in vitamins E and K, which help skin regenerate and maintain elasticity. It is also a natural UV blocker and promotes better circulation. It absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue and is a good choice for all skin types.
Walnut Oil has good moisturizing, anti-aging, regenerative, emollient, and toning properties.
How To Make Sugar Scrub
Place 1 cup of sugar in a small to medium-sized container, add 5 tablespoons of oil, and mix well. Add 1 to 2 more tablespoons as needed. Depending on the oil and sugar, you will use anywhere from 5 – 8 tablespoons per cup of sugar.
The consistency should be sandy, not soupy. If the mix is too soupy, the sugars will dissolve in a day or two and not slough the skin as well, but you will get added moisture from the oil. If it’s too soupy, add more sugar.
Recommended equipment: I like to use glass Weck, Ball, or these 8-oz. wide-mouth Kerr jars. You can buy regular glass containers with lids that are easy to open, don’t rust when stored in the shower, and are good for gifting.
Ways To Use an Exfoliating Scrub
Shower: After showering, lightly pat your skin with a dry towel, leaving a little moisture. Scoop up about 1 – 2 tablespoons in the palm of your hand and apply the sugar scrub to sections of the body, gently rubbing in a circular motion. Rinse off the excess sugar granules when done. You can safely use this edible sugar scrub on your entire body.
Bath: For the best results, I find a nice soak in the bathtub first, for at least 20 minutes, works wonderfully. Soaking in the tub softens the outer layers of the skin, making it easier to exfoliate and scuff off dead skin cells. Once you are done soaking, lightly pat your skin with a dry towel, and apply the scrub in a circular motion anywhere on your body. Rinse off when done. You’ll be left with beautiful, glowing, soft, and supple skin!
Hands: When your hands feel dry or you just want to moisturize and exfoliate. Scoop out 1 to 2 tablespoons and place it in the palm of your hand. Gently rub your hands together, back and front, and in between the fingers. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel.
Storage Tips
I like to keep my tightly sealed exfoliating scrub right in the shower caddy, so it’s always handy. If you prefer, you can keep it in a cabinet and pull it out when ready to use. I find it’s best used within 1 month.
FAQs
Do you use sugar scrub before or after body wash?
We recommend using a sugar scrub after cleansing the body with any type of soap or body wash. This way, you don’t wash off the moisturizing oil that is left on the skin after using a body scrub. Use your scrub at the very end of showering or bathing, and then give yourself a quick rinse before stepping out to remove any sugar granules.
How often should you use a sugar scrub?
You can safely use a sugar scrub 3 – 4 times a week.
Can I add Flavors or Smells?
Yes, you can make a variety of body scrubs with different flavors and smells by using essential oils, preferably food-grade. I’ve been using Viva Doria’s assortment of orange, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, spearmint, peppermint, bergamot, and eucalyptus. Rose and patchouli would also be great! For pantry items, use alcohol-free vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, etc. See more about how to use them in the recipe card below.
For a relaxing and luxurious body scrub, take a look at my Lavender Body Scrub!
Do I Need to Add a Preservative?
No, since this sugar body scrub contains no water, you don’t need to mix in any added preservatives.
If you try this homemade scrub, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
GLOW SUGAR SCRUB (DIY + EXFOLIATING)
Get ready for beautifully soft, glowing skin! This edible DIY Sugar Scrub is easy to make and will leave your skin incredibly soft and supple. Give your body a treat with our homemade exfoliating scrub!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 1 cup 1x
- Category: How-To
Ingredients
Base
- 1 cup sugar of choice (organic pure cane, brown pure cane, turbinado, etc.)
- 5 – 8 tablespoons oil (sweet almond oil, jojoba, or extra virgin olive oil)
optional ingredients:
- 1 tsp vanilla extract w/o alcohol
- few drops of vitamin E oil
- 1/2 small lemon, juice of
- or a few drops of your favorite essential oils such as spearmint, lemon, lavender, grapefruit, etc (see notes)
Instructions
Mix: Place sugar in a small/medium-sized container, add 5 tablespoons of oil, and mix well. Add 1 to 3 tablespoons of oil more as needed. You want the consistency to be sandy, not soupy. If the mix is too soupy, the sugars will dissolve in a day or two and not slough the skin as well, but you will still get added moisture from the oil.
To Use: After showering, pat the skin dry and gently rub the sugar scrub in a circular motion over your body. Rinse well. I find it works best after soaking in the tub for at least 20 minutes. Soaking first will help soften the skin, allowing the scrub to work at its best and leaving your skin soft and supple!
It can be used 2 – 4 times a week (depending on the sugar type).
Store: Sugar scrub should be sealed to keep moisture out when not in use. Keep it on a shower caddy or in a cabinet. It is best used within 1 month.
Notes
Do not consume if adding essential oils, or research before you do to make sure they are ingestible, especially if you are pregnant. We recommend food grade essential oils.
More flavors and smells to consider: Essential oils – add a few drops of orange, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, peppermint, spearmint, bergamot, rose, vanilla, eucalyptus, or patchouli. I like these Viva Doria from Amazon. Alternatively, add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or 1 – 2 teaspoons of culinary lavender.
UPDATED: This DIY scrub was originally posted in 2012 and updated in May 2024 with retesting and new photos.
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I absolutely love this recipe! I pampered myself soaking in a nice bath after work. Then used a granulated white sugar, coconut oil and a little lemon juice. The lemon juice also works to remove a gradual tan from self tanning lotions or spray tans. Since exfoliation is recommended before using self tanner… This has many benefits. The lemon smells amazing too! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Mandy! It’ll be super helpful for others too.
Thank you so much for sharing. I prefer to make my own so that I know what is in what goes on my body and I just made a scrub with your recipe using grapeseed oil, raw sugar, a splash of lemon and lime juice and 3 drops of neroli oil OMG smells so nice but light enough that the whole block won’t be sniffing you ;) It was so light and lovely not greasy after just feel soft and moisturised. Great recipe thanks.
Oh sorry I just saw where you said apply “after showering” which would include a cleanser of some sort. Duh but I’m going to add half a lemon to my batch. LOVE THIS !!
LOVE THIS JULIE !!! THANK YOU !!! I’m only using cup of brown sugar & 3 tblsps extra virgin olive oil, per your first post, and this IS IT !!!!!! Again thank you very very much !!!
Do you shower with a “cleanser”before the scrub?
Hi! I’ve not tried your scrub yet but will it work with white sugar and olive oil?
Yes, but be careful not to add too much oil since regular sugar is smaller and will dissolve more easily. As suggested, be sure to add a little oil at a time to start.
I have been thinking about trying this for a while as my feet always get so dry. I made this up tonight with sugar and oil, as well as some vanilla and a bit of salt. Wow!! My feet feel great and smell sweet, too!! LOL. I am definitely using this in the future!! I am keeping the leftover in a container to use as I need to. Thanks!!!
I’ve never tried a scrub before. Do you rinse it off after applying? If not, isn’t it sticky?
After rubbing the sugar scrub into your skin, you will rinse it off, leaving your skin soft and supple. Gently pat yourself dry. If you feel any greasiness, it will sink into your skin within a few hours, and keep it moisturized.
I love it and it worked great!
Correction however. Coconut oil DOES clog the pores. It’s a 5 on the comedogenic scale.
Thank you for sharing the recipe! I just made a jar of your scrub using whatever I already had; cane sugar, brown sugar and Greek oil blend(I think it’s a mix of olive oil and other oils from around Greece). It took no time to make and it is the most economical and effective scrub ever :D I really like that my skin is soft and dullness is lifted. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Glad the sugar scrub worked well for you! Thanks for sharing, Yoko!
I went with your base of brown sugar and olive oil. But, if you want KILLER YOUTHFUL SKIN add coffee grinds as the caffeine “wakes your skin up”, 4 or 5 crushed to a powder aspirin – which alleviates redness and skin swelling, 4 or 5 capsules of activated charcoal pills broken open to get the powder inside to draw out toxins from the skin, a bit of cinnamon which is full of antioxidants, (and is great in the garden, seriously! Google it) and lastly my secret skin care weapon – about a half teaspoon of Vaseline with cocoa butter, and as you already mentioned a bit of vitamin E oil.
You won’t regret this once or twice a week!!