Glow Sugar Scrub – Sugar body scrubs are non-toxic, eco friendly and edible! Learn how to make your very own homemade body scrub with sugar and oil, it’s so easy and makes great gifts too!
This is my favorite homemade body scrub ever!
I’ve been using it for a few years now and figured it was time to share. It’s so easy to make your own sugar scrub from scratch and will leave your skin glowing, soft, and supple!
What Is Sugar Body Scrub Used For?
Sugar body scrubs are great for exfoliating your skin, as they aid in keeping it healthy by removing dead skin cells, lifting away dirt and excess oil, as well as stimulating circulation.
Glycolic acid occurs naturally in sugar and helps cleanse the skin and dissolve dead skin cells. It’s also a humectant and will not strip your skin of its precious natural oils.
Get your glow on & feel the difference after the first use!
Types Of Sugar To Use For Sugar Body Scrubs
There are three main types of sugar you can choose from when making homemade sugar scrubs. Personally, I tend to stick with pure cane sugar, with brown sugar coming in second. Pure cane sugar is just right for my skin type, but I encourage you to try the different types to see what works best for your skin type.
- 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.
Types Of Oils To Use For Sugar Scrubs
When I first started making my own exfoliating body scrubs, I used extra virgin olive oil but have since changed to jojoba and sweet almond oil. I recommend trying different oils or mix and match to see what works best for you. This section contains affiliate links.
- 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, conditioning, and has antiviral and antibacterial properties. Look for unrefined coconut oil. Or use Fractioned Coconut Oil as it is non-greasy.
- Hazelnut Oil is a pale amber oil with a pleasant smell. It’s similar to almond oil, for which it’s often substituted. This oil is beneficial for oily skin because of its astringent qualities. In addition, it will absorb quickly and is useful as a base for oily or acne-prone skins.
- 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. Some describe it as a dry oil. An opened container should be used within 2 to 4 weeks.
- 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 also is good for soothing dry, itchy skin.
- Sesame Oil is rich in vitamins and minerals. Some of its recommended uses are for psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, and 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.
Enjoy coming up with your own sugar scrub for healthy skin that’s glowing, soft and supple!
Do I Need to Add a Preservative?
No, since this body scrub doesn’t contain any water you don’t need to add any kind of preservatives.
How To Make Sugar Scrub
- Place 1 cup of sugar in a small/medium size container and add the oil 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in between. You will use anywhere from 3 – 5 tablespoons, depending on the oil and 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 still get added moisture from the oil. If it’s too soupy, add more sugar.
For this sugar body scrub recipe, I used organic brown cane sugar, jojoba oil, and a little lemon juice. I like the added lemon, it’s an uplifting aroma and is good for the skin.
How To Use Sugar Scrub
Shower: At the end of showering, lightly pat your skin with a towel, leaving a little moisture and apply the sugar scrub in a circular motion to your entire body. When using a sugar scrub on your face, gently apply the sugar scrub in a circular motion.
Bath: I find to get the best results, it helps to have a nice soak in the tub first, at least 20 minutes. This will help soften the outer layers of skin and make it easier to exfoliate. You’ll be left with beautiful, glowing, soft, and supple skin!
How To Store
- I keep my jar right in the shower caddy so it’s always handy.
- This sugar scrub is best used within 1 month.
Gather your ingredients and get your sugar scrub on. It’s time to glow!
If you try this edible sugar body scrub, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintGlow Sugar Scrub (DIY Sugar Body Scrub)
Get ready for beautiful soft, glowing skin! This edible DIY Sugar Body Scrub is so easy to make and will leave your skin incredibly soft and supple!
- 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.)
- 3 tablespoons, give or take, sweet almond oil, jojoba or extra virgin olive oil
optional ingredients:
- 1 tsp vanilla extract w/o alcohol
- few drops of vitamin E oil
- ½ small lemon, juice of
- or a few drops of your favorite essential oils such as spearmint, lavender, grapefruit, etc (see notes)
Instructions
Mix: Place sugar in a small/medium size container and add the oil 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in between. 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: At the end of showering, it’s best to pat the skin dry a bit and then rub in circular motions all over the body and rinse well. I find it works best after soaking in the tub for at least 20 minutes. This will really loosen the skin making the scrub work at its best leaving your skin soft and supple!
Can be used 2 – 4 times a week (depending on the sugar type).
Store: Use 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.
Keywords: homemade sugar scrub, body scrub recipe
Updated: Sugar Body Scrub was first published in August 2012 and updated in December 2019 with new photos. It’s still my favorite homemade body scrub ever!
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Mandy S Davis says
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!
★★★★★
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
Thanks for sharing, Mandy! It’ll be super helpful for others too.
Chels says
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.
JJ says
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 !!
★★★★★
JJ says
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?
★★★★★
Lyn says
Hi! I’ve not tried your scrub yet but will it work with white sugar and olive oil?
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
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.
Heather says
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!!!
★★★★★
Janet B Herrick says
I’ve never tried a scrub before. Do you rinse it off after applying? If not, isn’t it sticky?
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
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.
Carol Chappel says
I love it and it worked great!
Correction however. Coconut oil DOES clog the pores. It’s a 5 on the comedogenic scale.
★★★★★
Yoko says
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!
★★★★★
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
Glad the sugar scrub worked well for you! Thanks for sharing, Yoko!
Susan says
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!!