Have you ever wondered how to make sugar scrubs at home? You will be pleasantly surprised to find how easy it is to make sugar scrub using pantry staples! All you need to make a homemade sugar scrub is sugar and oil! Adding a scent is completely optional. Choose a sugar scrub recipe below to easily create a sugar scrub for your face, hands, feet, or body.
I live in the high desert where the dry climate leads to very dry skin. I like using sugar scrubs to help exfoliate my skin. I combine the sugar with an oil that will moisturize my skin. I create exfoliating sugar scrubs for my face, body, and hands and feet.
I alter the type of sugar I use based on what type of scrub I am creating. I use white sugar for facial scrubs, brown sugar which is a little coarser for body scrubs, and raw sugar which is the coarsest sugar for hand and foot scrubs.
You can use a variety of oils in your sugar scrubs. My favorite oils to use are coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, and grapeseed oil. I have also used avocado oil when I was out of the other oils.
The scrubs will keep for 2 – 3 months in a sealed container at room temperature. I use glass jars, porcelain containers, and old china sugar bowls. You can find inexpensive sealed containers at World Market, Target, Walmart, and thrift stores. Sugar scrubs also make great gifts. Just add a label to the top of a Mason Jar and a ribbon and you have a lovely gift.
How to Make Sugar Scrubs
Basic Sugar Scrub Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 parts sugar – white, brown, or raw
- 1 part oil – coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, or grapeseed oil
- Optional add-ins: Vitamin E oil, honey, essential oils, vanilla, and/or spices
Directions:
Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined. Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months. To use, apply sugar scrub to wet skin. Massage the scrub into the skin and then rinse with water.
Below you will find recipes showing you how to make sugar scrubs for your face, hands, feet, and body.
6 Sugar Scrub Recipes
Choose a sugar scrub recipe below that meets your needs.
Homemade Sugar Face Scrub Recipes
These DIY sugar face scrub recipes use white sugar, honey, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil to create a gentle sugar exfoliator that also moisturizes your face.
The Lavender Sugar Face Scrub recipe below uses lavender essential oil. If you do not care for the lavender scent, simply leave it out.
Lavender Sugar Face Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Add the sugar, coconut oil, honey, Vitamin E Oil, and Lavender Essential Oil to a small bowl.
- Stir until the ingredients thoroughly combined.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
You will probably be able to find most of the ingredients to make the Vanilla Honey DIY Sugar Face Scrub in your pantry.
Vanilla Honey DIY Sugar Face Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the white sugar, honey, coconut oil, Vitamin E oil, and vanilla extract to a small bowl.
- Stir until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
Homemade Sugar Body Scrub Recipes
These DIY brown sugar body scrub recipes are a little coarser to help remove dry skin while nourishing your skin.
The Brown Sugar Body Scrub Recipe uses almond oil. If you don’t have almond oil on hand, substitute olive oil.
Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup almond oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the brown sugar, almond oil, Vitamin E oil, and vanilla extract to a bowl.
- Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
The Cinnamon Brown Sugar Body Scrub Recipe only calls for 4 ingredients.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Body Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the brown sugar, olive oil, Vitamin E oil, and ground cinnamon in a bowl.
- Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Store the sugar scrub a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
Homemade Sugar Hand and Foot Scrub Recipes
These DIY sugar hand and foot scrub recipes use raw sugar to providing maximum exfoliation to the rough and dry skin on your feet and hands.
The Lemon Hand and Foot Sugar Scrub Recipe includes lemon essential oil, so use caution when going in the sun after using it as lemon essential oil can cause your skin to be sensitive to the sun and increase your chances of getting a sunburn.
Lemon Hand and Foot Sugar Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions
- Combine the raw sugar, olive oil, and lemon essential oil in a bowl.
- Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
This Peppermint Sugar Foot Scrub Recipe has an invigorating scent perfect for putting a little pep in your step!
Peppermint Sugar Foot Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1/3 cup grapeseed oil
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions
- Add the raw sugar, grapeseed oil, and peppermint essential oil in a small bowl.
- Stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Store in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Notes
More Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes
Harvest Spice Latte Sugar Scrub
Lemon and Rosemary Gardener’s Hand Scrub
Homemade Citrus and Herb Sugar Scrub Bars
More DIY Beauty Product Recipes
How to Make Your Own Facial Cleansers and Masks
How to Make Your Own Body Lotion
Erika says
Hi! Would a glass jar with a cork for a lid work? Or does it have to have a rubber seal? Thank you!
Erika
Alea Milham says
Yes, that should work just fine.
Grace Delgado says
Hello, I was just wondering where did you find the glass jar in the picture? I have been making some homemade scrubs and I wanted to give them for Xmas this year but can’t find a good jar. Can you give me the information regarding that jar?
Alea Milham says
I found that jar at World Market.
Gayle says
Thank you Alea for these recipes! I’ve been wanting to do something like this for Christmas presents. I made my first batch of the Lemon Hand and Foot Scrub, last night, and it is delicious! So good that I had to make another batch. My first batch I doubled the recipe, thinking it would be enough for the 8 tiny mason jars I found but that was only enough for 3 of the jars. In the second batch, I tripled the recipe hoping it will be enough to fill the other 5 mason jars 🙂 Oh I also altered the recipe a bit . I made the 3/4 cup coconut oil and added 1/4 cup olive oil as well. I used to citrus scents. Both lemons but one is a blend, all essential oils. The smell is amazing and a dash of yellow food colouring.
Bethsheba Yahudah says
Did the olive oil keep the coconut oil from becoming solid?
Kristin says
When you say “oil”, should I use a liquid oil or a solid oil? The picture showed a solid coconut oil, but olive oil is a liquid. Does it matter and what is the difference between the solid vs. the liquid? Thank you
Alea Milham says
You can use whichever you prefer. I prefer to use coconut oil which is quite solid, my daughter prefers olive oil which is liquid.
Nishi Patel says
Hello,
I don’t know what is wrong but every Scrub I have made they leave skin greasy and I don’t think anyone would like that like my husband won’t even touch it.
Can you please give me suggestion on what I can add to reduce the oiliness ?
I will appreciate your help.
Thank you
Nishi
Heather says
I’ll have to try these sugar scrub recipes sometime! Great post.
Debbie says
I am also interested to know if fractionated coconut oil can be used. I didn’t not see a response to the previous question. Forgive me if I missed it.
Alea Milham says
Yes, it can be used.
Cheri says
I was wondering why you used different oils in the different scrubs? I have always heard coconut was the best. Just wondering. Thanks
Lori says
I want to make sugar scrubs for a bridal shower. For the first batch I used sugar and coconut oil, after a week it was very hard would you recommend adding second oil to this recipe and if so what would you recommend. Thank you.
Alea Milham says
Coconut softens when the room temperature warms up. So it will be hard if stored in a cold location.
Ruby says
My skin is getting crepe like & sensitve as I approach 60’s. I need to exfoliate as my skinnis also very dry living in the desert southwest.
I need a ‘gentle’ scrub to exfoliate off the old dead skin cells and asking what would you recommend?
Ive stopped using soap as it robs us of natural oils and I use coconut oil as a full body moisturizer . But it doesn’t last long because of the natural sloughing of our skin.
Help.
Alea Milham says
I use coconut oil as a daily moisturizer. If you want to try a scrub, I would recommend trying a super fine sugar rather than a course sugar.
Patricia says
Hi thanks for sharing your recipes! I just made several different kinds and I too am concerned about how oily they are.
I didn’t see a response if this is normai or not.
I really hope to know before I give them as gifts
Thanks again!
Alea Milham says
They are usually fairly oily. You can add more sugar if you want a more solid scrub, but it isn’t necessary.
Richard says
Hi, thanks for sharing your ideas. I’ve tried my own cinnamon and vanilla scrub and used olive oil. The only thing is I found it really oily to use and greasy. Is this normal? Would you recommend an alternative?