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Culinary

How do I Make Sugar Scrub?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated May 17, 2024
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A sugar scrub is a cleansing treatment for skin. The sugar acts as a mild abrasive that helps get rid of dead skin cells. Sugar scrubs are usually effective for even the most sensitive skin. It’s simple to make sugar scrub at home; this saves money and avoids preservatives. The most important things to consider when preparing to make sugar scrub are the type of container and the amount that will be used within a week.

Since homemade sugar scrubs don’t contain preservatives, they should be used in a week’s time or bacteria growth could be a problem. While a jar with a lid works best to make sugar scrub and store it, the container’s material is important. Plastic jars are safer for use in a bathroom; if they slip out of the hands there won’t be the danger of glass breaking on the floor or in the shower. If essential oils are used to scent the sugar scrub, however, these may be absorbed by the plastic. Glass is a better choice as far as resisting oil absorption.

The basic way to make sugar scrub is to mix together 1 cup (250 ml) brown sugar, ½ cup (125 ml) olive oil and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice. About 10 to 15 drops of essential oil such as sandalwood, jasmine, lavender or peppermint may be added to the scrub to scent it. Not all fragrances are considered suitable for sensitive skin. White sugar may be used, although brown is much softer on the skin and has a richer sweet scent. Coconut or grape seed oils may be used instead of olive oil to make sugar scrub.

Sugar scrub should be applied onto a wash cloth and rubbed on the skin in a circular motion. Many people like to make sugar scrub to use on the feet. The scrub mixture will require shaking in the jar before each use as the sugar tends to settle on the bottom, while the oil usually floats to the top. Care should be taken when using sugar scrub in the shower or bathroom as the oil in the mixture may make floor tiles slippery.

Since the sugar scrub contains cooking oil and lemon juice, it’s best to avoid the sun after applying it, as those ingredients make the skin more susceptible to sunburn. Some people like to make sugar scrub to use in a soothing home spa atmosphere. Different essential oil fragrances can add variation to each batch of sugar scrub.

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Discussion Comments

By fBoyle — On Sep 26, 2013

@ddljohn-- Have you ever made a sugar scrub with honey? I think if you try this type of scrub, you won't use anything else. Honey is so good for skin, it makes skin baby soft.

By ddljohn — On Sep 26, 2013

@anamur-- You need to add oil or some kind of emollient ingredient. It's the oil that reduces the abrasiveness of the exfoliant, which is in this case, sugar. Oil will protect your skin and allow the sugar to exfoliate more easily. If you cleanse your skin with soap after using a sugar scrub with oil, you should not have any problems. So even someone with oily skin can use it.

If you still don't like the idea of using oil, you can use liquid facial soap or gel cleanser to make your sugar scrub. Just add the sugar to it.

I have very dry skin but it still needs a good exfoliation, especially my legs after shaving. I make a sugar scrub with coconut oil, coarse sugar and vanilla essential oil. It smells yummy and it's great for my skin. It's very moisturizing. I use it several times a week and I make a new bottle every two or three weeks. It doesn't go bad. It's the best body scrub ever.

By serenesurface — On Sep 25, 2013

I made my own sugar scrub once. I mixed together coarse brown sugar and lemon juice. I didn't add any oil because I have oily skin.

Unfortunately, the scrub wasn't very good. It actually irritated my skin, it was very harsh. I clearly don't know how to make a sugar scrub at home. Does anyone have a better recipe?

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