Last May, I made four different sugar scrubs as a Mother’s Day gift idea and with this cold, dry winter weather, I’ve been using them now more than ever. Click here to see that post. I chose my two favorites and thought you might be needing them as much as I do. I keep one next to my kitchen sink for a nice treat after washing the dishes again. and again. and again.
These sugar scrubs are super easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients already. They have amazing beauty and health benefits and you can make a simple sugar scrub at home using sugar, oils, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance. If your kids like making things, this is a great activity for them and they’ll love the smells from all the yummy ingredients.
I just placed them in a small heritage mason jar and they make a cute kitchen or bathroom accessory.
Here are the recipes for my two favorite scrubs:
LEMON SUGAR SCRUB
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 Cup coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
- Rind from half a lemon
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
LAVENDER & VANILLA SUGAR SCRUB
- 1 Cup raw cane sugar
- 1/3 Cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbs honey
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Dried lavender
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
For both recipes, simply mix all ingredients together until they are well combined. Spoon scrub into air-tight containers such as a mason jar. These recipes make about a cup and a half but you can easily adjust the recipes to make larger batches too. I chose coconut oil and olive oil because they paired well with the other ingredients. However, you can substitute avocado, grapeseed, or almond oil with either of them. If you’re using coconut oil, you’ll need to soften it first. Place it in a bowl and microwave on HIGH 15-25 seconds until softened. Here are just a few of the amazing health and beauty benefits of the ingredients in my two favorite sugar scrub recipes.
Sugar: a natural humectant, it draws moisture into the skin. So products with sugar actually help hydrate your skin. Sugar is also a natural source of glycolic acid – penetrating the skin and encouraging cell turnover. Sugar’s small particles make it an excellent topical exfoliant to shed dead surface skin cells to reveal a more glowing skin underneath.
Olive Oil: Moisturizes, nourishes, and cleanses the skin.
Coconut Oil: A nourishing oil – it makes a great natural moisturizer. It’s natural antioxidant properties help stop wrinkles and skin irritation.
Honey: A powerful moisturizer and antioxidant.
Vitamin E: A natural preservative that nourishes the skin with wonderful antioxidant properties.
Vanilla: Relaxing properties and it smells so yummy.
Lavender (essential oil): Relieves stress and is used to aid in sleeplessness.
Lemon (essential oil): Natural cleanser with antiseptic properties. Both uplifting and relaxing.
Even just making these scrubs is therapeutic. Although I can’t claim that using these sugar scrubs will produce dramatic health benefits, the ingredients have amazing properties and will definitely be a nice aromatherapy and beauty treatment. When choosing a sugar scrub, consider the key ingredient: sugar. Granulated sugar is softer and can generally be used on the face and sensitive skin. Raw cane sugar is more naturally coarse, so is usually reserved for the body. Do a small patch test if you’re not sure how your skin will react.
I’ve used essential oils in so many ways including natural home cleaning, homemade bug repellant, beauty and bath products, and dietary aids. But these scrubs are just the sweetest. Enjoy!
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