Sugar scrubs are a wonderful way to exfoliate rough, dry skin. They smell delicious and feel great, too. But they can get expensive, especially if you like using organic ingredients without a lot of chemicals. Not so long ago, I spent about $10 on just a couple of ounces of a shea butter sugar scrub. Recently, I realized that I can make a great sugar scrub for pennies. Not only does it save money, I can customize it to suit my needs. You can make sugar scrubs, too, with just a few simple ingredients. Here’s how.
Choose a container. Glass jars make very pretty sugar scrub containers, but I have a lot of bad feelings about using a glass container in the shower, especially when you combine it with something slippery. So I always recommend a plastic container. You can find something pretty, or if you’re like me, just use something simple that’s lying around the house. Old Tupperware, plastic take-out containers, or even an empty powdered formula container are all great choices. It should be something you can put in the dishwasher and open and close easily.
Choose your ingredients. Your sugar scrub can be as simple or as complex as you would like it to be. You really only need two ingredients – some kind of sugar, and some kind of oil. The grainier the sugar, the more exfoliating it will be. Raw sugar has more exfoliating power than white sugar, and white more-so than brown. Fill your container part way with sugar, then add your oil and mix it together. You could use baby oil, olive oil, almond oil, or any kind of body oil that you have around the house. Olive oil is very moisturizing, and almond oil is gentle.
If you want to make your sugar scrub a little more interesting, you can begin to add additional ingredients. Coffee is also exfoliating, but may also help to fight cellulite and varicose veins. Adding milk or milk powder will help soften tough dry skin, but may cause your sugar scrub to need to be refrigerated. You could add lavender to soothe the senses, or oatmeal for sensitive skin. A couple of drops of tea tree oil (for external use only!) will add antiseptic properties to your scrub. Honey also adds some hydrating properties. A few drops of mint, vanilla, or eucalyptus will give your scrub a wonderful scent. As always, check with a doctor before using any essential oils and discontinue use if irritation appears. Research your ingredients to make sure everything will work well together.
Mix. Pour your dry ingredients into your container first. Then add your fragrances, and lastly, add your oil a little bit at a time. Mix well, and continue adding oil until you reach the desired consistency. Label your scrub so you know what it is and when you made it.
Store. You may need to store your scrub in the fridge if it contains any kind of milk products. Most simple sugar scrubs have a nice shelf life, though, and can be kept in your shower.
Enjoy your lovely sugar scrub! Apply to damp skin, rub gently, and rinse away. Your skin will be soft, smooth, and hydrated.
