I love being able to use essential oils and just 4 simple ingredients to make this great sugar scrub that is great smelling and functional for your natural beauty routine!
I'm a big fan of homemade beauty products! There's something so satisfying about whipping up your own skincare using simple, natural ingredients that you actually recognize.
Plus, it's often much more affordable than grocery store-bought versions. My latest DIY obsession is this delightful orange and vanilla sugar scrub. It smells fantastic, and it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth!
The Power of Simple Ingredients
This sugar scrub is incredibly easy to make, and the ingredient list speaks for itself:
- Sugar: The star of the show! Sugar provides gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and reveal a healthy glow. I use regular white granulated sugar.
- Sweet Almond Oil: This nourishing oil moisturizes and softens the skin. You can experiment with other carrier oils like coconut or jojoba if you prefer.
- Vanilla Bean Powder: This gives the scrub a delicious scent and has a lovely subtle, speckled effect. If you can't find the powder, vanilla extract works too.
- Essential Oils (Orange and Vanilla): These create an invigorating and comforting aroma that makes this scrub feel extra special.
Let's Get Mixing!
Ready to try it out? Here's the straightforward process:
Combine: Add the sugar, sweet almond oil, vanilla bean powder, and essential oils to a small bowl. I usually start with 1 cup of sugar, about ¼ cup of oil, a teaspoon of vanilla bean powder, and about 10-15 drops each of my essential oils. You can always customize this based on your preferences!
Stir! Mix everything well until it forms a crumbly but cohesive mixture.
Store: Transfer your scrub to an airtight container. A cute mason jar works great!
Tips for the Perfect Scrub
- Adjust as needed: If the mixture feels too dry, add a bit more oil. If it's too wet, add a bit more sugar.
- Get creative: Experiment with different essential oils combinations based on your mood!
- Use in the shower: Gently massage the sugar scrub onto damp skin in circular motions, focusing on rough spots like elbows and knees. Rinse off and enjoy your silky smooth skin!
- Makes a thoughtful gift: This scrub makes a lovely, personalized gift for friends or family, just pop a couple of them in a couple of small mason jars, add some twine and you are good to go!.
Sweet Sugar Scrub FAQs
I know you might have some questions (I know I did when I started out on my essential oils natural beauty journey!)
Choosing Your Ingredients
- What kind of sugar should I use? White granulated sugar is a classic choice, but you can experiment with raw sugar or cane sugar. For a coarser scrub, try coarse salt – just keep in mind salt scrubs can be harsher on sensitive skin. This is all down to personal preference or what gives you best results for your skin!
- What's the best carrier oil for my skin type? Sweet almond oil and jojoba oil are great all-around choices. For very dry skin, consider avocado oil or coconut oil (melted if solid at room temperature). If you have sensitive skin, try a patch test first, especially with more potent oils like peppermint.
- Can I use other oils besides what's in the recipe? Yes! Feel free to use your favorite carrier oil. Vitamin E oil is a classic addition for its nourishing properties.
Making the Perfect Scrub
- How do I apply a sugar body scrub? Wet your skin with warm water. Gently massage a small amount of scrub onto your skin in a circular motion, avoiding sensitive areas like your face. Rinse thoroughly for soft, smooth skin.
- I don't have a food processor. Is that necessary? Absolutely not! A bowl and spoon work perfectly fine for making your sugar scrub.
Storage and Customization
- How long does a homemade body scrub last? If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, your sugar scrub can last for several months. If it starts to smell off or change texture, it's time to make a new batch.
- Can I customize my sugar scrub? Definitely! Try different essential oils like lavender essential oil, other citrus like grapefruit or lemon essential oil, or peppermint oil for various scents. You can even add a pinch of dried herbs or spices for an extra touch! I have thought a number of times that I would LOVE to add orange zest to this but that would definitely reduce the shelf time for the whole batch… sigh.
This DIY orange and vanilla sugar scrub is a quick, easy, and luxurious way to pamper your skin so you can have an at home spa day anytime you want! I hope you'll give it a try! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or what customizations you make to this recipe.
Here are some more fun sugar scrub recipes for you to try!
- 33 Brown Sugar Scrub Recipes To Try! (your personal reference guide for sugar scrub essential oils combinations!)
- DIY Rose Petal Sugar Scrub Bars (these make it easy to hit the part of your body you are targeting!)
- Green Tea Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Bars (a super fun homemade sugar scrub recipe!)
