This simple sugar body scrub recipe is one of my favorite things to make. I always have a jar of it in my shower and use it almost daily. The recipe is so simple and only takes a couple minutes to whip up. You can easily double, triple, etc., this recipe, but I like to make small batches so is stays fresh. I noticed one time that I made too big of a batch and didn’t use it all up in time and the jar in the shower started to get some mold in it.* So, I stick with small batches that only take me a couple weeks to use.
Also, you can make the same scrub using salt instead of sugar, but it’s important to understand that for some people, salt scrubs can be very drying to the skin. If you’re like me and suffer from dry skin, then it’s better to skip the salt and use sugar instead.
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
5-10 drops of essential oil, optional (I really like using vanilla and peppermint)
Mix the sugar and oils together and transfer to a container with a tight sealing lid. Use in the shower to exfoliate dry, itchy skin. I use mine almost daily and have never had any problems. The oil seals in the moisture on your skin and makes it feel silky smooth.
(Make sure you wipe down the shower floor with some soap and water after you use it — oily floors and showers don’t mix well!)
*The reason this can sometimes get mold in it is because every time you stick your hand in the jar to get some out, you leave bacteria behind. Showers are dirty places, even when they’re clean, so there is lots of bacteria floating around. It’s not cause to worry – just a sign that you should make smaller batches so that you use it up before the bacteria count has a chance to multiply.
This post is part of Simple Lives Thursday #34!
Delicious Obsessions was founded by Jessica Espinoza in 2010. Jessica is passionate about real food, natural living, and more. She helps people see how to eat nourishing food, without breaking the bank. Her motto is "baby steps" -- making small, lasting changes, one at a time, is the best way to ensure long-term success. This website contains "affiliate links" where appropriate, on which, I may earn a small commission or referral fee on your purchase. This has no effect on your price. The monies earned help maintain and support this website's hosting, maintenance, and the development of free content. The content shared on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Statements/products discussed have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult your own health care practitioner before making changes to your current diet or before beginning any herbal or vitamin supplement regimen or exercise program.
Nice! I will mix up a batch. The mold is usually caused by bacteria introduced when you put your hand in the jar. If you can use a squeeze container, you will reduce the likelihood of mold.
Yeah – The shower is not necessarily the cleanest place in the world, despite what we like to think! I knew the mold came from the bacteria on my hands. Not sure if a squeeze container would work. The sugar stays really course in mine … I’ll have to give it a try. Let me know how you like it!
Making Sugar scrubs are one of my favorite frugal indulgences. My current favorite has brown sugar and vanilla. It smells like Kahlua!
Yum! They are so simple to make and you can control the ingredients, which is nice! The amount of chemicals in our body products is crazy, so I am trying to move away from that and make my own stuff! I also love the brown sugar and vanilla combo. As a matter of fact, I love anything vanilla!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
When I use salt for scrub I never get any mold. Is sugar more prone to mold? I love shower scrub so much. I use it all the time and am always looking for new combinations!
Hi Claire – thanks for stopping by! It’s not the sugar that is prone to mold, it’s the amount of bacteria that gets into the container when you use it. Showers are notoriously dirty, even when they’re clean, so each time you stick your hand in there to scoop some out, it leaves some bacteria behind. The reason this batch molded is because I made WAY too much of it at one time and had too big of a jar in the shower. I now make small batches that I am able to use up in a week or two without any problems at all. Hope that helps
[...] Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub. [...]
I use RealSalt, rather than sugar, and I’ve never had it develop mold.
Yes, the salt would definitely help preserve the product longer. However, salt scrubs can be very drying to some people’s skin, so people who suffer from dry skin might not want to use salt. Sugar scrubs don’t dry the skin out as much as salt scrubs do. As a matter of fact, I’ll go update that post with that in there, so people can understand the difference. Thanks for stopping by!
[...] Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub [...]
[...] Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub. [...]
my coconut oil is a solid. do you just heat to get it to mix with this stuff? does it re-solidify?? thanks!
Hi April – The melting point for CO is around 76 degrees. So, during the summer, it will probably turn to liquid, depending on the temperature of your house. To liquefy it, you can just let it sit in a bowl of warm/hot water for a few minutes.
ahhhhh! thanks so much!
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Put honey in the scrub with salt AND sugar. Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti fungal agent so it prohibits the growth of mold, and it’s great for the skin!
[...] Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub. [...]
Could one use Sugar in the Raw instead of the turinado sugar? Or is it the same thing?
Hi Lisa – Yep! It’s the same thing!
Hi there!
I see a lot of post everywhere on wonderful scrubs made from Coconut Oil but none say where to buy it from…where can I purchase this oil?
Thanks!
Chloe
Hi Chloe – Thank you for stopping by! I personally buy my coconut oil from Tropical Traditions. I have tried many, many brands and I feel that theirs is the highest quality. They have a couple different kinds. Here are links to their Gold Label Virgin and their Expeller-Pressed:
http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/GoldLabelCoconutOil
http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/OrganicEPCoconutOil
Hope that helps!