How to Make a Scrub

Face and Body Scrub

Place the brown sugar and coconut oil into a bowl. Get regular brown sugar that you use for cooking and softened coconut oil. Then use a measuring cup to measure out 1 cup (200 g) of brown sugar and 1/2 cup coconut oil (105 g). Place both of the ingredients into a bowl. Sugar is great for soft or delicate skin. Alternatively, you can use granulated sugar instead of brown sugar. Coconut oil is great for hydrating your skin. However, you can also use olive or grapeseed oil instead.

Mix in 10-15 drops of vanilla, peppermint, or lavender essential oil. Choose your favorite essential oil to give your sugar scrub a beautiful scent! Add the essential oil drops directly into the bowl and use a fork or a spoon to stir the ingredients thoroughly until they are well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl while you’re stirring to make sure that all of the ingredients are mixed in. Vanilla is soft and comforting, peppermint is fresh and revitalizing, and lavender is relaxing and calming. If you don’t have essential oils, extracts work just as well. You can find essential oils and extracts at health stores. However, if you’re using an extract rather than an essential oil, use only 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of the extract. This is because some extracts have very strong alcohol fumes, so it’s best to use only a little. Alternatively, you can use a potato masher to combine the ingredients.

Use the scrub to massage your face and body. A sugar scrub is wonderful for exfoliating your skin to keep it feeling smooth. Wet your skin with warm water and then gently massage the scrub into your skin with small, circular motions. When you’re ready, rinse the scrub off with warm water and gently pat your skin dry. It’s best to use the scrub 1-2 times per week for the best results.

Refrigerate the scrub in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. If you have leftover sugar scrub that you don’t want to waste, it’s easy to keep it fresh! Use a spoon to transfer the sugar scrub from the bowl and into an airtight, plastic or glass container. Make sure that the lid is tightly sealed so that the scrub stays fresh and good to use. The airtight container also keeps any fragrance from the scrub contained. Alternatively, you don’t need to refrigerate the leftover scrub. You can keep it in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks.

Hand, Elbow, and Foot Scrub

Measure out the kosher salt and grapeseed oil into a bowl. Get a measuring cup and measure out 1/2 cup (144 g) of kosher salt and ⁄4 c (180 ml) of grapeseed oil. Transfer the kosher salt and the grapeseed oil into the same bowl. You can find both of these ingredients at your local grocery store. Kosher salt has large crystals which means that it is great for exfoliating tough skin, such as on your hands, elbows, and feet. If you find that the crystals are too harsh, substitute the kosher salt for fine sea salt instead. Grapeseed oil is inexpensive and scent-free, which makes it ideal to use in scrubs. Alternatively, you can also use coconut oil, safflower oil, or apricot kernel oil.

Mix the liquid Castile soap and your chosen essential oil into the bowl. Get a measuring spoon and measure out 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of liquid Castile soap. Then place this into the bowl with the other ingredients and add 12 drops of either grapefruit or lavender essential oil. Combine the ingredients thoroughly using a fork or a spoon. Sometimes your skin can still feel greasy even after you have rinsed the scrub away. Adding liquid Castile soap to the scrub means that you don’t need to wash your skin with soap to remove the greasy feeling, as just water will do. A grapefruit scent is uplifting and bold, while a lavender scent is relaxing and soothing. You can find both liquid Castile soap and essential oils at health stores. You can also use a potato masher to combine the ingredients if it's easier.

Massage the scrub into your hands, elbows, and feet before rinsing it away. Place a small handful of the salt scrub into your palm. Then rub it into your hands, elbows, or feet using small, circular motions. Use only light, gentle pressure as the kosher salt can feel quite rough. After massaging the scrub into your skin, rinse it off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Store the scrub for up to 1 month in an airtight container. You don’t need to discard any leftover salt scrub, as it’s easy to store if you want to use it later! Tip any leftover salt scrub into an airtight glass or plastic container. Make sure to put the lid on securely so that the scrub stays fresh and doesn’t dry out. You don’t need to refrigerate salt scrub. Just keep it in a cool, dark place such as a bathroom cabinet.