Sugar is such a great medium for exfoliating skin and can be safely used on your face and body in the form of sugar scrubs.
Sugar may be something you are trying to keep out of your diet, and for good reason, but it does have a useful purpose in natural skincare. Exfoliants help to brush away old skin cells and expose newer, healthier cells.
Sugar helps to draw moisture into the skin and is a form of alpha-hydroxy acid, which assists with cell turnover as well. There are many unique scrubs you can make for your face that are easy and not at all time-consuming. Try some of these sugar scrubs that promise to give you a healthy glow and remove calluses. Try these ideas for gift wrapping, too.
Tropical Spice Facial Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 drops of vanilla extract
Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, melted coconut oil, and a few drops of real vanilla extract. Apply 1 tablespoon to your face with your middle finger, so as not to push too hard and damage sensitive facial skin.
When you are finished, gently rinse the sugar scrub off with a warm washcloth and then splash your face with cold water to close your pores. Your skin will be soft and smooth.
Geranium Clean Pore Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sunflower seed oil
- 2 drops geranium EO
Instructions:
Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar with 1/4 cup sunflower seed oil and a few drops of essential oil of geranium.
Apply 1 tablespoon to your face and apply gently so you don’t push too hard and damage sensitive facial skin. When you are finished, gently rinse the sugar scrub off with a warm washcloth and then splash your face with cold water to close your pores.
The essential oil of geranium is known to help prevent acne breakouts, and it assists in regulating oil production. Sunflower Seed oil is a non-clogging oil and actually works in an opposite manner, helping unclog skin pores. The brown sugar gently scrubs away dead and oil-filled skin cells in order to reveal the healthier skin cells underneath.
Lavender Scar-reducing Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 Vitamin E capsule
- Lavender EO
Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix the white sugar, melted coconut oil, Vitamin E, and a few drops of essential oil of lavender until they are a smooth consistency. Apply liberally to feet for callus removal and to restore dried heels.
Apply 1 tablespoon to your face and apply gently so you don’t push too hard and damage sensitive facial skin. When you are finished, gently rinse the sugar scrub off with a warm washcloth and then splash your face with cold water to close your pores.
Coconut oil, vitamin E and lavender each play a role in removing scars from your face, whether they are caused by acne or other trauma. Coconut oil has healing properties, vitamin E is well-known for healing scarring on the skin, and lavender helps regenerate skin cells.
Lemon-E Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup EV olive oil
- 1 teaspoon argan oil (substitute coconut oil for a cost-effective alternative)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 capsule Vitamin E
- 1 to 2 drops lemon EO
Instructions:
Mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar and mix it with 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon argan oil (or melted coconut oil), and lemon zest in a small bowl. Add a few drops of essential oil of lemon if you want to enhance the scent. Break open the Vitamin E capsule and add it to the oils.
Apply 1 tablespoon to your face and apply gently so you don’t push too hard and damage sensitive facial skin. When you are finished, gently rinse the sugar scrub off with a warm washcloth and then splash your face with cold water to close your pores.
Olive oil contains polyphenols and oleic acid, both of which help to combat aging of the skin. Argan oil has high levels of Vitamin E and saponins, both of which help soften skin and reduce the appearance of aging. The essential oil of lemon is a natural skin toner, giving your face a healthy glow.
Other articles in the skin car series:
Plantain, Lavender & Calendula Lotion Bars
Chamomile Oat Sugar Scrub
Using Lemons for Skin Care
Homemade Herbal Bath Salts
Keep in mind that if you use cold-pressed lemon essential oil this recipe will be phototoxic, which means you should avoid excessive sun exposure for 48 hours after using it on your skin.
Other Scrubbers and Skin Enhancers
You can consider adding any of the following ingredients to your sugar scrubs to up the scrubbing action and enhance the rejuvenation of your skin.
- ground coffee
- raw honey
- powdered oatmeal
- lemon peel
- salt
There is no need to spend loads of money on expensive body scrubs that may be filled with chemicals and other unnecessary additives. Why buy sugar scrubs, when you can easily make them at home and tailor them to the individual needs of your own skin on a moment-by-moment basis?
Try these homemade sugar scrubs for a face with a youthful and healthy glow.
Thanks for reminding me, I used to do a simple soap/sugar scrub followed by yogurt for my face – very basic but actually cleaned my skin. Yours sound a lot lovelier, especially the lavender one, must try it 🙂 #goinggreen
they all sound lovely and so easy to make #goinggreen
If only more people knew about this, think how great it would be – simple, natural face care without any nasty chemicals or plastic packaging. #GoingGreen
Hi Shelle,
I DIY face scrub. You sure have some good ones here. Sharing on social media. Congratulations on being featured on #GoingGreenLinky.
Thanks for sharing all your great DIY recipes.
Those recipes look great! Love sugar scrubs!
These scrubs sound so easy to make! I want to try and make some for Christmas gifts. Thanks!
They really are easy and make great gifts! I make them every year for friends.
I’d really love to try to make these!!
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle. They really are easy to make. Let me know if you need any more ideas.
I have a sugar scrub that I use on my lips to keep them soft in the winter. I’m going to make up a few of yours for gifts this Christmas.
Awesome! I just finished making my yearly batch for gift giving too!
I absolutely love a good sugar scrub. Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Thanks both for some good recipes and for the opportunity to win.
These scrubs look wonderful and would make such good Christmas gifts!
These sugar scrubs should smell and work great. I’m going to try them out and also make some for my daughters.
Thanks for the opportunity to win such nice prizes!
Great info – I do love homemade sugar scrubs! Pinned and shared
Carol
Love getting new ideas for sugar scrubs. I am a massage therapist taking a break from work to focus on family but I am planning for the day I can open my own business again and trying out new ideas is a great way to keep dreaming.
going to try to make some of these!
Love all your recipes.
I have made & given scrubs and balms as gifts for Christmas & birthdays. They are very much appreciated & I am often asked for “refills”.
They are so simple to make and the biggest plus is you can identify & pronounce every ingredient!!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes.
The DIY sugar scrub recipes look amazing!! Looking forward to trying some:) Looking forward to learning more from your wisdom!!
I can’t decide which is my favorite because they are all pretty great and would love any one of them, never mind all of them! Thank you all for doing this awesome giveaway!!!
thanks for sharing these wonderful scrub recipes.
Sugar. Love it. Give me an excuse to use sugar and I’m all over it! The lavender sounds divine. I could see myself using this right before bedtime. Thanks for the recipes.
My oldest granddaughter would enjoy making her own scrubs.
Looking forward to making the sugar scrubs.
Those all sound wonderful. Some of them sound good enough to eat!
These are great ideas! thanks for having the fun giveaway!