Homemade Sugar Scrub with Brown Sugar and Coconut Oil
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to make sugar scrub, you’re in for a treat. Literally. Homemade sugar scrub tastes a little like cookie dough, if you make it a certain way.
Ok, a lot like cookie dough. Every time I use this on my face I dip my finger in it and eat a glob. Needless to say there isn’t a lot of exfoliating going on when I’m doing a round of Whole30. Too tempting. Or I’d forget and eat some anyway.
It’s a terrible habit. However, I love that I can make DIY body scrub for a fraction of the price of store-bought and find everything I need at the grocery store.
Plus it tastes like cookie dough. Pfft. What brand can claim that?
Uses for Sugar Scrub
Use it on your face, hands, feet, body — anywhere, really.
I’ve been using my DIY body scrub as a body exfoliator and face scrub for a few weeks, and I LOVE it.
It totally exfoliates and moisturizes my dry skin and gets rid of all the dead skin. And it’s silky smooth when I’m done. I feel like have a spa day when I scrub my whole body with that stuff.
I also use it on my face a couple times a week and since my skin has gotten dryer the older I get, it’s really helpful for my skin. The scrub does a great job exfoliating and the oil leaves my skin feeling super-hydrated and soft.
How to Make Homemade Sugar Scrub
All you need are a few simple ingredients. And you probably already have them in your kitchen.
I use a food processor to blend my natural body scrub, but you don’t need to.
(I’m always on a mission to convince everyone they need a food processor. It’s such a workhorse in my kitchen, and I’ve gone through several over the past decade or so. So if you have it, use it!)
I use a food processor for this because it’s WAY faster and easier — especially if your coconut oil is a little stiff. You get a much more blended scrub.
You can definitely use a bowl and heavy spoon and call it your arm work out.
Just throw in the coconut oil, brown sugar, and other add-ins. (Like essential oils or… um… vanilla extract. Maybe I shouldn’t make it so easy for me to eat.) It buzzes it up really quickly.
Here’s a helpful video so you can see what I mean:
What kind of sugars and oils can I use in sugar scrub?
Sugar
As far as sugar, decide what texture you’d like and that will determine what kind of sugar you use. Coarse sugar will give you a more coarse scrub and fine sugar will give you fine scrub. If you want to use this on your body AND your face, I’d suggest fine or medium-coarse sugar.
I like to use organic sugar because it’s a little more coarse than regular sugar, but it isn’t super coarse like turbinado sugar.
Brown sugar is also good. That’s what I use most often, actually.
AND you can use salt instead of sugar. This is especially helpful if you find that more of it is going in your body than on your body.
Oil
Using a neutral (or pleasant) smelling oil is idea. I like coconut oil because it’s solid at room temperature and makes the scrub creamier. And I love the way it smells.
You could also use avocado oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or any other neutral-smelling oil. I’d avoid olive oil unless you don’t mind smelling like it. It might be good with a lemon-scented scrub, but it isn’t my first choice.
Then buzz it around for just a few seconds until it looks creamy. Like this…
Again, you don’t need a food processor for this. You can mix it up in a large bowl. Just make sure your brown sugar is fresh so you don’t have to smooth out a bunch of dry sugar lumps. That’s no fun.
TIP: If you let it go too long, the friction will warm the coconut oil which will cause the whole thing to separate.
Like this…
Don’t panic, though. It’s not a big deal.
A lot of commercial body scrubs are separated like this. This will also happen if you keep homemade body scrub in your shower all the time. It’s still OK to use, though. Just mix it around with your finger before you use it.
And lick it off your finger.
Oh gosh. I should really start using olive oil instead. Or turn it into a salt scrub. (Which is totally doable. Just don’t use really coarse salt or it might be too rough on your skin. Fine sea salt or Kosher salt would be good.)
Anyway. I like the creamy look better.
Can I use essential oils in sugar scrub?
Speaking of scents — Yes. You can definitely use essential oils in scrub.
I’ve used a few different brands of essential oils (including the big D) and I REALLY love Revive oils the best. They’re high quality and more affordable than MLM-based brands. (And if you use my code you can get 10% off your order if you’re a new customer! PERRYSPLATE10)
Just be aware of the potency of certain essential oils. In my Gingerbread Sugar Scrub I used ground spices instead of ginger, cinnamon, and clove oils because the cinnamon and clove oils can irritate the skin. (I made that mistake once. Heh.)
If you don’t want to use essential oils, you can use citrus zest, extracts, herbs, or flavorings.
Much of what’s in your pantry is fair game! I even used molasses in that gingerbread scrub.
How do I store sugar scrub?
Short answer: Use any lidded container. And if you want to keep it from getting melted and separated, don’t store it in the shower. Like I said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. It’s easy to blend it up again with your finger.
Long answer: I like cute glass jars or mason jars because they’re easy to clean and reuse. And I have a whole cupboard of them. I especially like the short squatty half-pint jars because it’s easy to get all the scrub out when you’re using it. Plus they’re cute.
I just store mine in a mason jar, but you can get creative with your jars if you’re giving them away as gifts.
I made this particular batch of sugar scrub to put in some gift baskets for my girls’ teachers for an end of the year teacher gift. They LOVED it! I found the jars at Ross. They were $5 for a 3-pack. Super cute, right?
You could also tie a piece of cute ribbon around them. Or put a cute sticker on the top and write a message. So many options here.
Does sugar scrub need to be refrigerated?
Nope.
You can keep it in your bathroom cupboard or in the shower. But again, if you store it in the shower, the heat from the shower will melt the coconut oil and make your scrub separate. (Just use your finger to stir it back up. No biggie.)
How long will sugar scrub last?
Months and months.
The high sugar content acts as a preservative (like when things are “candied”) so it should be fine for a long time.
Then I tied a simple tag on there with some string. I just used bakers twine and some round cut-outs I made from scrapbook paper. You don’t need a Cricut or anything fancy for this. (Plus the tag usually gets tossed anyway. Eventually it’ll get oily and wet from using the scrub.)
These are great little inexpensive gifts you can give to teachers, friends, new moms, or to use as stocking stuffers or simply thank you gifts!
Making DIY beauty products can be so much fun. And I feel better using things on my skin that you can easily find at the store (or that you already have in your pantry.)
Do you make your own bath and body products? Please share! And if you make this DIY sugar scrub recipe, let me know how you like it by dropping a comment below or tagging me on social media — @perrysplate/#perrysplate.
I also made some Homemade Holiday Sugar Scrub variations for Christmastime! Candy Cane and Gingerbread scrubs have become some of my favorite. (They’re edible and delicious, too, in case you were wondering…)
I also did a Chocolate Sugar Scrub for Valentine’s Day! (Also edible. *wink*)
Homemade Body Scrub with Brown Sugar and Coconut Oil
Make your own body scrub at home with things you already have in the pantry!
Ingredients
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup solid (but soft) coconut oil
- Extra additions (vanilla extract, essential oils, etc.)
Instructions
- Whip together the sugar, oil, and any extra additions until the mixture looks creamy and resembles loose cookie dough.
- You may use a food processor, but don't let it process too long or the coconut oil will melt and the mixture will separate. If this happens, just put it in the freezer for a few minutes to solidify and mix again.
- Store in an airtight container. Lasts for weeks. Maybe months. If it's stored in the shower, you may have the same problem with separation as the coconut oil warms. Just stir it around with your finger before using.
It's OK to lick your finger, too. :)
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What a fun idea! I’ll have to try this one out. It’s always nice to have a few gifts on hand during the holidays and for those just in case gifts.
Thank you for the great ideas.
You’re so welcome! And I agree. There are always “just in case” gifts that end up being used!
Do you do this before or after washing? Did not know if still get benefit of the softer skin if using soap after…or just rinse scrub off with warm water.
Actually I add a little scrub while I still have face wash on my face and mix them together. Sometimes I use this in place of face wash and it works well, too!
Do you have problems with the coconut oil solidifying? I tried another recipe with white sugar and coconut oil and it said to microwave the coconut oil first before mixing. I used it right away and it was great but after it sat it solidified and now even though I keep it in the shower, it remains a solid.
I’ve never had the oil go completely hard. I’m surprised yours stays solid even when it’s in the shower! Mine goes completely runny! As long as you can stir it around with your finger and stays sort of creamy it shouldn’t be a big deal.
I have had the same thing happen with the mixture solidifying. I gave it as gifts, sort of embarrassing!
How strange! I’ve never had it solidify to the point where I couldn’t stir it with my finger. Maybe my house is really warm?
I live in tropical northern Australia and even here in winter (our winter temps are generally minimums of 7-15 deg C and maximums of 20-25 deg C) coconut oil will go solid. I imagine if you up your sugar content you will help avoid it solidifying to the point it’s unusable. You must live somewhere very hot or have a very warm house all year round if your coconut oil stays liquified all year round.
I think that it depends on the oil. It is important to make sure to use pure coconut oil. Also, the container may not be airtight or too much sugar was used.
I stumbled across this while looking for another recipe on your site. I had forgotten about this and I think I’ll make some tonight. It’s perfect timing as my hands are taking a beating lately from weight lifting (callouses). Love the line about licking your finger :) ha, pretty sure I’ll be doing the same and thinking of cookie dough every time I use this.
So I never leave comments on these sorts of articles, but I just made this sugar scrub. Goodness gracious, I now know the miseries of having something so delicious that you have to resist the consumption of it. I added a wee bit “too much” vanilla (if such a thing is possible) and just compensated with more brown sugar. I’m so excited to use it because I’ve already licked the spoon clean and I’m dying to use it for the real reason I made it. Thanks so much.
I don’t think there’s such thing as too much vanilla. I’m glad you enjoyed it! (In more ways than one. ;))
I really love the way you write this.hahaha…I’m definitely going to make mine.thnx
This is so great for your skin. I added a little bit of glycerin to mine and made it even better. You can buy a bottle of glycerin and add your favorite scent. Better at night because it feels a bit sticky but such a good moisturizer ;)
Can I use it for baking after mixed and sitting for a month?
?
I have no idea. I’ve never done that.
What essential oil did you add? (If any.) I know it says optional, but I was just curious! Thank you!
I use Doterra and Youngevity oils.
Doterra is the purest of all the essential oils out there!
what are the ingredient amounts?
And I, too, would like to know what essential oils are good to use
In the recipe. :)
I was wondering how long you keep it stored? And in a cool dry place right?
You can store it for several months, most likely. A cool place is recommended so the oil doesn’t melt, but even if it does, just stir it around with your finger before you use it.
This scrub is amazing! Was thinking of gifting it for a few as suggested :) Have you ever got feedback from the people you gave it to? Just wondering if everyone loves it as much as we do :D
Never microwave your EO’S gals. Or your oils. You kill off any benefits of them by doing so. Also, by adding glycerin the scrub will last longer if stored in a cool dark location. Ladies, our facial skin is very, very sensitive. By using a sugar scrub on your face you risk “tearing” your skin up. I know it appears to leave a “glow” but you would be better served by using an EO mix that moisturizes your skin versus ripping up the tender flesh of your beautiful faces. Be Blessed Ladies!
I LOVE this scrub! I squeeze lemon in mine and it leave my skin feeling and looking amazing! My mom and sisters have started to notice and ask “my secrets” :)
Yum! Sounds like a great addition! So glad you have enjoyed it.
Sounds yummy! Can’t wait to try with different essential oils.
Hello…. What oils is best to use the oil we buy from a market or from a nature store
hi! i’m not the OP but from everything i’ve read, as long as it’s unrefined coconut oil, that’s the best to use. i actually ordered mine off amazon and got a huge tub for a really awesome price.
if you’re referring to essential oils – i heard young living is the best of the best, but they are pricey.
i will say, this sugar scrub has been my LIFE SAVER. i’ve never had a better shave than when i use this. my legs stay smooth for 2-3 days.
I actually make my own shampoo using coconut milk, liquid castille soap, and essential oils. I’ve been using it now for almost a year, and the only problem I’ve found is that it dries out my ends a bit. But a quick mask of coconut oil or even coconut oil and honey once or twice a week will fix that up, no problem. I wasn’t quite brave enough to do the ‘no poo’ method, either, so I found a ‘sorta poo’ recipe online. I tried it, and I love it. Never looked back.
Here’s the recipe on Crunchy Betty: http://www.crunchybetty.com/not-ready-for-no-poo-try-sorta-poo-with-coconut-milk-and-castille
I also use her homemade coconut milk recipe for my ‘sorta poo,’ which you can find here: http://www.crunchybetty.com/homemade-coconut-milk-the-recipe-to-remember
I also make my own liquid castille soap by grating a bar of solid castille soap and melting it in 4 cups of boiling water. It’s cheaper to buy the bars of soap than the liquid, and it only takes a few minutes to grate and melt.
Once you stop washing your hair, your scalp really does respond by producing less oil. I have been washing only once a week if dirty or just rinsing when I shower for years now and my hair has never been healthier. Shine. Volume. Less frizz. Easier to handle. Just my personal experience.
True! I went down to once every 5-6 days, but couldn’t pass that. I think it depends on the product you put in your hair, too. I can’t go that long when my hair is short because I need more product.
Can you use a mixer to mix it up or just a food processor?
How did you get it creamy? I’m trying it now and mine just looks like wet brown sugar. Any pointers?
Hi Samantha, Is your coconut oil fairly firm? The softer it is, the quicker it will melt and not stay creamy. You can put it in the fridge for a while to firm up and stir it again to make it creamy.
Samantha I found that adding almond oil to the mix, a little less coconut oil. Gives the creamy effect.
Good idea! Thanks for the tip!
Hi Natilie
Thanks for the great idea, I’m making some for christmas gifts! I am having trouble, when i add the ingredients together the mixture is not creamy like the picture but more like oily brown sugar. It looks like your picture where the mixture was in the food processor too long only i left mine in for only 1 minute. Any idea why this is happening?
Hi Jessica! Is your coconut pretty firm? The softer it is, the quicker it will melt. If your house/kitchen is very warm, put the oil in the fridge for a while to firm up before blending. If you’ve already blended all of it, put that mixture in the fridge and then blend it again and it should be creamy.
A friend gave me this sugar scrub for Christmas and it is so good that it is almost gone. She was so gracious that provided link for me to make more. Nice recipes, easy and inexpensive to make. Now my family get together to make natural beauty and cleaning products. Thanks a lot.
I’m currently hooked on making sugar scrubs! This is a great and easy recipe. Trying it now! Just a recommendation… Please, please don’t use your fingers to mix! I know it’s hard to resist the temptation! Use a wooden spoon or those popsicle sticks. And don’t store or leave near water. It’s important to not allow any water in the mix because mold can grow very quickly. That’s also the reason why I suggest something else to scoop up the scrub. I store mine away from the bathroom and kitchen sink and when I’m ready to use it, I scoop some out and put it in a different cup or something I can carry with me into the shower. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
It seems odd to me that something with such a high sugar content would grow mould easily. I keep my coconut oil in the bathroom and use my fingers in it (I use it as a makeup remover) and it has never grown mould. And it’s over 2 years old.
Mine has never grown mold either — long after a year.
Hi. . Saw your recipe today and couldn’t wait to try it out. First made it now and it smells so nice I can’t wait to try it on my skin tonight. I will pass on the finger locking though because I added in some tea tree drops and am not sure if that’s yummy?. Thanx a bunch for the recipe ?
OMG!!!! I made this last night and it was WONDERFUL!!!!! <3!!! I hate I EVER spent the kind of money I have on these products, and I NEVER will again!!! LOVE THIS D. Y. I Idea!!!
Can you mix sugar and/or coconut oil with Olay body wash?
I was wondering if you have ever used this in the shower, and if so does it clog up your drain beings how it has coconut oil in it?
Can i use regular sugar or i have to use brown sugar ?
You can use regular sugar.
I love your scrub recipe. It will be my next effort. I already make a luxurious face and body lotion along the same lines. So much less expensive and much more luxurious. You might like it. I use equal amounts of coconut oil and Shea butter and 1 or two pin pricked vitamin e from capsules and essential oils of your choice. I mix lavender, orange and jasmine. Smells great! Using a hand mixer I whip the Shea butter and coconut oil for a minute or two then add the E and then whip until i have fluffy , fluffy peaks like Cool Whip or whipped creme. Adding drops of oil along the way until I love the smell because Shea butter is very smelly! Total whipping time of about 8-10 minutes for 1 cup of Shea butter and coconut oil. Each. Less time for less qty. More time for larger qty. if you over whip add more. If it is too hot out and melts I put mine in the fridge and then next day leave it out after that and it is just like butter. So far it has been a big hit for gifts.
Hi can you used a blender or a mixer
A stand mixer or hand mixer would be better than a blender because of its thickness.
What all can you use this scrub for ?
So I just made this today, but the way the physical aspect of it came out it was more supple and soft than gritty like regular scrubs. I did some research to see if scrubs were made both ways, gritty and more wet like but I wasn’t really sure, still. I mean I think it could be both. I was going to post it on etsy and start an etsy shop but etsy is requiring I put in all this mumbo jumbo I dont know how to do and my parents are asleep so I can’t ask anyone right now the hard shipping and handling questions ugh. And I feel awful about the scrub because I’m trying to start a cosmetics shop on etsy just for fun and I’m mostly going to focus on pigments and eyeshadows and palettes and lipsticks and other makeup. But I was trying to get at least one thing up there and I feel like that failed. Also the scrub feels greasy because of the coconut oil I don’t know if thats how it’s supposed to feel maybe it would have a different reaction with hot water from a shower? I don’t know but I may just give the scrub to my mom. It has an odd scent I put an essentail oil in and called it Lavender. It smells like it. It has coconut scent, lavender scent, and vanilla brown sugar scent it has a longg title. Lavender and Coconut Brown Sugar scrub. But I figure no one will buy it it’s not professional looking enough lol and the texture is awful.
Hi! I’m not sure what exactly you’re asking or how I should respond. Scrubs come in all sorts of textures and this one completely depends on the type of sugar you use. Brown sugar will be more gritty than fine white sugar. And the oil makes a difference, too, as well as the temperature it is stored. If you store it in the shower it will separate. Homemade scrub will do that. It doesn’t contain additives or is blended the same way as commercially made scrub. Coconut oil does leave a slightly greasy residue on your skin for a few minutes, and I actually like how it feels. Was this just a trial run to experiment on scrubs for your shop? Best of luck to you.
Is it possible that you can use cooking oil as a substitute. Vegetable oil to be specific.
Sure, you could use vegetable oil. The consistency would be different the the scrub would need to be stirred every time you use it because the liquid oil would make it separate.
Great recipe I made it yesterday and I also use some and it is excellent. I used my food processor and I actually like the consistency that it gave me. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it!
How long can is it good for? If I make it now will it be good for Christmas gifts?!
This lasts for months! Go ahead and make them early.
I made this to give as gifts too and it turned out solid as well after it cooled.
Can you use fresh citrus fruit instead of essential oils? I don’t think i wanna be eating that.t
You can definitely use citrus zest! Although, the recipe was intended to be a beauty product and doesn’t need to be eaten. ;)
This is an awesome idea. I personally thought that the scrub was a little bit too loose, or runny, for my personal liking. So to combat this I added about a half a cup of coffee grinds. This got it right to the consistency I liked and it smells amazing. Letting it chill in the container a bit and it will be right in my shower!
Hi, just wondered how your scrub turned out with the coffee ground? I’ve been wanting to try making something with coffee but haven’t come across anything I like yet.
Can I exfoliate then shave?
Hi,
I am going to make this as a Christmas present for my mum, but I’m just wondering how long this lasts for?
Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar??
Absolutely. You could also use salt.
I made the brown sugar scrub and used solid coconut oil. I used a wooden spoon to mix. It solidified and separated. Did this happen because I didn’t use a hand mixer?
Possibly? Maybe mix it really vigorously for a good 30 seconds. There may be some separation as it sits for a few hours, but that’s normal.
What is the shelf life for your sugar scrub recipes? Hoping for months and. It a few weeks.
Definitely a few months. The high sugar content acts like a preservative — like when things are candied.
I just made this! It is delicious and feels great!!! Thank you.
I’m so glad! Enjoy!
I was thinking of making some as baby shower gifts so I used baby oil in a small sample to try it out – looks good and smells great (not edible, but . . . ). Is there any downside to using baby oil?
That’s a cute idea! My only hesitation with using baby oil is that a lot of baby oil is mineral oil based which is usually made from petroleum.
My daughter made it for Mother’s Day and I used it after a long time my skin has brightened up in seconds all the dry cracked heels disappeared in seconds. Amazing!!!!!
That’s amazing!! It’s so hard to fix cracked heels. I’m so glad this scrub helped!
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Thanks for the recipe ma’am but I was told coconut oil makes one skin darker. I’m a black girl pls I need clarification. Thank you
Hi Glory! I have never heard that before. I’ve been using coconut oil to remove my eye make up for almost a decade and if that was true, I’d probably be a raccoon by now. I’m fairly certain that isn’t true. :)
Could you please tell me which food processor you use? I don’t have one and don’t know anyone who has one so they can’t tell me what a good brand is.
Thanks,
Kathy
How many servings (using the jars you used as 1 serving) does this recipe make? Having girls over to make their own and was wondering how much of each ingredient to tell them to put in. Thank you!
About 3 of those small jars.
Thank you so much!
I saw this and want to make it for Christmas gifts for my mother and sister. If I add essential oils like lavender how much would I put in?
Hi Faith! I’d start with 2-3 drops and then add more if you’d like it more fragrant. Some oils are more potent than others, too.
I love this so much! I just made it and I absolutely love it. My family and I made it a couple years ago and someone, aka my brother, thought that it would be funny to add green food coloring, so it didn’t turn out to well. I like the face that when I made this one, just putting it into my container made my hands feel so soft! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
This stuff is amazing, my skin is so soft and feels great too !
Glad you like it, Victoria!