Homemade Sugar, Sea Salt & Oatmeal Scrubs
34 Comments 
Scrubs are a luxurious way to pamper your skin since they exfoliate and moisturize at the same time and will leave your skin feeling smooth and soft.
There’s no need to buy expensive stuff, make it yourself for a quick and easy way to have a spa experience right in your own home. They make great gifts too!
Here’s a bunch of recipes to get you started, I’ve sorted them into three groups: Sugar, Sea Salt & Oatmeal versions.
First a few tips:
- Mix and store ingredients in glass bowls and jars to prevent reactions with other materials.
- Shelf life is only a couple weeks or so (if kept cool in an airtight container) unless you add a preservative of some sort. You’ll find more information and preservative suggestions here: fromnaturewithlove.com (info on using T-50 Vitamin E Oil, Rosemary Oil Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract and more).
- Refrigerate any unused portion in a sealed container.
- For something different, try adding a bit of gentle liquid soap to your scrubs before using.
- Use a loofah or bristle brush when applying, will give you a nice massage while exfoliating.
- When using the sea salt recipes, some believe that the Dead Sea salts are the most therapeutic since they help relieve pain from arthritis and bring a glow to your skin.
Note: In the ingredient lists below, EO is used for “Essential Oil”.
| Almond Oil & Vanilla 1/2 cup of brown sugar | Lemon 1 cup sugar | Tea 2 cups white sugar |
| Lavender & Rosewood 1 cup brown sugar | Yogurt 3 TBS baby oil | Aloe Vera 1 cup granulated sugar |
| Coffee 1/4 cup packed brown sugar | With Powdered Milk 1 cup brown sugar To make: Mix the dry ingredients first then pour the olive oil slowly, stirring the whole time. After it’s at the consistency you like, mix in the essential oils. This was sent in by Charlotte, thank you! | For Hands & Dry Trouble Spots 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary Directions: Mix chopped rosemary with the oils first then add sugar to make a paste. |
| Exfoliating 1/2 cup fine sea salt | Lavender 1/4 cup fine sea salt Tip: Add a bit of water or liquid soap as you use it. |
| Favorite Scent 3 cups fine sea salt Mix ingredients together then use after showering, store in a sealed glass jar. | Peppermint (for feet) 1 1/2 cups fine sea salt Exfoliate your soles and heels with this mixture after a bath or foot soak. |
| With Yogurt 1 cup oatmeal | With Honey 1/2 cup oatmeal | Yogurt & Honey 1 TBS oats |
| Strawberry 1/4 cup rolled oats Trim the berries of their leaves then mash, mix in the rolled oats then add enough milk to make a paste. | Lavender 2 cups oats Mix then grind in a blender until it’s a powder, store in a sealed glass jar and keep in a dark location. To use: mix about a tablespoon of powder with enough water to make a paste. Gently massage into skin then rinse with clear water. |
Just wanted to know how long can those scrubs be kept for?
These basic scrubs don’t have any preservatives in them. Theoretically, because they are oil based, they shouldn’t go bad, but the problem is that when you use them in the bath area water does get into them, and bacteria from your hands. I was taught that you should make small amounts that you’ll go through in a couple of months to avoid anything growing in them.
Seems like a lot of fuss and bother………why not just put together some sugar or salt in a jar and add some moisturizer? half and half – then mix thoroughly…..same results, less fuss, and nothing to go bad or spoil!!
I don’t know about moisturizer but I’ve found one of the simplest and most affective recipes is just a mix of brown sugar and baby oil. If you want scent just add vanilla extract!
Perhaps because not everyone wishes to use chemicals in their cleaning products and is interested in trying some more natural methods of doing things?
What about using your favorite liquid bath wash (I use Dove Cream wash) and add it to some brown sugar?
Hi Carol,
I don’t see a problem with that if you’d like to try it and let us know how it worked out for you
you can do that. Sometimes I use a little scoop of sugar and add just a touch of my facial cleanser for my face. It kills two birds with one stone. Exfoliation and cleans brilliantly.
I tried #2 without the lemon rind because I didn’t have it. I wasn’t a fan. I made a half recipe (recommended)and tossed the rest. It’s been a while since I bought a scrub but it seemed like the olive oil was greasier than the procucts I’d purchased. I felt like a buttered turkey (even after I washed with soap). In fact the oil did turn thick like butter after I worked it on my skin for a while.
i don’t use olive oil in my scrubs for the reason u mentioned even though it’s so good for your skin. I use light oils like Almond oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil…or a mix…i also add some jojoba and some vitamin e which also acts as a preservative…it doesn’t make u feel greasy…try that out and see if that makes a difference!
also, add some honey! It acts as a humectant and draws the water into your skin!
I made this for all of my friends this xmas & some for myself. We LOVED it. the olive oil is heavy but it felt luxurious like u’ve had a real spa treatment. it’s a great way to treat dry wintery skin!
I LOVE #2 it worked so good!!!!!!!!
A really easy scrub that I use is just brown sugar and baby oil. I fill a food storage container with brown sugar and saturate it with baby oil so that there is some oil remaining on the top. Then I can just keep that container in my shower. It works great for removing the dry skin on my legs. Usually one bag of brown sugar and one bottle of baby oil gives me about 3-4 containers full, so it goes a long way and is very inexpensive.
I could not agree more….
In a time when everyone should be budget conscious, I hate to give up some of my beauty remedies due to the cost at the local store. However This recipe was the perfect find! Works wonders without putting a dent in the wallet. Enjoyed the results so much, I passed it along to friends…
Thanks for the tip!
how long does this stuff last? a week? or longer?
I used #2, for measurements and then modified it. I used a few drops of teatree oil and some cardimon. I added a few drops of dishsoap. I keep it in the fridge. Even the men have complimented how clean it gets their hands after a dirt job, and the nice spicey smell keeps the men happy. Great idea…thanks.
Wow,wow, wow to #5! Love it! I even stuck a vanilla bean in it, just for the heck of it. It’s better than the commercial scrub I have. Thanks
this will be my first time trying the scrubs i have one silly question…#5 says tea for the ingredient what does that mean? Liquid tea or rip open a tea bag and use the tea grounds?
Be careful to use baby oil aka mineral oil it does not penetrate the skin, will clog pores and if you tan it will strip your tan after repeted use. If you don’t like olive oil try grapeseed, apricot, avocado, coconut, safflower or almond. All kinds of alternatives available at ur local health food stores!!
I’ve used a basic sugar scrub for years, using just olive oil and white sugar for the base. If you need extra exfoliating, use ground oatmeal or rice powder. I also occasionally add things like powdered milk and honey. Just about any thing from your spice cabinet or baking ingredients will make your sugar scrub extra special.
But I’d also like to add a few words of caution. A rule of thumb with many herbalists is: Don’t put anything on your skin that you can’t put in your mouth. So I’d avoid baby oil as it’s petrolium based. And not every spice is safe for use. Some, like cinnamon, can cause a burn-like reacion on sensitive skin. And some cooking herbs can cause allergic reaction in people with hay fever. Citrus fruits like lemons and grapefruit smell wonderful, but can cause photosensitivity when used over time. So please be informed about what you use in your mix.
By the way, for those who think olive oil is greasy, please know it’s one of the best moisturizers you can use. If worst comes to worst, wait 15 minutes after you use it, and blot off the excess. I don’t ususally have much left on my skin after 15 minutes, but I’m almost 50. So my skin sucks it up fast, lol.
I agree 100% with what Toni has advised. A skin test. Should always be used to be safe.
Such great info. Thanks.
I went a little crazy at a craft fair and “over bought” some of these scrubs. I haven’t been able to use one of them fast enough. Is there any way to revive them? The last couple of times I’ve tried to use it, it leaves a really nasty, waxy-type residue. Any solutions?
Thanks tons!
#5 smelled heavenly! I love it
I just made up a scrub from one of the suggested recipes, I used, my husband use it, both on hands and it’s wonderful!
If you don’t like oils I use vegetable glycerin. It can be a little pricier but a little goes a loonngg way and you can make almpost all the rest of your beauty supplies with it!
I use a Korean recipe that my mother taught me. Combine 3 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin or virgin are the best), 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1/2 cup of raw sugar/cane sugar (any sugar will do, but for some reason my mom always said to use raw, must just depend on preference.) in a little tupperware container. Use after cleansing in the shower. Lasts for about a month or two and works like a charm on any type of skin (I have combination skin and it doesn’t make me breakout.)
Good luck! :]
Do you have to like let it sit or refrigerate it? I didn’t get the right consistency. It was all liquidy. I did #1.
I tried #2. it felt great going on! I applied it everywhere except my face. Be careful while e
Rinsing that you don’t slip & fall! I felt oily when I got out of shower but my skin was very soft.
I made recipe #3 with a couple of modifications. I used raw sugar instead of brown sugar (I like the grainy texture better,) and I used peppermint oil instead of lavender and rosewood. It was a refreshing way to start my day! My skin was soft and smooth, and not overly greasy. The peppermint scent woke me right up! I’m glad I found this site.
I was wondering about #5- when it calls for 2TBS of tea… Would that be just the tea spices stuff or tea already made with the water. I would assume that it would be just the dry tea spice (no liquid added) but you know what they say when you assume!
Can anyone help??
I tried to add extra exfoliation to my sugar scrub, so I added Kosher salt, now I need to finalize my batch with oil, should I just use olive, or will that change the aroma? My scent is lemon essential oil, and some Joy dishwashing liquid, the scent is fabulous, but I need some liquid.
I want to try the Tea scrub, but I don’t want to use honey. Would Agave Nectar work just as well? Please Help!