Natural Salt/Sugar Scrubs

[Anna T]

Does anyone have any recipes for natural salt and/or sugar scrubs to use in the shower? I have purchased the expensive stuff from Bath & Body Works in the past. It works great, but what a price tag!

I know I could make my own pretty easily with a recipe. Also -- would it be better to use organic sugar if you're making it with sugar or does this not matter since you're not technically eating the scrub?

Thanks in advance!

 

[4leafclover]

I used to use St.Ives Shea Butter, Oatmeal and Sugar Scrub. It works really perfect for me, but then because of its limited supply I went on to try making my body scrub using honey and organic sugar (mascuvado, imported from the Philippines), and the result is really amazing. I'll definitely recommend this!

 

[Pat]

Dr. Oz has had people on his show using homemade sugar scrub. Here is a link that you might want to check out check out Tip Junkie to get a recipe.

 

[peacenik]

I like using sea salt with a few drops of essential oils for aromatherapy purposes. I sprinkle a teaspoon or so of the salt onto my loofah along with whatever body wash I'm using. Works good, inexpensive and it smells good.

 

[konstantina]

Hi, I use brown sugar (not organic and not an expensive brand) and I add a few drops of lemon. If you have pimples or acne scars on your back, you can add more lemon. This one is easy to do and I really like it. I also make a more luxurious one with brown sugar again and essential oil of lavender. It also depends on your body type. If you have dry skin, you can add honey with warm water, which also smells great. By the way, you can exfoliate with orange juice alone if your skin is too sensitive to scrub.

 

[hunysukle]

Sugar scrubs are great for exfoliating the skin. You can get really soft skin by making a homemade sugar scrub. Here's a recipe for homemade sugar scrub. It really works great.

Ingredients

-50 percent white cane sugar (note that organic sucanat, while the best choice for food, doesn’t work as well for this recipe)
-50 percent vegetable glycerin to moisten the sugar (I used avocado oil since I was out of vegetable glycerin and it proved to be a successful substitute)
-Small amounts of aloe vera gel, vitamin C crystals, or anything healing that dissolves in water
-1 or 2 drops of essential oil if desired (Larry recommends combining orange and lavender)
-Enough ground hibiscus powder for pink color (if desired)

Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Scoop some of the scrub onto your hand and massage gently onto your skin for a minute (the scrub will actually tighten onto your skin like a masque). Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing.

 

[classicnyer]

I have used a simple one made with olive oil, rosemary oil, and salt for a while, and I love it.

 

[Anna T]

Thanks so much ladies. I'm going to try some of these recipes soon and see what I come up with.

You know, this would also make for some good Christmas gifts! You could make up a bunch of scrub and then package it in little glass jars with a pretty bow around the top. It would be inexpensive and also very thoughtful since the recipient would know that you went to the trouble to make it yourself

 

[BonnyC]

Sugar scrubs are great for exfoliating the skin. You can get really soft skin by making a homemade sugar scrub. Here's a recipe for homemade sugar scrub. It really works great.

Ingredients

-50 percent white cane sugar (note that organic sucanat, while the best choice for food, doesn’t work as well for this recipe)
-50 percent vegetable glycerin to moisten the sugar (I used avocado oil since I was out of vegetable glycerin and it proved to be a successful substitute)
-Small amounts of aloe vera gel, vitamin C crystals, or anything healing that dissolves in water
-1 or 2 drops of essential oil if desired (Larry recommends combining orange and lavender)
-Enough ground hibiscus powder for pink color (if desired)

Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Scoop some of the scrub onto your hand and massage gently onto your skin for a minute (the scrub will actually tighten onto your skin like a masque). Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing.

This sounds great! I'd omit the optional stuff and use raw honey as the water soluble ingredient. I made a thread about raw honey and I've been trying to think of a way to turn it into a body scrub for my acne. I'm heading out a bit and I'm going to get what I don't have on this list! Where is Vegetable Glycerin at? Can I find it in the grocery store?

 

[Hyacinth]

My recent discovery is to mix sugar and olive oil for a homemade body scrub. I have also tried combining sugar with vanilla and essential oils such as lavender and peppermint!

 

[dashboardc33]

I use brown sugar and olive oil as a natural scrub for myself. I don't care for Bath and Body Works not only because of the cost, but because I don't like the nasty chemicals they add to these scrubs. The brown sugar recipe works great and makes your skin feel wonderful and an affordable cost. You may even have the ingredients sitting in your house without even needing to go to the store.

 

[BonnyC]

I just wanted to update you all. I made a scrub last night using 6oz each of brown sugar and pure glycerin plus about 3 tablespoons of raw honey and 1 of lemon juice. It's really good! My skin was smooth and soft. It made plenty, too!

 

[classicnyer]

Here's a question: can anybody tell me about the benefits of using a sugar scrub vs. a salt scrub (or vise versa)?

 

[Anna T]

Here's a question: can anybody tell me about the benefits of using a sugar scrub vs. a salt scrub (or vise versa)?

I would be very interested to know this, too, classicnyer. Is there any difference? Both would exfoliate the skin. I guess it would ultimately come down to the absorption of salt into the skin versus sugar. Which would be best? Which is most beneficial?

 

[BonnyC]

I'm not 100% certain about salt, but I'd imagine that it would be good for oily skin. Salt is dehydrating, right?

I went with packed brown sugar since it has an antibacterial effect. My acne is due to bacteria, so I figured that it would help me. I haven't used it long enough to see a difference, but I'll update later on.

 

[Valerienne]

I found a great recipe for coffee scrub. Apparently coffee helps prevent in-grown hairs after depilation and stimulates blood circulation under skin.

You'll need:
- 3-4 tbsp of ground coffee
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- (optional) 1 tsp cinnamon for scent
- 8 tbsp of body lotion, baby oil, or olive oil
Mix everything in a wide jar and use before/after/in the shower once or twice a week. Rinse after scrubbing.

 

[Lyra]

I have made several scrubs this week for a spa basket I am putting together for my niece. I made a lemon salt scrub, a brown sugar and vanilla scrub, a peppermint foot scrub, and, my favorite, a cocoa lip scrub. Each was very easy and made with ingredients I had at home.