Taking the Valentine’s Challenge? Or just like making homemade gifts? Either way, homemade sugar scrub is a great (and frugal) way to give a sweet gift this Valentine’s Day or a great way to pamper yourself! There are SO many different recipes out there, some very simple and some with specialty oils & powders I don’t have. So, I kept it simple–all the ingredients were things I had in the kitchen (consequently, the scrub smells like baking).
Recipe:
- 3/4 C sugar
- 1 T colored sugar crystals (pink for Valentine’s day, red for Christmas etc.)
- 4 T Canola oil
- 1 t vanilla extract
- (optional: add 4-5 drops of any additional extract or essential oils you have in whatever “flavor” you like)
*some recipes call for extra virgin olive oil, but I found that the scent of the oil was hard to disguise
Directions:
- Mix sugars together.
- Stir in oil & extracts (just enough for the sugar to be well-coated, not runny)
- Place in a fun/decorative jar (this amount fit perfectly in an 8 oz. canning jar), add some ribbon, a decorative label, and give a sweet gift…or…go fill up the bath and pamper yourself a little. I used this on the back of my hands (rough from the dry winter weather) and they have been so soft the last couple of days! I’m thinking this would be GREAT on the feet!
- If you like the label, feel free to copy the picture below into a word doc and resize as you like.
Have you ever made homemade sugar scrub? If so, share your favorite recipe!
*This post was written by Sara, a contributing writer for the Happy Housewife. Read more from her at Mom Endeavors.
Angela B says
LOVE this! We are so making some today! Thank you 🙂
Nicci says
Hmm . . . I know what some little Bear’s MDO teachers will be getting for Valentine’s Day!!
Susi says
Thanks for the idea! I love adding the colored sugar & the tag is cute. Olive oil has healing/moisturizing properties and am wondering if the canola would be the same. What I’ve been doing at home is taking inexpensive (you know, that “S” brand), body wash and mixing it with sugar. I put it in a tupperware type air tight container (plastic= no breaking in the shower when you drop it with slippery hands) and keep it in the shower. It does get kind of foamy, lol, but it works well.
Molly says
I do this with baking soda, too!
cheryl says
I am making this tonight for myself – my hands are atrocious w/ the cold dry weather in Southern CA – a can’t even imagine what you ladies that live in the freezing temps have to deal with – we are coming real close to sandal/flip flop weather here & my feet are worse than my hands – think i could use the pampering – this would be great w/ lavender oil!
Sara W says
I think it would be great with lavender oil too! Where do you get it?
Allison says
If you want it to smell extra nice, you can use Almond oil (a little pricier) or half almond, half canola. It also has healing properties and is an extra nice moisturizer!
Christina says
Safflower oil is really good and doesn’t have any scent. You can buy it at the grocery store. I use it for a moisturizer. I saw it on Dr. Oz 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
Sara @ Mom Endeavors says
Great ideas on the other oils! I will totally be trying that! Like I said, I just used things I already had in the kitchen, but next grocery trip I will be looking for some other oil options! Thanks for the good oil ideas! 🙂
Tiffany says
I love making and using sugar scrub. I use olive oil. great idea to add the colored crystals!
Nicci says
I made this as a gift for my son’s mothers’ day out teachers. Their party isn’t until tomorrow, so I had time for a last minute gift idea! I was out of vanilla extract, but used almond extract instead, and it smells super yummy!!
Nicci says
Oh–and I just put mine in ziploc sandwich bags (classy–did I mention it was last minute?), but put the baggies in Valentine’s Day mugs (because we all know that if there is one thing teachers don’t get enough of, it’s mugs) and attached the tags with Valentine’s Day ribbon.
Michelle says
This looks fabulous! I think I may make some today!
Barb H says
As a massage therapist, I love making bath salts and sugar/salt scrubs. Aromatherapy is the term used when one uses essentail oils to help one relax or to stimulate a mood. My favorite bath salt recipe is 1 cup sea salt,1/2 cup Epson salt, 1/4 cup oatmeal (ground up in my mini chopper), 2-3 tsp. of a carrier oil such as grapeseed,, jojoba, almond(not almond extract), or safflower. Lemongrass essentail oil 15 drops,Orange oil 15 drops, Yylang Yylang 5 drops, and Patchouli 5 drops. The essential oils are to be mixed in the carrier oil before adding them to the salt/oatmeal mixture. When I am ready to use it I fill the tub up with very warm water and add 4-6 tablespoons of bath salt right before I get into the tub. The aroma is heavenly. If you are being treated for any medical condition, it is advised to seek the advice of a physician before using essentail oils due to their therapeutic properties.
Amanda Olson says
I forgot about Epsom salts! Good idea! I’m using this recipe too..Thx!
Alexandra Knaub says
I found white sugar to be a little rough some days so I add brown sugar to my scrub. I use olive oil but I also like almond oil. I’ll have to try canola since it’s much cheaper!
Tina says
Ok I think I might be a little to secluded now. Lol where do I find pink sugar crystals lol 🙂
Dee Meland says
You can find pink sugar crystals in any grocery store, in the cake and baking goods isle. They are mainly used to decorate cookies. I had to look them up too! How funny!
Tammy Oleson says
I just made this but I used cinnamon powder and sweet orange essential oils and it feels and smells like spiced oranges.