Simple Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub DIY
A simply perfect homemade beauty DIY made with coconut oil! This all-natural Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub recipe smells good enough to eat, plus it’s super easy to make! It can soften and exfoliate your entire body. Free printable labels.
This Pink Lemonade Sugar Scrub is also a homemade favorite!
This Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub is one of our absolute favorites! Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes are an excellent way to pamper yourself and smooth out those rough spots or give as thoughtful gifts without spending a ton of money.
We have to keep telling ourselves not to lick the jar!
Did you know sugar scrubs have many benefits beyond just their ability to soften and remove your dry, dead skin so well?
Store-bought varieties of body scrubs are lovely. They really are, but they can be expensive or contain questionable ingredients.
It’s easy to make your own sugar scrub at home in less than 10 minutes with a few simple natural ingredients you might already have in your kitchen.
So, let’s get started!
This post originally appeared on Somewhat Simple
Ingredients for DIY Brown Sugar Scrub
This Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub smells so darn good and softens and moisturizes your skin beautifully.
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.
- 1 cup organic brown sugar
- 1/2 cup oil (almond oil, olive oil, or coconut oil work best)
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil (acts as a natural preservative)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
How to Make
- First, place all ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. You can add more or less oil to your liking. If you like a thick scrub, use less oil. If you want a thinner scrub, use more.
- Store in an airtight glass container. Since this recipe doesn’t contain chemical preservatives, it’s best to use it within a month or two.
Tips & Tricks
- Although you make this recipe with brown sugar, you may substitute organic white sugar.
- The brown sugar is measured when it’s slightly packed.
- One recipe makes roughly 8 ounces of scrub.
- We recommend using non-fractioned coconut oil (non-liquid) to gain the most therapeutic benefit. Just microwave it until it is soft to mix.
- The vitamin E oil adds a bit more softness when using your scrub and provides a natural preservative to the recipe. If you don’t have any on hand, you can leave it out, but it may not last as long.
- Free Printable Tags are included for your convenience.
Pro Tip: If using coconut oil, it may solidify over time. Just place it in a shallow bowl of warm water to soften it again.
How to use a vanilla brown sugar scrub
- First, scoop a small amount of the Vanilla Scrub into your hands with a clean spoon.
- Scrub all over your hands or feet – or wherever you’d like a little extra softness.
- Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the scrub to sit on your skin for 3-4 minutes. Enjoy this time to rest and relax.
- Rinse yourself well, and then pat dry with a soft towel.
You may use your scrub up to three times per week. You can also use this as a brown sugar lip scrub.
How Often Should I Use a Sugar Scrub?
The frequency of using a sugar scrub depends on your skin type and your personal preferences. In general, it’s best to use a sugar scrub no more than 2-3 times a week, as over-exfoliating can potentially irritate and damage your skin. Here are some guidelines:
- Normal Skin: If you have normal skin that isn’t particularly sensitive or prone to dryness or oiliness, using a sugar scrub 2-3 times a week should be suitable.
- Sensitive Skin: You should be more cautious if you have sensitive skin. Limit sugar scrub usage to once a week or less, as frequent exfoliation can lead to redness or irritation.
- Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Those with oily or acne-prone skin may benefit from slightly more frequent exfoliation, around 2-3 times a week. However, be careful not to overdo it, as excessive scrubbing can exacerbate acne.
- Mature Skin: For mature skin, exfoliating 2-3 times a week can help improve the appearance of fine lines and stimulate cell turnover. Follow up with a good anti-aging skincare routine.
- Body vs. Face: You can use sugar scrubs on your body more frequently than on your face. The skin on your face is generally more sensitive than your body’s.
How to make your sugar scrub a gift + printable tags
This brown sugar scrub makes the perfect DIY gift!
- Place your finished scrub in a pretty jar or container, and you’ll have your handmade gift ready to go. We find mason jars extremely cute for this recipe.
- Print the free tags and tie them on with a pretty ribbon or twine.
This DIY sugar scrub also works well for a baby shower, birthday, or holiday gifts. Oh, and don’t forget your co-workers!
If you want to give your scrub as a gift, click here for your free Vanilla Brown Sugar Labels.
FAQs
Your homemade sugar scrub should last about three months if stored in an airtight container and kept clean.
You can use almond, olive, or coconut oil, which is our favorite in your sugar scrub.
You can use sugar scrubs on your body more frequently than on your face. The skin on your face is generally more sensitive than your body’s. It’s always a good idea to patch-test a sugar scrub before using it on your skin to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions.
Love this Brown Sugar Scrub recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
FOLLOW US FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and home tips!
This Sugar Scrub DIY was initially published in 2016. We updated on March 24, 2020, with enhanced instructions and video.
You may also like these other DIY Beauty Ideas:
I am wanting to use real vanilla bean. I have a couple that I need to use and I don’t bake much anymore. How much would you suggest I use.
Good question, Tammy. I think this recipe would be wonderful with real vanilla bean. We have not made the recipe this way but we’ve found with other recipes that 1/2 vanilla bean is the same as 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Enjoy!
I have 10oz jars so how much of each ingredient would I need?? Making for friends at work…..
Hi Tiffany, I love that you’re making these for co-workers! So fun! The recipe is designed to fit in an 8-ounce jar, so I’d increase the sugar and oil by 1 ounce each to work in a 10-ounce jar. You may also want to add a smidge more vanilla too! Enjoy!
I love making sugar scrubs and I’ve been reading everything. I have a question. So you said if you have acne prone skin to not use coconut oil and use honey. Do you put the same amount of honey as you would coconut? I feel like that’s a lot of honey but I just want to be sure ?
You can use less honey, Mikaylah, but you may need to do some trial and error until you figure out the right amount.
Looking forward to trying. Does the vanilla extract have to be pure?
Hi Andrea, we like pure vanilla extract because it tends to have fewer ingredients. You can use others if you’d like.
I loved this!
Thank you for sharing! I work in a factory so I barely get time to “feel like a woman” and this scrub did the job for me. It allowed me to do something simple but enjoyable that didn’t break the bank!
This warm our hearts, Emily! So glad you found an easy and inexpensive DIY that you can pamper yourself with! You deserve it!
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make them?
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends for Christmas!
Hi. I was wondering if you self printed the tabs for your product or if you got them done. Im trying to create something similar but was wondering if you had to cut them yourself? any advice helps thanks
Glad you like the recipe! The tags are self printed and punched out.
I just made it, I love the smell. I use the almond oil. Will update later.
If we were to use a preservative in place of vitamin E, what amount would work best for this recipe?
Hi Tamoya, we try to keep our bath and beauty products all-natural, so don’t add anything but vitamin E oil to preserve them. Therefore, we don’t know what the proportions would be for another preservative.
Smells so yummy and works so well! Thanks so much!
One of our absolute favorites, Melissa! Hope you enjoy all the benefits!
I can’t wait to make this! It sounds fabulous!
I’ve been needing something like this. I have some rough patches to smooth out. Going to try it!
This recipe is perfect for those rough patches. Use a couple of times per week and you’ll be good to go!
how many ounces does each batch make so I know what size container I need?
One batch makes roughly eight ounces, Candy.
In the scrubs with brown sugar did you measure the sugar packed or loose?
Just slightly packed, Marti.
what is a natural preservative that I could put in this scrub to make it last longer?
Hi Frances, I use vitamin E oil because it acts as a natural preservative and provides a little extra softness. Thanks for stopping by!
My daughter made something similar for me and it was just fabulous. I loved using it, especially on my hands. Pinned. So glad you share with us at Merry Monday. See ya next week!
If using coconut oil, won’t it solidify?
Hi Julie, good question. Because it’s mixed with the other ingredients, it is a nice consistency for using as a scrub. If you use within a month or two and keep it in an airtight container is should be good!
Tried it with coconut oil. It was great for the first use, but the leftovers solidified.
What type of coconut oil did you use? Was it fractionated? Thanks
Good question. It get the most therapeutic benefit, I would use non-fractionated coconut oil. I just melt it in the microwave to get it soft enough to mix together.
So what oil did you use to make the sugar scrub? I am confused? I want mine to smell good!
The vanilla usually makes mine spell amazing, especially mixed with the sugar. I usually use coconut oil in mine. You could also try almond oil, which has a lovely smell.
hi Erin and thanks so much for these great ideas! I am teaching a STEM class with a DIY focus and your scrubs will be perfect. Happy to share your blog address too!
Quick question-Worried about the food coloring staining hands. Have you had any issues? Wondering if I should look for a safe colorant. Any advice would be so appreciated!
Hi Laura,
I think some food coloring will stain hands. There are several plant-based food colorings that work well. Perhaps that would be a better option for a STEM class? Here’s an example: https://amzn.to/2Js3hXC
Can’t wait to try it.
Hi! I love your sugar scrub recipes. I made the pink lemonade and the vanilla lavender. Is there any way you would be willing to share you labels for the vanilla lavender like you did for the pink lemonade? Thanks!
Hi Mary, I will work on creating those in the near future! Thanks!
What can be substituted for vitamin E oil if I don’t have any?
Hi Debbie, the vitamin E oil is optional. It gives the scrub a little more softness and preserves it a little longer. If you don’t have any you’ll be okay, just use it up before it spoils 🙂
I would think most drug stores would carry Vitamin E in capsule form, then you stick a pin in it et voila, oil..
I have loved using vitamin E oil for many years now, my kids somehow ended up with warts one year (oh the things kids pick up at school!) and our doc sent us to a dermatologist who literally took off a piece of my pointer finger with his (true story!) LASER that he said was perfectly safe to remove them.
I was so grateful that I listened to my gut and went first – we never went back to that derm, my Pop is a huge advocate of E for his dry skin so we all rubbed vit E on and no more warts. I still look at my hands and wonder how many people are missing part of a finger! Something about E and a lot of sunshine that summer, I had two places and comparing the laser to the one I just used E on… well, that got me very much into “home remedies”!
Sorry for the life story 🙂 I just always want to pass on good news!
I’m excited to try this and give as as gifts for the holidays! Just wondering what type of brown sugar you used?
I like to use any organic brown sugar, Melanie. However, any brown sugar (light or dark) you use will work.
Just wondering if I can use regular coconut oil? I bought the liquid cooking coconut oil and wondering if that would be fine.
Hi Kaci, In a pinch, I’ve used liquid coconut oil. However, in general it’s best to use regular since it has all the beneficial qualities you want in a beauty product.
Hi! Erin
Where did you purchase you coconut oil?
Hi Tammy, I purchase my coconut oil from several sources. Walmart has in inexpensive Organic one and recently, Costco started carrying an organic one as well. It’s large, but I cook and make crafts with it, so It’s not so bad 🙂 Amazon also has some -here’s one: https://amzn.to/2Hk8XxP.
Just make sure NOT to get a fractionated one…you’ll lose the therapeutic benefits 🙂
I just made this and smells delicious. Mine isn’t a lot drier the. What yours looks like. Any advice?
Hi Stasha. Depending on what type of oil you used, that could happen. Just add a bit more oil until you reach your desired consistency.
Love this! Can you provide a link for the adorable jars?
Hi Melissa, I think this one here is the closest to what’s used in the how-to: http://amzn.to/2zTaP0X
Hi! Where did you find your cute jars?
I’m all about the cute jars! I usually find them at Michael’s and sometimes at Target. I also like this gasket one from Amazon http://amzn.to/2yhTRFn.
Where can I get labels/tags like this? Thank you. X
Hi Francesca, there are free printable gift tags included in the post. You just need to click the link. Let me know if you have any problems.
I love DIYs like this! It is simple and very useful. I know TheBeautyInsiders website has a lot of posts like this and I love them <3
I agree, simple and useful are the perfect combination! That’s a great website!
If using coconut oil do you melt it first?
Hi Melissa, I use liquid coconut oil, so it’s not an issue. If you’re using solid coconut oil, you’d have to melt it a bit to be able to mix it all together. It will likely harden a bit after it’s mixed, though.
Hi Erin, I tried this and it came out looking like cookie dough. I wonder if I mixed it too much. Has this ever happened to you?
Hi Devra, No, that’s never happened to me. I think you may be right, perhaps it was mixed too much. You are really just stirring to combine the ingredients and then leaving it alone. You used brown sugar?
I made this with the exact measurements you posted, but mine came out all runny. Your’s looks nice and thick like sugar scrub is supposed to… I tried adding more brown sugar, but it didn’t make much difference. What am I missing?
That’s so strange, Ely. I used the exact measurements listed. I would say you’re on the right track. You can add more sugar until you reach the consistency you desire. If needed, once you add more sugar, add a teeny bit more vanilla.
Hi I can’t wsit to try! What size jar does one batch make?
You’ll love this scrub! The recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups. You can use it all in one container or make smaller ones. Whatever you prefer. Enjoy!
I love the smell from these ingredients. My summer feet could use some pampering too! Pinned it. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Mine too. My feet are dry and cracking, I am making a new flavor this week, so stay tuned! This will probably be my all-time favorite because it smells so good though.
Wow Erin, just @WAYWOW. I can’t wait to try some of this. I love the smell of vanilla and using it as a scrub definitely works for me.
I love the contrast the brown sugar brings to this recipe. Time to get to work on those dry feet from summer flip flops!! Enjoy, Michelle!
Erin, I think I would definitely have to remind myself not to lick myself after I apply this. It looks delicious. But I’m sure my skin would feel delicious after I used it. I love knowing that what I’m putting in my mouth is chemical free, and I have been paying far more attention to what I put on my skin too. What a perfect gift idea, one that the recipient will use to pamper themselves and I love giving a gift that shows that I took time and put thought into. This is perfect with the holidays right around the corner.
Me too, Nikki. I’ve been paying way more attention lately to what I’m putting on my body and my kids. It just makes sense…too many chemicals in our environment. I just love how simple and lovely this pampering scrub is for a DIY.
I’m definitely going to try this at home! And I agree that this is an awesome gift too!
Thanks for the post 🙂
I love giving this as gifts! Put it in a pretty jar or bottle and you’re all set!! Print the tag for added cuteness!