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
- ½ cup oil (almond oil, olive oil, or coconut oil work best)
- ½ 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.
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Simple Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub DIY
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.
Materials
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup oil (almond, olive or coconut work best)
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- storage container
Tools
- bowl
- spoon
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and mixing bowl.
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. You can add more or less oil to your liking.
- Place in an airtight container and use within 3 months.
Notes
Since this recipe doesn’t contain any preservatives, it’s best if it’s used within a month or two.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This Sugar Scrub DIY was initially published in 2016. We updated on March 24, 2020, with enhanced instructions and video.
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Tammy Fritschie says
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.
Erin Henry says
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!
Tiffany says
I have 10oz jars so how much of each ingredient would I need?? Making for friends at work.....
Erin Henry says
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!
Mikaylah Doolittle says
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 😂
Erin Henry says
You can use less honey, Mikaylah, but you may need to do some trial and error until you figure out the right amount.
Andrea says
Looking forward to trying. Does the vanilla extract have to be pure?
Erin Henry says
Hi Andrea, we like pure vanilla extract because it tends to have fewer ingredients. You can use others if you'd like.
Emily says
I loved this!
Emily says
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!
Erin Henry says
This warm our hearts, Emily! So glad you found an easy and inexpensive DIY that you can pamper yourself with! You deserve it!
VAnessa says
Thanks for sharing! How far ahead of time can I make them?
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends for Christmas!
Amber Brittian says
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
Erin Henry says
Glad you like the recipe! The tags are self printed and punched out.
Sophia Adderley says
I just made it, I love the smell. I use the almond oil. Will update later.