This luxurious Vanilla Sugar Scrub recipe is an easy, exfoliating DIY you can make at home for pennies. A simple and all-natural beauty product that smells delicious!

You'll love all of our Sugar Scrub Recipes! This Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub with printable labels is a fan favorite.

Jar of DIY vanilla sugar scrub with a spoon and vanilla bean next to it.

Indulge in the sweet and soothing goodness of our Vanilla Sugar Scrub with Coconut oil! This luxurious skincare treat combines the fragrant essence of creamy vanilla with exfoliating sugar crystals, leaving your skin irresistibly soft, smooth, and glowing.

Their natural, chemical-free ingredients can be used as a face, lip, or body scrub. And oh, my, gosh! This one smells divine!

We love making Sugar Scrub Recipes and pampering ourselves or giving them as homemade gifts. They're a cinch to DIY and cost only a fraction of what you pay if you purchase one from a store or boutique.

If you like this sugar scrub, you will also like our essential oil Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub, or this refreshing Lemon Sugar Scrub.

Do you know the benefits of using a sugar scrub on your skin, and do you know the difference between a sugar and salt scrub? We have answers!

Jump to:

Materials Needed for a Homemade Sugar Scrub
How to Make a Vanilla Sugar Scrub
What Oil to Use?
Instructions for Use
How to Wrap a Sugar Scrub as a Gift
FAQs
How Often Should You Use a Sugar Scrub?

Materials Needed for a Homemade Sugar Scrub

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Glass jar - we like ones with a snap closure that keeps your scrub airtight.
Organic white sugar
Organic coconut oil (or other recommended oil)
vitamin E oil (for added softness and a natural preservative)
vanilla extract

This recipe makes about 8 ounces.

Jar of vanilla sugar scrub with a spoon sticking out.

How to Make a Vanilla Sugar Scrub

1 cup granulated white sugar
½ cup oil (almond oil, olive oil, or non-fractionated coconut oil work best)
½ teaspoon natural vitamin E oil (not synthetic)
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract (yes, you can use vanilla extract in a sugar scrub)

First, place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with a spoon or spatula. You can add more or less oil to your liking.
Finally, store in an airtight container. Since this recipe doesn't contain any chemical preservatives, it's best if it's used within a couple of months.

What Oil to Use?

For a homemade vanilla sugar scrub, there are several options for oils that you can use. Here are a few popular choices:

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a popular choice for homemade scrubs due to its moisturizing properties. It is readily available and has a pleasant scent. However, it can clog pores.
Sweet Almond Oil: Sweet almond oil is lightweight, absorbs easily into the skin, and is known for its nourishing and emollient properties.
Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil is similar in composition to our skin's natural oils, making it an excellent choice for moisturizing and balancing the skin. It is non-greasy and suitable for all skin types.
Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil is lightweight and easily absorbed, making it ideal for use in scrubs. It is rich in antioxidants and can help to moisturize the skin without clogging pores.
Olive Oil: Olive oil is a kitchen staple that can also be used in homemade scrubs. It is moisturizing and contains antioxidants that can benefit the skin.

NOTE: When choosing an oil for your sugar scrub, consider your skin type and personal preferences. It's a good idea to perform a patch test on a small area of your skin to ensure you don't have any adverse reactions before applying it all over your body.

Instructions for Use

If your skin is healthy and firm, you can use a body scrub a couple of times a week. If you have sensitive (or thin skin), use your sugar scrub once a week. Always test a patch first to make sure it works with your skin type.

Scoop a small amount of the Coconut Vanilla Sugar Scrub in your hands with a spoon.
Scrub all over your hands, feet, or body in circular motions – or wherever area you'd like extra soft skin.
Allow the scrub to soak into your skin for a few minutes. Enjoy this time to relax!
Rinse off with warm water, and pat dry with a soft towel, revealing silky-smooth, heavenly-scented skin!

If you're short on time, massage the scrub all over your body and rinse during your normal shower routine.

SAFETY NOTES: Be careful while using your sugar scrubs on your feet while in the shower. The oils contained in scrubs can make your feet slippery. Also, make sure to consult with a dermatologist if you have any allergies or skin sensitivities.

Sugar scrub on a counter with a ribbon and tag tied around it.

Yield: 8 ounces

Vanilla Sugar Scrub with Printable Tags

This delicious Vanilla Sugar Scrub recipe is an easy, exfoliating DIY that you can make at home for pennies. A simple and all-natural beauty product that smells wonderful!

Prep Time 1 minute

Active Time 4 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty easy

Materials

1 cup granulated white sugar
½ cup oil (almond oil, olive or non-fractionated coconut oil work best)
½ teaspoon natural vitamin E oil (not synthetic)
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Tools

bowl
spoon

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with a spoon or spatula. You can add more or less oil to your liking.
Place in an airtight container. Store in a dry area.

Notes

Since this recipe doesn’t contain any preservatives, it’s best if it’s used within a month or two.

Originally published in 2018 and updated with enhanced information on June 30, 2020, and June 27, 2023.

How to Wrap a Sugar Scrub as a Gift

Sugar scrubs make great gifts. A mason jar is a great way to package them. The best way to make your sugar scrub a pretty gift or party favor is by tying a pretty ribbon or twine around the jar and attaching a tag.

The free printable tags that come with this Vanilla Sugar Scrub give the name of the scrub as well as the instructions for use.

A simple yet thoughtful gift.

Tags to put on a DIY vanilla sugar scrub.

Find Your Free Printable Tags by clicking this link.

FAQs

What sugar do you use in a sugar scrub?

Because it's a little finer, so less abrasive, we use white sugar for facial or lip scrubs. Brown sugar, which is a bit more coarse, is best for body scrubs. Raw sugar, which is the coarsest sugar, is nice to use for hand and foot scrubs.

What is the benefit of vanilla sugar scrub?

One of the main benefits of this simple sugar scrub is that it's a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. It's also wonderful to prep your skin before shaving. Moreover, it contains coconut oil which is very moisturizing.

Can I put vanilla extract in my sugar scrub?

Yes, it's totally fine to use pure vanilla extract (which you likely have in your pantry) in your homemade sugar scrub. You can also use vanilla essential oil.

This yummy Vanilla Sugar Scrub is an easy, exfoliating DIY that you can make at home for pennies. A simple and all-natural beauty product that smells delicious!

How Often Should You Use a Sugar Scrub?

If your skin is healthy and firm, you can use a sugar scrub a couple of times a week.

However, if you have sensitive or thin skin, limit a good buffing to once a week. If you have any concerns, you can test an area of your skin before you use it on the rest of your body.

NOTE: Due to the fact they don't have any preservatives, sugar scrubs usually keep a month or two in an airtight container.