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Home Page
> Aromatherapy Recipes > Solid Sugar Cube
Scrub Recipe
Solid Sugar Cube Scrub Recipe
Natural sugar scrubs are a wonderful
alternative to the more synthetic and abrasive products on the market.
They gently polish and exfoliate the skin, are luxurious and smell
naturally delicious.
Most natural sugar scrubs have the
consistency of a thick, grainy liquid. The ingredients often separate
over time, and though they have so many wonderful advantages, sometimes
it can become a nuisance to work with them. Additionally, fluid
sugar scrubs can harbor bacteria rather quickly.
Solid Sugar Cube Scrubs
Created at Christmastime |
Solid Sugar Cube Scrubs, like the ones that you can make using
this recipe are not entirely all-natural, but they have the
benefit of being easy to work with, are often more visually
attractive than scrubs that separate over time, and they last
longer when stored properly.
This customizable recipe will
make approximately 30 1" square exfoliating sugar cubes.
The total number of cubes may vary depending upon your choice
of molds and specifically how large you cut them.
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Ingredients:
Special Equipment
- You will also need a mold. I recommend using rectangular soap
molds.
- Towards the end, it can be easier to mix the scrub with your
hands. I recommend using surgical gloves as you work.
Directions:
- Measure out all ingredients beforehand. Once the soap base is
melted, you will need to work quickly.
- Using a double-boiler, gently melt the Melt & Pour Soap
Base until it is completely melted. Do not overheat Melt &
Pour bases as it will ruin their lather.
- As soon as it is melted, pour it into a mixing bowl.
- Add the vegetable oils and Vitamin E Oil and quickly stir to
combine.
- Add the sugar and continue stirring. Remember to work swiftly
as the mixture can firm up quickly. By now, you may be able to
knead the mixture with your hands but be very careful if doing
so to mix in the essential oils.
- Add the essential oil and mix well.
- If your mixture seems way too thin, you can add more sugar.
It may take you a couple batches to get a natural feel for the
ideal consistency.
- Spoon or pack the mixture into your soap molds. Press it firmly
to ensure there are no air pockets.
- Allow to set for an hour. The amount of time it may take for
the mixture to completely firm up can vary, depending on the specific
oil and soap base that you used.
- I generally find that the scrubs release from the molds pretty
easily once they are reasonably firm.
- If it seems like the mixture is too thin, you can try refrigerating
the mixture for a short while.
- Unmold the scrubs before the mixture is completely set. This
makes it easier to cut the cubes.
- Cut into approximately 1" cubes. Allow to firm up at room
temperature for several hours.
- View the Packaging Ideas, To Use and Shelf Life sections below
for more information on packaging and using your sugar scrub cubes.
Essential Oil Suggestions:
- This recipe is created in such a way that offers you a lot of
flexibility in choosing what essential oils you want to use to
fragrance your scrubs. This recipe assumes that you already have
familiarity with Essential Oil
Safety and understand that some essential oils should not
be used on the skin, or should only be used sparingly on the skin.
- Be certain to also only select Essential
Oils that do not contraindicate any other health issues that
you may have.
- Remember that some essential oils are aromatically much stronger
than others. Peppermint
and Geranium essential
oils, for instance, are especially dominant and can overpower
a blend if not used sparingly.
- Avoid or only use the spice and mint oils sparingly in this
recipe.
- Read
the AromaTalk blog post that discusses this recipe to view
Christmastime blends that will work in this recipe.
Notes/Tips:
- The photograph above features scrubs that I made over Christmastime
using red and dark green transparent colored soap bases. The quantity
of white sugar used in the recipe makes the cubes appear more
muted in color. For completely white cubes, you can use opaque
white bases or clear transparent soap bases. Melt & Pour Soap
Bases are not 100% natural. I use From
Nature With Love's soap bases because FNWL
strives to provide the most natural bases available, they have
a large number of bases to choose from, they strive to keep their
inventory fresh, their prices are competitive and they are an
advertiser/supporter of AromaWeb.
- Turbinado or other darker unrefined sugars can be substituted
for processed white sugar, but the soap and oil proportions may
need to be adjusted. I look forward to updating this recipe once
I've experimented more.
- Nourishing vegetable oils are used to help fortify the skin
that is revealed after exfoliation. If you have oily skin, you
can experiment by reducing the proportion of vegetable oil used
in the recipe. If you have normal or dry skin, you can experiment
with increasing the amount of vegetable oil used in the recipe.
- Shea Butter, Cocoa
Butter or other vegetable butters can be used in place of
some of the vegetable oil. Melt the butters with the soap base.
Some experimentation may be needed to perfect the final product
consistency.
- Avoid using mineral oil (also known as baby oil). Mineral oil
clogs the pores and can be harmful to the skin. See the Harmful
Skin Care Ingredients article for more information.
- The Vitamin E Oil can be left out of this recipe if necessary,
but it helps to nourish the skin and also helps to extend the
shelf life of the scrub. Vitamin E capsules can be used in place
of Vitamin E Oil. To use capsules in the recipe, carefully cut
the tips off 2-3 capsules and squeeze the capsule contents into
the sugar scrub and mix well.
- I use rectangular soap molds with 5 oz. cavities, and once cut
into cubes, I get six cubes per cavity. You could use square molds
or even line a baking dish with wax paper.
- If you have a sensitive shower or sink drain, use caution when
using sugar scrubs. Over time, the sugar/oil combo can slow your
drain, especially if you use a lot of the exfoliant during your
applications.
Packaging Ideas:
It is important to store the cubes in an airtight container
or in airtight bags. Many of AromaWeb's advertisers have beautiful
jars that are perfect for storing Sugar Scrubs. Include the date
that you made the sugar scrub cubes on your label.
To Use:
- These scrub cubes can be used on the body and feet. I recommend
not using it on the face.
- Avoid use if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions such
as eczema, and avoid use on wounds, cuts, abrasions or damaged
skin.
- Use one cube per exfoliating session. Bring one cube into the
shower with you. Allow it to get wet, and massage the cube into
a soft workable, exfoliating paste in the palm of your hand. As
you begin, you may find it easier to break the cube in half or
into quarters and work with the smaller portion on one region
of the body and then repeat.
- Scrub gently in a slow, circular motion. Do not grind the scrub
into your skin.
- Rinse off.
- If desired, follow the exfoliating scrub with gentle cleansing.
- Moisturize the skin with a natural moisturizer after exfoliating.
I don't recommend using this solid sugar cube
recipe directly on the face, but it is wonderful for the body and
feet. (See AromaWeb's other Sugar
Scrub Recipe for one that can be used on the face when applied
gently.)
Shelf Life:
With the exception of the natural anti-oxidant properties of
the Vitamin E oil, this sugar scrub does not contain preservatives.
For maximum freshness, use the cubes within 4-6
weeks. Keep the cubes in an airtight container and do not allow
them to come into contact with moisture until the moment you intend
to use them.
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