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Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Recipe

Introduction:

As we age, our skin can often use a little help in shedding dead skin cells. So many chemical based exfoliating products are available, but they can be harsh and expensive. Natural sugar scrubs are a wonderful alternative and can be found online and in many natural and specialty stores. They more gently polish and exfoliate the skin, are luxurious and smell naturally delicious. They can be used on the body and feet. With gentle application, they can be used on the face.

You can make Exfoliating Sugar Scrubs yourself. It's quick, easy, affordable and allows you to tailor the proportions to match your skin type and preferences.

This customizable recipe will make approximately one 8 ounce jar or two 4 ounce jars of Exfoliating Sugar Scrub.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces Turbinado Sugar or Demerara Sugar
  
• 1 ounce cold pressed Vegetable Oil. I personally like to use highly stable vegetable oils in this recipe such as Watermelon Seed Oil, Jojoba or Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 1 ounce Vegetable Glycerin
• 1 ounce Liquid Castille Soap
• 1/2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil (1400 IU is Ideal)
• 1/4 tsp. Essential Oil

Directions:

• Add the sugar to a small-medium mixing bowl.
• Add the oils, glycerin and castille soap to the sugar and mix well with a fork.
• Add the essential oil and mix well.

Essential Oil Suggestions:

• Select Essential Oils that are safe for skin care use and do not contraindicate any health issues that you may have. Dark sugars with molasses content impart their sweet aroma. Bear that in mind when selecting essential oils.
• I personally like Patchouli Essential Oil for skin care and its aroma marries well with the aroma of the sugar. I usually also add a few drops of Orange Essential Oil. For an invigorating sugar scrub, try Spearmint Essential Oil. Peppermint Essential Oil could also be used, but in an exfoliant recipe, Peppermint Essential Oil can sometimes can be too invigorating.

Notes/Tips:

• This recipe makes a moist sugar scrub. If you prefer a "dryer" sugar scrub, you may adjust the proportions of vegetable oil, vegetable glycerin and castille soap.
• Turbinado and Demerara sugars contain molasses, but are not as dark or moist as brown sugars. They lend a natural brown color to your scrubs. A selection of natural sugars can be found through several of AromaWeb's valued advertisers (you can support AromaWeb and its advertisers by clicking on the banner ads throughout AromaWeb and by visiting the Global and Local Business Plazas.. If you're in a pinch, Turbinado sugar can be found at the grocery store in the baking/sugar isle (look also for the brand Sugar in the Raw).
• Refined, white sugar may be substituted for turbinado or demerara sugar.
• The finer the texture of the sugar, the more exfoliation that it will impart onto the skin.
• Sea or Dead Sea Salt can be substituted in this recipe, but do not use salt scrubs on the face even if you have oily skin.
• Vegetable glycerin acts as a natural moisturizer and humectant that draws moisture to the skin. Its use allows less vegetable to be used in the scrub. Too much vegetable oil can leave the face feeling too oily.
• Nourishing vegetable oils and vegetable glycerin 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. Be sure to stick with light vegetable oils.
• Avoid Olive Oil. Its aroma and color can be unappealing in this recipe.
• 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.
• 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:
Spoon your Exfoliating Sugar Scrub into an 8 ounce jar or into two four ounce jars with and label them. Select jars that are clean, sterilized and have tight fitting lids. Many of AromaWeb's advertisers have beautiful jars that are perfect for storing Sugar Scrubs. Include the date that you made the sugar scrub on your label.

To Use:

• This scrub can be used on the face or body.
• Avoid use if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema, and avoid use on wounds, cuts, abrasions or damaged skin.
• Scoop a tiny amount of the scrub onto your fingers and apply to wet skin.
• 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.

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 scrub within a month and discard any that hasn't been used within that time.

Because you will be exposing your scrub to bacteria and other contaminants each time you reach into the container to take out product, this scrub will have a much shorter shelf life than similar commercial products.

Ideally, use a clean utensil to scoop the desired amount of scrub into a clean, tiny jar and work from that small portion as you exfoliate. That will help keep your primary quantity of scrub from being contaminated.

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