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Learning how to make a body scrub at home is a simple and affordable recipe for keeping your skin smooth, hydrated, and glowing. Whether itโs sugar, salt, or honey-based blends, each one can be customized to exfoliate and nourish your skin. With a few simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can create exfoliating blends that rival store-bought scrub products, without the added chemicals.
Here are simple recipes to suit your needs, from a coconut oilโbased scrub for dry skin, a sugar scrub for gentle exfoliation, or a salt scrub for a more intense polish.
Benefits of Using a DIY Body Scrub for Your Skin
A DIY body scrub removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and boosts circulation. Regular exfoliation also helps your skin absorb moisturizers more effectively, leaving it soft and refreshed after every shower. When you mix natural ingredients like honey or salt into your scrub, you add extra benefits for hydration and deep cleansing.
Homemade sugar scrubs are customizable, so you can choose oils, sugars, and other ingredients that suit your skin type and personal preferences.
Basic Ingredients and Add-Ins Youโll Need for Your DIY Body Scrubย

You only need a few simple ingredients to get started with your body scrub:
- Exfoliants: granulated sugar, organic sugar, brown sugar, fine sugar, turbinado sugar, cane sugar, fine sea salt, or coarse salt (kosher, sea, and Himalayan pink salt)
- Oils: coconut oil, olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil
- Optional: essential oils, vanilla extract, citrus zest, honey, coffee grounds, vitamin E oil
A glass bowl for mixing and mason jars or containers to store your sugar scrubs will keep it fresh and ready to use in the shower for up to two months, though some fresh recipes are best used within a week.
Step-by-Step: Making Your First DIY Sugar Scrub
This simple recipe has a short prep time and only requires a few pantry staples. Youโll mix the ingredients to form a grainy yet smooth mixture that will gently exfoliate your skin and leave it soft after every shower.
This step-by-step recipe ensures you get the perfect consistency and the best results every time you make it.
- Place one cup of your chosen sugar in a glass bowl.
- Add half a cup of coconut oil or your preferred oil and mix until you get a grainy, spreadable consistency thatโs ready to exfoliate your skin.ย
- Add a few drops of essential oils for fragrance.
- Store the mixture in a mason jar or an airtight container.
When youโre ready to use your sugar scrub on your skin or entire body, scoop a small amount, apply it to damp skin in circular motions, and rinse with warm water.
How Do You Make a 3-Ingredient Body Scrub: Cane Sugar, Almond Oil, and Essential Oils
You can make a simple 3-ingredient body scrub by mixing one cup of cane sugar or granulated sugar, half a cup of sweet almond oil, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. This DIY sugar scrub is such a great idea for quick self-care, especially for dry skin, and makes a great gift when packaged in mason jars for holiday gifting.ย
How to Make Body Scrub With 2 Ingredients: Brown Sugar and Coconut Oil
A 2-ingredient homemade sugar scrub is absolutely fine for everyday skin exfoliation. Just combine one cup of brown sugar with half a cup of coconut oil. If you really want to stick to two ingredients, you can do away with the essential oil. This great recipe is perfect for a big batch, and you can use it to complement your skincare routine for up to a few weeks.
How to Make a Homemade Sugar Scrub for the Skin

A sugar exfoliating scrub is made by mixing sugar with oils to create a blend that gently removes dead skin cells. You can use brown sugar for a softer texture, turbinado sugar for a coarser scrub, or fine sugar for sensitive skin.ย
Other add-ins like honey, coffee grounds, or vanilla extract can enhance the experience, making it a great idea for a skincare routine or spa day at home.
What is the Best Homemade Body Scrub for the Skin?
The best homemade body scrub depends on your skin type. For dry skin, a coconut oil and brown sugar scrub is deeply moisturizing. For oily or acne-prone skin, a salt scrub made with fine sea salt and olive oil can help unclog pores. If you want a brightening effect, try a sugar scrub recipe with citrus zest and vitamin E oil.
Storage and Shelf Life for Homemade Body Scrubs
Store your homemade sugar scrub in an airtight container or mason jars to keep it fresh. Depending on the ingredients, your body scrub can last up to two months, but blends containing fresh honey or citrus are best used within a week to maintain freshness. Keep it in a cool, dry place and avoid letting water enter the jar to prevent spoilage.
Tips for Using Your DIY Body Scrubs
- Apply the sugar scrub to damp skin in the shower.
- Use gentle, circular motions to exfoliate the whole body.ย
- Rinse the sugar scrub off your skin thoroughly and follow with a moisturizer.
- Use once or twice a week, as part of your skincare routine, to avoid over-exfoliating.



