Luxurious DIY 3-Ingredient Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Quickly whip up this luxurious DIY Vanilla Sugar Scrub before your shower or as a last-minute luxurious DIY gift! It’s almost as divine as it smells.

DIY vanilla sugar scrub pin image

I have become a HUGE fan of making simple DIY personal care products. Things like sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and more are wonderfully pampering while also being super effective and made from natural, wholesome ingredients.

(I have several more that I’ll be publishing soon, so keep coming back!)

We are what we eat…or rather, we are what we put on our skin, after all! 😉

Recipes like this one are a cinch to make, take only a few minutes, cost a fraction of what you pay if you purchased it, and make lovely homemade gifts that delight the recipient.

This particular recipe makes a vanilla homemade sugar scrub that I will happily enjoy for several months (and give some away as gifts). I love it so much that I wanted to share it with you!

vanilla sugar scrub in a dish with red berries

Why Use a Sugar Scrub?

When you exfoliate your skin, you remove dead skin and gunk to help clean out your pores and let the smooth, clean, glowing skin underneath shine.

Using an exfoliating scrub can help prevent blackheads and acne, moisturize your skin, and provide a luxurious & pampering experience.

How to Use a Sugar Scrub the Proper Way

After much experimenting, I can attest to this method as the best method for using sugar scrub.

Note: I recommend using your bare hands. You could use a washcloth, but it’s messier and affords less control as you scrub.

  • Scoop some body scrub into your hands.
  • For your body, massage the scrub in circular motions onto your skin using your palms.
  • For your face, massage the scrub with your fingertips in the same circular motion. Be careful to avoid getting too close to your eyes.
  • After scrubbing, just sit and relax as your body absorbs the moisture from the oils.
  • Rinse the scrub off then cleanse your body as usual.
  • If you’re short on time, massage the scrub all over your body and rinse during your normal shower routine.

Important Tip: If you use this in the shower, be sure to clean your shower floor with soap because the oils in the scrub can cause it to be slippery and dangerous.

Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Have you ever made a sugar scrub? The best part about making your own is that it only takes 5 minutes to make!

I used 5 ingredients (to make it even more moisturizing), but you can make this with 3 ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

All you need is:

  • sugar – the courser, such as turbinado, the more exfoliating it will be
  • oil – use the kind that works best for your skin (options listed below)
  • vanilla – seriously, does anything smell better?

And since it’s made with chemical-free, natural ingredients, you can feel good about using this to gently scrub away dead skin on your face, lips, or body. 

And you will love how amazing this body scrub feels when you use it!

Easy to Make DIY Gift Idea

DIY projects like this one are a great way to make some affordable DIY gifts that people LOVE.

When you make yours, simply double or triple the amount you make and pack up a few extra jars to give as gifts.

Gifts for what? Well, how about these ideas:

  • Holiday gifts
  • Birthday gifts
  • Housewarming gifts
  • Hostess gifts
  • Teacher gifts

Supplies Need for This Recipe

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!

Supplies:

How to Make this Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Two simple steps is all it takes to achieve sugar scrub perfection!

Step 1

Combine sugar and mica in small bowl.

Step 2

Add your oils and vanilla and stir well.

Step 3

Store in airtight container for up to 6 months

DIY Vanilla Sugar Scrub FAQs

Got questions about making and using a sugar scrub? Here are the most common questions I get and their answers.

What Kind of Sugar Should You Use in a Body Scrub

Great question!

You can actually use several different kinds of sugar based on where you want to use your sugar scrub:

  • White Sugar – it’s less abrasive because it’s finer, so that makes it good for lip or facial scrubs.
  • Brown Sugar – since it’s more course, it’s great for body scrubs.
  • Raw Sugar (turbinado) – the most coarse, making it great for foot and hand scrubs.

What Kind of Oil Can You Use?

The kind of oil you use in your body scrub depends on what oils work well with your skin. If you are making this project for gifts, I recommend using olive oil or grapeseed oil.

Other oil options include:

  • Sunflower oil
  • Hemp seed oil
  • Coconut oil (which can clog pores)

Can I Adjust the Texture?

I tend to use twice as much sugar as oil to achieve a paste-like texture.

You can TOTALLY play around with this texture if you want by:

  • increase the amount of sugar if you use a finer grain
  • try using two different types of sugar
  • increasing the amount of oil you use

How to Store/Give Vanilla Sugar Scrub

I recommend using some sort of glass jar or container to hold it.

I like to use glass hinge top jars to store my body scrubs. I love being able to easily open the jar and knowing that when I’m done and close it up, it’s sealed tight.

How to Package a Sugar Scrub as a Gift

Sugar scrubs make great (homemade, affordable) gifts that people truly love!

Plus, these jars come with cute labels. Get some chalk pens and write on the label, then tie a little ribbon around for a bit of flair.

Related Post: 4 Easy and Quick to Make DIY Gift Ideas!

How Often Should You Use a Sugar Scrub

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. However, if your skin is healthy, you can use your sugar scrub up to 2 times a week.

If you have any concerns, test your scrub on a small area of your skin before you use it anywhere else.  

DIY vanilla sugar scrub

DIY Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This easy Vanilla Sugar Scrub recipe makes a wonderful, exfoliating scrub that you can make for mere pennies. It's an all-natural, simple beauty product that makes a terrific DIY gift idea! 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 cup oil (grapeseed oil, avocado oil, almond oil, olive oil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon natural vitamin E oil (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract or 5 – 10 drops of your favorite essential oil)
  • ⅛ teaspoon Bronze mica powder (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar and mica in a small bowl.
  2. Add oils and vanilla and stir well.
  3. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 6 months.

Sometimes, you just gotta “get your hands dirty” – whether you’re wanting to use a product with just a few ingredients or you need a quick gift idea. Either way, it’s fun to make! Enjoy!

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7 Comments

  1. This may be a “duh” kind of question to ask but, when it states essential oils..can that be the same kind of essential oil that you use in a essential oil diffuser or is there a type of essential oil for the skin? I’ve never made anything with essential oils but I do have an essential oil diffuser!

    1. Hi Sarah! YES!! They’re the SAME THING! I always look for high quality, therapeutic-grade essential oils (like Rocky Mountain Oils brand) when I use for essential oils for anything. But they’re the same thing!

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