Search This Blog

Friday, August 2, 2013

Homemade Natural Scrub

This summer I have been going crazy over making homemade body scrubs! They are very budget friendly (I had a lot of the ingredients already in my cupboard), a great last-minute gift idea, and an easy naturally pampering spa-like experience. In my quest for going all natural and organic, I find that these beautiful scrubs are a great alternative for anyone who is sensitive to harsh ingredients in regular body washes, or soaps.


Here's an example of my favorite Lemon-Lavendar Scrub
 I think it looks lovely. So want to make your own?

Here's what ingredients you'll need:
  •  Sugar (you can add raw sugar for a courser scrub)
  • Olive Oil (Or Coconut oil)
  • Lemons (about 2-3 large)
  • Essential Oils (I used Lavender) 
*Extras
  • Lavender blossoms
  • Raw sugar
  • Rose water (use sparingly as it thins the scrub)

Here's what equipment you'll need: 
  • Large Bowl
  • Mason or other glass jar
  • Measuring Cups (optional)
  • Large Stirring Spoon 
  • Gratter 
  • Lemon Juicer (optional)


What you'll do: 

  1.  First you'll measure out your sugar. Regular white refined sugar works just fine. I used approx. 2 cups, which filled about 2 mason jars (not quite to the top) into your large bowl. 
  2.  Next, add your olive oil, light olive oil works best because it does not leave a strong scent and it does not discolor your sugar. I used about 1/4 of a cup of olive oil. If you are using coconut oil, melt on stove-top and then add to sugar. Again, exact measurements do not matter much here. You will stir the oil and sugar until the sugar becomes fully covered, but not saturated. You do not want a very runny mixture because when your jar it and let it sit, the oilve and sugar will separate. It will be in a "clumpy" state.
  3. Next grate your lemon zest into your your olive and sugar mixture. Use as much or as little zest as you like. Mix thoroughly.
  4. Now cut lemons in half juice or squeeze your lemons into the mixture, and stir.
  5. Then, add your essential oils. About 10 drops makes a lasting scent. Add your "extras" now, like lavender blossoms, or other essential oils.
  6. Scoop into you jar of choice! 

I got this jar from the dollar store, and used the yellow mesh that the lemons came in to "wrap" it. I made my own tags from note cards. I gave this particular one to my friend for her birthday. 


There are so many scrub recipes out there! Get creative, make up your own! You just have to remember the three things to a perfect scrub: 
  1. Exfoliant (Sugar, Brown Sugar, Coffee grounds, Salts, etc.)
  2. Binder aka Oil ( Olive, Coconut, Almond)
  3. Scent ( Essential oils, fruit, spices)
Experiment and tell me what you've come up. How I came up with this simple scrub was lots of research and experimentation. Don't give up if one scrub turned out sub-par, practice really makes perfect in this case. 

Here are some places I got inspired, check them out and tweak their recipes as well: 

  1. Coconut lime scrub-The Idea Room 
  2. Coconut Rose Scrub- Lezoemusing
  3. Lip Sugar Scrub-Stockpilingmoms
Tell me your trials you've had with body scrubs and what you've done to make your own unique scrubs. 

- "Broke Girl" Bryanna