Sugar scrubs are a life saver for my skin year round, so I’m always experimenting with different scents. This Lemon Sugar Scrub has been my official scent of this summer. It smells lightly of Girl Scout lemon cookies, and leave my skin perfectly moisturized and glowing.
I might be exceptionally lazy about keeping up my skin, but I love sugar scrubs for their ability to both exfoliate and moisturize at the same time. Time always seems like a premium, so I love anything that’s a 2 for 1!
Sugar scrubs are super easy to assemble, and they make awesome gifts. Whenever I can’t figure out how to add a personal touch to a bridal or baby shower gift, I always turn to sugar scrubs. (Just to clarify, sugar scrubs would be for the mom at baby showers, and they’re definitely not suitable for children or infants as they’re too abrasive for their soft skin.)
To make this sugar scrub, first mash the coconut oil and sugar together in a bowl until completely combined. Then add the lemon zest and lemon essential oil. Finally spoon it into airtight containers for storage.
I sometimes make a summer variation of this sugar scrub, (pictured above) where I mash a couple raspberries into the sugar scrub right before using. The raspberries are perfect for radiant skin, but you don’t want to add them before you’re ready to use it because they will melt the sugar.
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Homemade Lemon Sugar Scrub
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 2 1/2 cups about 10 full body treatments 1x
Ingredients
Lemon Sugar Scrub:
- 2 cups organic turbinado sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 Teaspoon lemon essential oil
Raspberry Variation:
- Take 1/4 cup of the Lemon Sugar Scrub and mash it together with 4-5 fresh raspberries – use immediately
Instructions
- Place the sugar and coconut oil into a medium sized mixing bowl, and mash them together with the back of a spoon until the coconut oil is completely mixed in.
- Add the lemon zest and essential oil, and stir until completely combined.
- Transfer the sugar scrub into airtight containers and store up to 3 months.
- Note: Sugar scrubs are not meant to be used on your face as the facial tissue is too delicate for that much abrasion. Try my Pineapple Facial for a non-abrasive facial exfoliation.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
Hi, Kari
I don’t have turbinado sugar, would normal white sugar work as well? By the way, this looks super good. I’ve been trying to make a good lip balm/chapstick type thing for a while now, and they all were eww. Looking forward to trying these!
Thanks
★★★★★
Regular white sugar will work fine! I hope you enjoy this sugar scrub, and be sure to let me know how it goes or if you get a chance to try the lip balms!
Hello, I love all your recipes . I’m just curious to is the lemon zest a required step or just for added scent and cuteness?
So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipes, and yes the lemon zest is just for scent and cuteness! I hope you enjoy it, and be sure and let me know if you have anymore questions!
Love those containers! I must know if you made them yourself and how, or if you bought them and from where.
The containers are actually 1 cup mason jars, and I bought mine at Target. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
I’ve been wondering if it is best to use a scrub like this before or after a bath/shower? I think this is why I haven’t used them more than a few times before. =D
I usually use mine mid-shower for convenience, but as far as effectiveness goes you want to use them during or just after a shower because your skin softens a bit and the exfoliation works better. Sugar scrubs can make your shower slippery, so I always soap off the bottom of the shower just to be safe. I hope this helps, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
Kari,
This scrub and all your other scrubs look wonderful, I can’t wait to make some. I was wondering what their shelf life is?
Thanks for all the fabulous ideas and recipes you share.
Thanks so much, I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes! Sugar scrubs keep for at least 3 months, I’ve never had mine longer than that. I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!
Love this. How often do you use it and where do you get lemon essential oils?
I usually use it 2x per week, but as long as you’re not too vigorous with the scrubbing you can use is as often as 3-4x a week. I get my essential oils, (I like to use Aura Cacia) at the local health food store, (Natural Grocers) but they’re also available online. One thing I’ve noticed that I probably should’ve mentioned in the recipe is sugar scrubs make the bottom of the bathtub slippery, so I always soap it down after using this sugar scrub! I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to let me know if you have anymore questions!