How to Make a Sugar Scrub for Your Face and Body

Is your skin dull from the dry heat and cold winter weather? Body scrubs are an effective way to exfoliate the skin to remove excess skin cells that dull the complexion and accentuate fine lines. One of the least expensive and most effective exfoliating agents is simple sugar. To make the sugar even more effective in removing dead skin cells, you can mix it with other ingredients to create a moisturizing body scrub that'll give your skin a winter lift.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Large glass bowl
• Glass measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Newspaper to protect your work surface
• Glass storage jars
• 1 ½ cups of brown sugar
• ¼ cup almond oil
• ¼ cup grapeseed oil
• ½ teaspoon Vitamin E
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• ½ teaspoon strawberry seeds (to act as an exfoliant along with the sugar).
• Essential oils of your choice (optional)

1. Buy Your Ingredients.
   
   You can find brown sugar at your local grocery store. The remainder of the ingredients can be found at natural food markets or health food stores. Glass jars for storage can be found at dollar stores and kitchen supply shops or purchased online.
2. Prepare Your Work Surface.
   
   Cover a table with newspapers to protect your work surface. Lay out your large glass bowl, glass measuring cups, and measuring spoons. Make sure everything is within easy reach.
3. Prepare the Ingredients.
   
   Carefully measure out each ingredient listed above in your measuring cup and set it aside. Place your large glass bowl in the center of your work station and your glass storage jars off to the side.
4. Mix the Ingredients.
   
   Combine all ingredients in the large glass bowl and stir thoroughly. Immediately pour into your clean, glass storage jars until you're ready to use it.

Tips & Warnings

• There are lots of variations and substitutions you can make on this recipe. If you can't find strawberry seeds, substitute raspberry, cranberry, or blackberry seeds. If you want your body scrub to have fragrance, add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. For additional exfoliating effects, add some ground almonds or oatmeal to the blend. You can even add a teaspoon of honey for its antibacterial, healing properties.
• Why not decorate one of your glass jars of sugar scrub and give it as a gift to someone special? Whether you use it yourself or give it to someone else, sugar scrubs are fun to make and even more fun to use.