How To Make Edible Sugar Lip Scrub
Argelia Long
This winter, treat your skin to this luxurious homemade sugar scrub. It moisturizes and exfoliates all at once. I use tablespoon on both my hands rubbing them gently together for 20 seconds. Then I rinse with water, pat them dry and my hands feel like silk.
Everyone goes crazy over thoughtful DIY gifts. And this one is really the gift that keeps on giving. It lasts a long time and promotes self-care. Plus, the tiny glass jar is so cute and can be cleaned and reused for storing food. This set of six tiny glass jars are adorable and would be great for gifting the sugar scrub in. The glass jars pictured in this post that I own can be found here and also are perfect for gifting. I love them and use them to store sauces, chia jam, smoothie jar ingredients and chia seed pudding.
I hope you decide to give yourself or someone you know the gift of silky skin this holiday season. If you give this homemade sugar scrub a try, please snap a pic and tag #eatingbyelaine and @eatingbyelaine on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook so I can see you enjoying your sugar scrub creations.
This simple DIY sugar scrub recipe exfoliates and moisturizes all at once. Massage a small amount into your skin in circular motions for 20 seconds. Rinse with water and gently pat dry. Your skin will feel brand new and incredibly soft and luxurious. This sugar scrub makes a great gift for others when given in cute little glass jars that can be reused.
Hi there thanks for this great recipe which I'm going to make. Just wondering with the coconut oil does it need to be the unrefined oil that has coconut aroma? I believe the unrefined one is more pure.
Hi, Terri: Yes, you have to use coconut oil as opposed to olive oil. Olive oil is liquid at room temperature and coconut oil is solid at room temperature. If you were to use olive oil it would stay liquid and be soupy. The coconut oil allows it to be thick and creamy. I purchase mine in bulk at Costco. I hope this helps. Best, Elaine
Hi Tasha: I do not warm it or turn it to a liquid state. I use it a room temperature and put in a wide mouth glass jar and use my hands to just scoop it out. Or a spoon. Whatever you prefer. I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Best, Elaine
Hi, Luna. You can do either. For me, I don't worry about it lasting long since I go through it so quickly so I usually use my hands. But, as I said in the above comment you can use your hands or a spoon - whatever you prefer. If you are looking for it to last longer than the spoon is ideal. I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Best, Elaine
I don't believe so. I believe at room temperature shea butter is solid so it would need to be softened somehow prior to use. The coconut oil works well at room temperature because it isn't solid but it also isn't liquid... it is nice and soft and perfect for exfoliating and rubbing into the skin. Does that make sense?
I made this and the coconut oil I used was solid so I had to melt it. One the mixture set the coconut went back to its solid state and left the scrub with a marble affect throughout the scrub. How can I correct this?
I'm so sorry to hear about this. I would not recommend completely melting it if it is hard. I would say you would soften it a bit by warming it up in the microwave for about 10 seconds. You want to be able to stir it but not have it in a liquid state. You could probably salvage what you have by warming it up slightly and remixing and maybe adding more sugar to it. If you want to email me pictures of it I might be able to help more. My email is ela...@eatingbyelaine.com and I'm more than happy to troubleshoot with you. What is your current climate and room temperature in your home? It should work fine if your thermostat is set to 72 degrees or so.
Hi Samantha, I have personally used it for months after making a large batch. I typically portion it out into separate containers and use throughout the year. If you are careful not to introduce moisture or anything else into it then it can stay fresh for a very long time. If you plan on adding citrus zest the shelf life may be shorter though. For that, just look for typical signs of storage and discard if necessary. I hope this helps! Best, Elaine
Hi Elaine, can I add honey and lemon to it and use for my entire body including my face? Again how long will it last when stored under room temperature if these ingredients are added, or can I refrigerate?
Hi Mercy, I have honestly never tried that but it sounds invigorating and hydrating! I wouldn't want to say for sure though since I haven't tested it myself. I would also think that it would be slightly more perishable due to the lemon. Maybe one week and you could make a smaller batch?
I have always put baking soda in my foot scrub. A lot of people are asking how long it will last. So my question is will the baking soda keep it fresher longer or do you not recommend putting baking soda in your sugar scrub?
Hi, Paulette: Good question! I have actually not heard of this tip before and have never tried it myself. I personally have not had any issues keeping it fresh. I do my best not to introduce liquid or oils to the jar but even when I'm not super perfect about it it seems to be fine for a long time. That being said, I don't think adding it would hurt the recipe in any way though so if you want to add it go for it! I just haven't had a chance to try this myself.
Great question - it totally depends on the temperature of where it is stored. It should stay looking like the photos at room temperature. In the summer in very hot weather it might get more liquid-y. In the winter it will be more solid. But, as you rub it between your hands and on your body it will warm up and work just fine. Does that help?
Yes! Very good question! To prevent this you want to avoid adding any moisture to the scrub as you use it. For best results use a clean and dry spoon to scoop the scrub onto your hands/skin. Do not return the spoon to the jar after you have used it. Immediately place the airtight top back on the container. You could also choose to store in your refrigerator if you are not planning to use it frequently and then take out a couple hours before using to allow it to return to room temperature. I also do not recommend storing it in your shower. Make sure you are using an airtight container for storage. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Hi, Judy - Great question! I'm also very sensitive to smells so I understand your concern. Refined coconut oil has less of a coconut smell. Try that and see if that helps. If you are still having trouble with the scent then you can add essential oils to mask it. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you get a chance ?
Great question! If you secure it well in the airtight lid and don't introduce anything to the jar then it should last at least two months. Mine never lasts that long though because I use it so often! Just be sure not to introduce moisture or anything to it... I like to use a clean wooden spoon to put a dollop in my hands and then I never put the same spoon back in the jar twice to make sure it stays 100% clean. Even if you don't do this it will still last awhile - these tips just help extend the life of it and keep it super fresh! I hope this helps - please let me know if you have any additional questions - happy to help!
My daughter gifted me this or similar sugar scrub for Christmas 3- 4 years ago. I thought it was a candle and put it in a kitchen cupboard. During a long power outage I got through all my candles and reached for this and was surprised it was still perfectly good after all those years in a warm kitchen cupboard. The lovely peppermint smell was still strong. When the water came back on I was able to use it even though I didn't know about using a Spoon or keeping the water out. The jar lasted about a month of regular use without a trace of mold, mildew or change in fragrance. Obviously I don't recommend storing it inside the damp shower or putting hands directly in now that I know better, but it's nice to know that this preparation is mold resistant.
Hi, Laura! What a fantastic story and thank you for sharing. Yes, because it is made with pantry ingredients that have longer shelf lives it is able to last a long period of time if properly handled like you said. And even without proper handling you can get a good amount of use from it. I have found that too. Best, Elaine
Hi, Lorna! Great questions! Any will "work" but I personally like to use course sugar over fine. My favorite is organic cane sugar. Another option is to use Pink Himalayan Sea Salt (or any sea salt... I get my Himalayan Sea Salt at Costco in bulk so it is affordable. Be sure to also check out my more recent body scrub recipe: -peppermint-body-scrub-candy-cane-themed-for-holiday-gifting/
Hi Sofia: It will not have the same consistency because olive oil is liquid at room temperature. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature (unless you live in a hot climate or during the very hot summer months in certain areas). I hope this answer helps. Best, Elaine
Oh that is great! Yes, I would think it would be worth a shot. I have not tried it myself so I'm not sure how it would impact the texture or shelf life. Please let me know here if you do! Best, Elaine
Other bowls totally work but I find they are more difficult to clean. The coconut oil and the essential oil smells (if using) are sometimes difficult to get out/off other materials. So really it is just personal preference.
Hi Sarah, Two things... the recipe calls for coconut oil not coconut butter. Additionally, if you are in a hot climate then the coconut oil will naturally turn more liquid. It is similar to butter in that way. You can store it at a cooler temperature to get it to solidify. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you get a chance. Thank you! Best, Elaine