As a rule, Wyoming is generally a pretty dry place…
But since we’ve been in this drought, it’s been even worse.
I’ve really struggled with dry skin this winter– even though I’ve been drinking tons of water (getting this glass water bottle for Christmas helped a LOT!) and eating pretty healthfully.
Thankfully, I’ve found some relief with a simple, homemade remedy. And of course, this little solution is greatly enhanced by the addition of my favorite essential oils. (But I bet you aren’t surprised, huh? I do believe I’ll have to dub the last few months as the Winter of The Oils…) 😉
The sugar in this scrub gently exfoliates the skin, the peppermint oil provides a wonderfully cooling sensation, and the oil moisturizes. Plus, the citrus/peppermint combo is totally invigorating– it will definitely wake you up first thing in the morning.
This simple homemade scrub is fabulous for gifts as well. I gave away several jars this past year as Christmas presents, but it would also be a decadent gift for Valentine’s Day. (Or Mother’s Day, or a birthday, or a new mama gift…)
If you don’t care for peppermint or citrus scents, there is a list of alternative oil options at the bottom of the recipe. The sky is the limit with this one!
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Peppermint Citrus Sugar Scrub
Supplies:
- 1 cup granulated white sugar (I prefer using alternative sweeteners, like sucanat, in my cooking. However, since I won’t be eating this, I don’t mind using the cheap, white stuff.)
- 1/4-1/3 cup oil of your choice: coconut oil (see note below), olive oil, sweet almond oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, or a combination of these
- 2-4 Tablespoons orange or grapefruit zest (optional- adds an extra bit of exfoliation)
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable glycerin (optional- adds extra moisturizing properties)
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil (where to get my favorite essential oils)
- 10-15 drops wild orange essential oil (or lemon or grapefruit oil will work, too)
Instructions:
Mix sugar, oil, zest, and vegetable glycerin (if using) together. Depending on what type of oil you use, you may need to add more or less to get the proper consistency. You are looking for enough oil to make the sugar stick together, but not so much that it is floating on top.
Gradually add in the essential oils until you’ve reached the desired scent. It may take more or less, depending on the type of oils you use.
Store your sugar scrub in a glass container (check thrift shops for cute glass bottles, or use canning jars). If giving it as a gift, decorate with ribbon, stickers, or scrapbook paper.
To Use: Rub a small amount of the scrub on your hands or body, rinse with warm water.
Notes:
- Regular coconut oil is usually solid at room temperature, so you will need to gently melt it to mix it in with the sugar. If you’d prefer a liquid coconut oil, try some fractionated coconut oil instead.
- If you are using this scrub in the shower– be cautious with the glass container– you don’t want it to slip out of your hands and break.
- If you have sensitive skin, test a small bit of this scrub first before rubbing it all over. The peppermint oil might be considered “intense” for some, although it was just perfect for me.
Some other essential oil combinations:
- Rosemary and peppermint
- Citrus Explosion: Any combination of wild orange, lime, lemon, and/or grapefruit oils
- Lavender, lemon, and rosemary
- Cypress and white fir (a more manly option…)
- Lavender and cedar wood (for relaxation)
- And that’s just the beginning– the possibilites really are endless…
I just made some sugar scub with wild orange and the serenity blend. I didn’t even think about using peppermint, I’ll put that in my list of potentials! 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
Oooh, wild orange and serenity sounds lovely, too!
Hi Jill – I’ve made sugar scrubs before, but I like your recipe better for the addition of the glycerin and the citrus zest. I used half and half OG white sugar and turbinado, apricot kernel oil with a leeeetle bit of olive oil and sweet orange EO for the wild orange. (It was all I had 🙂 I also threw in a capsule of white willow bark since I’ve seen that in a lot of natural skin care products. I thought it might tighten up the pores a little for smoother skin. We’ll see. Thanks for posting.
Melisa
I love your additions! Sounds luxurious. 🙂
Does the coconut oil need to be in a liquid form when mixing with the sugar? I am just a little confused on that point. I will be using coconut oil since this is what I have on hand and use it as a body butter
You could use your coconut oil Stephanie it may harden in the cold weather so just warm up the jar a little in the microwave or warm water before use. Fractionated coconut oil does not harden so a better alternative. I don’t think it is too expensive. Hope this helps.:)
I was wondering what size jar I would need. I have 8oz jars on hand.
NIce! Just made some of this to give as Christmas gifts. Going to keep some for myself too. I used the peppermint & orange essential oils, and it smells so good. Thank you and enjoy the holidays.
This sounds wonderful. How long will this “keep” on the shelf? Forgive my ignorance. Will this become gross after a while?
I am wondering about the coconut oil, too, as it seems to be in solid form most of the time, while the other oils listed are always in liquid form…
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I added the lemon zest, but it got all coagulated. I will leave that out next time. Anyone else have that problem?
What do you mean by coagulated exactly? Scrubs are supposed to be kind of thick, it’s not meant to be a liquid…