Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Make 3 Ingredient Lemon Sugar Body Scrub
Many years ago, my mom came to my house toting a new scrub she made. It was a lemony scrub that she said made her feet feel super soft (we both love soft feet). I tried it and she was right. Not only did it make my feet feel great, but it also smelled very refreshing, which is what most feet need!
We’ve also made a salt scrub, DIY Beach Salt Scrub, that is great too! Try it using our one minute video below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
I remembered that scrub recently, called my mom about it and we could not remember exactly how she made it. After doing some kitchen experimenting, I came up with a similar scrub and I think it’s just as good as what I remember. Read on to learn how to make 3 ingredient lemon sugar body scrub.
We used olive oil, but you could also try avocado oil
The title alone almost gives away the entire recipe. It is three ingredients, oil being the other of the three. I used olive oil as the third ingredient because olive oil is known to have a lot of skin benefits and stays liquid in most temperatures. If you try another oil for this project, make sure it stays in liquid form at room temperature. See my recipe notes at the bottom of this article to understand why this is important.
Our completed DIY lemon sugar scrub
Did you know?: Various forms of the olive have been used for many years for many skin conditions, including dermatitis, something my husband struggles with. Read more about the benefits of the olive and it’s different anti-inflammatory and restorative properties on The National Institute of Health’s website.
I tested this scrub out on myself for two weeks. I did see an increase in my leg’s skin moisture. I have extremely dry skin (from age and living in SW Florida) and the oil seemed to help my skin retain moisture better. I used it on my legs, feet and hands and all looked more hydrated with each use. It doesn’t last on your skin forever, but over time, like most great beauty products, your skin should do like mine and retain moisture a bit better.
Use this DIY scrub on your hands, feet and all over your body!
The scrub can make your body and surfaces slippery, so read the notes after the recipe for safety tips!
Fresh lemon juice will melt the sugar, so use the lemon essential oil
Make this scrub for yourself, for Mother’s Day, party favors, wedding favors, or for any skincare lover in your life. If you just simply don’t have the time to make your own scrub, we have tried lots over the years and think you’d like cruelty free versions these too:
1--My niece introduced me to Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrubs, and they are great and well-priced.
2--We love Dr. Teal’s products and their Shea Sugar Body Scrub did not disappoint:
We used cane sugar, but you could use plain white sugar
Everything I used for this DIY body scrub were things I had already in my home, and you probably do too. If you don’t have lemon essential oil, you could try lavender or whatever you like best. I just really loved how the lemon scent mixed well with the sugar, making it kind of smell like my grandma’s favorite lemon bars.
The lemon and sugar scent combo is one of my favs!
See a one-minute video tutorial for this project below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Tools: Large glass bowl (or any mixing bowl), a spoon or spatula to mix the ingredients I store mine in an air tight canisters and glass yogurt containers (which I gift with cute little mini wooden spoons), if you want labels, I use Avery 5294 round labels and design images for them using Canva (then I use the Avery website to print them at home), jute twine (if tying on a gift tag or mini wooden spoon)
Time: 5 minutes or less
Amount: Each recipe makes about 6 oz. of product
Simple ingredients for lemon sugar body scrub
Ingredients (all items link out to Amazon.com)
½ cup sugar (I used cane sugar, but white sugar will be fine)
1/3 cup olive oil (mine was extra virgin olive oil, you could also try avocado)
15-20 drops lemon essential oil (use more or less depending on how strong you want to scent yours, real lemon juice will melt the sugar….so do not use this in lieu of the oil)
Our recipe for DIY lemon sugar body scrub
Directions:
1—Place all ingredients in a bowl
2—Stir to combine
3—Place in a container that seals well
4—Use on your hands, feet, legs to enjoy softer skin. Overtime, your skin may retain moisture better like I talked about in this article!
We like to gift this in little glass yogurt containers
Recipe Notes and Safety Tips:
Sugar scrubs can attract ANTS! I know this due to my own experience. Florida is always buggy in the summer time, and I once had ants find one of my scrubs in the shower area and got all over it. They like sugar AND salt scrubs. Make sure you SEAL all sugar scrubs and if you see ants marching towards it, you may need to store it away from anywhere that has openings (like away from drains).
Oily scrubs can be dangerous when it comes to slips and falls. If you use this in certain types of showers and baths, the surface can become slippery, so be very careful. If you are prone to falls, sit in a chair over a towel and use the scrub and then use a wet towel to wipe away the excess.
You can use olive oil or avocado oil, but if using coconut oil, please note that it tends to solidify in cold temps, so it may not be your best bet for this DIY.
Don’t like lemon scented things? Try another essential oil that you like best. We like lavender essential oil too. Whatever oils you use, make sure they are SKIN SAFE. We like organic and cruelty free essential oils best
DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub by Carolyn J. Braden
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.