easy gifts: SALT & SUGAR SCRUB!

A couple days ago my cousin gave my mom, a tropical bath scrub. Being my odd self, I read the ingredients to find although there were many unrecognizable words, there were also many common words.
I researched a bit, and I took bits of what I learned and combined them to create a salt and sugar scrub, made with all common household items.

I realized that instead of buying $10-20 scrubs you could make it yourself! I had to spread my excitement and what's better than making an instructable!

Salt & sugar scrub is super easy and perfect for gifts! I hope you enjoy it and make lots of bath scrub to use!

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In this instructable my units of measurements are spoonfuls. One spoonful is about one tablespoon, but it really doesn't matter.

Step 1 Ingredients:

-olive oil (almond oil works too)

-baking soda (A&H FTW)

-cane sugar

-turbinado sugar (or brown sugar, both would be lovely)

-sea salt

-vanilla extract (or essential oils)

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-bowl

-spoon

-plastic bag (clean jar is better, plastic bag is cheaper)

-sticker paper (totally not necessary, use tape and regular paper, 100% cheaper)

Comments

[ValerysGift]

can I add some food coloring to it?:))

[laurelangel]

yes, I believe you can. :)

[laurelangel]

can I use regular mortonized salt? or would that mess it up?

[sassybear77]

Can you put in jars like canning jars?

[llamaeyes]

I don't like to have glass in the shower, so I use plastic jars from other cosmetics, etc.

[greenmia]

Probably, but you would want to add some natural preservatives. But don't take my word for it. :)

[theLilyLady]

How please? is this stuff used? I understand that it is something for the skin, but do you dilute it or rub it on dry or what??? Are there any restrictions, like " don't use on mucus membranes" ?

[bethopea]

you use it in the shower - not really a replacement for soap - but it can be a good replacement for lotion after the shower. The way I use it is i bathe as normal, rub salts into skin (especially good for elbows and knees) wash off -or- soak in the bath...hope that helps.

[llamaeyes]

This mixture is pretty oily, so I wash off with soap and water and things are still pretty moist.

[elnino2783]

Have you considered grape seed oil?  I've heard it has great skin healing properties (stretch marks and other stuff).  The only downside is that it goes rancid faster and might be best to make in smaller batches.

[llamaeyes]

I tend to make enough to use in a week or two because it is so easy to make.

[Batness]

Grapeseed oil doesn't go rancid as quickly as Sweet Almond Oil, which doesn't have a great shelf life. Grapeseed is fantastic.

To make these scrubs "last longer" (although in small batches like this why would you want to wait? Make more!) add a few drops of Vitamin E to your oil before mixing with the sugar. Will keep the oil from going rancid as fast.

[kyrela]

can't you use coconut oil since it doesnt go rancid and has healing properities and does wonders for the skin...?

[llamaeyes]

Coconut oil might work, I think as long as you use it in a timely matter it would be fine. Some people with sensitive skin can't use coconut oil... something to check for.

[Batness]

Harder to use since it'd likely absorb the sugar. Not much of a scrub without the sugar.

[llamaeyes]

I loved this! I made a couple of slight changes and added in vanilla and made the oil half olive half almond oil. I gave it out as part of my Christmas baskets. Half the people asked for more immediately and half of the people were afraid to use it because they wanted to use it sparingly. I had made my own before but your addition of the baking soda really made a difference.

Thanks!

[llamaeyes]

That sounds great! I'll have to give it a try :)

[JJYork]

Gave some as Christmas gifts and have poeple asking me for more

[Lunarius]

This is a great gift idea; I've followed your guide except for two parts: mine contains no essential oil, and rather than olive oil I've substituted cocoa butter for a creamier consistency.


Do be careful with cinnamon oil, though: it can irritate the skin, especially near mucus membranes or those with already sensitive skin.

[Casperismyname]

Could you use regular table salt instead of sea salt?

[lady_candle_maker]

Good Morning.... Sounds like this scrub would make a wonderful Christmas gift. Do you have any ideal how long the scrub will last once it's it bagged up. Thank you in advance Lisa

[sdhardie]

This is nearly identical to how I make mine, except I use coconut extract for scent. It smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling great! Thanks for posting!

[DigitalShaman]

Costco carries an organic pure cane sugar that is about 8 bucks for a ten pound bag.

[porcupinemamma]

Is cane sugar different than white sugar?

[boblordofmonkeys]

 no cane sugar is white sugar and that brown sugar is raw sugar {expensive most places but cheep at the 99 cents store}

[greenmia]

Actually, brown sugar is different than raw sugar.  Raw sugar is a more natural/less purified form of cane sugar, and brown sugar is simply cane sugar plus molasses.

[LittleRose68]

Actually, C&H is the only real real Brown Sugar. All the rest are molasses with white sugar.

[boblordofmonkeys]

 i know thats what i meant sorry it came out wrong.

[porcupinemamma]

so...where do you think I could find it? There is powdered sugar, and refined white sugar, and golden sugar and brown sugar, and demerarah sugar at the grocery store, but I don't think any of these are what you mean.

[greenmia]

Brown sugar would work perfectly, and I think demerarah is very similar to turbinado sugar.  It might have larger crystals though, so some crushing in a food processor wouldn't hurt. :)

[porcupinemamma]

thanks a lot for explaining that to me. you did a great job on this instructable.  Did you received the patch I sent you? Hope to see more of your excellent work.  BTW, if they haven't already, I think you should show your teachers what you have done. It shows great initiative!

[greenmia]

Yeah! I did receive the patch! Thanks SO much!
I haven't shown any of this to my teachers yet, but I'll consider doing so!
Oh, and I have another instructable coming soon, and more planned for the future!  Instructables are hard work, and it's hard to keep me motivated, but are really fun to make never-the-less!

[boblordofmonkeys]

 i buy raw sugar at the 99cents store

[frediojoe]

you have 99 cent stors?????

[KMOM14]

I can see how it might exfoilate but sounds too messy.

[bethopea]

This is grrreat! thank you!
Question:
How long did your batch last, and can you recommend some natural preservatives?

[greenmia]

 I've heard vitamin E &  Tocopherol are good preservatives, as another commenter suggested. I'm glad you like this recipe/tutorial :)

[lujzyy]

Very nice!Thanks for it!:)

[CookieLuver]

Do we have to use olive oil or can we use vegetable oil?

[kmc512]

also, i noticed your recipe calls for brown sugar but your picture shows turbinado sugar. these are 2 different things where i'm from, so you might want to clarify. great 'ible though. definitely making this.