Vanilla Sugar Body Scrub
For years I worked as the manager of a day spa here in California, and while it was quite the stressful job, there were many obvious benefits that came with it! Now a days I dream of the luxuries of body scrubs, facials and waxing. Oh, how the grass is always greener! That being said, all the benefits (and silky smooth skin) in the world won’t compare to working at a job I love. And I LOVE being a designer. I feel so fortunate to run my own business with the chance to be creative every day. But since life needs balance, and silky smooth skin; I mix up a batch of this Vanilla Olive Oil Sugar Scrub from time to time. It’s the perfect way to pamper myself in the comfort of my own home. And with New Years Eve this weekend, I fully plan to use this scrub from head to toe. After all, baring ones winter legs in a little cocktail dress is never a fun experience! Let the exfoliation begin.
Vanilla Olive Oil Sugar Scrub
1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
2 cups Turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)
1 Tablespoon honey
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract (or your favorite essential oil)
Directions: Combine the two sugars in a bowl and mix to incorporate. Add olive oil and stir. Mix in honey and vanilla. Store in an airtight jar and enjoy!
* This is a coarse scrub, if you would like a more gentle scrub you can substitute brown sugar for the turbinado sugar.
* Always exfoliate before shaving to prevent irritation and achieve a better shave.
* You may add more olive oil to your jar after packing if you desire a different consistency.
* Oil will settle in the jar so stir before using.
* I do not recommend using this scrub on your face. It is intended for use on the body only.
I LOVE being a kitchen beautician. I’m totally going to make this. I usually make a sea salt scrub but this sounds much lovelier.
Love the term “kitchen beautician”!
I love making home made scrubs but I’ve never used honey! I’m going to try this
Yes! Honey is supposed to be a natural antioxidant and have anti-microbial properties. Aside from that…it smells great!
love your photos!!
xx, k
What are the differences between using salt and sugar? And Q for a pro: why doesn’t sugar (or salt) dissolve in the oil eventually?
Hi Charlotte, here is some good info on the differences and benefits of both salt and sugar! http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sugar-scrub-vs-salt-scrub.html
Personally I prefer sugar because my skin tends to be more sensitive.
its very scientific salt is polar and oil is non polar it is impossible for a nonpolar element to doisolve a polar solute.
Mmm, I can just imagine how nice this is. I’ve fallen in love with making these this year, I even made a bunch of sugar scrubs to give away this year. I love the vanilla olive oil combo, especially with a fragrant olive oil – I bet it’s so nice!
Hi Leah!
I’m new to your blog and found this recipe via pinterest. I tried it and it’s amazing!!
I posted it on my blog today to share it with all my friends. Happy New Year!
This scrub looks scrumptious! I love mixing up a bunch of ingredients and using it on my body and I’ll definitely follow your recipe
What a great way to pamper yourself! It probably makes a great gift too.
Yes this would make an excellent gift!
Great recipe to rejuvenate winter skin. Refreshing, thank you!
Um.. I know this is dumb but when you say mix is that just with a spoon or do you use an actual mixer?
Hi! Just with a spoon is fine.
Thank you so much: ) I am so excited to have found this page and your whole site
I’m happy you are here! Thanks for reading!
I just made it and it’s wonderful and beautiful. I don’t think I’ll ever buy another scrub again.
Good to hear someone loves it as much as I do!
Thanks for the sweet comment.
Love the scrub, and the photos are awesome!
Thank you Angela!
Nice homemade scrub. It looks so delicious. It’s hard to know whether to eat it or to bake with it.
It smells delicious as well!
One small question, how long could this be stored for?
Good question! Because none of the ingredients need to be refrigerated it can store for a while. Of course oil will go rancid with time but I always seem to use up my batch of scrub before that happens! I keep mine in an air tight container in the shower and it usually lasts me two weeks before I use it all up. As for long term storing I have not tested that.
Thanks so much! That is a big help ^-^
I have been buying Vanilla Sugar products for years. This is going to feed my addiction! I love that it’s a recipe with ordinary products – not hard-to-find ingredients. Tweeted & FBed! Thanks, Leah.
Should I use a regular body wash/ soap after this to rinse off?
Hi Rachel- That is up to you if you would like to use body wash afterwards.
Hi. I was just wondering if you can use a loofah or sponge with this scrub and if you know a good face sugar face scrub? My skin gets so dry in the winter. Thanks
Hi Emily- I personally do not use a loofah or sponge but just apply it directly with my hands. If your face gets dry you should try this recipe for moisturizing avocado mask that I posted! Make sure to add the coconut oil for added moisture. http://www.freutcake.com/in-the-kitchen/winter-avocado-mask/ Hope that helps!
Holy cow. This is great! I used to have a book that had hundreds of pages of skin and hair care recipes. I have to make this happen this week!
Thanks for the post, lady!
I just made this- and tried it on my hands, feels great. A little oily at first, but I washed my hands with regular soap after and they are so soft now. I don’t really like the smell, because all I can smell is olive oil…But I love the effects!
Might be dumb but what happens if used on face?
It’s too abrasive for your face and would likely irritate your skin.
What a lovely scrub! This may be a silly question but what size jar did you use and where did you find that adorable square jar?
Hi Allie,
I think I got this jar a few years back at Walmart! This is a similar jar that I found on their website. http://tinyurl.com/73ajl53 I like it because it has a tightly sealed lid.
I’m going to make this but the jar I want to use doesn’t have a lid! Do you think it’s ok to leave it without a lid?
I would not leave it out without a lid. You can always store it in a tupperware container with a lid.
Is there something I can use in place of the honey?
You can just leave it out completely if you would like.
I love the idea of homemade beauty products. There’s nothing better than being able to control what you put on your body. Thanks for the recipe!
Could you sub the olive oil with sunflower oil? Just wondering! Love the idea of sugar scrub! Why spend our valuable money on it, when we can make our own!!!
I haven’t tried sunflower oil. I use olive oil because of it’s benefits to the skin including vitamins A and E.
Just made this and can’t wait to use it! I’ll also be writing about it on my blog today as well so check it out!
Just posted about it if you want to see! And dont’ worry, I gave you credit for the recipe!
Thanks again, its so cold in France right now, this has been making my day everyday!
i love this! i’m definitely going to try it.
Just made this scrub with coconut and sandalwood essential oils and I LOVE it! Thanks for the tutorial
oooh! Coconut & sandalwood sound divine! I must try that.
would baby food jars work? If so how many do you think one batch will fill?
Thank you soooo much for this! I actually made a batch of these as gifts this year and everybody loved it! The smell is divine!
Warm hugs!
How many small mason jars does this batch make I need to make 30-40 jars.
Just made this and I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT !!! I will NEVER buy another sugar scrub again !
I just made a batch of this using sunflower oil instead of olive oil… it’s feels amazing and smells fantastic.
Sunflower oil has roughly the same benefits of olive oil but without the strong smell.
So more vanilla scent for me.
I love to make my own scrubs and also to give to all the girls in my life! I love this combination! I have found all kinds of little glass jars at Target, Pier 1, and World Market. But, where did you find that wooden spoon?!!
Thanks!
Michelle- It came with a salt cellar that I was given as a gift. I just love that little spoon and wish I had more of them as well!
This sounds amazing! Just found my homemade Christmas gift for this year.
Would coconut oil work well in substitute for the olive oil? I just have a ton in the cupboard and thought I’d use it up! I know the coconut oil tends to get solid at colder temps…would it harden up with all the other ingredients in it? Thanks!! 
Yes coconut oil would be amazing in this recipe. I have another body scrub recipe that uses coconut oil, I suggest reading this process. http://www.freutcake.com/beauty-2/ginger-coconut-body-scrub/
Can you substitute epsom salts for the salt/sugar?
Can’t wait to try this.
Yes you can substitute epsom salts. I have never tried it myself but I have seem epsom salts used in other homemade body scrub recipes.
hello, im just wondering how many times a week can i use this? im trying this epilating thing and they say that i can get alot of ingrown hair so since ive heard that body scrubs can reduce the probability of ingrown hairs i wanna try this amazing recipe, cus it sounds sooo dellicious.
First, I can’t wait to make this scrub! Secondly, what size container did you use? And finally, is your container plastic or glass?
Hi Jasmine, I used an 8oz glass container but I not all of the scrub fit in it!
Love this! Thank you for sharing and just in time for Christmas. Guess I know what I’ll be making all weekend…;)
Thank you so much for posting this! I have flare up eczema and all other products are too harsh for me to use, but this is divine! I saw it on Pinterest yesterday an made and tried it today! I’m in love it’s gentle on my eczema and leaves my skin super smooth an moisturized! Kudos to you, you’re my hero!!!
This recipe is fantastic! I made jars of the sugar scrub as Christmas gifts for the women in my life and luckily I saved some for myself…. it has made my skin unbelievably soft! It is great for winter time.
Thinking of making this as a baby shower gift (sugar and spice and everything nice?), but am thinking of incorporating cinnamon. I’ll have to play with the scents. One question though- how much does this yield? I’m checking out jars here-http://www.specialtybottle.com/glassjars-2.aspx and want to see which one to get.
Could you substitute agave nectar for honey?
Honey is a natural moisturiser to antiseptic however I do not know if agave nectar has the same benefits. If you do not have or wish to use honey it’s fine to just omit it.
I ended up altering this recipe a bit for my baby shower “Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice” favors. I found the olive oil to be a bit too pungent, so I did half olive oil, and half coconut oil. It was amazing!!! Not only does coconut oil have great skin benefits, but I love the smell. Also, to answer my own question (in case others are wondering), this recipe as listed yielded 2 12oz. jars. I made 24 jars!
I wasn’t a “Girly girl” until just now when I tried your scrub. I used raspberry extract instead. Definitely wont be using anything else.
Ha! Leave it to a great beauty product to make any lady into a girlie girl.
Love this scrub, I just got out of the shower, and my skin feels amazing!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it.
I made this scrub with jojoba oil and rose essential oil as I have very sensitive skin. It was absolutely wonderful and I smelled great for at least an hour afterwards! Thanks for the recipe ! Do you have any body lotion recipes?
I have a stupid question – where did you get that lovely wood spoon?
this looks absolutely divine! I have bookmarked the page and plan to make several batches! thank you so much for posting!
Could i substitute Almond or Coconut oil?
Absolutely! Both oils will work well.
I made this with coconut oil. Amazing!!!