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What is a sugar scrub?
A Sugar scrub is a type of face scrub. It is a skin care product that can be used to mechanically exfoliate dead skin cell buildup from the surface of your skin.
Typically, they’re formulated with sugar granules, which are used to help physically exfoliate that dead skin cell buildup.
Exfoliating with a sugar scrub can help create the appearance of smoother, glowing skin.
Keep in mind that generally, you wouldn’t exfoliate with a sugar scrub every day.Consider it a sweet treat for your skin that you’d use a few times a week. That being said, sugar scrubs typically offer gentle yet effective exfoliation.
The Back story
Looking out of my window this morning, the scene that greeted me was a dull, foggy and cold landscape, I pulled the curtains shut quickly…no inspiration there!
It was easy to get swayed into that mood of doom and gloom rubbed off into you in an instant. SAD/ Seasonal Affective Disorder is for real, people!
Coming from a sunny bright country, which had tropical weather almost throughout the year, I never knew about SAD or heard of it before… until I landed in this country, in the middle of winter. Slowly over the years enlightenment dawned on me that this weather is for real.
What do I do now, how do I shake off the winter blues, when we experience it almost 4 months in a year? I chose a better feeling thought and brighter colors to shake that “wintery”mood away and brighten my days!
Some call it color therapy, some call it aroma therapy, it sure works !
My inspiration to try my hand at homemade Sugar Scrubs started then.It had both color and smell and an added “FEEL” to it ….so off I went making it, with a few ingredients I had handy in my pantry. My first venture into the land of Sugar Scrubs began.
By then,I had heard rave reviews about the benefits of using sugar scrubs from friends and colleagues alike in the winter months. I was willing to give it a try this year.
Just like candle making, this sugar scrub making piqued my interest, wondering how it would turn out, what it would feel like on the skin ?
Are sugar scrubs good for you?
Unless you have preexisting irritation, sugar scrubs are generally safe to use on the body. They’re particularly useful for extremely dry, rough patches of skin on the elbows, knees, and heels. You may even use a sugar scrub on your hands to help prevent dryness.
What kind of sugar is best for sugar scrubs?
Brown sugar is the least abrasive making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin, and a good choice when making a face scrub. Since it is the gentlest, it can be used up to 4 times a week.
Pure cane sugar (unrefined white) is good for all skin types and contains some essential nutrients to feed the skin.
Which oil is best for sugar scrubs?
Olive oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, and virgin coconut oil are good choices for sugar scrubs.
Benefits of sugar scrubs
- Removes build up– a sugar scrub is used for mechanical exfoliation. This type of exfoliation removes the top layer of skin cells, as well as impurities, dirt, and excess oils.
- Brighten skin. Not only does exfoliating with a sugar scrub remove buildup from your skin, but it also helps to create a more radiant complexion.The removal of dead cells leaves the skin looking brighter.
- Gentle exfoliation. Sugar scrubs are a gentler exfoliation option, as the sugar granules melt onto your skin for exfoliation which is kind to your complexion.
“The benefits of Sugar Scrubs are far too many”, said a friend of mine, “unlike the salt scrubs, they do not dry up the skin”.
Sugar is a natural humectant drawing moisture into the skin from the environment, to keep it supple and soft during winter, hence even widely used as lip balms too, to prevent chapping.
“Sugars are not healthy when ingested, but boy!, do they do wonders on the skin” she cooed, this really got me thinking….it never hurts to try, after all. Once you know all the ingredients that go into making it, it is a very simple homemade recipe to make some for yourself this season.
Little did I know that those expensive scrubs , you see in departmental stores or smell so nice, when you walk across the store in the mall, cost you pennies to make at home. Their benefits still remain the same.
Sugar scrubs are incredibly moisturizing and exfoliating to the skin.
Try them for yourself, this winter and feel the difference!
How to make sugar scrubs?
For the Vanilla- Cinnamon Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
Sugar (Fine White) – 1 cup
Coconut Oil – 1/4 cup
Honey – 1/4 cup
Vanilla extract – 1tsp
Ground Cinnamon powder – a pinch
Method:
First mix the Sugar, Coconut Oil and Honey together till they are evenly mixed, then add the Vanilla extract and Ground Cinnamon powder.The end product smells like delicious Vanilla ice-cream, so smooth and yummilicious enough to eat.
For the Lemon-Honey Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
Sugar – 1 cup
Coconut Oil – 1/4 cup
Lemon extract – 15 drops
Turmeric powder- a pinch ( for color and is a good antiseptic)
Honey – 2 tbsp
Method:
Mix the Sugar, Coconut Oil and Honey together, then add a pinch of Turmeric powder while slowly adding the Lemon extract. Mix well, so the color is uniformly spread and you get a smooth paste like consistency.
For the Orange -Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
Sugar- 1cup
Coconut Oil – 1/4 cup
Orange Essential Oil- 6-10 drops
Peppermint extract – 10 drops
Orange Food color- a pinch
Honey – 2 tbsp
Method:
Mix the sugar, Coconut Oil and Honey together, then add the Orange and Peppermint extract gently while continuing to mix, until the ingredients are evenly mixed. To this one may add a pinch of Orange Food color, until all the ingredients are mixed evenly.
How to use the Sugar Scrub?
Take a spoonful of the sugar scrub in your hand, after letting your body soak in the hot shower for a few minutes, rub the sugar scrub in a circular motion from shoulder down, or feet up, whichever is comfortable for you, allow it to exfoliate the dry dead skin, rinse in lukewarm water.
Remember to use ONLY gentle pressure ,you are exfoliating not peeling! I promise you, you will step out of the shower, wondering why you never tried it before. Your skin will feel baby soft.
Happiness is homemade, so go on give it a try.
Pat dry your skin or leave it a lil’ wet, best to do it before bedtime coz it will let you relax, while the oil gets absorbed into the open pores, left by the sugar scrub, softening your skin into silky smoothness.
Remember to scrub your bath tub immediately coz it might get slippery with all the oil.
It is best to use the sugar scrub once or twice a week, and the benefits of long term use are clearly visible.
Make it a part of your holiday tradition if you must, coz that’s exactly what I plan to do starting this year.
Have fun, while you are at it!
“Self care is not about self indulgence, it’s about self preservation” ~ Audrey Lorde
Storing the sugar scrubs
Store them in air tight glass jars and use them over the cold months, when skin gets dry and chapped easily. It helps in exfoliating and keeps the skin moist and supple and what’s more, they make perfect homemade holiday gifts too !
How long do sugar scrubs last?
Around 6 months
In general, most homemade sugar scrubs will last around 6 months.
The most important tip is to keep the lid on the jar as much as possible. This will help stave off the carrier oil going rancid. Once the oil has gone rancid, you’ll be able to smell the difference in your scrub
Are sugar or salt scrubs better?
Sugar Scrubs
Table sugar granules are rounder than salt granules, which makes them less abrasive. This makes them perfect for the face and any areas of sensitive skin in general.
Table sugar also dissolves quickly in water, which is an advantage for those seeking a milder scrub
Helpful Tips
You can substitute Olive Oil or Grape seed Oil instead of Coconut oil, if you wish, I love coconut oil and stand by it !
Honey helps to naturally moisturize the skin, acts as an anti aging formula, helps in exfoliation and prevents dryness, promoting new tissue growth when used on the skin.
Sugar helps to exfoliate, acts a humectant, encourages new cell turnover, generating fresher younger skin. One can use fine white sugar or brown sugar which is much finer, when using scrubs on the face.
Different essential oils or extracts of your choice, can be used , the base being the same of sugar, oil and honey.
Bottom Line
Now that you know all about sugar scrubs and how to use them, go ahead and add them as part of your self care routine.
Let us know how it helped you, by sharing your feedback in the comments section below.
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