A homemade body scrub is such a luxury for your skin, and it’s actually so simple to make! You will love this body scrub which is a copycat recipe for the Coco Rose scrub.

Instead of buying a scrub, make your own body polish with a few easy to find ingredients! It will leave your skin silky smooth with a fresh exfoliation, plus it makes a fabulous gift! If you love this recipe, I think you’ll also love my coconut coffee scrub recipe!

The combination of both salt and sugar in this body polish will provide you with all of benefits of salt and sugar! Plus essential oils and coconut oil – your skin will be left ultra smooth!

Girl filling jar with homemade body scrub.

Homemade Body Scrub

A body scrub is something so simple to make, yet feels incredibly luxurious! You can make this simple handmade gift in under 10 minutes and it’s the perfect Mother’s Day gift, or bridal shower favor!

Made with both pink Himalayan sea salt, sugar, and essential oils there are tons of benefits to using a scrub. While you can use any type of salt, the pink salt makes this scrub naturally pink and beautiful! Who wouldn’t want to receive this little slice of heaven in a jar?

This recipe is written by Danika of Oakland & Ash. All photography is by Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People.

If you’re looking for beauty tips, be sure to check out…

Best Natural Skincare | My Favorite Beauty Products | My Makeup Routine

Ingredients for homemade body scrub on marble countertop.

Body Scrub FAQ

What is the difference between salt and sugar scrubs?

Sugar and salt both make wonderful body scrubs! Salt granules are a bit harsher on the skin providing a great exfoliant for the body, but salt scrubs should are not suitable for the face. Salt scrubs also have wonderful mineral benefits.

Sugar scrubs make a good exfoliant for the face and dissolves much easier in hot water. Both are wonderful options!

How long do scrubs last?

Salt is a natural preservative, it will last for 1-2 years without going rancid. Sugar scrubs also last quite a long time, but I have found that they only stay good for a few months once opened because of the introduction of moisture.

Store in a cool dry place such as your bathroom vanity. Keep sealed, and do your best to keep moisture out.

What variations can be made?

A body scrub is beyond easy to adapt to fit whatever you might have on hand. If you’d like to swap the salt for more sugar (or vise versa), you can certainly do that! The finer the grain of the sugar or salt used, the finer the scrub will be. If you’d like something that is a little more coarse, you can opt for a larger grain of sugar or salt. You can use Himalayan sea salt, kosher salt, coconut sugar, or even regular granulated sugar!

Same goes with the oil used to bind the scrub. Feel free to mix it up with whatever nourishing body oil you have on hand: coconut oil, grapeseed oil, even olive oil works well!

Essential oils add scent as well as natural benefits. Depending on your need, you may opt to use a certain essential oil to add its properties into the scrub.

Woman stirring white bowl of homemade body scrub on marble countertop.

Unlike my rose sugar scrub recipe, this scrub contains both sugar and salt which provides tons of benefits.

Body Scrubs: Salt vs Sugar

Sugar dissolves much easier in hot water and the round granules of sugar are not as harsh on the skin making it a wonderful option for those with sensitive skin or if you’d like to exfoliate the face. Sugar is also naturally moisturizing as it is a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture from the air and draws it into the skin. Sugar also contains glycolic acid, a great anti-aging element that can also heal sun damage! Check out our easy sugar scrub recipe for glowing skin!

On the reverse side, salt is much more coarse than sugar which provides a great exfoliation. Salt has wonderful mineral benefits too, such as Magnesium. Salt water is a known healing element that can flush away toxins and reduce inflammation! Be sure to follow up with a moisturizer after using a salt scrub to rehydrate the skin.

What Essential Oils to Use?

Essential oils are a wonderful way to add natural benefits to many homemade beauty products. This recipe calls for Ylang Ylang and Rose Geranium oils.

Ylang Ylang is known to stimulate oil production on the skin, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost mood!

Rose geranium oil has antioxidant and anti-aging properties making it perfect for a body polish.

If you’d like to add different essential oils, you can get creative! Just be sure to add a limited number of drops because too much essential oil can become irritating.

Where to find liquid coconut oil?

If you love making homemade beauty products, you should definitely pick up some liquid coconut oil.

Coconut oil is generally a solid at room temperature, but melts very easily. If you don’t have liquid coconut oil for this project, you can certainly melt some coconut oil in the microwave in 5 second intervals. You want is just melted enough to combine all of the ingredients, NOT hot because sugar dissolves so easily.

Or instead of coconut oil, try olive oil or grapeseed oil.

Ingredients for Homemade Body Scrub

How to Make Homemade Body Scrub

  • Add the Himalayan salt and unrefined sugar to a bowl and mix.
  • Pour the liquid Coconut oil in the bowl and stir.
  • Add the essential oils and gently mix.
  • Pour mixture into a glass container that has an airtight seal.
  • Top off with dried rose petals or lavender (a great addition if gifting).
  • Store in a cool/dry place. 

The Best Homemade Body Scrub

The absolute best homemade body scrub to leave your skin feeling soft and silky smooth! Exfoliate and hydrate your skin with a body scrub!
Active Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Handmade Gifts
Keyword: body scrub, handmade body polish, homemade scrub
Author: Chloe

Equipment

  • 2-3 Sealable Jars or Containers

Materials

  • 1/4 cup unrefined sugar
  • 3/4 cup Himalayan Pink Salt
  • 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon liquid Coconut oil
  • 15 drops Organic Rose Geranium essential oil
  • 5 drops Organic Ylang Ylang essential oil

Instructions

  • Add the Himalayan salt and unrefined sugar to a bowl and mix.
  • Pour the liquid Coconut oil in the bowl and stir.
    Add the essential oils and gently mix.
  • Pour mixture into a glass container that has an airtight seal.
    Top off with dried rose petals or lavender (a great addition if gifting).
  • Store in a cool/dry place.

Notes

If you’d like to swap the salt for more sugar (or vise versa), you can certainly do that! The finer the grain of the sugar or salt used, the finer the scrub will be. If you’d like something that is a little more coarse, you can opt for a larger grain of sugar or salt. You can use Himalayan sea salt, kosher salt, coconut sugar, or even regular granulated sugar!
Same goes with the oil used to bind the scrub. Feel free to mix it up with whatever nourishing body oil you have on hand: coconut oil, grapeseed oil, even olive oil works well!
Essential oils add scent as well as natural benefits. Depending on your need, you may opt to use a certain essential oil to add its properties into the scrub.

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Comments

  1. This scrub sounds amazing! And the perfect gift…especially if presented in those cute containers.

  2. Just read your info. So glad younger people are turning to meaningful instead of just FULL of bs and fast crazy. You are very lucky to have had an accessible option. Kudos.