Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Homemade Scrubs






I suggest using small jars, since all the ingredients are edible (and therefore spoilable) and should be used within a month.

Ingredients:
Small sized mason or other jars you want to use
Sugar
Olive oil (or any other oil you may have in your pantry)
Lemon juice & zest
Few drops of vanilla

*The amount of ingredients that you need depends on the amount of scrub that you want to make. I used about 4 cups of sugar for 4 small jars.

What to do:
-Pour the sugar into the jar(s) that you'll use (plus 2-3 tablespoons for each jar extra to accommodate for shrinkage of volume) and then dump the sugar into a mixing bowl
-Slowly add small amounts of olive oil to the sugar until the sugar holds shape and is no longer crumbly
-Add enough lemon juice and zest to the sugar that you can smell lemon more than the olive oil (I juiced 1 lemon and zested all of it's rind)
-Adding a few drops of vanilla extract is optional, but I found that it masked the smell of olive oil and made it smell even yummier
-Scoop the mixture back into the jar(s)
-Add a label and a bit of ribbon to pretty it up!


What you'll need for the sugar scrub:
- mixing bowl and spoon
- 3 cups white sugar
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. good quality oil (I used olive oil, but you can use any nice, non-smelly oil)
- 10 drops of yummy-scented essential oil per jar (I went with mandarin, peppermint, and lavender)

Combine your sugar and oil, mix it up well, and divide into separate bowls (if you're planning to flavor them separately). Add your essential oil, stir, and divide among your jars.
Done! Easy peasy!


- jars (mine were 7 oz. and cost $1 each at Joann's)
(they should really start paying me for how much I talk about them on my blog)
- cute scrapbook papers (you'll only need a tiny bit, and I chose 2 coordinating papers per jar)
- Mod Podge (my latest obsession)
- brush
- scissors

Wash and dry your jars before starting. Then cut a piece of cute paper into the shape you want for your label (I went with an oval shape), apply mod podge to the area of the jar you want to place the label, and press on your paper, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles.
Place your jar on the wrong side of the scrapbook paper, bend the paper up to the top of the lid, and make a few marks around where the paper meets the lid top:Cut a circle at least 1/4" away from the marks, then make cuts about 1/4" apart extending in towards your markings:Apply mod podge to the top of your lid and apply the paper (wrong side down), smoothing out any bubbles. Apply mod podge to the lid sides as well, folding the paper up around the sides (there will be some wrinkling . . . it's no big deal, just press them as flat as you can).Working on a few strips at a time, apply mod podge to the little fringey tabs and press them down inside of the lid, pushing them firmly against the inside of the lid.Apply a layer of mod podge over the lid top and sides and let it dry, then flip over and apply to the paper around the inside of the lid as well.

The sugar scrub I made this time was based on this recipe from Care2. The approximate recipe I used is below and I say approximate because I kept having to make up more to fill the jars I had but the proportions are pretty good to go.
1 C white sugar
1 C raw sugars
1 1/2 C almond oil
1 T liquid lecithin
1 T vitamin E
1-2 drops eucalyptus and lavender essential oils


You need:

White Sugar
Brown Sugar
Olive Oil
Vanilla {totally optional, but yummy}

{notes: I dabbled with Baby Oil but the smell is pretty strong, and not everyone is as enamored with the baby smell as myself. I vote Olive Oil, which you can pick up at the dollar store}The sky is the limit, really. This is a washed-out container I’m recycling which actually held Trader Joe’s sugar scrub in its former life. I’m also using small Mason jelly jars and making lids out of scrapbook paper. Whatever you have on hand will do, thriftiness is the name of the game here.You want your sugars to be equally mixed, so find out how much the container you’re using will hold and then measure equal amounts of sugars to fill.Step 3: Add White SugarStep 4: MixStep 5: Add to container Fill it pretty full, the oil will tamper it down a lotStep 6: Add OilThis step requires patience. Pour it in and let it bubble down to the bottom, then pour in a little more, and so on and so forth. Mix it around with a spoon if you need to {I did}, it will speed up the process.Step 7: Mix again{Optional} Step 8: Add VanillaStep 9: Dress it up

Add a bow for heaven’s sake, it’s Christmas. I got the ribbon at the Dollar Store, several spools in every color. Tie a nice little bow and you’re done. Isn’t it adorable?

You will need:
- 25% Vegetable Glycerin (or coconut oil)
- 25% Grapeseed oil (optional – you can use just vegetable glycerin)
- 50% white sugar
- one or two drops of essential oil (I personally love pink grapefruit)
- Glass or plastic container (I bought mine at Walmart, but there’s a similar one HERE)
- ribbon, to decorate
*Mix up all the goodies and voila!
Amanda from Vintage Glam Weddings was also kind enough to post her label, which can be downloaded FREE {here} for 2.5″ x 1.75″ size


Read more: Homemade Sugar Scrub | Two Hearts Together

Begin my mixing 2 1/2 Cups of Sugar with 1 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add in 4 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice {or scented essential oils to your liking}. This mixture will make enough to fill a 12oz. Mason Jar {and you'll have just enough left over to clean your hands afterwards too}

Mix really well until a gritty paste forms and spoon into a glass container. {make sure your container has a lid that seals}

I have to say I love this mix and use it all the time. After sitting for awhile you may need to mix prior to using as the sugar may settle. A tiny bit is all you need and it leaves your skin extra soft and smooth. {plus not to mention it scrubs away all craft evidence so my hands do not look like a mechanics out in public}Enjoy!

1 comment:

  1. These would make great gifts for all those birthdays and holidays for this this year to come Thanks for sharing I will be making some of these to give away.

    ReplyDelete