I'm a big fan of do-it-yourself shower body scrubs. They're fast, easy to make and leave you with a delightful pampered feeling. Plus you'll save a ton of money making your own homemade recipes. That’s why I want to hug whoever came up with the idea for pre-portioned sugar scrub cubes. They’re made with soap and nourishing coconut oil, so they hold their shape while still exfoliating like a dream.
Because it's usually when I'm getting dressed and applying lotion after my shower that I realize, holy mackerel, exfoliation needed, stat! That's why sugar scrub cubes are genius.
Sugar Scrub Cubes Benefits
The benefits of these little cubes?
—You can make them ahead of time whenever the scrub-making urge strikes.
—They're not gloopy and gooey.
—They're portioned out to just the right size.
—They're made with soap so you get foaming cleansing and exfoliating!
—There are about a million different scent + ingredient combos.
Love!! You want to make your own now, right? Here's how!
Sugar Scrub Cube Recipe
—¼ cup coconut oil (or any other oil of choice)
—1 cup of sugar (white or brown)
—½ cup of unscented soap, grated (you can also use melt & pour soap)
—Mixing bowl & spoon
—Optional add-ins for scent
—Ice cube tray or other mold
How To Make Sugar Scrub Cubes
1. Mix the oil and grated soap together in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Microwave on high for 10 second intervals, stirring in between each. Continue until the soap is melted into the oil.
3. Add in optional scents or other ingredients and stir.
4. Quickly move mixture to a mold and let firm up (putting it in the freezer helps).
How to use sugar scrub cubes
You can use fun molds (like this spider and web one last seen in our Halloween bath bombs). When the scrub is firm, pop them out of the mold. Cut into small cube shapes if your mold size is larger.
Keep them in a covered container until ready to use (otherwise they will dry out and crumble). Then take a couple of cubes into the shower and crush them a bit in your hand under the water. Then scrub away!
The optional stuff is my favorite part. Here are three fall flavors we tried out.
1. Maple and Brown Sugar Scrub Cubes
Maple and brown sugar is a combo that always makes the think of fall (okay, oatmeal too). For this flavor, replace the white sugar with one cup of brown sugar and add one to two tablespoons of maple syrup.
2. Vanilla Coffee Sugar Scrub Cubes
Who doesn't want a warming coffee beverage on a cool fall morning? Before you drink that cup o' joe use this vanilla coffee scrub to energize in the shower. Coffee is great for cellulite so mix in ¼ cup of coffee grounds and one to two tablespoons of vanilla extract.
3. Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub Cubes
We couldn't not do a pumpkin version! Add one to two tablespoons of skin soothing honey along with a heaping teaspoon of pumpkin spice. Get your PSL fix without the sugar overload and buff off dry, dead skin at the same time.
Have you ever tried a sugar scrub cube? Did you love it? If you don't want to deal with melting soap, try these coconut coffee scrub cubes that need only two ingredients.
Sugar Scrub Cube FAQ
What kind of sugar can I use?
Play around with different sugars. Fine casting sugar will gently buff away dry skin while turbinado and table sugar give you a much stronger polish. Just make sure to go gently over sensitive areas and avoid your face and neck when using the chunkier exfoliants.
Can I use melt & pour soap instead of grating bar soap?
Yes!
What else can I put in scrubs?
Try any of these exfoliating ingredients for a good scrub texture. Here are a couple of other scent ideas:
—1 ½ tablespoons dried rose petals + 1 teaspoon beet powder + 15 drops myrrh oil
—1 tablespoon dried heather blossoms + 15 drops grapefruit oil
How to Make Sugar Scrub Cubes
Equipment
- Microwave safe bowl
- Spoon
- Ice cube tray or silicone mold
Materials
- ¼ cup coconut oil or any other oil of choice
- 1 cup sugar white or brown
- ½ cup unscented soap grated
- Optional add-ins for scent
Instructions
- Mix the oil and grated soap together in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave on high for 10 second intervals, stirring in between each. Continue until the soap is melted into the oil.
- Add in optional scents or other ingredients and stir.
- Quickly move mixture to a mold and let firm up (putting it in the freezer helps).
Notes
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Rina Mary Allawh, M.D., a dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, skin cancer treatment and cosmetic dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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