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 is needed, stat! That's why this sugar scrub cubes recipe is genius.
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Benefits of DIY Sugar Scrub Cubes
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 Ingredients
—6 ounces coconut oil (or any other oil of choice)
—18 ounces sugar (white or brown)
—6 ounces 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
Step 1 | Melt oil + soap
Mix the oil and grated soap together in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 10-second intervals, stirring in between each.
Step 2 | Add scent
Continue until the soap is melted into the oil. Add essential oils or other seasonal ingredients, if using.
Step 3 | Stir in sugar
Slowly add in the sugar, stirring well to incorporate it.
Step 4 | Transfer to mold
Quickly move the mixture to a mold and let firm up (putting it in the freezer helps).
Substitutions
Melt & pour soap — Feel free to substitute any kind of melt and pour soap instead of using bar soap.
Sugar — Try any of these exfoliating ingredients in place of sugar for a good scrub texture. Coffee and salt scrubs are some of our faves.
Add scent — You can add 30-50 drops of sugar scrub essential oils. Or try these options:
- 1 ½ tablespoons dried rose petals + 1 teaspoon beet powder + 30 drops myrrh oil
- 1 tablespoon dried heather blossoms + 30 drops grapefruit oil
Sugar Cube Variations
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 me 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 scrubs are 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.
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 warm water.
Then scrub away! The cubes will create some lather, remove dead skin, and moisturize dry patches at the same time.
FAQ
Play around with different sugars. Fine castor 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.
Yes!
Try a moisturizing sugar scrub bar or a recipe like this coconut coffee scrub cube that needs only two ingredients and replace the coffee with sugar.
How to Make Sugar Scrub Cubes
Equipment
- Microwave safe bowl
- Spoon
- Ice cube tray or silicone mold
Materials
- 6 oz coconut oil or any other oil of choice
- 6 oz unscented soap, grated or melt & pour soap
- 18 oz sugar white or brown
- 30-50 drops essential oil
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 essential oils and stir.
- Slowly add the sugar and stir again.
- Quickly move mixture to a mold and let firm up (putting it in the freezer helps).
Video
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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