Easy DIY Christmas Sugar Scrub Paste Recipe

Christmas sugar scrub recipes are fun and easy to make. The creative possibilities for sugar scrubs are endless, and they make wonderful gifts for the holidays! This sugar scrub recipe uses our Sugarplum Wish fragrance oil, which smells amazing and is a great non-traditional Christmas scent. Notes of sugared almond, cinnamon, creamy coconut, pink berry, rich plum, and sugar crystals mingle to create a fragrance that reminds us of sweet gumdrops.

Not only are these sugar scrubs adorable and festive, they’re also packed with skin-loving benefits. Sugar is a great exfoliant for dry skin, while the oils in this recipe help hydrate your skin. Follow along as we make this fun and easy recipe!

If you like this recipe, you might also like our Christmas Sugar Cookie Bath Bomb tutorial!

Yield: Six 4 oz jars

Hands-On Time: 20 minutes

Skill Level: Easy

Supplies

6 4oz jars with lids
Glass measuring cup and a sauce pan OR a double boiler
Digital Scale
Thermometer
Plastic Pipettes
3 oz Measuring Beaker
Mixing Bowl
Micro Scoop
Spoon
Nitrile Gloves

Ingredients

570 g white granulated sugar (approx. 20 oz)
90 g Coconut Oil (approx. 3.5 oz)
40 g Shea Butter (approx. 1.75 oz)
20 g Apricot Kernel Oil (approx. .75 oz)
4-8 ml Sugarplum Wish Fragrance Oil
8-12 micro scoops Plum Purple Mica Powder
Recommended: Preservative such as Liquid Germall Plus*

* Note on Preservatives: You generally only need to use preservatives in recipes that contain water. As a result, many sugar scrub recipes do not include a preservative. However, many people use sugar scrubs in the bath or shower, where it’s easy to introduce water into the jar. Water can cause mold and bacteria growth.

If you are making this product for yourself and know that you can prevent getting water into the container, you can skip the preservative. However, it is recommended that you add a preservative if you are giving these sugar scrubs away as gifts or selling them. Not only do preservatives help prevent mold and bacteria, they also help extend the shelf life.

If adding a preservative, please refer to the usage instructions provided with the product you are using. Most preservatives are used at a very low percentage – usually 0.5% or less of your total formula. You are responsible for determining the correct amount of preservative to use and for testing your product.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Making a Sugar Scrub

Weigh out 90 grams of Coconut Oil and 40 grams of Shea butter using a glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in a sauce pan, then fill the pan half-full with water. Begin heating the pan on the stove top. Alternatively, you may use a double boiler pan.
When the ingredients start melting, remove from the heat and stir to help any lumps melt.
Use a 3 oz measuring beaker to weigh out 20 grams of Apricot Kernel Oil.
Use a pipette to add 4-8 ml of fragrance oil to the same measuring beaker, then stir.
Check the temperature of the melted oils and butters. If using a preservative, check the usage guidelines for that preservative and add it when the mixture has cooled to the correct temperature (Liquid Germall Plus, for example, must be added at a temp no higher than 122 degrees F).
Add the mixture of fragrance and Apricot Kernel Oil to the melted butters, then stir to combine.
In a large mixing bowl, measure out 570 grams of white granulated sugar. Add 8-12 micro scoops of mica and stir to combine. The color will intensify once the liquids are added.
Using a thermometer, ensure that the melted butters are no hotter than 120 degrees F – if the mixture is too hot it may melt the sugar. Slowly pour the melted mixture into the bowl with the sugar.
Next, stir until the mixture has fully combined. The consistency should resemble wet sand. If it’s too thin, you may add additional sugar until you reach the correct consistency.
Finally, spoon 4 oz of the mixture into each jar. Securely screw on the lids and label your sugar scrubs accordingly with the ingredients, net weight, and instructions for use.

How to Use a Sugar Scrub

This Christmas sugar scrub recipe can be used on your body or face, depending on how sensitive your skin is. If you have sensitive skin, this scrub may be too abrasive for your face. In any case, do not use this sugar scrub paste recipe on your lips. The recommended fragrance and preservative ingredients are not approved for lip use. If substituting the fragrance, check the IFRA statement for usage guidelines.

To use, scoop a small amount of the product into your hand and rub on any areas you want to exfoliate. You may want to wet your skin first. After exfoliating, rinse product off with water. It usually works best to use sugar scrub paste when you are in the shower or bath so that you can rinse the product off more easily. Be sure to rinse completely, as the sugar can leave a sticky residue if it is not washed off completely.

Please exercise caution if using this sugar scrub in the bath or shower. The oils in this recipe can make the tub slippery. Therefore, be sure to include this warning on the label if selling or gifting this sugar scrub.

For best results, avoid storing at temps higher than 75 degrees F. The mixture may separate if you store the jars in a room that’s too warm. If separation occurs, simply stir the mixture before use.

Gift Wrap Ideas

Sugar scrubs make a wonderful holiday gift! If you want to make this sugar scrub extra festive, dust the top with a little bit of red sugar sprinkles (the kind you use to decorate cookies). It also looks great to decorate the jar with a ribbon or a cute holiday-themed label. Tying a small piece of pine branch or artificial holly berries into the ribbon can make the jar look extra cute.

A simple round label works great for the lid. You can print the ingredients and usage instructions on a round label you attach to the bottom, or a rectangular label attached to the side of the jar.

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