Can one recipe make me better at skincare and gift-giving?
Why yes, it seems like it can.
I'm quite lazy when it comes to skincare: I usually either forget to buy any exfoliating products, or can't bring myself to spend the extra dollars on anything that's not a soap I can use daily.
But then I heard chef Toni Burnett-Rands, who runs a Creole restaurant, talking on ABC Radio Hobart Evenings about making gifts with her primary school class, and one of the things she talked about was a simple sugar scrub.
Hobart-based Ms Burnett-Rands, sometimes known as "Honey Child", gave a basic recipe with some suggestions for different scents. She made it sound so cheap and easy I decided to give it a go — firstly, to try out on myself and maybe improve my skin a little, and also as an option to make a simple gift for someone else this festive season.
I had a go making the pumpkin spice version of the sugar scrub as I had the spices and brown and white sugar in my cupboard already, and only needed to buy the coconut oil to make it.
I also already had some vitamin E oil in my bathroom cupboard from a rather disastrous attempt at making a moisturiser a while back (don't ask).
Having never made a sugar scrub before, I thought I'd better test it before gifting this to anyone.
I was worried the sugar scrub would be sticky and a bit gross, but it's actually been quite pleasant to use.
This scrub is too harsh to use on your face, but I've been using it in the shower on my legs and arms and it does leave my skin softer and smoother than before.
However, it also leaves my shower a little more slippery due to the oil. So be careful as the scrub is a slip hazard — and consider using a shower mat or make sure to wipe off any residual oil when you're done.
This recipe only takes the time to gather the ingredients and mix them together — no curing, baking or setting time needed.
Basic sugar scrub ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar
- ½ cup carrier oil (Ms Burnett-Rands likes to use coconut oil)
- 15–20 drops essential oils (if using oils for scents)
- 1 tsp dry herbs (if using)
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil
Instructions for making a scrub
- 1.Start by mixing the sugar with 1/4 cup of oil. Then, use a whisk or food processor to mix the sugar and oil together. If the scrub is dry, add more oil until the scrub holds together and isn't too dry or too oily.
- 2.Add in the essential oils. Ms Burnett-Rands likes to start with 10–15 drops, stir well and smell the scrub. If it needs more, add more, five drops at a time, until you get the smell you're after.
- 3.For a creamier sugar scrub consistency, run the mixture through a food processor until it's whipped and creamy.
- 4.Stir in herbs if using.
- 5.Scoop the sugar scrub out of the bowl and into storage jars. Label each jar with the fragrance title and date created. Store the scrubs in a cool, dark place.
How to use:
When in the shower or bath, use 1–2 tablespoons of the sugar scrub to exfoliate your skin.
Rub gently in a circular motion to massage and rub into your skin.
Rinse off thoroughly with warm water. You may want to use a drain catcher to collect herbs from going down the drain.
Other sugar scrub variations to try:
Coconut and vanilla brown sugar scrub
- 1 cup organic brown sugar
- 4–6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 15–20 drops of vanilla essential oil or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Pumpkin spice sugar scrub
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 4–6 tablespoons pumpkin seed oil (or carrier oil of choice)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- A pinch of ground clove
Lavender sugar scrub
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- 4–6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 15–20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 1 tablespoon lavender buds