Summer is the perfect time to treat your skin to an exfoliating salt or sugar scrub. A gentle exfoliation is just the thing to help buff away the dull, drab shell of Winter. Scrubbing can also help make Summer shaving a little more pleasant. Exfoliation removes dead skin that can cause razor burns, ingrown hairs, and uneven hair removal. By keeping up an exfoliation routine you’ll help your skin remain glowing, and free from bumps and redness.
Exfoliants
Scrubs are made from two main ingredients, a Carrier Oil and an Exfoliant. Choosing an Exfoliant is easy. You can use any fine grain salt, including Sea Salt, Dead Sea Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, and Bolivian Pink Salt. Natural salts contain a bounty of beneficial minerals, but they can sting if your skin has any knicks, scratches, or minor burns. For those who prefer a gentler touch, natural sugars may be the way to go. Turbinado, Demerara, and Brown Sugar are all wonderful choices for use in scrubs. You can also use plain white sugar if you like.
Popular Exfoliants:

Carrier Oils
Selecting your Carrier Oil requires a little more scrutiny. For the Summer months, you’ll want something with a light texture that won’t clog pores. Some good choices are:
These are all great, basic carrier oils for Summer Scrubs, but you might want to use something with special properties to make your scrub even better. Consider blending one of the following carrier oils into your scrub to add extra benefits for Summer skin.

Aromatics
Adding scent to your Summer scrub is probably the most fun part! Choose light, fruity, and cheerful aromatics to dress up your recipe. For an all natural scrub, check out our selection of Essential Oils and CO2 Extracts. Using Essential Oils and CO2 Extracts also gives you the opportunity to increase the scrub’s skin care and aromatherapy benefits. Some of my favorites for Summer include:
Be sure to research any Essential Oil for safety information and usage rates. Keep in mind that certain Essential Oils, particularly citrus oils, can cause photosensitivity, and shouldn’t be used before exposure to sunlight.
Fragrance Oils can also be used to scent your scrubs. Though they are not all natural, they have been formulated specifically for use in skin and hair care, making them easy to use. We have a huge selection to choose from, but here are a few of my favorites for Summer:
Colorants
Finally, you might want to add a touch of color to your scrubs. This is an extra step that is totally optional, but can add a little bit of extra fun and personality to your recipe. There are many ways to color salt and sugar scrubs. To keep your recipe all natural, consider adding a natural herb as as a color additive. Oil Dispersible D&C Dyes, and Pearlescent Micas can be used to color scrubs as well.
Once you’ve chosen your ingredients you can assemble your scrub. This is very easy! Simply combine your dry exfoliant with enough carrier oil to give it a slushy consistency. Aromatics and colorants can be added next. After that, your scrub is ready to use.
Here is a simple recipe that you can customize with your own ingredients:
DIY Summer Scrub
Usage & Handling
It’s best to make scrubs to order, and use them right away, but if you have to store the scrub for any period of time here are some tips to keep is safe and fresh:
- Store your scrub in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place. The refrigerator is ideal, but a cupboard or cabinet is fine too.
- Never handle the scrub directly. Always use clean spoons or spatulas to mix, and scoop the scrub.
- Don’t take the whole jar of scrub into the shower or bath. Instead, scoop a single portion into a breakproof container.
- Discard the scrub immediately if it changes in smell, color, or texture.
- Discard the scrub after three weeks, and make a fresh batch.
- Add a preservative, such as Grapefruit Seed Extract or Liquapar Oil to help reinforce it against microbe growth.
- Add an antioxidant, such as Vitamin E T50 or Rosemary Oil Extract to help keep the Carrier Oil fresh.
- If you plan to sell your scrub, consider having your formula professionally challenge tested.
Share your Summer Scrubs!
We hope you have a blast formulating your own Summer Scrubs! We’d love to hear the recipes you come up with. Share them with us here on the blog, on Twitter, or on our Facebook page! If you can, please send us a photo. We’d love to show off your work on our social networks!
Here are some gorgeous pictures of scrubs from our Flickr Photo Group!

by CaliBeijaFlor

by Soaps by Bonnie

by BL Soaps