A Gardener’s Best Friend
If you’re like me and have a habit of pulling weeds and planting in your garden without gloves on than this Lemon Sugar Scrub is a life saver. I keep a little pot of it next to the kitchen sink and a little can go a long way. When you’ve got dirt up to your elbows and under your fingernails this gentle scrub with help get you hands looking for when I’ve got dirt up to my elbows. A little goes a long way and leaves your hands super soft and smooth.
The Scrub in Lemon Sugar Scrub
One of the best parts of this recipe is that the scrubbing agent isn’t some fancy microbead or plastic polymer that can harm the environment (and your plumbing). You don’t even have to fancy order it online. Plain old grocery store sugar is the perfect grain (and price) for a gentle exfoliant! Making your own also means you get to decide how “rough” you want your texture to be. More sugar mean more scrubbing power!
There is a secondary natural exfoliant in this recipe, lemon peel. Lemon peel not only adds a wonderful scent but a slight acidity at the same time. This slight acidity helps to remove dead skins and leave hands baby smooth!
Moisturizers
This recipe is jam packed with moisturizing power. In addition to coconut oil, I have added Jojoba oil, Almond oil, Glycerin and Vitamin E. Below is just a quick overview of what each element does to nourish your skin.
- Coconut Oil – Moisturizer, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Wound Healing
- Coconut Butter – Moisturizer, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Wound Healing
- Almond Oil – Soothing, Improves Skin Tone, Anti – Bacterial
- Jojoba Oil – Moisturizer, Anti-bacterial, Skin Softening, Anti-Wrinkle
- Glycerin – Humectant (helps the skin retain moisture)
- Vitamin E – Anti-Inflammatory
- Shea Butter – Moisturizer, Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory,
I have a bunch of these butters and oils left over from when I made soaps for Christmas gifts a few years back. If you don’t have these handy you can start with a simple base of Coconut oil. All of the rest of the butters and oil are just to make it extra luxurious, but don’t break the bank getting them!
Whipped Lemon Sugar Scrub
The secret ingredient to a good home made whipped sugar scrub is actually fairly simple, it’s cornstarch. Cornstarch has long been used in cosmetics due to its degreasing properties. It also is known for beinga natural ‘slip agent’. A slip agent is something that help the product glide on to the skin, additionally they often help the product to penetrate into the skin.
Cornstarch in this instance is used for a number of reasons. Firstly it helps the sugar scrub from feeling too greasy, no one likes the feeling of greasy hands. Secondly it helps stabilize whipped part of the scrub so it doesn’t fall completely flat. A little corn starch in the mixture provides something for all those oils and butters to cling to.
More Than Scrub
I love using lemons around the house and in the kitchen. In fact, I have a whole video about using lemons around the house. Home canned lemonade concentrate, lemon curd, lemon pepper seasoning and more, check it out! Check out the other recipes here!
How to Make Homemade Whipped Lemon Sugar Scrub
Make your own moisturizing whipped sugar scrub that leaves a bright lemon scent!
Ingredients
.5oz Shea Butter
6.5oz Cocoa Butter
.2oz Vitamen E
.5 oz Jojoba Oil
.5 oz. Almond Oil
.5 oz. Glycerin
4-6 C. Sugar
1/2 C Lemon Zest
1 C Corn Starch
Directions
- In a microwave proof bowl melt the Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter in 30 seconds burst stirring frequently until fully melted
- In a separate bowl. Stir together the Sugar, Lemon Zest and Cornstarch.
- Add the Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, and Glycerin to the melted Shea and Cocoa butter mixture. Transfer into the bowl of your stand mixer.
- Place bowl in fridge for at least 20 mins to firm up the mixture. You may need to leave it in their longer depending on how naturally warm your kitchen is.
- Once the oils have firmed back up use the whipping attachment and a stand mixer to whip the butter until soft and fluffy.
- In stages gradually add your sugar/lemon/cornstarch mixture to the oil while continuing to whip. If you want a firmer/more scrubby mixture add more sugar.
Looking for More Ways to Use Lemons?
Check out my post here!
