Fall Sugar Scrub
The things we eat and drink in the fall time can bring us a sense of excitement and nostalgia. But why stop with just the drink itself? I’ve got a fun DIY apple cider sugar scrub recipe that you can make as a gift or for yourself, because why not? Your skin will thank you for it!
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Is a Sugar Scrub Good for Exfoliating?
I love a good sugar scrub for exfoliating my skin because it’s perfect for getting rid of those nasty dead skin cells without over-exfoliating the rest of your skin’s precious microbiome layer. And it’s super easy to make! You likely have the ingredients for it lying around your house already.
The tiny granules of the sugar are perfect for exfoliating because they rub against your skin and clear away dead skin cells while promoting new cell growth. They aren’t too abrasive on your skin like a hard brush or a pumice stone.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about over-exfoliation if you’re using this apple cider sugar scrub with water, because the sugar will dissolve. That’s how I know when I’ve exfoliated enough. When I’m left with the nourishing oils and I can feel the sugar slowly melting away.
The way you apply your sugar scrub is super important too. Just rub gently on your skin in circular motions until you feel the sugar granules start to dissolve. Then rinse off the remaining granules and any excess oil, pat dry, and go!
What is the Best Sugar to Use in a Scrub?
I see this question a lot. The simple answer is any sugar is good to use in a sugar scrub! There’s no “magic sugar” that will instantly make your skin look flawless.
With that said, there are a few differences between sugars that can give you miniscule differences in results. If you can, I would go with raw organic sugar for this apple cider sugar scrub.
Organic sugar is made with less pesticides than regular sugar, and raw also means that it was less processed. This means that there will be more trace minerals left in the sugar that you skin can absorb. Everyone is low on trace minerals to some extent, so this is a fun way to sneak those in.
I’ve also found that the granules of raw sugar tend to be slightly bigger than traditional granulated sugar. While there’s nothing out there to prove this, I have a theory that slightly bigger sugar granules help give a better exfoliation to your skin.
But like I said, you don’t have to go all out and purchase a fancy organic sugar just for this apple cider sugar scrub! I have a bag of granulated sugar in my pantry that I use for my scrubs and I have zero guilt. Since I don’t eat much food that involves granulated sugar, I’ve got to put it to good use somewhere!
What Makes this Apple Cider Sugar Scrub Smell So Good?
This apple cider sugar scrub smells just like the real thing with a mix of spices and essential oils that you can find anywhere! I know it seems strange that you can replicate the smell of something without using the main ingredient, but it’s definitely possible!
Take a look at what I mean with these fun little holiday-themed essential oil blends. They’re all based on popular coffee drinks, like pumpkin spice latte. But there’s absolutely nothing pumpkin-related in there at all!
The key is to use the main scents of something sweet and nostalgic like pumpkin spice or apple cider. That’s why we’re going to use lemon and orange essential oils to provoke that sweet citrus element of apple cider, and clove and cinnamon to get all of those good spices in.
It’s true that you could use cinnamon and clove essential oils in this apple cider sugar scrub recipe as well. But I personally don’t have any of those on me at the time of making this, and I want this sugar scrub to be as simple as possible. Lemon and Orange oils are much easier to find in the store.
Rocky Mountain Oils is Great for Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes!
If you’d rather go the full nine yards with the essential oils in this recipe, or you need to stock up without leaving your home, then you need to check out Rocky Mountain Oils! They’re my favorite non-MLM essential oil company with fantastic transparency on how they make their oils.
When I got my first order from Rocky Mountain Oils, I was floored by the sheer quality! Everything smelled authentic, like the orange smelled like an actual orange. They made my old oils smell like fake candy.
And not only that, Rocky Mountain Oils has very affordable prices. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a hold of a tiny bottle of oils. Their orange and lemon essential oils are very popular reasonably priced.
And you can’t forget cinnamon essential oil if you’re able to get your hands on it! Cinnamon is great for invigorating the skin to promote healthy blood flow. The same goes for clove essential oil. Clove is also great for aromatherapy benefits, such as clearing pathogens that get stuck in your nasal passages.
Oh, and you can’t forget a good carrier oil for this apple cider sugar scrub! I prefer to use one with little to no scent, like jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. Both are great for skin health because they are rich in vitamins that mimic your skin’s natural oils, so they will absorb quickly without leaving you feeling greasy.
My Simple Apple Cider Sugar Scrub Recipe
Now onto the fun part! It’s time to make this delicious apple cider sugar scrub that can be a great gift for that person you have no idea what to get every year. Or it can be a great gift for yourself on a luxurious self-care day!
You will need:
- ½ cup raw organic sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup carrier oil of choice, like sweet almond or jojoba oil
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
- 15 drops orange essential oil
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- An airtight glass jar, like a mason jar
- Start by combining your white and brow sugars in a small bowl with a spoon. Once evenly mixed, add in your carrier oil and gently mix.
- Add in your lemon and orange essential oils and mix before adding the cinnamon and clove spices. You can adjust your oil to spice ratio if you’re not happy with how it smells.
- Spoon your apple cider sugar scrub into a cute airtight jar, add some fun string and a label, and you’re good to go!
You can use a small amount of this spicey fall scrub as a quick hand treatment at the sink, or even use it in the place of shaving cream for an extra close shave with moisturized skin. This is what I do on a regular basis and I love it!
I have a post all about using sugar scrub as shaving cream if you want to check it out. It’s my most basic sugar scrub recipe that you can customize however you want. I also use this one my hands in the wintertime to help with dry skin and any hangnails I may have.
If you want even more sugar scrub recipes, I have plenty!
Final Thoughts on this Apple Cider Sugar Scrub
No matter what time of the year it is, a good sugar scrub can go a long way! If you need a unique gift for someone who you have no idea what to get, then a sugar scrub is a great option. It looks like you put a ton of thought and effort into it when you probably made it five minutes ago!
Sugar scrubs also go a long way with self-care. I always feel like I just got out of a fancy spa whenever I use sugar scrub on my arms or legs. It also keeps my skin soft and glowing during those cold winter months.
I like to use smell as a way to bring me joy every day. And a sweet-smelling sugar scrub is the perfect way to put a little extra joy in my life! If you could use a little something to look forward to every day, this sugar scrub could be a small light to get you through.
Would you make this sugar scrub? Let me know in the comments below!
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