Sugar Scrubs
A sugar scrub exfoliates and removes dirt, dead skin, and the skin’s stale top layer to reveal soft, youthful, and healthy glowing skin.
I had sugar packets that I never use so I thought I’d throw together a sugar scrub that I used to make when I worked at a women’s hydrotherapy spa.
I’ll share my research including the properties of different body oils, sugars, and scents for various skin types and sensitivities, and a self-love meditation to set good intentions for the new you.
The Skin
Depending on its age and health, the skin renews every 30-90 days. In addition to this process, genetic makeup, and climate, the skin can be categorized into types: sensitive, oily, dry, combination, normal, and mature.
Find an oil that compliments your skin type per season. I have an oily complexion that used to be acne-prone. In Seattle, I used to use Coconut Oil year-round but now in Los Angeles, I use Grapeseed Oil.
The top layer of the skin has different thicknesses at different parts of the body. The feet are like cardboard, the body is like construction paper, the décolletage and neck are like card stock, the face is like printer paper, the eyelids are like tissue paper, and the lips have no top layer.
Oil glands are more concentrated on the face and may require a different oil than the body. Because the face is so sensitive, a sugar scrub is generally not recommended, test a small patch before applying it to the face.
Sensitivities
A sugar scrub removes dirt, dead skin cells, and the outermost or protective layer of skin.
Be mindful of any skin conditions, patches, or recent mishaps. Do not use sugar scrubs on eczema, acne, psoriasis, hives, rosacea, or other inflammatory conditions. Wait until the skin is healed from sunburns, fungal infections, wounds, and bug bites, and be careful around bruises, varicose veins, and moles.
The skin is delicate and some conditions already compromise that protective layer. In these cases, substitute the sugar scrub meditation with gentle soap, and treat your skin with care and time to rebuild protection.
Give it Time
After a shave or wax, wait a few days
After a peel or treatment, wait a week
After a surgery or tattoo, wait a month or two
Hair
A sugar scrub before a shave or wax can benefit the smoothness and longevity. Scrubs are ok on dandruff using light oils because they are easier to wash out. If you’re interested in deep conditioning your hair, you can also use a heavy oil like Coconut Oil but it will take several washes to remove.
Body Oils
Body oils, also called carrier oils, help balance the skin to its natural oil level, providing an economical, rich, and deep hydration.
There are markers on oils that tend to clog pores called comedogenic oils. If you have acne-prone skin, test a non-comedogenic oil first.
Light and Heavy Oils are both measured terms from their molecular weight and subjective beauty terms. This split is the easiest way to understand how oil weights aid different skin types. See the chart for a glance at their benefits.
Essential oils
Essential oils are extracted oils from flowers, herbs, citrus, etc. Each carries a concentrated scent and wellness property. Essential oils are optional for sugar scrubs but are a good opportunity to set long-lasting fragrances that linger on your skin.
Feel free to experiment with your favorite relaxation fragrances. Common scents used at the spa are lavender, eucalyptus, orange, sage, and jasmine. For even distribution, add the essential oil to the body oil before mixing it with the sugar.
Sugars
To maintain the sugar’s scrub structure, use granulated sugars and avoid any sugar that feels too coarse. I mixed granulated and raw and found that the raw turned into smooth little sprinkles.
I made a chart of sugars for scrubs and for the home, comparing sugar properties, sugar alternatives, and recent studies on monk fruit sugar.
Recipe
This is a simplified recipe that can easily be built upon and because it is without preservatives, it is a small batch, one-time use, great for experimenting.
10 pumps of body oil or a couple of tablespoons
Optional: add a few drops of Essential Oil to the Body Oil before mixing with the sugar
10 packets of sugar or a couple of tablespoons
Meditation
Make a peaceful evening for yourself with a cup of tea, low lights, and some spa music. Go into the shower, get a quick rinse, and if you want, leave in a hair conditioner. Turn off the water so you can take your time and not rinse off the product.
Hold a scoop of sugar scrub in your palms and hold space for yourself, granting a moment of peace, self-acceptance, and gratitude for the luxury of self-care.
Start at the heart with gentle circulation to set loving intentions around the chest, breasts, and stomach, and let that marinate.
Then go from the limbs inwards for blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, taking deep breaths, and glowing slowly.
Because the pace started with good intentions at the heart, it slowed me down and I brought that energy to my ankles, shoulder blades, and behind my ears.
Turn the water back on and use soap and a washcloth to remove the dirt. When you're done with the shower, stand there for a moment and gently brush the water away. Notice your softness, smoothness, and radiance as you hug your towel.
Lock in the moisture with a simple lotion and enjoy your tea, lovely scents, and a fresh new you.
⚠️ Cautions ⚠️
Frequency
Do not over-exfoliate, it can cause short-term and long-term damage. I would feel comfortable recommending a gentle sugar scrub once a season to once every couple of years.
Mold
Since there are no added preservatives, the sugar scrub is a one-time use. Once the mixture is within the steam of the shower, it is not safe for storage because it can start to grow mold.
Slippage
Oil in the shower is very dangerous. Oil does not mix with water, it pushes it aside. Even with a bath mat, oil creates a very very very slippery surface. Be very careful. After the sugar scrub, wipe the floor with dish soap.
these are fluorite tetrahedrons, here is a video of sugar under a microscope
grapeseed oil and water droplets
June 23rd, 2024
