DIY

DIY Gifts: Holiday Sugar Scrubs

Holiday sugar scrubs make fantastic seasonal DIY gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! 

These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose

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I love to give gifts at Christmas. I think it’s a sweet thing to do, getting the gifter as much as the recipient into the holiday spirit. But I know that the gift list can get long – and pricey. 

So if you’re struggling for a simple “thankful for you” holiday gift that doesn’t cost much, try these holiday sugar scrubs! They’re a five minute DIY that make fantastic seasonal hostess gifts, neighbor presents, or additions to goodie baskets! 

Need a more elaborate gift for Aunt Sally who has everything? Throw in a loofah and lotion, and you’ve got a pamper gift set! Plus, if she’s not into seasonal silliness, I’ve included one classic: eucalyptus is known for it’s effectiveness as a decongestant and stress reliever. 

These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose
(clockwise, from top left: vanilla brown sugar, eucalyptus, gingerbread, and candy cane) 
These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose

One of the best parts of these holiday sugar scrubs is you probably already have the ingredients in your home. No stressful hunting for soap base when you’ve got 588392478 other things on your shopping list. The weirdest it gets are a few essential oils, which seems like 98% of people are already into. If you’re considering trying them out but don’t want to spend a ton (or join a pyramid scheme), I bought this set with this diffuser and like them a lot. They’re what I used in these recipes. 

That being said, all but the essential oils probably already live in your pantry. 

Another fun part: this craft is supremely kid friendly! It would even work with toddlers because everything except the essential oils is edible. (And I think those are but don’t quote me. This is where I need the pyramid scheme people to educate me.)

These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose
These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose
These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose

Each recipe makes about 2 cups of scrub. I distributed them into small canisters I found on clearance forever ago, but anything like these or these would be perfect for this. 

Today I’m sharing four different scents: candy cane, gingerbread, vanilla brown sugar, and eucalyptus. 

I chose to use regular granulated sugar. You can use a coarser sugar like turbinado or demerara, but I find that the finer grains are gentle enough to use on my face, which I love. But if you’d rather, go for the turbinado! 

These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose

DIY Holiday Sugar Scrubs

Candy Cane 

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 drops peppermint oil or peppermint extract
  • red decorating sugar (optional) 

Gingerbread

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar 
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Vanilla Brown Sugar

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Eucalyptus

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 drops eucalyptus oil
  • green decorating sugar (optional)

Steps for all: 

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the coconut oil 20-30 seconds, until it is a liquid but not hot. If it’s hot, let it cool for 5-10 minutes before moving the next step. 
  2. Add the sugar and other ingredients and stir together. The texture should look like damp sand. 
These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose
These holiday sugar scrubs are a five-minute kid-friendly DIY and make fantastic seasonal gifts with ingredients you already have in your home! | Teaspoon of Nose

That’s the whole process! I just made a bunch for my neighbors and friends, and I’ll keep a few handy for host gifts all season long. 

Love these? You can also try the lavender version!

6 thoughts on “DIY Gifts: Holiday Sugar Scrubs

    1. Ooh great question! Fractionated coconut oil would be better, because it stays more liquid! But I tried it with the usual/hydrogenated and it works fine. In the heat of a shower, hydrogenated is still loose enough to work as a scrub.

    1. I don’t have a proper expiration date because they never last long at my house! I would say use them within a few months of making them, only because the mixture tends to harden over time.

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