The Best DIY Body Scrub Recipes for Glowing Skin
We are sharing 12 DIY body scrub recipes to help you achieve glowing and irresistible smooth skin naturally.
You know that radiant glow some people seem to have in their skin, the kind that makes you wonder what beauty secrets they’re keeping? And when their skin catches the light, it looks soft, smooth, and impossibly luminous.
Here’s the secret: they exfoliate. Regularly. And with the right DIY body scrub, you can too!
If you're exploring how to make body scrubs at home with clean, nourishing ingredients, you're in the right place. Our homemade body scrub recipes are packed with soothing botanicals, fruit enzymes, and oils to hydrate, renew and exfoliate your skin. Perfect for self-care days or gifting, these scrubs are easy to make and even easier to love.
Some of my most treasured beauty rituals are the ones passed down from my mom. I remember as a kid, watching her mix brown sugar with oil and melted cocoa butter before her evening shower. With gentle, circular motions, she would massage it into her skin, seemingly rinsing away the day and emerging with a kind of natural glow I could never quite describe.
Over time, I started doing it too, especially in the summer months when my friends and I spent nearly every day at the beach. We’d exfoliate the night before, shave afterward, and head out early in the morning so we could be basking at the beach and feeling like sun-kissed goddesses by noon.
Body Scrub Benefits
Not only are homemade body scrub recipes incredibly effective, but they also let you control every single ingredient. No mystery chemicals, no artificial fragrances, just nourishing, natural ingredients your skin will drink up.
DIY scrubs are also incredibly cost-effective and sustainable. Most recipes use ingredients you already have in your pantry, like sugar, honey, and olive oil, making them an affordable alternative to store-bought body exfoliators. Honey brings added benefits. Its antibacterial properties are supported by research, including this study on honey’s role in wound healing and fighting bacteria published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
Whether you're preparing for an important event, trying to prevent winter skin dullness, or simply craving a few moments of self-care, adding a natural body scrub to your weekly skincare routine can do wonders for you well-being and health.
So, let’s talk about what makes DIY exfoliating body scrubs so wholesome, how to create your own handmade, spa-worthy experience at home, and why they’re not only great for your skin but also a deeply satisfying ritual.
How to Make Your Own Body Scrub
Learning how to make a body scrub at home is easier than you might think, and it is a simple act of self-care for your skin.
At its core, a homemade body scrub only needs two ingredients: an exfoliant and a base oil. The natural exfoliant helps remove dead skin cells, making your skin feel smoother. Sugar and sea salt are great for a scrubbier texture, while baking soda and ground oats are gentler exfoliators and good for sensitive skin.
For your base oil, you can use coconut oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil. Each one helps moisturize your skin in its own way. From there, you can mix in a few extra natural ingredients like honey (which helps fight bacteria), turmeric (for a brighter glow), or mashed avocado (for added softness and vitamins).
Essential oils are also widely used in DIY body scrubs for a nice scent and aromatherapy. Lavender is calming, peppermint is refreshing, and tea tree is great for clearer skin.
Keep reading to see how a few natural ingredients, mixed with a little care, can turn into dreamy scrubs your skin will love.
When to Use a Body Scrub
This is one of the most common questions I get: When should I exfoliate my body? And the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on your skin type, your lifestyle, and how your skin reacts to exfoliation.
Personally, I exfoliate two to three times a week, no more than that, since my skin tends to be oily. Still, I’m careful to preserve the natural oils that keep it soft and balanced. If your skin leans more delicate or dry, once a week or even every other week might be just right.
Think of exfoliation as a gentle refresh: it helps prevent dead skin cells and buildup from lingering on the surface, revealing a fresh, radiant layer beneath. But like all good things, it’s best in moderation.
Some of the best times to use a homemade body scrub are:
In the summertime, to enhance your skin’s natural glow and help it soak up that nourishing body oil afterward
In winter, to slough off dry, flaky patches and reveal soft, moisturized skin underneath
Before shaving to prevent razor bumps and get a closer, smoother shave
Note: No matter the time of the year, avoid using any exfoliant on open wounds, sunburns, or irritated skin. Even the gentlest natural exfoliating scrub can cause stinging or slow healing in those sensitive areas.
Exfoliating Tips for Sensitive Skin and Beginners
If you're new to the world of home body scrubs or you have easily irritated skin, don’t worry. Start slowly, listen to your skin, and go from there.
Here are a few other recommendations:
Always start with clean hands and tools. Be sure to wash your hands and your sponge if you are using one.
Patch test your natural body scrub on a small area before applying it to your whole body, especially if you're trying new ingredients.
Use soft, gentle circular motions. Scrubbing too hard can cause microtears or inflammation.
The beauty of how to make a DIY body scrub is that you can tailor it to your exact needs. Sensitive skin? Use fine sugar and soothing oils like jojoba or sweet almond. Want something invigorating? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils: eucalyptus, peppermint or orange for that uplifting tingle.
Can You Use a Body Scrub on Your Face?
It’s tempting, I know. That glowing post-scrub look can make you want to slather your favorite DIY exfoliating body scrub everywhere. But hold on, let’s talk about why you shouldn’t use a body scrub on your face.
The skin on your body is thicker and tougher than the delicate skin on your face. Even gentle natural exfoliants for the body, like sugar or salt, can be too abrasive for facial skin when using the same amounts, especially around the eyes or mouth.
Instead, opt for face-specific exfoliators and face-friendly quantities and combinations (I've shared some of my favorites DIY face scrubs here) that are made using tried-and-true methods, designed especially for facial skin with more calming ingredients. Trust me, your face deserves its own little ritual.
What to Do After Exfoliating
So you’ve scrubbed, rinsed, and admired your silky-smooth skin in the mirror. What’s next?
First, always follow up with a natural moisturizer like plain coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Exfoliating removes not just dead skin, but also some of your skin’s natural oils, so replenishing that moisture is key. Think of your post-scrub skin as a blank canvas. It’s more receptive to hydration, so use this opportunity to nourish it deeply.
Some of my favorite post-exfoliation treats include:
A thick, whipped shea body butter in the winter
Lightweight oils like rosehip, coconut, or grapeseed in the summer
A cooling aloe gel after sun exposure
And don't skip the sunscreen! Exfoliating reveals fresh skin that can be more vulnerable to sun damage. Even if you're not planning a beach day, applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable.
Lastly, if you’re someone who struggles with body acne, keratosis pilaris, or clogged pores, know that results take time. Regular exfoliation is part of the journey, not the entire destination. Be gentle, be patient, consult with your doctor, and above all, be consistent.
13 DIY body scrub recipes For Glowing, Smooth Skin
Ready to whip up your own homemade body scrub? I’ve got you covered. Whether you're dreaming of something cozy and sweet (like brown sugar and vanilla) or crave something bright and citrusy, I’m about to share some delicious natural exfoliating scrub recipes that you can make with just a few ingredients from your kitchen.
No fancy tools needed: just a bowl, a few utensils, maybe a blender if you want a smoother texture, and a mason jar to store your new favorite blend. These homemade DIY body scrub recipes are easy to make, customizable for different skin types, and feel totally luxurious.
From classic brown sugar to invigorating coffee blends, get ready to pamper your skin and treat your senses, because you deserve that Sunday spa moment, even on a Tuesday night.
Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe for All Skin Types
This everyday DIY exfoliating body scrub is gentle enough for all skin types. Brown sugar is truly everyone’s best friend! This homemade body scrub DIY recipe was passed down from my grandma and combines nourishing oils with honey to soften and smooth your skin without causing irritation.
Ingredients:
½ cup fine brown sugar or any other type of sugar
¼ cup raw honey
¼ cup oil (castor, argan, coconut, almond, or olive)
5 drops peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
In a glass bowl, combine the sugar, honey, and coconut oil until you get a thick, spreadable paste.
Add your essential oil drops: use 5 to 7 drops for a more fragrant scrub, or 2 to 3 drops for a more natural exfoliant.
Once your scrub reaches your desired consistency, transfer it into a mason jar.
Brightening Lemon, Honey & Turmeric Body Scrub with Sea Salt
If you're wondering how to make an exfoliator for your body that brightens dull skin and evens out tone, this all-natural scrub is your answer. Lemon and turmeric are known for their clarifying properties, while honey adds hydration and salt effectively removes dead skin cells. This homemade body scrub DIY recipe is especially great for elbows, knees, and back.
A simpler version of this recipe uses just salt or sugar and lemon juice and its quite popular among DIY lovers.
Ingredients:
½ cup fine sea salt
2 tablespoons raw honey
Juice of 4 lemons
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
Instructions:
In a blender, combine the salt, lemon juice, turmeric, and honey.
Blend until you achieve a thick, spreadable paste.
Transfer the paste into a mason jar for storage.
Oatmeal Homemade Body Scrub Recipe for Sensitive Skin
This calming handmade body scrub is perfect if your skin is easily irritated, red, or flaky. The oats have anti-inflammatory properties and are rich in antioxidants that soothe the skin. Almond milk hydrates, and honey locks in moisture. If you’re looking for a natural body scrub that feels more like skincare than exfoliation, this is it.
Ingredients:
1 cup old-fashioned oats, finely ground
½ cup almond milk or oat milk
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (optional)
Instructions:
Blend the oats until they form a fine, flour-like powder.
In a glass container, mix the ground oats with almond milk, honey, and almond oil until a creamy paste forms.
For a thicker consistency, add more oats, for a more spreadable scrub, add more almond milk.
Transfer the scrub to a mason jar.
Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
This is a natural exfoliant for body care that’s especially helpful during winter or after sun exposure.
Detoxifying Matcha Green tea & Lavender Sugar Scrub
This DIY exfoliating body scrub is gentle on the skin and rich in antioxidants. Matcha green tea and lavender come together beautifully in this recipe. Matcha helps your skin appear healthier and brighter, and some even say it offers added benefits like UV protection, while lavender softens the skin and soothes the senses. This homemade body scrub smells good and feels even better.
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
¼ cup melted coconut oil
1-2 teaspoon matcha powder (optional green tea leaves)
5 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
Combine white sugar and matcha powder in a mixing bowl.
Add the coconut oil and lavender oil.
Mix well until you get a smooth, spreadable texture.
Adjust consistency if needed, add more sugar for a thicker scrub or more oil for a softer texture.
Transfer your scrub to a clean mason jar or airtight container.
Coconut & Coffee DIY Exfoliating Body Scrub
If you're looking for a natural exfoliating scrub that also boosts circulation and helps with skin firmness, this one’s for you. This is another of my family’s favorite recipes. Caffeine reduces puffiness, brightens and improves skin firmness. You can make this DIY body scrub with fresh or used coffee grounds.
Ingredients:
1 cup coffee grounds
½ cup coconut, olive, almond, or jojoba oil
2 tablespoons cocoa butter (optional for extra moisture)
5 drops orange or vanilla essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
Add the coffee grounds, coconut oil, and melted cocoa in a mixing bowl, combine throughly until the texture is gritty yet moist.
Add the essential oil and mix well until fully incorporated.
Transfer the scrub to a clean mason jar or airtight container for storage.
Sensitive Skin Tip: If the coffee feels too coarse, mix in more oil or sub with finely ground almonds for a gentler natural body scrub.
Vitamin C-Riched, Almond & Avocado Body Scrub for Glowing Skin
This natural body scrub recipe is all about deep hydration. We blend whipped shea butter, creamy avocado, and coconut oil to create a mix packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats.
Whether your skin is dull, dry, or simply craving extra moisture and pampering, this exfoliating scrub is perfect for restoring its glow and overall health.
Ingredients:
½ cup ground almonds or oats
1 mashed ripe avocado
¼ cup shea butter (softened)
1 ½ tablespoon coconut oil (avocado, almond oil...)
½ teaspoon vitamin C powder
¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions:
In a bowl, mash the avocado until smooth and combine it with the ground almonds.
Add the shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin C, stirring until you achieve a creamy consistency.
Mix in the sugar and adjust the texture as needed by adding more oil for a softer scrub or more sugar for extra exfoliation.
Transfer the mixture into a clean glass mason jar.
Store in the refrigerator and use within 2 days for maximum freshness.
Refreshing Watermelon, Mint & Sugar Body Scrub DIY
This refreshing DIY body scrub is a go-to favorite for the summer months. It combines white sugar (a gentle natural exfoliant for body) with hydrating watermelon and refreshing mint. If you've been wondering how to make exfoliating scrub for body that smells divine and feels soothing, this one’s for you. The mix of watermelon and mint will leave your skin feeling incredibly soft, cool and refreshed.
Ingredients:
¾ cup white sugar
¼ cup fresh watermelon puree (strained)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
bunch of peppermint leaves
3 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
Blend or mash the watermelon until smooth.
Strain the blended watermelon through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve to remove excess water.
In a bowl, combine the watermelon pulp with sugar, coconut oil, and chopped mint.
Stir until a soft, slushy texture forms.
Transfer the scrub to a mason jar.
Store any scrub leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cold application makes this DIY body scrub extra refreshing!
Ginger, Baking Soda Homemade Exfoliating Body Scrub with Almond Oil
This homemade body scrub combines baking soda for gentle exfoliation, ginger for detoxifying benefits, and almond oil for deep hydration. It’s ideal for soothing tired muscles and softening rough skin patches.
Both baking soda and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness, treat stubborn hyperpigmentation, and improve skin tone.
Ingredients:
½ cup baking soda
2 tablespoons ground ginger
3 tablespoons chia seeds
¼ cup sweet almond oil
¼ cup almond milk
Instructions:
In a glass bowl, mix the ginger, baking soda and chia seeds until well combined.
Slowly add the almond oil and warm milk, mixing until a smooth, spreadable paste forms.
Blend the paste.
Adjust the texture if needed by adding more baking soda for thickness or more oil for a softer consistency.
Transfer the scrub to a clean jar with a lid.
Coconut Milk & Honey Natural Body Scrub
This Coconut milk and honey scrub has a delicious smell. It’s creamy, hydrating, and packed with fatty acids and enzymes to smooth and soften skin. Ideal for dry or sun-kissed skin, this DIY body scrub exfoliates and moisturizes all at once.
Ingredients:
1 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup coconut oil, almond oil
2 tablespoons coconut milk
Instructions:
In a glass bowl, mix the coconut oil, shredded organic coconut, and honey until well combined.
Slowly add the milk, stirring until the scrub reaches your desired consistency.
Transfer the scrub to a clean, mason jar or airtight container.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Cooling Cucumber, Aloe & Agave DIY Body Scrub Recipe
This natural body scrub is perfect for sensitive or sun-exposed skin thanks to its cooling effect and soothing ingredients. The vitamins in cucumber help detoxify your skin cells, while aloe vera delivers a refreshing sensation. Agave syrup and sugar (or Epsom salt) gently exfoliate and hydrate for soft, nourished skin.
Ingredients:
½ cup fine Epsom salt or granulated sugar
cucumber puree (strained)
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon agave syrup
3 basil leaves
Instructions:
Blend two cucumbers with the basil leaves until smooth, then strain to remove any excess liquid.
In a glass bowl, combine the cucumber puree with the salt, aloe vera, and agave syrup.
Stir until you get a thick, spreadable scrub.
deep Moisture Mango & Cocoa Butter Body Scrub
Another really effective DIY body scrub is this mango and cocoa butter scrub. The richness of natural butters deeply hydrates and moisturizes, while the sugar gently exfoliates dead skin.
Ingredients:
½ cup mango butter
¼ cup cocoa butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essential oil or extract (optional)
Instructions:
Gently melt the mango and cocoa butters in a double boiler or microwave.
Let the butters cool down for a few minutes, before stirring in the sugar and the vanilla oil or extract.
Whip using a hand mixer for a fluffy texture or mix with a spoon for a more solid balm-like consistency.
Transfer the scrub to a clean jar with a lid.
Lemon & Poppy Seed Homemade Body Scrub for Smooth Skin
My inspiration for this recipe came from my favorite lemon loaf. This citrus scrub is truly like delicious sunshine in a jar! It’s packed with lemon juice and zest to help lighten hyperpigmentation and brighten the skin, vitamin E to nourish, and poppy seeds for gentle texture.
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil, coconut oil or combination
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
lemon zest of one-two lemon
5 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine the granulated sugar, poppy seeds, and lemon zest.
Add the vitamin E oil, almond oil, lemon juice, and lemon essential oil.
Mix thoroughly until the scrub reaches a smooth, well-blended consistency.
Transfer the body scrub to a glass mason jar with a lid.
Store in a cool, dry place.
Pineapple, Turmeric & Vanilla Natural Exfoliating Scrub
This DIY body scrub combines sugar and dried pineapple for a fruit-based exfoliant, natural oils for nourishment, and a dreamy hint of vanilla. It’s perfect for dull or dry skin. Turmeric helps brighten the complexion, while the bromelain enzyme and vitamins in pineapple promote healthier, smoother-looking skin.
Ingredients:
1 cup white or raw sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped dried pineapple
1-2 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 tablespoons almond oil, coconut, jojoba
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Place the dried pineapple pieces in a blender or food processor and pulse until the pineapple pieces are finely ground.
In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, turmeric, and ground pineapple.
Add the almond oil and vanilla extract, mixing all the ingredients until well combined.
Transfer the body scrub to a glass jar with a lid.
Store in a cool, dry place.
I hope these DIY body scrub recipes add as much joy to your skincare routine as they do to mine. If you loved them, be sure to check out our DIY lip scrub recipes and our favorite turmeric exfoliants!
Feel free to pin this article and save it for later, so you can revisit it anytime your skin needs a little extra love. And if you have your own favorite exfoliant recipes or tips, I’d love to hear them in the comments. Let’s keep this self-care glow going together.
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