Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Exfoliate your body
• Method 2 of 2: Exfoliate your face
• Tips
• Warnings

With sugar granules you can remove dead skin cells in a relatively gentle way. Sugar even contains a little glycolic acid, which makes your skin soft and slows down. It is not a panacea for skin problems, but it is very cheap and safe. Remember that any scrub can damage your skin if you use it too often.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Exfoliate your body

1. Start with brown, white, or cane sugar. Cane sugar is a powerful body scrub, especially good for your feet and rough skin. Brown sugar has smaller grains and is high in moisture, making it a softer option. White granulated sugar is in between: it has just as small grains as brown sugar, but it does not contain as much moisture.
   • Before you start, you should know that the scrub can temporarily cause red spots if you have sensitive skin. Do it just in case if you have an evening to yourself, when you want to try it out.
2. Choose an oil. Olive oil is a commonly used option, but any natural oil will do. The oil makes the sugar easier to apply, and it keeps your skin healthy at the same time. Choose the oil based on your skin type and personal preferences:
   • For oily skin, try safflower oil, hazelnut oil, or grape seed oil.
   • For very dry skin, you can try coconut oil, shea butter, or cocoa butter. You can whisk it up to make it easier to spread.
   • If you want to avoid strong smells, try grape seed, safflower, or sweet almond oil.
3. Mix sugar and oil. Mix 1 part sugar with 1 part oil so that you get a thick paste. If you want a stronger scrub, add 2 parts sugar to 1 part oil.
   • If you use white granulated sugar, keep the ratio 2: 1.
   • If you are going to exfoliate spots with acne or broken veins, make a very mild scrub, for example with 1 part sugar and 2 parts oil. Exfoliating can make these conditions worse.
4. Add essential oil (optional). If you want to add fragrance and possibly health benefits, add some essential oil. The scrub should never consist of more than 1 to 2 percent essential oil. You can use about 48 drops per cup of other ingredients, or three drops per tablespoon of scrub.
   • Thyme, mint, and other herbs can give the scrub antibacterial properties. This is good for acne, but it can irritate sensitive skin.
   • Do not use citrus oil, cumin, ginger, and angelica without talking to your doctor. These can make you hypersensitive to light, which can cause you to have a painful reaction if you get out in the sun.
5. Wash your skin. If your skin is dirty, use water and a mild soap to clean it. If your skin is already clean, all you need to do is wet it well. If you exfoliate dry skin, it can turn red and become irritated.
   • Hot water or vigorous soap can irritate the skin, making it sensitive or painful. If your skin is already sensitive, even a mild sugar scrub can hurt.
6. Scrub with the sugar mixture. Gently rub the sugar scrub over your skin. Rub all parts of your body in circular motions for about 2 to 3 minutes. Rub gently; if it hurts or turns red, scrub too hard.
7. Rinse and dry. Rinse it off with warm water and then pat your skin dry. You can then use a moisturizing lotion or some of the sugar-free oil on your skin.
8. Do not repeat this more often than every two weeks. After about two weeks, the outer skin layer is replaced. If you exfoliate too quickly, you can damage living cells instead of removing the dead skin cells. Then you get a red, rough skin, which is prone to infections.

Method 2 of 2: Exfoliate your face

1. Know the risks. While sugar is fairly mild, it is still abrasive. That means it can get rid of dead skin cells, but it can also irritate sensitive skin. Most people don't have any problems, but if you don't use it properly, it can damage your facial skin and cause pain.
   • If you have acne or broken veins on your face, don't use a scrub that chafes the skin.
2. Start with brown or white sugar. Brown sugar is the smoothest type of sugar, so it's the best option if you have sensitive skin. White granulated sugar contains less moisture and feels a bit grittier. It can also work, but it is not recommended if you have sensitive skin.
3. Mix it with oil or honey. Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. You can also use honey instead of oil. Honey consists mainly of sugar, so you exfoliate your skin even more.
   • Safflower oil and olive oil are good options. For more advice on oil, see the section above.
4. Wash your face. If your face is dirty, clean it with mild soap and warm water. If your face is already clean, wet it well so that the sugar scrub doesn't chafe too much.
   • Wash your hands well to avoid getting dirt on your face.
5. Put your hair back. Pull your hair back with an elastic so it doesn't hang down on your face. You can rinse off the scrub in the shower, but it's better to avoid sticky hair.
6. Exfoliate your skin with sugar. Scoop 1-2 tablespoons of your sugar scrub onto your fingertips. Apply this to the areas you want to exfoliate and make circular movements. Do this very gently for 2-3 minutes to remove dead skin cells. When you exfoliate, it shouldn't hurt. If it hurts or is sensitive, scrub too hard.
7. Rinse off the sugar. Wet your softest washcloth with warm water and wring it out. Put it on your face and gently brush off the sugar. Repeat this until your face is clean.
8. Dry your face and apply moisturizer. Use a clean towel and pat your face dry. If you want to make your skin even softer, you can now massage a moisturizing lotion into your skin. Do this for 1-2 minutes and your skin will be as soft as silk.

Tips

• This also works well on chapped lips. Then they become as soft as velvet again!
• Sugar only hydrates your skin for a short time, and it can eventually dry out your skin. The oil in the scrub hydrates your skin for longer.
• Store sugar scrub in a closed container in a cool place. If you add a few drops of vitamin E oil, you can keep it longer. How long you can keep it just right depends on the type of oil you use.

Warnings

• Lemon juice and other citric acid ingredients can make your skin hypersensitive to sunlight, and it can irritate and dry your skin. While it does help get rid of dead skin cells, it is best not to use it if you are making a sugar scrub as you might as well use a chemical scrub.
• Sugar can sting if you have cuts or scrapes. If you don't exfoliate too hard, you won't make it worse.
• Essential oil can cause an allergic reaction. If you are using an essential oil for the first time, add twice less than you intend to in the vegetable oil. Rub a little on the inside of your wrist and put a band-aid on it for 48 hours.
• Never exfoliate your skin if it is sore or sensitive from sunburn.