Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Staying with my theme of cheap, easy, quick and food-related gifts, this one if my fave. I first heard of this when a friend bought it to our annual friend gift exchange and I was immediately hooked. First I had to make and try it for myself. This natural scrub works to exfoliate the skin and leave it feeling soft and smooth.

Now there seems to be hundreds of different variations of scents, ratios and ingredients, so I have decided not to post the recipes I used because... quite frankly after the first one, I stopped measuring. Depending on your ratio of oil to sugar, you will get different consistency and I think that is a personal preference that you will have to decide for yourself. But I will mention my favourite combos that I have tried so far as well as some things I have learned along the way.

Fave Combos:
1. Warm Vanilla Sugar
- Made with brown sugar, vanilla, honey and oil

2. Lavender
- Made with Dawn with Olay Hand Renewal Dish Soap and sugar
* Clearly this is not edible

3. Cinnamon Spice 
- Made with any combo of your fave spices - I used cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

4. Lemon
- Made with lemon zest and juice
*Careful using this if you have small cuts - its a stinger!

Ingredients:
Oil 
- Most of the recipes require the use of some type of oil and from what I have read, there is a lot of conflicting information about which kind to use. I have read that it is good and bad to use olive oil/canola/sunflower etc. So I don't really know what to say about this... haha. I have personally been using olive oil and I have no complaints. One thing that appears to be unanimous across groups is the use of coconut oil (also it happens to be the new trend), but it is also a bit on the pricey side. But some would argue the benefits outweigh the cost.

Essential Oils
-You will see that many recipes suggest use of essential oils. Essential oils are wonderful in that they add a lot of scent for just a few drops, HOWEVER, I have found them extremely expensive - only in the sense that this is the only purpose I have right now for them, so to buy a huge bottle for $16.99 and I only need a few drops here and there - not worth it for me. But I think it would be great addition to any scrub and necessary if you are trying a salt scrub!

Use:
- Best used on dry patches of skin (elbows, feet, knees etc.) I use it all over my body.
- I would not recommend using it on your face, I find it a bit abrasive, but I love it on my lips ESPECIALLY before I use a banging bright lipstick.
- I would not recommend using it more than 2x a week - remember it is an exfoliating scrub.
- Do not keep it in the fridge.

Packaging 
- I bought my jars and ribbon from the dollar store
- I made the labels myself by hand writing on white paper and using clear tape to stick to the jar and protect the paper. Obviously using a label-maker or printing out a sign from the computer would give a cleaner look. But I don't have a printer.

Warning Label:
- I usually put a little label on the back with the following:

- Stir well before use.

- Rub in circular motion on dry areas. 

- Rinse off with warm water

*Be careful in tub! Oil may make it slippery!*

There you have it folks! Another quick and easy gift idea that you can whip together in a jiffy. I am sure you will find our favourite combo!