Exfoliate + Moisturize With These Citrus-Rose Sugar Scrub Bars

A quick shower massage with this multi-tasking sugar scrub bar moisturizes skin while giving it a perfect polish. Exfoliating castor sugar is balanced by skin-softening shea butter and coconut oil to cleanse and hydrate. The citrusy scent of orange, along with a dash of rose petals, leave you with bright skin and a sunny disposition!

Thanks to the cool, dry winter air, my skin is drier and flakier than ever. Let me guess—you too? I turned to my favorite sugar scrub for relief, this time turning it into a solid bar scrub for easy shower application. Plus, these babies don’t contain soap, so they won’t dry you out even further.

And did I mention that they hold their shape through hot showers? Since they don’t melt, they last pretty much forever. Plus, this recipe makes a ton, so you have extra body scrub bars to stash away for the next time you need a quick buff and polish.

Scrub Bar Ingredients

When it comes to a solid sugar scrub bar recipe, you want ingredients that moisturize and exfoliate:

Shea Butter — Because it’s loaded with skin-soothing fats, shea butter helps rejuvenate dry skin and lock in moisture.

Orange Essential Oil — Not only does it smell amazing, but the essential oil of orange is an antioxidant powerhouse. Just a few drops can help fight those skin-damaging free radicals, encourage cell turnover, and calm any inflammation [source].

Plus, it’s said to help reduce anxiety during stressful events [source] and boost mood. If you’re worried about photosensitivity (always make sure to wear extra sunscreen when using citrus oils), you can substitute with whatever oils you prefer. 

Beet Root Powder — Dry skin usually needs a little extra nourishment, which is why I like to toss in a heaping teaspoon of organic beetroot powder. It isn’t necessary, but beet powder is loaded with anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C [source] to help encourage cell regeneration and brighten skin.

It’s not as hard to find as you might think, and you can probably spot it in the bulk food sections at your local health food store. Plus, it doubles as a natural lip and cheek stain, so it’s always fun to have a little extra lying around.

Caster Sugar — Caster sugar is super-fine and gives these bars a gentle, non-irritating texture that helps slough away dead skin cells. If you don’t have caster sugar, go ahead and use white table sugar or brown sugar.

Last but not least, finish your bars with a dollop of coconut oil and some beeswax to bind everything together. Plus, top it off with some rose petals for looks.

Instructions

Step 1 | Combine and Melt

Combine the oil, butter, and beeswax in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 20-second intervals until melted.

Step 2 | Add Essential Oils

Add the essential oil and whisk to combine.

Step 3 | Add Sugar

Slowly add the sugar (and the beetroot and rose petals—if using) and mix it all together. If you have trouble with the mixture solidifying too quickly, just pop it back in the microwave for another 20–30 seconds.

Step 4 | Pour into Molds + Cool

Let the mixture cool slightly before pouring into molds. If the oils are still hot, the sugar will settle at the bottom, so you might need to spoon the sugar into the mold. Then place in the freezer for 20 minutes to cool.

Substitutions

Sugar — If you don’t have caster sugar, then any other sugar will work. Try regular white sugar, sucanat, coconut sugar, or brown sugar.

Beeswax — A wax is needed to help these bars hold their shape. But it doesn’t have to be beeswax. Feel free, especially if you are vegan, to use carnauba wax instead.

Body Scrub Bar Variations

Make softer bars: Skip the beeswax and just use cocoa and shea butter like in these Lush Scrubee dupes.

Add soap: Try these exfoliating scrub bars made with melt & pour soap for a sudsing scrub.

Make a lotion bar: Prefer to keep your scrub and lotion separate? No problem, leave out the sugar and just make lotion bars or even a solid face serum.

Make a face scrub bar: Use a fine-grain sugar like caster sugar or brown sugar if you plan to use the bar as a face scrub. And remember to go easy on the scrubbing.

Using Sugar Scrub Bars

To use, warm a bar in your hands until it has melted slightly, then gently buff the skin. Rinse with water.

Storage

Store any unused bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As long as they stay dry, they should keep for months.

FAQ

We swear by these matcha lotion bars or this shea butter body scrub for revitalizing parched skin.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

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