How to Exfoliate Your Skin With Olive Oil and Sugar

Co-authored by Joanna Kula

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 References Approved

Too much olive oil and sugar may be bad for your stomach, but together they are wonderful for the skin! Sugar helps exfoliate your skin, while olive oil helps moisturize it. The oil will also help lubricate your skin, and protect it against the harsh grains of the sugar. Not every sugar scrub will be suitable for your face or body, however; you will need to make adjustments depending on what you will be using it for.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Making a Basic Scrub

1
Pour ½ cup (120 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil into a small, glass jar. The jar needs to have a wide mouth for easy access, and be large enough to hold about 1½ cups (350 milliliters). Extra virgin olive oil is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is great for dry, oily, and aging skin alike. It can help treat acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It can give skin a healthy glow, and make it appear more smooth and youthful.^{[1]
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- If this is for your face, consider replacing 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 milliliters) of the olive oil with rose hip oil. It has vitamin C and anti-aging properties, making it ideal for dry, aging skin.^{[2]
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2
Stir in 15 to 20 drops of essential oil, if desired. You can use just one type of oil, or you can use a combination of several different types. The essential oil will make your scrub smell nicer. Some types of essential oil also have additional benefit for the skin.^{[3]
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- If this is for your face, reduce the amount to 10 to 15 drops to avoid possible irritations.^{[4]
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- For acne, try tea tree, bergamot, or geranium oil.
- For anti-aging, try pomegranate, grapefruit, or lavender.
- For a brighter or glowing complexion, use moringa oil or peppermint oil.
- Dry skin will benefit from rose oil, chamomile, or sunflower oil.^{[5]
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3
Add some citrus juice or spices, if desired. Adding 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 milliliters) of freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice will help brighten up your skin and give the scrub a refreshing fragrance. Another option would be to use 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 grams) of spices, such as cinnamon, apple piece, pumpkin pie, or vanilla.^{[6]
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- If this is for your face, leave the juice/spices out.
4
Add 1 cup (225 grams) of white, granulated sugar to make a body scrub. White, granulated sugar will work for most people, and is suitable for dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, however, try something with smaller grains, such as castor sugar or brown sugar.^{[7]
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Research source} To make an extra-exfoliating scrub, add ¼ cup (55 grams) of sugar.^{[8]
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- While this recipe is for sugar and oil, you can use salt too. Fine sea salt makes for a great, friction-free scrub. Just replace the sugar with the same amount of salt.
5
Add 1 cup (200 grams) of brown sugar instead to make a face scrub. White sugar is much too harsh for the sensitive, delicate skin on your face. If you are planning to make a face scrub, you should use brown sugar instead. It will be much gentler on your face thanks to its smaller granules. It is also a natural humectant, so it helps draw moisture into your skin.^{[9]
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6
Stir everything together with a spoon. Feel the scrub between your fingers. If the scrub is too coarse and grainy for you, stir in some more olive oil. If it's too liquidy, add in more sugar. Start with 1 tablespoon of oil or sugar, then add more, if needed.
7
Store the scrub in a cool, dry place. Sugar scrubs are self-preserving, so they do not need to be refrigerated. It's best if you use them within 1 year, however.^{[10]
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- If you added citrus juice into your scrub, it will only last 1 week out of the fridge, and 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge. This is because citrus juice is perishable.^{[11]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Using the Scrub on Your Face

1
Start with a clean, damp face. Wash your face first, using your usual facial cleanser. Rinse the cleanser off with warm water. This will remove makeup and dirt and help open up your pores.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Joanna Kula
Skincare Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 July 2019.}
2
Scoop up a small amount of the scrub. You'll need less than a coin-sized amount at most. Make sure that you are only using scrubs made out of brown sugar; white sugar scrubs will be too harsh on your face.
3
Massage the scrub onto your face. Use a gentle touch and upward, circular motions. Focus on the dry, rough parts of your face, and take care to avoid the delicate skin around your eyes. It would be a very good idea to rub it onto your neck as well!^{[13]
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Rinse the scrub off with warm water. If your face feels oily afterwards, you can wash it again with warm water and facial cleanser. Follow it up by splashing your face with cool water.
5
Apply toner to your face to close your pores. Pour a little bit of toner onto a cotton pad. Wipe it gently all over your face. This will help seal and tighten your pores.
- If you would like to stick with natural ingredients, try using some rose water as a toner.^{[14]
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  Joanna Kula
  Skincare Specialist
  Expert Interview. 9 July 2019.}
6
Apply some moisturizer to your skin while it's still damp. Even though you used gentle, brown sugar in your scrub, it may still dry out your skin. Applying some moisturizer will help keep your skin smooth and soft.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Joanna Kula
Skincare Specialist
Expert Interview. 9 July 2019.}
- It is much better to apply moisturizer to damp skin rather than dry; it helps seal the moisture in.
7
Use the scrub once to twice a week. The best time to apply the scrub is at night. This will give your skin time to replenish and repair itself.^{[16]
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Research source} If you have very sensitive skin, you might want to limit yourself to just once a week, or even more seldom. If you use the scrub too often, you may end up irritating the skin on your face.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Using the Scrub on Your Body

1
Step into the tub or shower. Scrubs work best on damp skin, so enjoy the warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. This will help soften the skin up in preparation for the scrub.^{[17]
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Research source} Have the jar of scrub ready to use.
2
Scoop out a small amount of the scrub. How much you scoop up depends on what area of your body you will be scrubbing. You'll need more scrub for your legs (ie: palm-full) than for your feet (ie: coin-sized).
- Cover the jar with its lid immediately after, especially if you are taking a shower, so that no water gets inside.
3
Massage the scrub onto your skin. Use a gentle, circular motion while doing so. Keep the body part out of the water while doing this so that the scrub does not wash off. You can massage the scrub for up to 1 or 2 minutes.
4
Rinse the scrub off. If your skin feels oily afterwards, you can wash it with soap and more water. Leaving a thin film of oil on your skin would not be a bad idea, however, especially if you have dry skin. The oil will get absorbed into your skin, and help moisturize it.
5
Follow up with some moisturizer. Body oil would be even better because it absorbs into your skin more readily. Lightly pat your skin dry—enough so that it is still damp, but not dripping wet—then apply your desired moisturizing lotion o body oil.^{[18]
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6
Use the scrub up to once or twice a week. Avoid using the scrub too often, or you may end up irritating your skin. You can also use the scrub less often, if you prefer. The scrub is self-preserving, so it should last up to 1 year; if it starts to look or smell bad before then, however, toss it out.
- If you added citrus juice to your scrub, use it within 1 week. You can prolong its shelf life to 2 or 3 weeks by keeping it in the fridge, however.^{[19]
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Using the Scrub while Shaving

1
Soak your legs in warm water for 5 minutes. This will help open up your pores and soften the hairs in preparation for shaving. You can do this in the tub or shower.^{[20]
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- There are mixed opinions on whether or not you should use a scrub before shaving. Some people recommended while others advise against it.^{[21]
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  Research source} If you have sensitive skin, you may want to avoid this.
2
Massage the scrub onto your legs. Scoop up a palm-ful of the scrub, then apply it to your legs using a gentle, circular motion. It might be a good idea to work one leg at a time so that you don't accidentally wash the scrub off.^{[22]
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Shave your legs. You can rinse the scrub off first and apply a shaving cream, or you can use the scrub in place of shaving cream.^{[23]
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Research source} Be sure to use a sharp, clean razor for the closest shave, and the rinse the razor off immediately after.
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Rinse your legs, then apply the scrub again. Rinse the scrub/shaving cream off of your legs first. Then, reapply the scrub using the same method as before.^{[24]
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Wash your legs with soap and warm water to get rid of any residual oil. Alternatively, you can skip the soap and leave a thin film of oil on your skin. Your skin will absorb this oil, and become softer.^{[25]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What is the best oil to use in a sugar scrub?

Joanna Kula
Licensed Esthetician
Joanna Kula is a Licensed Esthetician, Owner and Founder of Skin Devotee Facial Studio in Philadelphia. With over 10 years of experience in skincare, Joanna specializes in transformative facial treatments to help clients achieve a lifetime of healthy, beautiful, and radiant skin. She is also a contributing author for the prestigious Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa magazine and has been featured in a number of magazines including InStyle.

Joanna Kula

Licensed Esthetician

Expert Answer

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You can use other types of skin-safe oils as well, such as coconut oil. Grapeseed oil is also a great alternative for those with oily, combination or acne-prone skin.
Question

Can you use olive oil to make a sugar scrub?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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Yes, olive oil mixed with salt or sugar makes a great, hydrating scrub. You can also mix olive oil with salt for a cleansing scrub.
Question

Are sugar scrubs good for your skin?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes. Sugar is hydrating for the skin and contains an alpha hydroxy acid that helps break down dead skin cells.

Warnings

Be gentle with the scrub, especially if you have sensitive skin.

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Citrus juice/oil makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. It's best to use this scrub at night. If you use it in the morning, wear long pants/sleeves afterwards.

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Do not apply scrubs to irritated or sunburned skin. Do not use them when you have a rash either.

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