Sugar scrubs are such a quick, simple way to exfoliate and freshen the skin. This recipe combines moisturizing oils, cleansing natural soap, and fragrant essential oils to leave skin silky smooth. I love the handy little cubes that are just the right size to quickly clean and exfoliate hands, legs, or other areas. These vanilla chai exfoliating cubes are simple, handy, and even make great gifts.

About the Ingredients

Shea butter is an emollient that helps skin retain moisture. It also contains vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps keep skin looking young and healthy. I use vitamin E oil in so many of my DIY recipes for skin because it is high in antioxidants that decrease the appearance of scars, stretch marks, cuts, and other blemishes. Coconut oil is an emollient, which is a moisturizer that helps keep the skin moist and protected by trapping moisture in the skin. It is also antimicrobial, so it is great for cleansing hands and other areas in this scrub.

The vanilla and essential oils give these little cubes a delicious aroma. Plus the oils are great for cleansing and protecting hands and skin.

Ingredients

• 2.5 oz organic shea butter soap base
• 4 oz. shea butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 oz. vitamin E oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 drops clove essential oil
• 4 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
• 3 drops ginger essential oil
• 3 drops cardamom essential oil
• 2 drops tangerine essential oil
• 1 drop nutmeg essential oil
• 2 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
• Silicone 1″ cube mold

Instructions

1. Using a kitchen scale, weigh soap base in a medium pot. Tare your scale and weigh shea butter into the same pot. Warm gently over low heat to melt the soap and shea butter, while stirring constantly.
2. Once melted, remove from heat and add coconut oil and vitamin E oil. Stir to melt coconut oil.
3. Add essential oils.
4. Stir in sugar. The mixture will be loose, but it will harden as it cools.
5. Scoop mixture into silicone mold and smooth the tops the molds.
6. Allow to cool and solidify for at least 2 hours at room temperature or for about and hour in the refrigerator before popping out of the molds.
7. Store cubes in a jar with a lid in a cool place. (They will melt if they get too warm.)

To Use

Simply smush one or two of these Vanilla Chai Exfoliating Cubes in wet hands and slather and scrub over desired area with a small amount of water.

Because some of the essential oils in this recipe are hot, I do not recommend it for using on the face or on small children.

Want to learn more about carrier oils and which ones are best for your DIY projects? Check out this Guide to Choosing the Best Carrier Oil.

For another fall favorite DIY, check out this Pumpkin Mask.