All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub
Featuring lemon, oil, sugar and salt, this All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub is a simple DIY gift to prepare – perfect for the holiday season or teacher gifts.
Save this recipe for All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub to Pinterest!
Homemade Lemon Sugar Scrub Recipe
This is a different sort of post. It doesn’t involve a recipe for something you’d eat. But, it is made from all natural kitchen products and it’s a great gift for anyone who likes pretty things or pampering.
Especially someone who is an avid cook and suffers from chronic dry skin due to all the hand washing in the kitchen.
Keep this gift in mind as an inexpensive option for those end of the school year teacher gifts as well.
Something handmade, pretty, and useful always makes a nice gift for those teachers who work so hard with our children.
It also makes a great simple and inexpensive hostess gift to bring along with you to any holiday parties you may be attending.
You can buy pretty jars to store this All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub in or you can reuse other glass jars that you may have in your kitchen.
Simply soak the jars to remove the labels, clean inside and out well, and cover the lid with something pretty to cover up any non-removable labels.
I like the cute little Weck Jars for gifting, but you can use any canning jar as a cute container when gifting homemade sugar scrub.
If the All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub is for yourself, you might like Ball Plastic 8-Ounce Freezer Jars for practical storage.
What the Ingredients for Lemon Sugar Scrub
For this particular All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub recipe, I chose ingredients that I have in the kitchen
- Olive oil
- Lemon
- Salt
- Sugar
Olive oil moisturizes, lemon freshens and is especially good for removing onion and garlic odors from the skin, the sugar/salt combo exfoliates dry skin and renews the appearance of your hands.
Salt can be drying, so you wouldn’t want to make the scrub entirely of salt, but I added a bit for some coarser pieces.
If you’d rather, simply replace the amount designated for the salt with additional sugar.
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub
Combine the sugar, kosher salt, lemon zest, and olive oil in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix well.
For a slightly stronger fragrance, add lemon essential oil if desired.
Transfer into a pretty jar and tighten the lid. Then, wipe the outside of any spills or drips. For an extra touch, tie a pretty bow around the jar if you plan to gift this scrub.
Scroll all the way down for a printable version of this including measurements!
How to Customize Sugar Scrub Recipe
The beauty of this recipe is that you can change it up in lots of ways to customize it according to your personal preferences.
You can try a different oil. Coconut oil, for example, is very versatile and is a great addition to a scrub recipe.
You can use a different citrus or a combination of citruses to scent this scrub recipe. Or, if you want to you can make a Citrus Sugar. You can also add essential oils to enhance the properties of the ingredients and provide a natural way to scent it.
What Oils Can You use in Sugar Scrubs
- Fractionated coconut oil (liquid, not solid)
- Sunflower
- Sweet almond oil
- Grapeseed oil
If you prefer to use something other than olive oil for the carrier oil in this recipe, try one of the above listed substitute options.
In this recipe, I prefer olive oil. But, I also like fractionated coconut oil that I purchase through doTerra. For more about the benefits and uses of coconut oil, check out these 7 Easy Ways to Use Coconut Oil in your Beauty Routine.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB
Pure Essential Oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil because they are too strong to use full strength to moisten the sugar/salt scrub portion of the mixture alone.
If you are using this homemade sugar recipe for gifting purposes, please be aware of your your receiver’s personal and/or family allergies when choosing carrier and pure essential oils.
How do you use Kitchen Hand Scrub?
Just massage it on your hands (as if you were washing your hands with this rather than soap).
Then, rinse with warm water.
All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub will remove dry skin and odors from the hands while leaving the skin moisturized.
Save this recipe for All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub to Pinterest!
More Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes
Looking for recipes similar to this All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub?
Here are a couple other homemade sugar scrubs that I have made.
Vanilla Lavender Sugar Scrub features vanilla scented sugar and dried lavender buds.
Mint and Rosemary combine for a pleasant aroma and are invigorating to a tired body in the morning in this Rosemary Mint Sugar Scrub.
A Lavender Eucalyptus Green Tea Detox Bath is a great way to rejuvenate the mind, body, and skin.
Read all about why detox baths work and tips for the best, most beneficial detox bath. Package it up pretty for a nice homemade gift.
These DIY Moisturizing Bath Bombs only contain 4 ingredients, are incredibly simple to make and are perfect for soothing dry, scaly, itchy winter skin.
Homemade Bath Bombs will look like a special luxury spa item.
1-Ingredient Whipped Coconut Oil is a fantastic, all-natural, chemical-free addition to your regular beauty routine. It stays light and smooth unlike solid coconut oil.
You can fancy it up by adding some essential oils to scent it and packaging it nicely.
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All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub
Featuring lemon, oil, sugar and salt, this All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub is a simple DIY gift to prepare – perfect for the holiday season or teacher gifts.
Materials
- 1 1/2 c sugar
- 1/3 c kosher salt
- zest of 1 extra large lemon (or other citrus)
- 1 c olive oil
- lemon essential oil, optional
Tools
- 2 - 8 ounce Jars or 1 Pint Jar with lids
- Bowl
- Measuring Cups
- Zester
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. If you would like a slightly stronger fragrance, add the lemon essential oil.
- Spoon into a pretty jar, tighten the lid.
- Wipe any spills or drips from the outside of the jar.
- Alternatively, you can use orange or lime zest for a different fresh citrus smell.
Notes
For an extra touch, tie a pretty bow around the jar if you plan to gift this scrub.
Recommended Products
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Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think of it by leaving a comment below.
Save this recipe for All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub to Pinterest!
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All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub
Featuring lemon, oil, sugar and salt, this All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub is a simple DIY gift to prepare – perfect for the holiday season or teacher gifts.
Abby says
Katie,
If I wanted to make this a different fragrance, I would leave out the lemon zest and the pure lemon extract, and just use whatever fragrance I wanted, correct?
Katie says
Correct. I have used orange instead of lemon and also essential oils.
50+ and on the Run says
This looks great, can’t wait to experiment with other scents! Thank you for posting.
Heather says
Wow – Thank you for all your inspiration, such great ideas !
I noticed on the Rosemary Mint Sugar Scrub that you have kosher or epsom salt – will epsom salt work with the Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub too?
Thanks so much 🙂
Katie says
I haven’t tried it in that one yet but I’m sure it would be fine.
Peggy says
I have lurked about but never left a comment. I just want to say thank you for all the great gift ideas!! I have made salt/sugar scrubs for a number of years and have found they have a fairly long shelf life. Sugar and salt are both natural preservatives and the oil typically does not go rancid unless it is exposed to high temperatures. I usually make mine around the beginning of November to give as Christmas presents.
Keep up the great work!
Jami says
Could you use coconut oil in place of the olive oil?
Katie says
If it is liquid coconut oil that would work, but I don’t know about the kind that is solid at room temp.
diane says
Hi Katie! I love this, and it’s on my TO DO list for teachers! can you tell me, could I TOTALLY wack this recipe, and leave out the lemon and add pure vanilla extract instead? do you have any idea? Thank you for taking the time to answer comments, too…. I have LOVED reading them!
Katie says
Hi Diane – I have no idea on the vanilla extract since I have not tried that. Perhaps try an essential oil instead if you do not like/want the lemon.
Ruth says
Would there be an reason NOT to use lavender oil? I’m obsessed with the smell lately, and think it would be a great bathroom addition, along with a kitchen lemon scrub. Thanks for the great teacher-gift ideas.
Ruth says
Also, would you still put the lemon zest in it, or a less fragrant citrus juice? What would that less fragrant zest be?
Katie says
Lemon and lavender go nicely together if you would like to have two complimentary scents.
Katie says
Lavender is fine. This is easily customizable to personal preferences by substituting essential oils for the lemon zest.
Dana says
1/4 tsp pure lemon extract, optional
is this optional to use in place of the zest..or just to give a stronger fragrance?
Michelle says
Great idea!
Lindsay says
I love the idea of the zest but I am going to make some for gifts and I don’t want to have to worry about them going bad so I think I am going to do just lemon essential oils (I LOVE LOVE lemon)! So how much should I add if I am just using essential oils?
Katie says
I would start with 4-6 drops of the oil and then test it to see if the scent is strong enough. It varies depending on the brand of oil too as some are more pure than others. I really like doTERRA. They are the best on the market, in my opinion.
shannon cartwright says
How long will this keep? I am starting to make christmas gifts now and would like to store them, but naturally I don’t want it to go rancid. Thanks 🙂
Katie says
A few weeks with the zest, but you could use lemon (or other scent) essential oils and it will last as long as the oil keeps. I like doTERRA essential oils.
Heather says
Can you tell us where you purchased the cute jars and ribbon?
Katie says
The jars are just regular Ball canning jars. They’re available at my grocery store. The ribbon I got at Micheal’s. The one around the lid is sticky on the other side. I think it might have been a Martha Stewart line.
melissa says
Is it ok to us lavender instead of lemon?
Katie says
absolutely!
Mona Hickey says
I am looking forward to making this. I have a sensitivity to odors and have to be very careful with soaps, detergents, and cleaning products.. Even the so-called unscented hand soaps sometimes bother me. I love the smell of lemons, so this is perfect for me! Thanks!
jodie g says
I think it would be *really* cute to do 4 baby food jars with grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime, print out a cute label on each listing the ingredients stack them on top of each other wrap them up with a ribbon in the classic or ‘criss cross’ pattern with a pretty bow on top! Perfect present for in laws, teachers, friends!
Heather says
Absolutely ADORABLE idea!!!!!!
Christine says
I’m wondering if you can add some essential oils in place of the extract. Like – making a peppermint sugar scrub (soothing for the feet) or peppermint and orange (both are useful in restoring moisture).
Katie says
Absolutely – just leave the zest out. This is something I’ve been wanting to do as well but haven’t had the chance to pick up any oils.
Heather says
essential oil was exactly what I was thinking!!! You could use what ever fragrance you love.