DIY: Almond Extract Sugar Scrub

I always love making my own beauty products – not only because the results can be so rewarding, but also because it allows me to know exactly what’s inside. When my friend Kimberly visited us in Tahoe this summer, she whipped up the most delicious all-natural sugar scrub to soothe and exfoliate our dry skin, and I couldn’t get enough. After she left, I couldn’t help but try experimenting with my own, adding a range of essential oils and extracts to each batch.

To do so, I followed this basic sugar scrub recipe, using an 80/20 blend of coconut and olive oils (and in the batch shown, a bit of pure almond extract). Depending on how coarse or gentle you want your scrub, you can adjust the proportions of sugar and oil accordingly – it’s all about finding the consistency that works for you. Once you have your base, you can get creative and begin adding some of your favorite essential oils or extracts. The possibilities for customizing your scrub are endless, but some great essential oil add-ons to try include lavender, peppermint, tea tree, rose and lemon verbena. XXJKE