This DIY whipped rainbow sugar scrub combines a creamy foaming soap base, granulated sugar, and apricot kernel oil to create a colorful exfoliating body scrub. Each color is mixed separately and layered together before piping into jars, giving the finished scrub its beautiful rainbow appearance.
The best part is that you don’t need to make a foaming soap base from scratch. Using a ready-made whipped foaming base makes this a relatively quick project, and the rainbow colors make it especially fun to package as a handmade gift.
If you want to make your whipped base from scratch check out my whipped soap base recipe.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make the sugar scrub, color each portion with mica powder, and layer the different colors to create the rainbow swirl.
How to Use Whipped Rainbow Sugar Scrub
To use your sugar scrub, scoop a small amount into your hand and massage it over damp skin using gentle circular motions.
The sugar provides physical exfoliation while the foaming base creates a cleansing lather.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
A few usage tips:
- Use on your body rather than your face.
- Avoid applying to broken, irritated, or freshly shaved skin.
- Be gentle when exfoliating, rather than scrubbing aggressively.
- Rinse the shower or tub afterward, as the oils in the formula may leave surfaces slippery.
I recommend using a clean, dry scoop rather than putting wet fingers into the jar.
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Understanding the Ingredients
Before making the scrub, it helps to understand what each ingredient contributes to the finished product. This is a combination of a cleansing base, an exfoliant, and a small amount of carrier oil.
Whipped Foaming Base
Whipped foaming base is the foundation of this recipe. It is a ready-made cleansing base with a thick, creamy consistency that can be mixed and whipped to create a fluffy texture.
When combined with sugar, it creates a scrub that exfoliates while producing lather when mixed with water.
Why use it in this recipe?
- Provides the creamy, fluffy consistency of the scrub.
- Creates lather when the product is used with water.
- Helps hold the sugar particles throughout the mixture.
- Makes it possible to create a whipped scrub without formulating a cleansing base from scratch.
If you would like to make your own base, see my Whipped Soap Base From Scratch Recipe.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is a lightweight carrier oil that helps soften the feel of the scrub. It contains fatty acids, primarily oleic and linoleic acids, which contribute to its emollient properties.
In this recipe, the oil helps balance the cleansing base and sugar, leaving the skin feeling softer after rinsing.
Why use it?
- Adds emollience to the finished scrub.
- Helps reduce the dry or tight feeling that some cleansing products can leave behind.
- Gives the scrub a smoother feel during application.
Substitutions for Apricot Kernel Oil
You can substitute another lightweight carrier oil if you don’t have apricot kernel oil.
- Sweet almond oil: A lightweight oil with a similar skin-conditioning feel.
- Jojoba oil: A stable liquid wax ester that helps soften and condition the skin.
- Grapeseed oil: A lighter-feeling carrier oil that works well in rinse-off formulations.
Keep the substitution at the same 5% of the formula.
Granulated Sugar
Granulated sugar is the exfoliating ingredient in this recipe. Its small crystals provide physical exfoliation, helping remove loose dead skin cells from the skin’s surface as you massage the scrub onto damp skin.
The amount of sugar also affects the texture of the finished product.
In this formula, sugar makes up 46% of the recipe, giving the scrub plenty of exfoliating particles without making it entirely dry or crumbly.
Why use granulated sugar?
- Provides physical exfoliation.
- Helps smooth the feel of rough skin.
- Is inexpensive and easy to find.
- Gives the scrub its characteristic grainy texture.
Regular granulated white sugar works well for this recipe. Avoid using powdered sugar, as it will not provide the same exfoliating texture.
I recommend sticking with sugar rather than substituting salt. Salt crystals can feel harsher on the skin, particularly on freshly shaved or sensitive areas.
Mica Powder
Mica powder gives this scrub its rainbow appearance.
It is a mineral-based colorant available in a variety of shades and finishes. Depending on the type you choose, it can create anything from soft pastel colors to vibrant, shimmery shades.
For this project, I used several different colors to create the rainbow layers.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Choose cosmetic-grade mica intended for use in rinse-off body products.
- Check that the colors are approved for the intended cosmetic application.
- Start with a small amount and add more gradually.
- Mix thoroughly to prevent concentrated pockets of pigment.
You don’t need much mica to color each portion of the scrub. Adding too much can affect the appearance of the finished product and may leave more color residue behind during use.
Fragrance Oil
For this recipe, I used Nirvana fragrance oil from Nurture Soap.
It has a fruity, floral fragrance with notes of pear blossom, strawberry, kiwi, lemon, honeysuckle, amber, and musk.
Fragrance oil gives the scrub a pleasant scent and makes it easy to customize the finished product.
You can use another fragrance oil if you prefer. Just make sure it is suitable for rinse-off body products and that the amount used complies with the supplier’s current IFRA usage limits.
This recipe uses 3% fragrance oil. Do not assume every fragrance oil can be used at that concentration; check its documentation before making substitutions.
Whipped Rainbow Sugar Scrub Recipe / Formula
| Ingredient | Percentage | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Whipped foaming base | 46% | 289 g |
| Granulated sugar | 46% | 289 g |
| Apricot kernel oil | 5% | 32 g |
| Nirvana fragrance oil | 3% | 19 g |
| Mica powder | As needed | As needed |
Equipment and Supplies
- Digital scale
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer
- Silicone spatula
- Small bowls for dividing the colors
- Plastic wrap
- Piping bag
- Clean, dry jars or containers
How to Make Whipped Rainbow Sugar Scrub
Now for the fun part! Once the ingredients are measured, making the scrub is relatively simple. The trick to getting the rainbow effect is to color the scrub in separate bowls and layer the colors before transferring everything to a piping bag.
Step 1: Prepare the Sugar Scrub Base
Start by weighing the whipped foaming base into a large mixing bowl.
Using a spatula, stir the base to loosen it slightly. This makes it easier to incorporate the remaining ingredients.
Add the apricot kernel oil and mix until it is evenly distributed throughout the base.
Next, add the Nirvana fragrance oil. Stir to incorporate, then use a hand mixer to blend everything together.
You want a smooth, uniform mixture without visible streaks of oil or fragrance.
Gradually add the granulated sugar. Stir it into the mixture first with a spatula, then use the hand mixer briefly to distribute the sugar throughout the base.
Avoid overmixing. You want to maintain the light, whipped consistency while ensuring the sugar is evenly dispersed.
At this point, you should have a thick, creamy sugar scrub that is ready to be divided and colored.
Step 2: Divide the Mixture
Divide the finished sugar scrub into five separate bowls, one for each rainbow color.
I used yellow, purple, red, green, and blue for my scrub, but you can choose any combination of colors you like.
Try to divide the mixture as evenly as possible so that each color has approximately the same amount.
Step 3: Add the Mica Powder
Add a small amount of mica powder to each bowl.
Start with just a little and gradually add more until you reach your desired color. The amount needed will depend on the pigment and how intense you want each shade to be.
Mix each color thoroughly before adding more mica. A silicone spatula works well for scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure the pigment is evenly distributed.
Once all five colors are mixed, you should have separate portions of brightly colored sugar scrub ready for layering.
Step 4: Layer the Rainbow Colors
Lay a piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. This will make it much easier to transfer the layered scrub into your piping bag.
Spoon the first color onto the plastic wrap, forming a long strip.
Add the next color directly alongside the first, making sure the layers touch. Continue adding the remaining colors until you have used all five portions.
Try to keep the layers relatively even in thickness. They don’t have to be perfect, but keeping them similar in size will help create a more balanced rainbow effect when piping.
Step 5: Prepare the Piping Bag
Once all the colors have been layered, carefully gather the plastic wrap around the scrub to form a long pouch.
Twist both ends of the plastic wrap to keep the mixture contained.
Cut a small opening at one end of the plastic wrap.
Place the wrapped scrub into your piping bag, with the cut end facing the piping tip.
The plastic wrap helps keep the different colors together as you transfer the mixture. It also makes the process much less messy.
Step 6: Pipe the Rainbow Sugar Scrub into Jars
Pipe the scrub into clean, completely dry jars or containers.
As you pipe, the different colors should come through together, creating a beautiful rainbow swirl.
Work slowly and steadily, allowing the scrub to fill the container. You can move the piping bag around slightly as you fill the jar to create different patterns.
Continue until all the mixture has been used.
Once the jars are filled, wipe away any excess product from the rims and add your labels or decorative touches.
Your whipped rainbow sugar scrub is ready!
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few small details can make a difference in the appearance and consistency of your finished scrub.
Don’t add too much mica at once. Start with a small amount and build up the color gradually. This gives you better control over the finished shades.
Keep the colors separate until you’re ready to layer. Mixing them together too early will muddy the rainbow effect.
Use plastic wrap when transferring the colors. Trying to spoon five different colors directly into a piping bag can get messy. The plastic wrap keeps everything together and makes the transfer much easier.
Don’t overmix the base. Once the sugar is incorporated, mix only as much as necessary. Excessive mixing can change the texture of the whipped base.
Use completely dry containers. Any water introduced during preparation or packaging can affect the product and its storage stability.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store your finished whipped rainbow sugar scrub in clean, completely dry, airtight containers.
Keep the containers in a cool, dry location, away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
Because this recipe uses a commercial whipped foaming base, the shelf life will depend partly on the base manufacturer’s specifications. The addition of carrier oil, fragrance, and other ingredients can also affect the stability of the finished product.
Do not assume that the original base’s shelf life automatically applies to your finished formulation. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance, and ideally assess the finished product through appropriate stability and preservation testing before assigning a shelf life.
Since this is a product intended for use in the shower, keeping water out of the jar is particularly important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different carrier oil?
Yes. You can substitute apricot kernel oil with sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil. Keep the replacement at the same percentage to maintain the original formula.
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
You can experiment with brown sugar, but I recommend sticking with regular granulated sugar for this recipe. Brown sugar has a different moisture content and may change the consistency and storage characteristics of the finished scrub.
What kind of mica should I use?
Use cosmetic-grade mica that is suitable for rinse-off body products. Check the supplier’s documentation to ensure the pigments are appropriate for your intended application.
Can I use food coloring instead of mica?
I recommend using cosmetic-grade colorants intended for your product. Food coloring is not necessarily formulated for cosmetic use and may not give you the same color or appearance.
Why do I need to use plastic wrap when piping the scrub?
The plastic wrap makes it easier to transfer all the different colored portions into the piping bag without mixing them together. It also helps keep the process cleaner and creates the layered effect needed for the rainbow appearance.
Can I make this sugar scrub without fragrance oil?
Yes. You can leave out the fragrance oil if you prefer an unscented scrub. However, removing the fragrance changes the formula, so the finished product should be assessed separately for consistency and stability.
Can I use this sugar scrub on my face?
I recommend reserving this recipe for the body. Granulated sugar provides physical exfoliation that may be too abrasive for delicate facial skin.
Final Thoughts
This whipped rainbow sugar scrub is a fun way to turn a simple sugar scrub into something a little more special. The creamy foaming base, exfoliating sugar, and lightweight apricot kernel oil create a lovely combination, while the layered mica colors give each jar its own colorful appearance.
It’s a great project for experimenting with different colors and fragrances, and the finished jars also make thoughtful handmade gifts.
If you enjoy making your own bath and body products, you might also like my Whipped Soap Base From Scratch recipe.
DIY Whipped Rainbow Sugar Scrub
Equipment
- Scale
Ingredients
- 289 grams | 46% Whipped Foaming Base
- 289 grams | 46% Granulated sugar
- 32 grams | 5% Apricot Kernel Oil
- 19 grams | 3% Nirvana Fragrance Oil
- Mica Powder
Instructions
Prepare the Sugar Base
- Mix the whipped foaming base to loosen it up a bit.
- Add in the apricot kernel oil and mix again until well combined.
- Add Nirvana fragrance oil and stir to incorporate and then mix with hand mixer.
- Add the granulated sugar to the mixture. Stir and then mix with hand mixer.
Divide the Mixture:
- Divide the sugar scrub mixture evenly into separate bowls, one for each color of the rainbow. Depending on the number of colors you're using (yellow, purple, red, green, and blue), adjust the quantity of mixture in each bowl accordingly.
Add Mica Powder:
- To each bowl of sugar scrub mixture, add a small amount of mica powder in your chosen color. Start with a small amount and gradually increase until you achieve the desired intensity of color. Mix well to evenly distribute the mica powder throughout the mixture.
Layer the Colors:
- Place down a piece of plastic wrap for piping the whipped rainbow sugar scrub.
- Starting with one color at a time, spoon or pipe a layer of the colored sugar scrub onto the plastic wrap, ensuring each layer is evenly distributed and covers the previous layer. Continue layering the colors in the order of the rainbow until all colors have been used.
Piping the Scrub:
- Once all the colors have been layered, gather the edges of the plastic wrap to form a pouch or bag, then twist both sides to seal the scrub inside.
- Cut a small opening at one side of the plastic wrap.
- Carefully place the scrub, cut side first into your piping bag.
- Pipe the whipped rainbow sugar scrub into clean and dry jars or containers, filling them to the top.