Unlock the secrets of radiant, irresistibly soft skin with my easy-to-follow guide on creating a foaming whipped sugar scrub. Learn the art of gentle exfoliation and deep cleansing as I walk you through the process step-by-step. Elevate your skincare routine with a DIY scrub that not only pampers but leaves you with lasting softness. Dive into my tutorial now for a wholesome experience in crafting the perfect foaming whipped sugar scrub for your self-care routine. Your radiant skin journey starts here!
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Crafted with a blend of premium ingredients, this exceptional foaming whipped sugar scrub serves as a superb exfoliator, hydrator, and gentle cleanser for your skin.
How to make a foaming sugar scrub?
A foaming sugar scrub is an incredible blend of exfoliants, emollients, and surfactants! This unique formulation provides both effective exfoliation and cleansing for your skin simultaneously. The foaming or washing action of this scrub is achieved through the use of surfactants.
Surfactants, akin to soap, act as cleansers that efficiently remove dirt and oil from our skin. For a more in-depth exploration of surfactants, feel free to check out my detailed
Surfactants possess a hydrophilic (water-attracted) head and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) tail. This means that surfactants, with their tails, attract dirt and oil while their heads attract water. This dual-action allows surfactants to efficiently capture dirt and oil, facilitating easy rinsing with water and subsequent drainage.
Our foaming sugar scrub features two surfactants. The first SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate), is a gentle surfactant known for producing abundant bubbles. It also exhibits emulsifying properties, promoting the combination of water and oil for easy skin cleansing.
While I use SCI in noodle form, it’s also available in powder form. Opting for the noodle form helps prevent potential lung irritation, as the powder is lighter than air. Ensure your safety by wearing a mask during use.
The second surfactant,
This is a gentle surfactant that produces a lot of bubbles. It is also has an emulsifying properties that makes the water and oil combine, which makes it easier to wash off your skin.
I am using this in noodle form but you can also get it in powder form. The reason why I get it in noodle form is because the powder is lighter than the air and it can wind up irritating your lungs. So wear a mask to protect yourself!
The second surfactant, Coco Glucoside. comes in liquid form. This gentle surfactant not only cleanses but also conditions the skin simultaneously. Acting as an emulsifier, Coco Glucoside aids in binding oils and water together for a luxurious scrub experience.
How to make foaming whipped sugar scrub
There are a few different parts to making a foaming whipped sugar scrub. The first thing we need to do is create the whipped part. The surfactants, stearic acid, water, and glycerin are melted together to create a light, spreadable scrub—very similar to a Whipped Soap Base.
We also add in a little bit of fractionated coconut oil. However, we want to be sure not to add too much, as the oil can interfere with the surfactants and hinder their ability to bubble effectively. It’s advisable to lean towards lighter oils for your scrub
Stearic Acid serves a crucial role in giving our sugar scrub a robust texture, contributing to its thickness that allows for the delightful whipped consistency.
In addition to stearic acid, we introduce vegetable glycerin to enhance the moisturizing properties of the scrub. Functioning as a humectant, vegetable glycerin draws moisture to itself and locks it in. As a result, when you apply a product containing vegetable glycerin, it effectively retains water on your skin, promoting hydration and a lasting, refreshed feeling.
Exfoliants
Physical exfoliation is a process that involves using an abrasive material, an exfoliator, to slough off dead skin cells and dirt. Removing the dead skin cells is essential to allow new ones to surface and promote growth.
I incorporate jojoba beads into the sugar scrub to introduce an additional layer of exfoliation. While the sugar dissolves quickly in the foaming sugar scrub, the jojoba beads linger a bit longer. Similar to sugar, they effectively exfoliate the top layer of your skin without causing abrasions.
What makes jojoba beads unique is their ability to hydrate the skin while exfoliating. Additionally, they impart a subtle touch of color to the scrub.
If you want to learn more about exfoliating check out my Exfoliating: Everything You Need To Know About Physical Exfoliating & Selecting The Best Exfoliator post.
Sugars that are suitable for a sugar scrub
- Granulated White Sugar – This is my preferred sugar for use in scrubs. Its larger granules provide effective exfoliation that gradually diminishes as the sugar dissolves.
- Brown Sugar – This is a suitable option for individuals with more sensitive skin. Its granules are smaller compared to white sugar.
- Caster Sugar – This type has the smallest granules and is gentle enough for use on more sensitive areas like your face.
How long does a sugar scrub last
In order to keep our sugar scrub from growing mold and bacteria, we have to use a preservative. I am using Germall Plus, but you can use whatever preservative you prefer. If all of your ingredients are new, the scrub should last for at least 6 months.
For more details on shelf life, check out my How Do You Determine Shelf Life post.
Champagne Bliss Foaming Whipped Sugar Scrub
Equipment
- Scale
Ingredients
Heat Phase Ingredients
- 2.70 ounce | 27% SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate).
- 0.45 ounce | 4.5% Coco Glucoside
- 0.35 ounce | 3.5% Stearic Acid
- 1 ounce | 10% Vegetable Glycerin
- 0.50 ounce | 5% Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 1.40 ounce | 14% Distilled Water
Cool Down Ingredients
- 0.05 ounce | 0.5% Germall Plus
- 0.40 ounce | 4% Champagne Fragrance Oil
- 3.10 ounce | 31% Granulated White Sugar
- 0.05 ounce | 0.5% Jojoba Beads
Instructions
- Place SCI, coco glucoside, stearic acid, vegetable glycerin, water, and fractionated coconut oil into a heat-safe container. Put the container on a double boiler and heat until the mixture is completely melted. This should be done on low heat.
- After the mixture has melted, remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool down to room temperature.
- Whip the mixture with an electric hand whisk until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Add the Champagne fragrance oil and Germall Plus preservative, then mix thoroughly with the electric whisk.
- Add the sugar and mix thoroughly.
- Add the jojoba beads and mix thoroughly.