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cut to the trace

by The Handcrafter Soap & Cosmetic Guild

How-To: Foot Scrubs

While we all dream of having magic slippers that we can click together to bring us to our favorite beach destination, walking the beach in bare feet to exfoliate them is just not always an option! Luckily, making your own foot and hand scrub is simple, and there are many options for customization.

Different Types of Exfoliants 

Before you begin formulating your scrub, you’ll want to decide what you’d like the texture and sensation of the finished product to be. There are a few choices when it comes to choosing your exfoliant, but sugar and salt will likely be the most readily available (who doesn’t have one or both in their cupboard as we speak?).

Sugar granules are generally smaller and more fine than salt granules, which translates to a less abrasive final product. Sugar works well for lip scrubs or scrubs meant for sensitive areas or people with sensitive skin. You’ll find that brown sugar will be the softest, and white sugar will be a bit coarser.

Salt granules are larger and more abrasive, which makes them ideal for a more intensive scrub that is meant for callouses or very rough skin. Salt is commonly used in foot and hand scrubs to help soften the skin.

To fine tune the feel and results of your scrub, you’ll start out with a small amount of your exfoliant and work your way up; the less exfoliant you add, the less abrasive the scrub will be. More exfoliant equals a coarser scrub.

Oils and Additives 

When it comes to adding oils to your scrub, you’ve got many, many choices. Olive oil, coconut oil, honey, and avocado oil are all popular in a scrub meant to leave a replenished feel.

You can also choose to make an emulsified scrub vs. a standard scrub. An emulsified scrub can be described as a lotion and a scrub combined. Because of the addition of an emulsifier such as e-wax, an emulsified scrub does not separate and creates the opportunity for different textures and moisturizers.

Lastly, you will want to consider adding a preservative to your scrub. Many customers will use these products in the shower, and since there is a chance of water being introduced to the product, that means there is also a chance of bacterial growth. Adding a preservative will not only prolong your product’s shelf life, but also help to protect it against pesky microbes.  There are currently a few different preservatives at your disposal; be sure to check the manufacturer’s suggested usage to get the exact amount needed. 

Time to Scrub In! 

Below, you’ll find a very simple starting point for your formulation; this recipe is basic and easy to build upon. Starting out simple will help you to get an idea of how the ingredients come together, and what you’d like to change to make the product your own!

You’ll Need: 

1-2 c of sugar or salt, depending on your desired coarseness 

¼ c coconut oil 

¼ c avocado oil 

10-15 drops of fragrance oil (if desired) 

A medium sized mixing bowl 

Spatula 

Measuring cups 

Pipette 

A container to put your finished product in-this recipe will yield approximately 11 oz of product. 

  • Measure your ingredients and combine them in a medium-sized mixing bowl. If you are adding a preservative, you will add it at this step.
  • Stir the ingredients to combine evenly, making sure that there are no clumps or dry salt or sugar spots.
  • Test a bit of the scrub; if it seems to soft, you can adjust the coarseness by adding more sugar or salt.
  • Package and label your finished product!

You did it! This basic scrub is a great starting place for your own customized product that your customers will love! Adding a scrub to your product line helps to diversify your products without a lot of added, complicated labor, and they make a great add-on sale during any time of the year.  Play with texture, additives and scents to enhance your business and your customer’s experience!

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