How to Exfoliate Legs with Sugar

Co-authored by Alicia Ramos

Last Updated: October 15, 2022 References

Exfoliation is one of the best ways to get smooth, silky skin on your legs. You don't need to rush to the store and buy expensive scrubs, however. All you need is some sugar and oil. Once you know how to make and use a basic scrub, you can customize it be adding extra ingredients, such as vitamin E oil or fragrance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making and Using Sugar and Lemon

1
Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon and pour it into a bowl. Lemon juice is a natural skin toner and brightener.^{[1]
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Research source} Keep in mind that lemon juice will make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Do not go out into the sun after using the scrub; it is best to use this at night.^{[2]
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2
Mix in ¼ to ½ cups (55 to 115 grams) of sugar. While bad for your health, sugar is great for your skin. It will help exfoliate away dead skin cells and reveal the soft, supple skin underneath.

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3
Get into the bathtub or shower, and soak your legs for 5 minutes. This will soften your skin, and make the simple scrub more effective. If you'd like, you can even start your usual bathing or showering routine.
4
Take a small handful of the sugar-lemon mixture, and rub it onto your legs using small, circular motions. Start from the top of your leg, and work your way gradually toward the bottom.
5
Rinse the mixture off with water. If you'd like, you can wash your legs with some soap and water to get rid of any sticky residue. You can also shave your legs at this point. Many people find that shaving just after exfoliating leaves their skin silky-smooth.
6
Pat the skin dry and apply some moisturizer. While great at toning and exfoliating, this mixture can be a little drying, so make sure that you apply some moisturizer after you get out of the shower. If you tend to have very dry skin, consider applying the moisturizer while your skin is still damp; this will help seal in the moisture better.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making and Using a Sugar Scrub

1
Fill a jar with 1 cup (225 grams) of sugar. You can use white, raw, or brown sugar. If you have sensitive skin, use brown sugar; it is gentler than white or raw sugar.^{[3]
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Add 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of oil. You can use any type of oil, but consider any of the following: almond, baby, coconut, grapeseed, or olive^{[4]
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3
Consider adding some extra ingredients, such as vitamin E oil or fragrance. At this point, you have all the ingredients in the jar to make a basic scrub You can make your scrub more special by adding some extra ingredients. Here are some suggestions to get you started:^{[5]
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- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) vitamin E oil will nourish and soften your skin.
- 3 tablespoons lemon or lime juice will add a fragrance and help "tighten" your skin.
- 15 to 20 drops essential oil (such as lavender, lemon, or peppermint) will give your scrub a nice fragrance.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract will give your scrub a heavenly aroma.
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) of ground pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon will give your scrub a warm scent.
4
Stir with a spoon until combined, and make any necessary adjustments. If the scrub is too dry for you, add more oil. If the scrub is too wet for you, add more sugar. Start with a tablespoon (15 grams) of either ingredients, stir, and add more if needed.
- The ideal scrub is wet and grainy.
5
Get into your bathtub or shower, and let your legs soak for 5 minutes. During this time, you can multitask, and start bathing. This will help soften the skin on your legs, and make the scrub more effective.^{[7]
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6
Scoop out a small amount of the scrub and massage it onto your legs using small, circular motions. You will only need about 1 tablespoon (15 grams) for each leg.^{[8]
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Research source} Take care not to scrub too harshly, however, or you will irritate your skin instead.
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Rinse the scrub off.^{[9]
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Research source} If you need to, use a mild soap to get rid of any oily residue. Some people like to leave this residue on their legs, as they find it moisturizing.
- If you want, you can shave your legs at this point. Many people find that exfoliating their legs just before shaving helps them get a smoother, closer shave.^{[10]
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8
Pat your skin dry, and apply a moisturizer, if desired. Sugar scrubs already contain plenty of oil, so you will likely not need to apply a moisturizer afterwards. If your skin still feels dry, however, you can apply some moisturizer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making and Using Sugar Scrub Bars

1
Assemble a soap-making double-boiler and bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Fill a pot with 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water. Place a large glass measuring cup or jar in the center.
2
Cut the glycerin soap base into 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) cubes and add them to the cup. This recipe is enough for 8 cubes.
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Stir in ¼ cup (55 grams) of coconut oil. Keep stirring until the oil has melted. Make sure that you are using solid coconut oil and not liquid.
4
Carefully remove the cup from the pot and set it aside for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool down a little. Be careful when handling the cup; use an oven mitt or potholder to handle it.
5
Stir in 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to give your scrub bar a nice scent. Once the mixture has cooled a little, start adding the essential oil. You don't want to add the oil too soon, or the heat will cause the fragrance to burn off. You can use a single scent, or a combination of two or more scents. Here are some suggestions to get you started:^{[11]
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- Basil and lemon
- Cinnamon and clove
- Lavender and lemon
- Orange and vanilla
- Vanilla and lavender
6
Stir in 1 cup (225 grams) of sugar. Make sure that the mixture is cool before you add the sugar, or the sugar will melt. Keep stirring until everything is evenly combined. There should be no streaks, swirls, lumps, or clumps.
7
Carefully pour the mixture into a silicon ice cube tray. You can also use a soap-making mold, if you'd like a larger bar.
8
Wait until the mixture hardens, then carefully pop the cubes out. This will take 1 to 2 hours.^{[12]
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Research source} Once it hardens, it will become opaque and solid, sort of like a sugar cube or textured soap bar. If you notice that the bar is still damp, wait until it dries completely before you use it.
- If you are in a hurry, you can also stick the molds in the freezer. The scrub bar will set even faster there.^{[13]
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9
Get into a bathtub or shower, and soak your legs for 5 minutes. During this time, you can start your usual bathing or showering routine. Soaking your legs first will help soften the skin and make the scrub more effective.
10
Take a sugar scrub bar, and massage your legs with it using small, circular motions. Take care not to scrub too harshly, however, or you may irritate your skin. As you use the bar, it may crumble in your hands. Don't worry, this is normal. Simply keep massaging the scrub over your legs.
- You can also dampen the scrub bar first, crumble it, and then use it as a normal sugar scrub.^{[14]
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11
Rinse the scrub off. Because this scrub already contains soap, you likely won't have much or any residue left on your legs when you are done. If you do have an oily residue, you can simply wash it off using soap, or leave it on for extra moisture.
- Consider shaving your legs when you are done. Many people find that exfoliating just before shaving leaves their skin extra smooth.
12
Pat your skin dry, and apply moisturizer, if needed. The sugar scrub bar already contains some oil, so you may not need to apply moisturizer. If your skin still feels dry after using the scrub, however, you may apply some moisturizer.
- Store the rest of the scrub bars in a sealed container. Don't let them get wet until you are ready to use them.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the best exfoliating scrub for your legs?

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Alicia Ramos is a licensed aesthetician and the owner of Smoothe Denver in Denver, Colorado. She received her license at the School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics, with training in lashes, dermaplaning, waxing, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, and now provides skin care solutions to hundreds of clients.

Alicia Ramos

Skincare Professional

Expert Answer

A sugar scrub can keep your legs smooth and healthy. When you use a sugar scrub, you're removing all of the dead skin that can block your pores and lead to a mild infection or folliculitis. It's especially great at helping irritation caused by shaving, when your pores are already open.
Question

What do I add to my sugar and how long can I keep the mix?

Community Answer

Add a tiny amount of milk or essential oils. You can keep it in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge if you use milk and longer if you don't use it.
Question

How often do I need to do this?

Community Answer

It's up to you, but once or twice a week would be fine.

Warnings

Avoid scrubbing too hard. Sugar can be abrasive on sensitive skin.

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Lemon juice makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid going outside after using anything containing lemon juice. You may end up with a very bad sunburn.^{[19]
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