This post is part of the Humblebee & Me Archives
I’ve learned a ton since launching Humblebee & Me in 2011, so some older posts no longer live up to my formulation standards. This is one of those posts.
Rather than delete these posts I’ve moved them to the Humblebee & Me Archives so you can see the steps of my making journey—and hopefully avoid some of my missteps!
Peppermint & Cocoa Sugar Body Scrub
Last week I was feeling a bit dry and dull. Despite all my best efforts at keeping myself hydrated inside and out, I needed to do some exfoliating, and this Girl Guide cookie scented sugar scrub did the trick.
Two types of sugar and some salt form the scrubby base of this scrub. The do a great job of mildy exfoliating your skin and then dissolving away as they wash down the drain, leaving our lakes and rivers free of tiny plastic beads.
I’ve tied the scrubby bits together with some melted cocoa butter (USA / Canada) and some turkey red oil. Cocoa butter contributes delicious chocolatey scent, and turkey red oil self-emulsifies in water, making this scrub more tub safe. I actually used it in the shower and didn’t notice any extra slippery-ness!
A few drops of peppermint essential oil (USA / Canada) brings the whole thing together—easy peasy. Scoop the scrub into a pretty little plastic jar and you’ve got a great gift for a favourite person, or just for your legs 🙂
Peppermint & Cocoa Sugar Body Scrub
4 tbsp white sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp cocoa butter (USA / Canada), melted
2 tbsp turkey red oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil (USA / Canada)Use your hands to blend the sugars and salt together, and then work in the oils and essential oils. Move to a 120mL/4oz plastic jar, but don’t pack it down or you’ll have a hard time getting it out.
To use, take a small amount of the scrub in your hand and scrub down assorted appendages. Rinse off the sugar and bask in all the soft skinned glory!
Hi there! What type of salt did you use?
Cheap-o table salt 😉
Ok, I just want to say I’m *so* happy I ditched my clearacil scrub now! That had little blue micro beads in it and just… Ew! It had totally slipped my brain that they were plastic and non-biodegradable. :/
KM
Yay! And isn’t it amazing that companies are still allowed to use those little plastic beads? Yuck.
I just bought a sugar scrub at {http://sunrisesoapco.com}, and it’s really nice. It’s sugar and pumice, with peppermint leaves and eo. It made my travel-weary feet feel baby soft.
🙂
I was excited to see this recipe and I’d love to try it out. I did read though that the Turkey Red Oil is Sulfated Castor Oil. I do have an allergy to Sulfa which can lead to a reaction by using the Turkey Red Oil. I’d like to know if there is a non-sulfa ingredient that could be substituted in place of the Turkey Red Oil. I’ve scoured several sources and I can’t find a substitute. I would appreciate any feedback from the community here as to what I could substitute. Thanks!
You can use any other carrier oil you like, but keep in mind that it will not self-emulsify into your shower/bath water, so there is a much greater slipping hazard. Be careful!
Ann Marie,
I am also allergic to sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) and when I realized that a whole bunch of skincare products I was using had ingredients that said “sulfate” and “sulfite” on them, I did a bunch of research on it. Turns out, it’s not the same thing. Sulfated castor oil is castor oil with sulfuric acid added. Sulfa drugs are chemically totally different than sulfates.
THAT SAID. Of course exercise caution if you choose to use the Turkey Red because, well, you never know. But my understanding of all of this is that it shouldn’t be an issue.
I will sub a different oil when I try this out, but because I don’t have any Turkey Red but have an abundance of other carrier oils… I’ll just have to remember to wipe out the tub 😉
Hope that’s helpful to you.
–L
Thanks for the comment Marie, Laura & Leslie. I’m tempted to make a small batch of this with the recipe as is. I don’t see the harm in testing on a small area of skin. Worst case I have a reaction & have to pawn it off on extended family. (They are ALWAYS ready to try new products!)
I’ll be eager to hear how it turns out if you give it a go 🙂
OOoh, this is a fantastic turn of events, as it were. To the research!
So, glad I read the comments! I wouldn’t have even thought about my severe sulfa allergy when picking an oil for a scrub!
There are a lot of much better alternatives, too—I’ve detailed them here 🙂
Hi Marie!
I have not heard of Turkey Red Oil, and so a Google search brought this site up. Now I am confused! Is it safe for those prone to sulfa-allergies?
http://store.scent-works.com/turedscaoil.html
Home > Butters, Oils & Waxes > Turkey Red (Sulfated Castor) Oil
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Turkey Red (Sulfated Castor) Oil
Sulfated Castor Oil, also known as “Turkey Red” Oil because of its use as a dye assistant for Turkey Red cloth, was the first synthetic surfactant, made around 1850. It is derived from natural Castor Oil, through expeller pressing of the castor bean seed, and then reacting with sulfuric acid.
The only oil that is completely water-soluble, Turkey Red Oil will also emulsify other oils in water. Thus, it is commonly used as the base in bath oils and shampoos to emulsify essential and/or fragrance oils, and for superfatting liquid soap to maintain transparency. It also has great skin-moisturizing capabilities and has been used in the treatment of rheumatics.
Turkey Red Oil is thick (though not quite as thick as Castor Oil), clear reddish-brown with a characteristic odor and will separate in cold temperatures[1].
WARNINGS:
Very irritating. NOT for direct use on the skin.
NOT recommended for persons with allergies to sulpha-based products.
Packaged in HDPE containers.
Characteristics & Performance
Identification
INCI:
Sulfated Ricinus communis (Castor) Oil
Product Code:
7012-0017
CAS No.:
8002-33-3
EINECS No.:
232-306-7
Molecular Formula:
C18H32Na2O6S
Quality Assurance
Appearance:
Amber liquid.
Clarity:
Transparent
Odor:
Distinct, sharp.
Flashpoint:
473 °F (245 °C)
Specific Gravity @ 25°C:
1.04
Boiling Point:
>302 ° F (>150 ° C)
pH (10% in water):
6.00 – 8.00
Free Fatty Acids:
<30%
Non-Volatile Content:
75.0 – 85.0%
Hi Leslie! You are correct—I wouldn’t recommend TRO for those with sulfa allergies. The EWG does rate it at a zero, though, which is interesting as castor oil on its own is a 2! You can use any other carrier oil you like, but keep in mind that it will not self-emulsify into your shower/bath water, so there is a much greater slipping hazard. Be careful!
Could you substitute the Turkey Red Oil with any product??
You can use any other carrier oil you like, but keep in mind that it will not self-emulsify into your shower/bath water, so there is a much greater slipping hazard. Be careful!
Hi Teena—You can use any carrier oil you have, but it will not self-emulsify in your bath water, so do be careful of oil slicks 🙂
Im just wondering with the recipes how long is the shelf life? I thought I could do some for xmas presents etc or to have on hand for unexpected gifts but would they go off if I do them too early..
thanks
Hi Shelley! You can read more about shelf life in my FAQ, but basically if you store these in the fridge until Christmas they’ll be fine.
I just recently bought pumpkin seed oil and was wondering what you thought of that to use in place of the turkey oil? I also have avocado, castor, extra virgin olive oil and fractionated coconut oil. Are any better than the other for this recipe? Thanks for the recipe! :)))
Hi Cindy! Because Turkey red oil self emulsifies in water, no other oil is a very good swap for it as it won’t have that one key property we want from the TRO. That said, if you don’t have it I’d just choose a relatively plain, inexpensive carrier oil instead—any of the ones you mentioned would be fine 🙂
Hi Marie,
This looks really good!! I am wondering if I could use solubilizer in place of the turkey red oil and if so, how much would I use? Thanks!
Hi Colleen! Solubilizer should be used in a 1:1 ratio with oils, so just use as much solubilizer as you use oil 🙂
Hi Marie,
love your recipes. Thank you for all of your experimenting and giving free access to the rest of us.
I’ve been reading that oat oil can act as a natural emulsifier.
“Oat Oil acts as a natural emulsifier, and it can help minimize the need for other emulsifiers within oil/water-based formulations.” from https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/product.asp?product_id=OATOIL
Any thoughts on the use of oat oil?
On a side note, what is the best way to measure out ml?
Thanks,
Claudia
Hi Claudia! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙂
As far as emulsifiers go, you’ll find in your research that many things “can act as a natural emulsifier”… emphasis on the “can” part. I’m not a chemist, but from what I know of emulsifiers, they generally require co-emulsifiers and only work under certain circumstances/ratios of oils to water.
I usually measure mL using a graduated measuring cup like a glass Pyrex for larger amounts, and teaspoons for smaller amounts.
Morning! So doing a load of research etc and was thinking, do you think that by adding maybe more solid butter or beeswax a scrub could work well as a bar? H x ps I am loving your site, it’s given me confidence to try new things (ish!) 🙂
Hi Helena! Cocoa butter is a a good idea (I’ve done it somewhere, I think), but beeswax isn’t—it is SUPER sticky and doesn’t wash off, leaving you all sticky and waxy. Ugggh. I wrote about a similar experiment in one of my abject failure blogs, haha.
Made this yesterday and used it today and loved it! My skin feels dewy and soft and as someone who hates using body lotions and oils but has chronically dry skin, I’m hopeful that scrubs like this will mean I can eventually not need any post-shower moisturizer.
Used benzoin instead of peppermint e.o. Somehow I’ve ended up with a collection of quite unusual diy ingredients but no peppermint….
Thank you for your lovely recipes. I’ve made about seven of them so far, four of which I’ve remade. This is another one that will be on repeat.
Awesome! I’m so glad you loved it 😀 Happy making and enjoy that dewy soft skin 🙂
Hello with this recepie can I use Polysorbate 20 instead of the turkey red oil? And instead it of peppermint essential oils can i use lavender or lemongrass, if so how much? And could i add some homemade soap, if so how much?
Polysorbate 80 would be a better alternative; learn more here. I have an FAQ on the essential oils that I believe I’ve directed you to several times by now 🙂 I would not add homemade soap.
Ok thanks . would I use the some amount for the polysorbate 80?
Yes; unless otherwise stated, that is how substitutions work 🙂
Hi
Does one need a preservative if so much for this recepie?
Thanks
I have an FAQ on this.
Can I use a tin can do store the mixture?
Howdy Liz!
Do you mean a cosmetic tin? If so, of course! Just be careful not to use it in the shower as that water can cause some issues!