So we all know that these DIY recipes help us to avoid chemicals in personal care products. But did you realize how economical it is too? Some body scrubs cost $10-17 for eight ounces. Granted, some of the scrubs out there are high-quality with no added chemicals, but I cringe at the idea of spending money on something I can make at home. Maybe it’s because I’m a typical broke college student.

I have good news. A little coconut oil and brown sugar with a hint of lemon makes a thrifty alternative to those scrubs. During a recent trip to Wal-mart, I checked the cost of the ingredients. A 2-pound bag of brown sugar is $1.92 and a 32-ounce jar of coconut oil is $6 (both generic non-organic ingredients FYI) and a lemon is roughly 70 cents. Here is what it will cost to make the recipe:

½ cup of coconut oil = 75 cents
1 cup of brown sugar = 48 cents
½ lemon = 35 cents

That’s $1.58 for about four ounces of a great body scrub. That price is more budget friendly. Remember the coconut oil you bought for the body butter? It earns its keep in this recipe. I really like using this scrub because not only will it slough away dead skin cells, but it moisturizes too. Talk about multi-tasking.

Coconut Body Scrub
½ cup coconut oil
1 cup brown sugar
Juice of ½ a lemon

Heat coconut oil in a microwave safe container. Combine with sugar and lemon juice. You can add more brown sugar if you desire. I like using a cup or more of brown sugar. To use, rub in a circular motion all over and use it once or twice a week. Store in an air-tight container.

Need help finding the ingredients? Get the link at the bottom of Fresh Face Forward’s Recipe page.

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