Lemon Grapefruit Hand Scrub

April 26, 2026 - By Ashley

Mother’s Day is approaching and I wanted to share a handmade gift idea: skin brightening hand scrub.

I love citrus scents like lemon and grapefruit. These essential oils have skin brightening properties and smell happy and uplifting! I love making my own skincare and making extra to gift to my mother in law and friends. Here is a simple skin brightening hand scrub that smells amazing, is non toxic, fun to use and leaves skin feeling soft and supple. I especially love making this lovely hand scrub this time of year to clean my hands after a day in the garden.

I keep a jar next to my kitchen sink and It’s such a treat to spend a few extra moments after washing dishes or coming in from the garden and giving myself a little extra self care before my next task. After I massage it into my hands and use it to push back my cuticles, I rinse with warm water, pat my hands dry a bit and then moisturize with my solid lotion bar that I make and keep next to my sink.

If you’re interested to make your own lotion bars you can find that recipe here.

This year I’m gifting my mother in law a non toxic hand care gift set with this lovely brightening scrub, a lotion bar and pretty handmade bar of tallow soap. I plan to share my tallow soap recipe soon.

I digress, here’s the recipe:)

Lemon Grapefruit Sugar Scrub

3 Cups Sugar (I use organic sugar I buy in bulk at Costco)

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

2 TBSP Pumplin Seed Oil

1/2 TSP Vitamin E Oil

1 TSP Vanilla extract or 20 drops of Vanilla Essential oil. I’ve used both with lovely results.

1/4 TSP of Lemon Essential Oul

1/4 TSP of Grapefruit Essential oil

I buy my essential oils in bulk from:

New Directions

Candora Soaps