DIY Cherry Scrub For Face and Body Exfoliation

Make a gorgeous cherry scrub at home for smoother skin-easy, eco-minded, and budget friendly.

---

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you visit a link and buy something. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn't cost you any extra, and I only recommend products and services I trust. I may have been sent products featured here as a gift or paid to include them in coverage. Thank you for supporting this blog.

Jump to:

• What you'll need (makes ~1 cup)
• How to make cherry scrub
• How to use it (face & body)
• Smart ways to use cherry scrub
• Results you can expect
• 📖 Recipe
• Variations & substitutions
• Storage, shelf life & gifting
• Safety notes (please read)
• FAQ's
• 💬 Comments

If you've been meaning to try a natural cherry scrub, this easy DIY is a great place to start. It's beginner-friendly, uses simple kitchen-cupboard ingredients, and works as both a gentle body scrub and (with tweaks below) one of the softest face scrubs you'll ever whip up. It helps lift dead skin cells for smoother skin, and it smells like summer cherries-no wonder it's all over "tiktok - make" videos.

What you'll need (makes ~1 cup)

• superfine sugar (see tip below)
• sweet almond oil (or other light carrier oil)
• skin-safe cherry fragrance oil
• deep rose mica (optional, for colour)

Why superfine sugar / caster sugar? For the face, finer crystals feel gentler. You can pulse regular sugar briefly in a blender to make it superfine.

How to make cherry scrub

Stir everything together in a small bowl until evenly combined, then spoon into a clean, dry jar with a tight lid.

To make your cherry scrub even gentler-especially for the face-mix in ½-1 teaspoon of a shop-bought fruit-enzyme powder (often derived from papaya, pineapple, or pumpkin). Enzymes digest the keratin that keeps dead cells stuck together, helping them rinse away with less scrubbing.

How to use it (face & body)

1. Work on clean, damp skin. Splash with warm water first.
2. Scoop a small amount (½-1 teaspoon for face; 1-2 tablespoon for body).
3. Massage in a circular motion for 20-60 seconds.
4. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry.
5. Follow with a simple moisturiser or body lotion.

Face vs body: Many dermatologists prefer chemical/enzymatic exfoliation on faces; if you do use a sugar scrub on facial skin, keep pressure feather-light, use superfine sugar, and limit to once a week max-skip entirely if you're sensitive or using retinoids/strong acids.

Smart ways to use cherry scrub

• Pre-tan prep: Smooth on elbows/knees/ankles 24 hours before applying self-tan.
• Lip polish: Very gently buff lips for 10-15 seconds, then balm (once weekly).
• Shower treat: Massage from shoulders to toes, then wash with a non-foaming body cleanser so some oil remains for a soft finish.

Results you can expect

Regular, gentle exfoliation helps skin feel soft and look brighter as surface cells are whisked away. That can refine texture and improve the appearance of pores (pores don't actually open/close; they just look smaller when the edges are clean and smooth).

Print

📖 Recipe

Variations & substitutions

• Oil swaps: Use grapeseed (light), jojoba (balanced), or fractionated coconut (silky).
• Berry twist: Swap cherry fragrance for strawberry, raspberry, or almond-cherry blend.
• Glow-boost (enzymes): Stir in ½ teaspoon pumpkin or papaya enzyme powder for an extra-gentle polish.
• Silica exfoliants: Want a microplastic-free option that's even smoother? Replace ¼ of the sugar with cosmetic-grade silica exfoliants for a soft, round particle feel that's kinder to waterways-silica is a widely recommended alternative to banned microbeads in rinse-off products.
• No dye: Omit mica for a colour-free version, or use a pinch of beetroot powder for a subtle tint.

Storage, shelf life & gifting

• Keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months. Always use clean, dry hands or a scoop.
• Because this is an oil-and-sugar product with no water, it's self-preserving when kept dry; avoid introducing water into the jar.
• Add a label with a use-by date and these notes: "For external use only. Keep out of reach of children."

Safety notes (please read)

• Patch test before first use, especially with fragrances.
• Avoid on broken/irritated skin, active acne, after shaving, or post-sun exposure.
• Be careful-oils can make tubs slippery.
• UK readers: plastic microbeads are banned in rinse-off cosmetics; this recipe is microplastic-free. If you experiment with other scrub particles, choose eco-minded options like sugar, salt, ground oats, or silica.

FAQ's

Homemade beauty can be effective, affordable, and fun. This cherry scrub is proof: a few pantry ingredients, a minute of mixing, and you've got a silky polish that leaves skin soft and glowy. If you try it, tag your post (or your "tiktok - make" clip!)-I'd love to see your version.

If you liked this cherry scrub, you might also like these other natural beauty makes...