Lemon Poppyseed Sugar Scrub (with Video)

I bribe myself into waking up in the morning. Weird, I know. But as a non-morning person who has to get up at 5am, I’m going to need some incentives every once in a while. This Lemon Poppy Seed Sugar Scrub is an indulgent morning treat inspired by my favourite Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin recipe.

After years of struggling to write at naptime or after Ella’s bedtime, I’ve realized that early mornings are the (unfortunate) solution to my need to write every day. My head is relatively clear (usually after that first cup of coffee) and Ella has learned to stay asleep even if she hears me head downstairs.

Usually the hardest part is actually getting out of bed and not hitting the snooze alarm for about an hour. Once I get downstairs, I’m usually excited to sit down and start writing – or even get a couple chores done so I can feel uber productive. But on the mornings when I need a little extra motivation or reward for dragging myself out of bed, treats like my homemade sugar scrubs or a fancy homemade coffee make all of the difference.

This Lemon Poppy Seed Sugar Scrub also makes a great gift – just add a cute homemade tag explaining what it is and how to use a sugar scrub.

Check out our quick video to see how easy this lemon poppyseed sugar scrub is to make – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:

How to Make a Lemon Poppy Seed Sugar Scrub

First, gather your ingredients:

• 1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• Few drops Almond or Vitamin E oil, optional
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice (or 2 drops lemon essential oil)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup poppy seeds
• Lemon zest of one lemon, optional

The Vitamin E or Almond oils are great if you plan to use your scrub primarily for your hands as they give this scrub an extra moisturizing and skin restoring boost, but you’ll still come up with a delicious and effective sugar scrub without them.

Start by mixing 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, poppy seeds, and lemon zest together. (You may also want to add in a bit of extra lemon zest at the end for more pronounced colour.)

Pour in the oils, lemon juice, and vanilla, and give it a good stir. Add more sugar for a less “wet” scrub. Adjust the vanilla and lemon juice to achieve your desired scent. You can also use lemon essential oil if you prefer.

You want the sugar scrub to be the consistency of wet sand. Not too wet that it’s gloopy, but not dry so that you have to carve a piece out of the jar in order to use it in the morning!

To use, simply scoop out a small portion and rub onto wet skin in a circular motion. Rinse thoroughly and admire your silky smooth skin!

Are you a morning person? How do you motivate yourself to get out of bed in the morning?

Check out these other homemade toiletries: