Exfoliating Sugar Scrub: What It Does and How to Use It

An exfoliating sugar scrub buffs off rough, dry-looking skin so it feels smoother. Use it two or three times a week on your body, not your face. Our Sugar Polish blends cane sugar with tallow, cocoa butter and oatmeal, so it softens as it buffs. The 4.4 oz jar is $14. Patch test first if you react easily.

By , founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated November 10, 2026

Woman rubbing Moose's tallow Sugar Polish onto her arm in a bright shower
What people ask

Is sugar scrub good for exfoliating?

Yes, a sugar scrub is a good way to exfoliate your body. The crystals buff off rough, dry-looking skin, then dissolve in water. Healthline notes that, unlike plastic microbeads, sugar dissolves easily. Ours leaves tallow, cocoa butter and squalane behind, so skin feels soft, not tight. Use it two or three times a week at most.

How often should I use a sugar scrub?

Two or three times a week is the usual range. Cleveland Clinic and Healthline both say so for the body. Start with once a week, then add a day if your skin feels fine. Skip a session if you notice redness or tightness. Dry or sensitive skin can stay at once a week with our Sugar Polish.

Is it better to exfoliate with sugar or salt?

For most body skin, sugar is the gentler pick. Healthline says brown sugar is generally gentler than salt, and sugar dissolves in water. Ours is cane sugar blended with tallow, cocoa butter and oatmeal. It buffs and softens in one step. If your skin runs dry, that softening part matters. Rinse with warm water.

How to use sugar scrub on face?

Keep a body scrub off your face. Cleveland Clinic says body scrubs tend to be rougher, and facial skin is thinner and more delicate. Our Sugar Polish is made for the body, from the neck down. For your face, Cleveland Clinic suggests exfoliating once or twice a week. Go gently.

Can I use sugar scrub on my face every day?

No. Even on the body, daily scrubbing is too much. Cleveland Clinic says over-exfoliating can cause redness, irritation or cracked skin. Healthline says more than two or three times a week can leave skin dry and irritated. Our Sugar Polish is for the body only, so keep it below the neck and rinse well.

Do dermatologists recommend sugar scrub?

Dermatologists focus on how much, not whether. Dr. Anna Chacon told Healthline that over-exfoliating can cause redness, irritation and peeling. So keep it to two or three times a week, and skip broken or sunburnt skin. We list every ingredient on the jar, so you know what goes on. Our 60-day guarantee covers a jar that doesn't suit you.

Do I use sugar scrub before or after soap?

There's no strict rule, so go with what feels good on your skin. Our directions are simple. Massage a scoop onto damp skin in the shower, in slow circles, and rinse well. Spend a little longer on rough spots like elbows and knees. Our Sugar Polish rinses clean, so you can skip body lotion afterward.

Are you supposed to wash off a sugar scrub?

Yes, rinse it off with warm water, then pat dry. The sugar dissolves as you rinse. A soft layer of tallow, cocoa butter and squalane stays on your skin. Wipe any oil off the shower floor so it isn't slippery. Cleveland Clinic suggests a gentle moisturizer after exfoliating if your skin still feels dry.
The timeline

What to expect

  1. Tonight
    You scoop, massage and rinse. Skin feels smoother and soft, not tight. You'll smell the scent for a while, and there's no greasy film.
  2. Week 1
    After two sessions, rough spots like elbows and knees feel smoother. If skin feels tight or looks red, scrub less often.
  3. Week 4
    You'll know your rhythm, often once or twice a week. Skin keeps that smooth, soft feel between sessions.
From real customers
Review photo from Gabriela H.
★★★★★✓ Verified

Smells sooo good!!!!!

This blackberry and cream scrub smells amazing. It exfoliates really well without being too harsh and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth after every use.
Gabriela H.

Read all the reviews on the product page →

How to use a sugar scrub

A little goes a long way, and gentle beats hard.

  • Wet your skin in the shower first. Damp skin spreads the scrub farther.
  • Scoop a small amount and warm it between your fingers.
  • Massage in slow circles, with light pressure. Let the sugar do the work.
  • Spend a little longer on rough spots like elbows, knees and heels.
  • Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Wipe oil off the shower floor.
  • Skip broken or sunburnt skin, and try a small patch first if you react easily.

Where to use an exfoliating sugar scrub

Your body can take more scrubbing than your face. This is how we'd map it.

WhereUse it?Why
Arms and legsYesBody skin handles two or three sessions a week.
Elbows, knees and heelsYes, a little longerRough spots get a bit more time in slow circles.
HandsYesRinse well, and moisturize after if they feel dry.
FaceNoCleveland Clinic says body scrubs are rougher than facial skin needs.
Broken or sunburnt skinWaitHealthline says to skip it until the skin heals.

What is in the jar

This is the Sugar Polish label in plain words. About two-thirds of each jar is sugar.

IngredientWhat it does here
Cane sugar (sucrose)The buffing part. It dissolves in water as you rinse.
Beef tallowA rich fat that is close to your skin's own oils
Cocoa butterAdds softness so skin doesn't feel stripped
Fractionated coconut oil and squalaneLight oils that help it spread and rinse clean
BTMS-50 and cetyl alcoholHold the oils and sugar together so the scrub rinses clean
Colloidal oatmeal and pink clayFinely milled oat and kaolin clay for a soft, creamy feel
Fragrance, mica and a coconut-derived preservativeScent, a soft tint, and freshness

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

  1. Ground beef suet in a box, ready to render into tallow

    Day 1 & 2

    Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each

  2. Golden tallow bubbling gently in a stainless pot during the dry render

    Day 3 & 4

    Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours

  3. Warm oil poured over dried herbs in a large glass jar for the infusion

    Day 5

    Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours

  4. Whipped tallow being mixed with beaters in a steel bowl

    Day 6

    Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs
A note from the maker

We make every jar by hand in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The recipe is short on purpose. Sugar buffs, and tallow, cocoa butter and squalane soften. Every ingredient is on the jar. My wife tests everything first. If it doesn't suit your skin, the 60-day guarantee covers it.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Read the whole story →

Try it, Risk Free.

Every order carries the 60-day Money Back guarantee.

Add Sugar Polish to cart Blackberries & Cream →

Related answers

Sources

  1. Cleveland Clinic: How To Exfoliate the Right Way (October 23, 2026)
  2. Healthline: How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Body? (Lauren Sharkey, September 29, 2021)
  3. Healthline: DIY Sugar Scrub (Ashley Hubbard, July 1, 2021)