DIY LUSH-Inspired Lip Scrub – Vanilla Sugar Dupe for Soft, Kissable Lips

If you’ve ever splurged on a teeny-tiny tub of LUSH lip scrub, you know how delightful (and expensive) it can be. That sweet scent, that gritty goodness… and then poof—$15 gone in a week. But guess what? You can make your own LUSH lip scrub dupe at home for pennies, and it’s just as fabulous.

This DIY vanilla sugar lip scrub is the real deal—natural, edible, and absolutely delicious. My teenage daughter even said, “Mum, this tastes exactly like the LUSH one!” And when a teen voluntarily compliments your DIY, you frame that moment.

Why Make a LUSH Lip Scrub Dupe?

LUSH lip scrubs are cult favourites for a reason—they smell amazing and actually work. But with a few pantry staples, you can make your own version that:

Costs a fraction of the store-bought price
Is totally customizable
Makes amazing handmade gifts

Copycat LUSH Lip Scrub Recipe – Vanilla Sugar Edition

Yields: enough for 2 small jars (or 1 generous one to keep all to yourself!)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp white sugar (adds extra scrub power)
1 tbsp coconut oil (moisturizing like LUSH’s formula)
½ tsp raw honey (optional but adds extra lip-softening magic)
¼ tsp vanilla extract or 1–2 drops vanilla essential oil

How to Make It:

Stir it up.
Mix both sugars in a small bowl. Add the coconut oil, honey, and vanilla, and stir until you get a grainy, wet-sand-like texture.
Scoop & store.
Spoon the mixture into a small jar or repurposed container. Keep one on your vanity and gift the rest—trust me, they’ll ask for refills.
To use:
Gently rub a pea-sized amount on your lips using clean fingertips. Massage in circles for 20–30 seconds, then wipe (or lick) it off. Follow with a lip balm to seal in the softness.

Optional Add-Ins for Your Own Signature Dupe

LUSH Mint Julips Copycat: Swap vanilla for peppermint oil
Bubblegum Dupe: Add a tiny drop of bubblegum flavouring
Cocoa Sugar Scrub: Add ½ tsp cocoa powder and a drop of chocolate extract

How Long Will It Last?

This all-natural scrub is best used within 2–3 weeks. Store it in a clean container at room temp or pop it in the fridge if you’re saving some for later. (Though honestly, you’ll be reaching for it daily.)

Perfect for Holiday Gifting

Tuck these into stockings, teacher gift bags, or spa sets with a DIY lip balm and a cute tag. It’s the kind of thoughtful gift that feels luxe but costs next to nothing.

Why You’ll Love This LUSH Lip Scrub Dupe:

Tastes just like the real thing
All-natural, food-safe ingredients
No plastic tubs or mystery ingredients
Budget-friendly and teen-approved
Whips up in 5 minutes or less

If you love simple handmade gifts that still feel festive and special, this DIY Christmas Cherry Body Scrub from CraftBits is such a fun little project. It is bright, pretty, and has that sweet cherry scent that makes it feel perfect for Christmas gifting.

What I like about this tutorial is how easy it is to pull together. The scrub uses granulated sugar, sweet almond oil or another carrier oil, red cherry fragrance oil, and a touch of mica powder for color, so it feels like one of those projects you can make quickly but still package up beautifully.

It is the kind of bath and body recipe that works really well for teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, or just a little festive treat for yourself. The pretty pink-red color and cherry fragrance give it a cheerful Christmas feel without needing anything too complicated.

The tutorial itself is wonderfully straightforward too. You simply combine the ingredients well and store the finished scrub in an airtight container, which makes this a lovely beginner-friendly project for holiday crafting.

If you are looking for a quick Christmas body scrub recipe that feels handmade, giftable, and easy to recreate, this one is a sweet little pick.

Featured Project: DIY Christmas Cherry Body Scrub