Simple DIY Gifts for Holiday Pampering
This holiday season will definitely not be your most indulgent. Days at the spa are out, and watching Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle” in your pajamas is in. But everyone needs a little festive self-care—including the loved ones you won’t get to see. This year, try sending these simple DIY gifts for holiday pampering. And be sure to make enough to treat yourself, too.
Christmas Sugar Scrub
Winter is brutal on skin, and slathering on lotion won’t take care of any skin flakes. It’s helpful to exfoliate, but only very gently. A sugar body scrub is the perfect consistency, and adds a touch of sweetness that won’t lead to any holiday weight gain. The basic ingredients are brown sugar (1 ¾ cups) and coconut oil (1 ½ cups); you can heat the mixture for about 15 seconds if the coconut oil is too hard to work with. Then, you can make it as seasonal as you like. We suggest adding a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, two teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, but there’s lots of room for creativity. Package it in a jar, and don’t forget to include your private label.
Santa’s Hand Sanitizer
What could be more appropriate? Everyone is tired of using free, gross-smelling, sticky sanitizers in checkout lines. Treat someone to this homemade version they can take anywhere. Combine ⅔ cup of rubbing alcohol with ⅓ cup of aloe vera and blend well. From there, you can add eight to 10 drops of an essential oil for a Christmas-y aroma: peppermint, pine, clove, or cinnamon. If you don’t want to make it seasonal, you could try lemon or orange oils (natural disinfectants) or tea tree oil (kills bacteria, mold, and fungi). A 2-ounce bottle is a convenient size, and you don’t need more than a ribbon to make it pretty. Just make sure you remind the recipient to wash their hands frequently, too.
Candy Cane Lip Balm
The only way to prevent chapped lips is to apply lip balm, early and often. This is one of the most useful and simple DIY gifts for holiday pampering. Making your own balm doesn’t require much more than a base of beeswax or paraffin, and a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba. Other recipes make it even simpler, if you have time to order ingredients specifically made for lips. Mix one tablespoon of beeswax with two tablespoons of oil, adding a few drops of candy cane lip flavor oil. You can also make your own approximation of the scent with a combination of essential oils: four drops of peppermint, three drops of cinnamon, and two drops of sweet orange. Add more beeswax if you want more firmness, and then package it in a tube, jar, or pot. The beauty of a handmade gift is that you can even repurpose an Altoids tin for the packaging.
