Christmas Gifts on a shoestring budget

 

3 make it at home Spa gift ideas!

Peppermint Cocoa Body Scrub

I love this easy-to-make body scrub because it smells amazing, rejuvenates dry winter skin and makes a perfect holiday gift.

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbs. honey
• 6 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 heaping teaspoons cocoa
• 1/2 c. sugar in the raw
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 6-10 Tbs. water
• 6-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions:

Mix the honey, olive oil and cocoa in a small bowl until thoroughly blended. In a larger bowl, blend the raw and granulated sugar together. Add the cocoa mixture to the sugar and mix well. Add water to get desired consistency. Add peppermint oil to desired scent.

In a warm shower, apply a small amount of mixture to the body. Scrub gently in circular motions. Rinse. Lightly pat the skin dry and follow with your favorite skin moisturizer to enhance the benefits.

The recipe yields approximately 1 1/3 cups of scrub. Package the scrub in small tin, glass, or plastic containers with lids. You can place a clear label with instructions for use on the outside of the container. Use ribbon, an old-fashioned peppermint stick, or a sprig of fresh holly for embellishment.

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Grapefruit Exfoliating Paste

Increase circulation and polish the skin with this fresh-and-fruity body scrub .

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces almond oil
• 25 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 14 drops tangerine essential oil
• 10 drops lime essential oil
• 6 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 ounces coarse sea salt

Directions

1. Combine almond oil and essential oils in a glass jar and shake well.
2. Pour the mixture into a bowl and slowly add sea salts. Stir the mixture until a thick paste forms, let sit for one hour, then pour it into a clean glass jar.
3. Once a week, vigorously massage the scrub over the entire body, then rinse.

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Firming Coffee Body Scrub

The scrub is gentle enough for everyday use and leaves skin silky smooth.

Renowned as an anti-cellulite agent, coffee detoxifies and tightens the skin; the ground beans can also exfoliate, reduce fine lines, and fend off acne. I use sugar and coconut in the following coffee-based body scrub for extra scouring power, along with macadamia or olive oil for deep hydration and a rejuvenating essential oil to help wake up the senses.

The scrub is gentle enough for everyday use and leaves skin silky smooth.

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ cups cane sugar
• ¼ cup ground coffee beans
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ¾ cup macadamia nut oil or olive oil
• 1 tsp. honey
• 3-5 drops essential oil of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix sugar, ground coffee beans, coconut, and oil in a bowl until fully combined. Add honey followed by the essential oil.
2. Transfer the mixture to a plastic container with a lid. (The scrub will keep for 1 to 2 weeks sealed at room temperature.)
3. Rub a generous scoop of the scrub over your arms, legs, stomach, chest, and bottom, scrubbing medium to hard depending on your sensitivity. (Skin should be moist when applying the scrub.)
4. Rinse off in the shower under warm to hot water, ensuring the sugar crystals disintegrate completely. Pat dry to allow the oils to soak into your soft, glowing skin.

Note: Those with very sensitive skin may wish to use pure cane sugar because it is less abrasive than raw.