Looking to add a new addition to your beauty and skincare arsenal? Instead of heading out to the store or ordering a new product online, try whipping up one of these luxurious beauty treats. Body scrubs, face masks, bath salts, oils—these easy, surprisingly inexpensive, DIY beauty treatments are filled with nutrient-packed ingredients and are great alternatives to splurging on the expensive stuff.
Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day Gift? Package one of these homemade blends in a simple, sealable jar with a string of baker’s twine for a present that’s both thoughtful and totally useful.
DIY Beauty: Scrubs, Masks and Oils
Coffee Body Scrub
What it does:
An instant pick-me-up that provides a jolt while softening and hydrating skin
How to make it:
Combine equal parts ground coffee and granulated sugar. Add vegetable glycerin (available at natural foods stores such as Whole Foods”> or olive oil until you reach desired consistency. Add two tablespoons of ground cinnamon and a few drops of vanilla extract or essential oil, and stir to blend.
Lavender Bath Salts
What it does:
Soothes tired muscles and minds
How to make it:
Mix together two cups of Epsom salt with one cup of sea salt in a bowl. Add several drops of your favorite lavender essential oil and blend until salts are infused. Sprinkle some dried lavender throughout for color and texture, and then spoon the mixture into a jar or muslin drawstring bag.
Yogurt and Honey Face Mask
What it does:
Exfoliates and brightens complexion
How to make it:
Stir together equal parts honey and yogurt (one tablespoon each is enough for one mask”>. Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon, which work to plump skin and boost circulation, into the blend. Transfer mask to a jar and add a homemade label with instructions, such as: “Leave on for about five minutes before rinsing off for smoother, glowing skin.”
Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub
What it does:
Sloughs dead skin cells and smoothes rough areas such as knees and elbows
How to make it:
Stir two cups of brown sugar and one cup of granulated sugar together until there are no clumps. Add about a cup (depending on your preferred consistency”> of almond oil and one tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a sealable glass container.
QUIZ: Get Your Softest Body Skin Possible
Peppermint Foot Scrub
What it does:
Energizes and softens overworked feet
How to make it:
Add a cup of granulated sugar to a bowl. Slowly pour some coconut oil (warmed in the microwave”> until you reach your desired consistency. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil or extract, and transfer to a jar.
Orange Lemon Salt Scrub
What it does:
Softens and exfoliates while citrus oils give a boost
How to make it:
Mix two cups of Epsom salt with one cup of olive oil. Add fresh lemon and orange zest for fragrance and color.
Rose Bath Oil
What it does:
Hydrates skin and relaxes
How to make it:
Heat a cup of coconut oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until it loses its buttery texture. Slowly stir in rose water (available at most health food stores”> until the blend is softly scented. Add fresh rose petals, and decant the blend into a corked bottle.
MORE: Curly Mixology: Rosewater & Glycerin Hair Spritz
Orange Sugar Lip Scrub
What it does:
Softens chapped or peeling lips
How to make it:
Combine two teaspoons of sugar with a few drops of vitamin E oil (available at drugstores”>. Add two teaspoons of coconut oil and a few drops of fresh squeezed orange juice (preferably with pulp”> until you reach a slightly grainy consistency. Package in a small tin with instructions, such as: “Massage blend over lips, then remove with a damp cloth.”
Peppermint Body Oil
What it does:
Wakes up skin while drenching it with moisture
How to make it:
Shake together a half cup each of coconut, jojoba and grape seed oil. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil, and decant into an airtight jar.
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