Lifestyle
5 Homemade Bath and Body Holiday Gift Ideas
Trying to find the perfect gift isn’t always easy. There are just so many ideas out there, but they don’t always seem good enough.
While there are fun gadgets and interesting products, you want something that is more personalised. Finding something that offers health benefits or relaxation benefits is often best but not easy to come by, especially not when you have a budget to stick to.
And then there’s the problem of chemicals in some of the products. You need to find something that is suitable for all skins or for all tastes.
Well, why not make your own—or have someone else hand-make them for you? It’s time to opt for homemade options, especially when it comes to bath and body products. You know exactly what’s in them (so can tell the recipient) and will be able to ensure the products work the way the individual needs.
Here are five homemade bath and body holiday gift ideas to get you started. You and the person receiving the gift will not be disappointed. The hardest part will be actually giving away the gift instead of keeping it for your own luxurious bath time.
Avocado and Rosemary Essential Massage Oil for Relaxation
Why not start with something a little luxurious and sensual. Many people love body massage, but trying to find the perfect oil isn’t always easy. Some of them are extra sticky, and they don’t exactly leave the skin looking or feeling great afterwards. Sure, they help to get the hands into the tissue, but that really is about it.
Making your own massage oil is one of the easiest tasks. It makes the perfect gift because you put the effort in without wasting lots of time. All you need is the individual essential oils to mix and blend together.
Now it comes to getting the scents just right. You can’t just mix any essential oil together. From there, you will need to make sure it remains stick-free, so the hands can slide across the skin and into the muscles.
You also want something that will offer the perfect health benefits. Avocado is an excellent oil to add to the skin. It’s a vegetable full of good fats that will support the DNA and tissue structure. It’s also full of protein that is soaked in through the skin to support the muscles and tendons. Let’s not forget about the vitamin E, which will leave the skin glowing, soft, and hydrated.
Rosemary oil helps with the regenerating of tissues. The scent will help with some stress relief, but the actual oil gets into the skin and regenerates the cells. You’re left with glowing and bright skin. The recipient of this gift will be extremely grateful for that.
The recipe I’m sharing here has orange essential oil, too. This is an oil that is full of vitamin C to help with the increased production of collagen. The collagen is the reason for the flexible skin. When our bodies don’t produce enough collagen, the layers of skin in the middle tear. We’re left with what we know as stretch marks, and the skin starts to sag.
Of course, the use of avocado oil will also mean that the skin is hydrated. This oil helps to prevent the essential oils from sticking too much.
Ingredients:
- 90ml of avocado oil
- 30ml of rosehip oil
- 5 drops of rose essential oil
- 10 drops of orange essential oil
Method:
As I said, this is one of the easiest recipes and homemade gifts you will come across. Simple mix all the ingredients together and you have your massage oil.
It’s best if this is stored in a dark bottle. Lighter bottles allow too much sun to shine through, which can have damaging effects on the oils within the bottle.
Vanilla Body Butter for Softer Skin
Not all women love to pamper themselves with a massage. They may not have someone who is able to help with this task, anyway. Women want to be able to pamper themselves.
So, it’s time to look for a type of moisturising cream or oil that you can use instead. Body butter are excellent alternatives. They’ll get right into the layers of skin, deeply moisturising in a way that someone has never experienced it before. There’s this feeling of being sensual and sexy at the same time.
Vanilla is an amazing scent to add into any product. The fragrance is so rich that it will stick around on the skin for hours. Whoever gets this gift—if you can tear yourself away from it—will have plenty of compliments throughout the day, as people try to figure out just where the scent is coming from. Perfume? Shampoo? Which brand of moisturising cream can they buy?
In some cultures, vanilla is also an aphrodisiac, which is where the feeling of sensual and sexy comes into play. There’s this relaxing but pleasing effect over the whole mind and body.
And then we can’t forget about the coconut oil and cocoa butter that are used for the deep moisturiser. Let’s start with the coconut oil, which is full of health benefits. There are Anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties to coconut oil. While it’s commonly used in cooking, it is also a brilliant choice for skin and hair care. At room temperature, coconut oil is solid, so it makes the best ingredient for some type of body butter.
Of course, cocoa butter has the same solid properties. It’s soft with a light scent, helping to sooth rough skin and improve hydration deep into the layers. When cocoa butter and coconut oil work together, the skin is revitalised in ways that we have only ever dreamed.
Use the vanilla bean for this recipe rather than the essential oil. You get more of the health benefits since you’re taking the vanilla straight from the source.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cocoa butter, raw form is better
- ½ cup of almond oil
- ½ cup of coconut oil
- 1 vanilla bean
Method:
This is a little harder to make than the massage oil above, but it is still relatively easy.
- Melt the coconut oil and cocoa butter and then allow to cool for around 30 minutes
- Grind your vanilla bean (coffee grinders work best, but a food processor is good enough)
- Stir the vanilla and almond oil into the coconut oil mixture
- Allow to chill in the freezer for 20 minutes, so the oils start to solidify
- Whizz in a food processor until buttery
- Pop in a glass jar
You’ll make enough of this to keep some for yourself and share some as a gift, so don’t worry about that. A mason jar is an excellent option, especially when giving it to someone as a gift. It’s much easier to carry around and reseal between uses.
Coconut Oil Scrub for Deep Exfoliating
Exfoliating the skin is highly recommended practice in the beauty world. It helps to remove the layers of dead skin cells to bring out the newer ones underneath. The skin looks brighter and clearer. The exfoliation will also open the pores, helping to tackle various skin conditions and acne issues.
Coconut oil is an excellent ingredient in any type of scrub. We’ve already discussed above all the health benefits. The main reason you need to include it in a scrub though is to add some moisturising benefits. Scrubs can be harsh on the skin, and you need to make sure you get hydrating oils or moisturisers into the pores as soon as possible. When you opt for the antibacterial properties of coconut oil, you can fight off the risk of acne formation.
The scrub would be nothing without some sort of friction element. For this recipe we’re going to use sugar—any type of sugar will do. While we want to keep sugar out of our diets, there are exhilarating benefits when using it on the skin. It helps to really get into the skin cells without absorbing into the blood stream.
While coconut oil has a slight scent to it, it’s not enough to leave you feeling refreshed. The benefit of the light scent is that any essential oil will work to add to this.
You can choose your own personal favourite or the personal favourite scent of the person receiving your gift. Another option is to choose something that is full of other health benefits. Orange essential oil gives the skin necessary vitamin C, while lavender essential oil is somewhat common and has a relaxing scent. It really is up to you while making it. Try out different oils to create the perfect holiday gift.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 cups of sugar
- 2/3 cups of coconut oil
- 20 drops of any essential oil
Method
- Melt the coconut oil
- Pour everything into a mason jar and shake vigorously
Yes, it really is that simple to create it in your own home. It makes about a pint, so you can split it up in smaller mason jars or give the whole pint to your friends and loved ones. Either way, they’ll love it and will want to know where you found it.
Homemade Bath Salts for a Detoxifying Evening
Relaxing at the end of a long day is something that many of us dream about doing. While it can seem like an unreachable dream, there are days where it is an option. And when it comes to those days, we want the best items to put in our baths.
Baths salts are everywhere. They are promoted as invigorating and detoxifying, but many of them are full of extra annoying chemicals. There are many that dry out the skin and cause health problems like eczema and psoriasis. And if you already have those conditions, they just make them worse.
Naturally made bath salts are so much better for the overall health. You can make sure your best friend has a personalised creation to help her detoxify when she gets the chance to have a long soak in the bath.
If you can find salt that comes from the Dead Sea, it is going to be much better for you than any other. However, other types of sea salt are the ones you want to opt for compared to table or rock salt found in stores. Dead Sea salt is available online and in some specialist stores, while regular sea salt is available widely around the world.
Sea salt is purifying. It fights bacteria and will support the healing system. While other salts can do this, the sea salt isn’t as drying as others. Sea salt, especially Dead Sea salt, is also full of potassium, magnesium (a mineral we tend to be deficient in) and calcium. Our bone health is supported, while the magnesium helps to cure skin ailments and the potassium supports the water balance within the body.
Use your favourite essential oil into the mix for a scent while in the bath. Lavender is calming, making it perfect for bath salts.
Finally, to help avoid the salt completely drying out the body, add a little coconut oil. It works with the anti-bacterial properties of the sea salt while also keeping the skin moisturised.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of salt
- 25 drops of essential oil
- 1tbsp coconut oil
Method:
This is another very easy mixture to create. You just need to mix it all together in a jar and make sure it remains airtight. It’s best stored in a dry and cool place (so not the bathroom).
You only need to use half a cup with your normal bath water to get all the detoxifying benefits.
Peppermint Toner for Better Memory Throughout the Day
Who would have thought that a skin product could help to boost the memory? Well, that’s the case with this peppermint toner—and it leaves the skin feeling revitalised and ready for a long day at the same time.
The memory benefits come from the peppermint essential oil. It’s the scent that you will get throughout the day that boosts alertness, which of course helps with your memory. There are still studies to see just how beneficial it is, but there has to be a reason peppermint tea is so widely promoted.
This toner also has cooling properties. It helps to sooth your face, tightening the pores, so they don’t get filled with dirt and grime and reducing inflammation and puffiness on a morning. There’s no need to hide the bags with makeup when you use this toner on a daily basis.
We also can’t forget the benefits of the apple cider vinegar. The pH level helps to promote cleansing, while the apple cider helps to promote the invigorating benefits on the skin.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup of water
- ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- 40 drops of peppermint essential oil
Method:
- Mix the water and vinegar together in a spray bottle
- Add in your essential oil, starting with just a few drops to test the cooling properties
You can carry this toner around with you throughout the day, but it is most beneficial in the morning and at night after your cleansing routine. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can use cotton wool to dab it on your face lightly.
Get Crafty for Your Healthy Beneficial Bath and Body Holiday Gifts
The great thing about the holidays is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to show someone that you care. Making products is a great way to show that you’ve thought about the individual and what they want/need.
Now it’s time to search for your favourite recipes and how they will help the people you need to buy for. Do your friends love detoxifying baths or need to feel sexy with their body butter? There are options for all, and the above are just your starting points. I’ve chosen ones that are very easy to make, so you can replicate as much as you want. They’re also affordable since they don’t call for majorly out of the ordinary ingredients. The hardest ingredient to find may be Dead Sea salt, but it’s worth it when you do find. I can promise that.
Your friends and loved ones will appreciate these types of gifts. That is if you can pry yourself away from them after making them.
