DIY beauty presents
Make the Christmas shopping meet budget expectations with these cheap and easy beauty gifts you can make yourself.
Experts share their make-it-yourself beauty secrets.
Oatmeal and Lavender Face Scrub:
From: Beauty blogger Stephanie Wilson from Lipstick & Cake
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 cups oatmeal, ground in a food processor
3/4 cup dry lavender flowers - stalks removed
1/4 cup rice flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
METHOD: Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix until well combined. To use, massage on to damp skin with wet hands and rinse with warm water.
Packaging tip: "Pour into a cute jar and decorate with a strip of wrapping paper and a ribbon across the middle of the jar," Wilson suggests. "Or put a bit of muslin material over the lid and secure with a ribbon and bow."
Cinnamon Lip Balm:
From: Aromatherapist Jen Gallagher, from Essential Oil Goddess
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 tsp raw cocoa butter
1 1/2 tsp organic beeswax (vegans can use organic carnauba wax)
2 tsp coconut oil
2 drops cinnamon essential oil
METHOD: Grate the raw cocoa butter and organic beeswax into a stainless- steel or Pyrex bowl. Place some boiling water in a second, and larger, heatproof bowl. Place the first bowl in the bowl of boiling water. Stir the cocoa butter/beeswax until melted. Add coconut oil and stir until blended thoroughly. Remove the bowl and add the drops of essential oil. Pour into a small glass jar or tin.
Presentation tip: Add a few drops of beetroot juice in the final stage to make the lip gloss red.
Body Sugar Scrub:
From: Andrea Cook, distributor for Dr Bronner's Organic Body Care
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 drops of ylang ylang essential oil
Dr Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Soap
sugar or coffee granules
METHOD: Add oil to soap and gently mix for an even blend. Then choose either sugar or coffee granules as your exfoliator. Both gently remove dead skin cells while improving circulation. Coffee granules not only aid in detoxifying the body, but they also help reduce varicose veins, while banishing cellulite. Sugar granules gently soften dry, rough patches to smooth those hardened elbows, knees and heels. Gently mix into the baby-mild soap for an even consistency.
Packaging tip: "Store your sugar scrub in an airtight glass jar and you have an instant, bespoke gift. Attach a handwritten tag listing the ingredients used and the date it was made. Keep your homemade scrub in a cool place and remember it has a shelf life of only about four weeks," Ms Cook said. Apply in the shower, covering the entire body. With a hot cleansing flannel, work in small circular movements upwards.
