The holidays are fast approaching and in a tight economy many people are trying to figure out how to budget for this year’s gift buying season.

It really is a shame that people feel forced to feed into the big box retailer mentality of purchasing every gift for every person on their list. Once upon a time, people used to MAKE each other heartfelt gifts.

Today I would like to provide you some really wonderful recipes which will allow you to create some amazing personal care items which can be given to all of the special people in your life. You can get really creative with packaging and labeling these items as well.

Everyone I have ever given one of my creations too has loved it! These products work well and last a long time. To make it easy on you, I even included some images you can print and attach to each gift. It tells the recipient exactly how to use each product.

Enjoy!

This delicious scrub is sure to brighten up any holiday!

Basic Body Scrub

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons Kelapo Coconut Oil
• 1/4 cup of your favorite liquid soap (I use unscented Dr. Bronner’s)
• Any ONEof the following:
  • juice from half a grapefruit
  • juice from one lemon
  • grated peel from a lemon or lime
  • 1/2 cup chopped cranberries
  • 1/4 cup rose salt
  • 2 tablespoons of essential oil

 Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Spoon into a mason jar or other nice jar.
3. Decorate it, leave it plain, wrap it up…whatever you want to do!

 Instructions for Use

• When in the shower, rub all over from head to toes.
• Rinse with cool water to close pores.
• Use once a week.
• Store at room temperature.

 Ginger Skin Cream

Ginger invigorates and oil soothes in this lotion! Also great for mature skin.

 Ingredients

• 2-inch piece of fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons Kelapo Coconut Oil
• 2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
• 2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
• ½ cup cocoa butter or shea butter

Directions  

1. Preheat oven on lowest setting.
2. Finely grate the ginger just enough so that you have about 1/8 teaspoon of ginger “juice.”
3. To obtain the juice, squeeze the freshly grated ginger over a small bowl.
4. Place the ingredients (including the ginger) in a glass container and heat just until the cocoa butter is melted and the oils are blended.
5. Pour into a clean, dry container.
6. You can add a few drops of orange or other essential oil for a nice twist.

Instructions for Use

• Rub a small amount of this cream onto dry or damaged skin. A little goes a long way.
• Use daily.
• Store at room temperature.

Bath Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies, enough for 12 baths.

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely ground sea salt
• 1/2 cups baking soda
• 1/2 cups cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons Kelapo Coconut Oil
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 2 eggs
• 5-6 drops essential oil of your choice

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
2. Mix together all the ingredients.
3. Take a teaspoon of the dough and roll it gently into a ball (about an inch in diameter).
4. Continue doing this with all the dough and place the balls on an un-greased cookie sheet. (You can decorate the cookies with clove buds, anise seeds, or dried citrus peel if you like).
5. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, until they are lightly browned. Don’t over-bake them.
6. Allow the cookies to cool completely.

Instructions for Use

• Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath.
• Allow to dissolve.
• Soak in the tub for as long as you please!

-Jennifer from Hybrid Rasta Mama

For more great ways to keep your skin silky smooth this season, check out Lani’s best tips for winterizing your skin.