DIY Gift Ideas: Vanilla and Honey Sugar Body Scrub

Let the DIY holiday gift giving commence! We’re officially into December now and the holiday parties will be here before you know it. What better way to thank your party host or hostess, than with a handmade gift and this week it’s an easy one! The ingredients for this decadent sugar scrub can be picked up at your local grocery store and the scrub can be whipped up in just a few minutes.

I found these great, squat, 8oz. mason jars (like the one in the picture above) in a 4-pack from my local grocery store. You can also find them (or similar jars) in stores like Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond, and if you have time to go hunting you can always find great jars at thrift shops! The vitamin E in this recipe will act as a preservative but it’s still best to make sure you start with clean jars. So no matter where you get the jars from, make sure you wash them thoroughly before use, in order to limit the potential for bacterial growth.

To make 4 – 8oz. jars of sugar scrub, you’ll need:

1 1/3 c. coarse, raw sugar
1 1/3 c. dark brown sugar
1 1/3 c. sunflower OR extra-virgin olive OR grapeseed OR almond oil
4 tsp. honey
4 tsp. vanilla extract or 2 vanilla beans
4-6 vitamin E capsules

In a large bowl mix together the sugars then stir in the oil, honey and vanilla extract. If you want to use a fresh vanilla bean, use 1/2 of a bean per 8oz. jar. Slit the vanilla bean with a sharp knife and scrape out the inside and mix it into the sugars. Save the vanilla bean husk to put into each jar as you’re filling them with the mixture. Pierce the vitamin E capsules and squeeze them into the mixture.

Once the ingredients have been thoroughly incorporated, spoon the mixture into the jars (add the vanilla bean husk if you used the beans) and seal them. Include a label either as a sticker on the lid or as a pretty card tied around the top of the jar letting the recipient know how to use this scrub.

How to Use This Scrub

Start with dry skin and gently rub a generous amount of the sugar scrub onto your skin using a circular motion. When using this mixture on your hands, wring them together to make sure you thoroughly scrub them. Rinse your skin in warm water and pat dry…don’t scrub yourself dry. There should still be a fine layer of oil on your skin, that’s a good thing! It won’t clog your pores and that new found moisture can be locked in by following this process with an application of your favorite lotion.

I hope you like this fun recipe! I find that it is quick and easy to whip up and is perfect for those last minute gifts that you always seem to need this time of year!

For more easy DIY holiday gifts check out these other posts in the “DIY Gift Ideas” series:

image via: istockphoto.com

comments

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wonderful! thanks

Colleen Lowery | 12/07/2012 05:12 am


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