4 DIY Holiday Gifts for the Skincare Junkie in Your Life

I’ll admit it—I have a problem. I am a skincare junkie.

I was a pimply teenager, so I established a skincare routine at a young age; I’ve put in a lot of effort over the years when it comes to taking care of my skin.

So how do I get my fix? I also discovered early on that I could save a bundle by making my own creams, balms, serums, and potions.

Do you have skincare junkies in your life, too? If so, they’ll love you forever if you tuck these simple but luxurious homemade products into their stockings this year. To make them look extra fancy, use bows, ribbons, and tags to dress up your bottles.

Refreshing Toner

Rosewater is relatively inexpensive, easy to find, and makes a great base for a toner. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, rosewater also helps balance the skin’s PH level and control excess oil. This easy recipe provides a great foundation for a good skincare routine.

Rosewater Toner (makes 4 oz)

• 1/4 cup Rosewater
• 1/4 cup Witch Hazel
• A few drops of preferred essential oils
• 4 oz glass spray bottle

Combine rose water and witch hazel in spray bottle. Add up to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil for skincare. Lavender, Roman chamomile, carrot, and geranium are good choices.

Super-Power Serum

Adding the right oils to your skincare routine can provide moisturizing and anti-aging benefits—and even help repair acne-prone skin! One of the biggest heroes in my skincare routine is the sumptuous oil-based serum I make from scratch. Since you probably won’t know the skin profile of the person you’re making it for, this general-purpose recipe uses oils that are beneficial for all sorts of skin types.

Sumptuous Serum (makes 1 oz)

• 1/2 oz. Jojoba oil
• 1/2 oz. Rosehip seed oil
• 5 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
• 5 drops Helichrysum essential oil
• 5 drops Rose essential oil
• 5 drops Frankincense essential oil
• 1 oz glass pump bottle

Combine jojoba and rosehip seed oil in pump bottle. Add 5 drops each of Roman chamomile, helichrysum, rose, and frankincense essential oils.

Bountiful Body Scrub

Dry winter days can be rough on your skin. I like to use body scrubs to both moisturize and exfoliate, two important ways to combat excessive dryness. This recipe employs the humectant honey along with heavier carrier oils, like coconut or avocado, to help your skin glow, even in wintertime.

Honey-Sugar Body Scrub (makes about 1 1/2 cups)

• 3/4 cup Sugar in the Raw
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 1/4 cup avocado or coconut oil
• 1 vitamin E capsule
• Essential oils (optional)
• Decorative jar

If you’re using solid coconut oil rather than avocado oil, melt in the microwave first. Same goes for raw honey, which is often in solid rather than liquid form. Mix sugar, honey, coconut or avocado oil, and vitamin E thoroughly. Though it already smells heavenly, feel free to add a few drops of your favorite scented essential oil.

Winter Lip Balm

As the winter season approaches, so do chapped lips. These peppermint lip balms are sure to put smiles on the faces of the people you give them to.

Mint Lip Balm (makes 10-12 tins)

• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons shea butter
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• Tin lip balm containers or BPA-free plastic tubes

Gently melt beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter in double boiler over medium-low heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, use a heatproof glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Once the carrier oils and waxes are melted, add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. You can add up to 15 drops, but I find peppermint oil to be rather strong-tasting. Pour into containers; you may need a mini funnel to avoid mess. You can use plastic lip balm tubes, but I prefer these tin containers because they’re easier to fill.

Want to learn how to make your own salve? Find out how to use simple herbs to make your own homemade ointment.