Last minute DIY beauty gifts! from your local $1 store!

Well, it's officially 'the last minute', which means there is still time to make a fabulous gift with items from your local $1 store!

Make a Strawberry Body Scrub with just a few ingredients >> you'll need

2 ounces of Strawberry Preserves
8 ounces of Sea Salt
4 ounces of olive oil (or soybean/olive oil mix)

And to make a Soothing Salt Muscle Scrub & Soak you'll need >>

2 ounces of Epsom Salt
2 ounces of Sea Salt
2 teaspoons Vapor Chest Rub (like 'Vicks')
4 ounces of olive oil (or soybean/olive oil mix)

These Body Scrubs are fun and easy to make.  For the Strawberry Scrub, we used Strawberry Preserves because we wanted to get all the items from a dollar store.  The preserves have only 5 ingredients and have chunks of real strawberries.   We scooped out the preserves and put about 2 ounces in a measuring cup and used some in a smoothie we were making and  put the rest in a ziploc bag, labeled it, and put it in the fridge for more smoothies, sandwiches, toast, a mix in for yogurt, or wherever we want strawberries.

Then we filled a pitcher with hot tap water and soaked the jar while we made the strawberry scrub body treat.

Using a metal spatula (see picture above), we chopped the pieces of strawberries and mixed in the sea salt with it.  Then we put the strawberry and salt mixture in a small glass bowl, added the oil and stirred well.  

Then we wash out the jar with hot soapy water, and the jelly label came off really easily!  Dry out the jar completely with a paper towel.  Then, use a small plastic spoon to carefully spoon the strawberry scrub into the jar.

Make sure the outside of the jar is clean and all the way dry.  Then you can label the jar.  We used some of that clear tape that kind of has a 'matte' finish, the one that you can still see a little bit, and used a Sharpie Marker to name our gift.  Make sure you make a label for the back to with the ingredients and directions.  The directions are >> gently smooth on wet skin and rinse thoroughly for a delicious skin treat!  >> Also let them know on the jar to be careful because the tub or shower may be slippery because of the oil, and they must refrigerate it and use it all in about 2 weeks  (You can include a small plastic spoon with the gift too so the scrub can be easily removed from the jar).  It feels great on the skin, leaves skin smooth and silky, and smells oh so good!

The Soothing Salt Muscle Scrub & Soak was easy to make too!  It's made in much the same way.  We spooned out 2 teaspoons (you can use the small plastic spoons) of the Chest Rub onto a clean cutting board (use glass or plastic).  Then we used a spatula to mix the Epsom and Sea Salt into the Chest Rub.  We added a little of the oil just to combine the Chest Rub and Salts together until smooth and kind of like a paste.  We placed this paste in a clean glass bowl and added the rest of the oil until it was well combined.  Just put the rest of the vapor rub into a small container is ziploc bag and be sure to label it.  You can use it as intended or you can make more Scrub & Soak with it : )

You can soak the label off this jar just like like you did on the Preserve jar above.  The label comes off really easy.  Just use some dish soap on the jar and rub with your hands until soapy and clean.  This one is a little messier, but so worth it!  Make sure you add a tag or card with the ingredients and how to use it.  This one can stay out of refrigerator, just still use in about 2 weeks.  This one can be applied to the body or added to bath water, just include a spoon so it can be stirred a little first.  It feels warm and soothing!  Also perfect for a DIY pedicure!  AND great for men and women!

These natural skincare body treatment gifts can be wrapped individually or even included in a gift basket along with a fluffy towel, bath brush, herbal tea bags, slippers, or whatever you want to include for a total pampering experience!  It's fun to enjoy time off with children by having 'spa time' at home too!  Have a fun Strawberry Mani/Pedis, make some delicious fruit smoothies, watch old movie, and relax and have fun!  MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, & HAPPY NEW YEAR!