Buying a basket of beauty products makes a lovely gift, but making one yourself is even lovelier! Plus this way you know exactly what ingredients are in the products - meaning you're not only not harming your loved-ones with toxic chemicals, but your homemade products will be healing. The best part is that these products can be tailored to suit the intended receiver's individual natural beauty. For example, hair rinses that enhance specific hair colours; moisturisers that suit either dry or oily skin; different essential oils in the deodorant to be more 'flowery', more 'earthy', more whatever... The options are endless and so is the creative enjoyment in putting this together!
Some of the items included in this vanity case I have done previous posts on, so have included links to the posts for you to see the processes of making them, and for additional information relating to the ingredients. None of them are particularly difficult! Then you can either buy a vanity case to put the items in, or they are often to be found in charity shops, or if you can't find one you can put all these things into a gift basket or box instead - perhaps packed decoratively using tissue paper, tinsel, foam peanuts, cellofane and ribbons.
1. Moisturiser
For how to make it, please see my previous post here.
This is a very easy and simple moisturiser anyone can make at home, using ingredients you can easily obtain at your local chemist, health food store or online, and cost a fraction of what you'd spend on commercial beauty products... I love this moisturiser as not only does it leave your skin feeling soft and nourished, it's also easily absorbed, and smells amazing due to the cocoa butter!
What you will need:
2 tblsp cocoa butter, 2 tblsp shea butter, 1 tblsp coconut oil, 1 tsp vitamin E oil, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tsp aloe vera.
I then decorated the container using tiny glass beads and a glue-gun, and a hand-made label covered with sticky-back plastic.
2. Nourishing Hair Rinse
For how to make it, please see my previous post here.
Our hair is able to condition itself with natural oils secreted from follicles, yet when we use shampoo these oils are stripped away and not only dries our hair out, but harms our scalps as well... This hair rinse will be suitable for all hair types, so you can try it out and then adjust the ingredients or quantities if you want to. It's worth spending a bit of time researching, as there are so many possible ingredients to use, which will enhance your natural colour as well as taking care of your scalp.
What you will need:
2 tblsp dried chamomile flowers, 2 tblsp dried calendula petals, 1 tsp dried sage, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried thyme, 2 tblsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tblsp witch hazel, 1 tblsp aloe vera.
You can hang something decorative around the neck of the bottle for a nice finish.
3. Healing Conditioner
This is great for anyone with dry or damaged hair, as not only does it not contain any of the harmful chemicals that will further damage the hair, but the natural ingredients it does contain will help heal the hair and scalp.
What you will need:
5 tblsp plain natural conditioner, 2 tblsp dried chamomile flowers, 2 tblsp dried calendula petals, 1 tblsp dried sage, 1 tblsp dried rosemary, 1 tblsp wheatgrass powder.
I make this in a similar way to the hair rinse above - First I put the dried herbs together in a jar and cover with boiling water. Allow to brew for at least 30 minutes, then strain into a bowl through cheesecloth or old stockings. Mix in the natural conditioner and wheatgrass powder, and then pour into a suitable bottle (using a funnel helps for this part!). I then put a hand-made label onto it, covered with sticky-back plastic, and a 'necklace' of tiny glass beads around the neck of the bottle.
4. Stick Deodorant
For how to make this, please see my previous post here.
A very effective non-toxic and non-sting deodorant that takes care of your skin with all-natural ingredients... Commercial deodorants and antiperspirants usually contain a concoction of harmful carcinogenic ingredients, including aluminiun, parabens, triclosan, talc, propylene glycol, steareth-n and many others. These toxins are particularly harmful to women who shave their armpits, as skin is damaged and so procures a higher exposure. Also, as with any chemicals applied topically, they are absorbed into our bloodstreams and can cause any number of mild to very serious diseases.
What you will need:
2 tblsp shea butter, 1 tsp coconut oil, 5 drops vitamin E oil, 30 drops tea tree essential oil, 1 tsp aloe vera, 3 tblsp arrowroot powder, 4 tblsp Diatomaceous Earth (food grade).
All I want to say - this is my favourite deodorant EVER. It really is extremely effective!
5. Herbal Bath Bags
These are like tea bags for the bath! Not only do they smell wonderful, but they are great for the skin, the body (as the medicinal properties of the herbs are absorbed), and mental health too as these herbs encourage relaxation. They are very easy to make, taking only a few minutes.
What you will need: (makes 2)
1 large piece of cheesecloth, 6 tblsp dried chamomile flowers, 6 tblsp dried lavendar, 4 tblsp dried marjoram, string or ribbon to tie.
Fold the cheesecloth in half lengthways, then cut in half so you have 2 squares of double-layered cheesecloth. Put 3 tblsp of chamomile, 3 tblsp of lavendar and 2 tblsp of marjoram into the centre of each square, then gather up the edges and secure tightly using the string or ribbon. Easy! Then to use simply pop into the bath along with yourself, and you can soak there together :-) The cheesecloth can be re-used many times.
6. Homemade Candles
I recently discovered just how easy candle-making is. A friend bought me a starter kit a few years ago and I only just got round to using it! It contains candle wax, wick, dye, and candle moulds. But if you're unable to get a kit like this, just buy some wick, and you can melt down old candles - pour them into silicone muffin cases or jars, and they make lovely handmade gifts for people. I thought they would make a nice addition to the vanity case, as they can be burned whilst the person is enjoying a relaxing soak in the tub.
7. Homemade Hair Band
I made this using an old ski-snood I never used, and I took the elastic part from anther worn-out head band. I cut a wide strip from the snood, folded it lengthways and sewed the seam. I then attached by sewing each end to the ends of the elastic part, and hey presto! You can also make even simpler versions of these by using stretchy material from old tops, leggings, stockings, even socks! Anything stretchy.
8. Facecloth
This isn't homemade obviously, but I did tie it up with a ribbon myself! It needn't cost much, but a soft facecloth made from natural materials makes a nice addition to the vanity case.
8. Cactus Body Brush
This is a long-handled brush from the Body Shop, perfect for dry-skin brushing (but it can also be used in the shower/bath). Dry brushing helps remove dead skin cells, unclogs pores and encourages the skin to release toxins. It softens skin, reduces cellulite and improves circulation.
9. Small Mirror
I bought a cheap simple mirror, then painted and gave it a coat of glitter for a nice hand-finished touch. If you have more time, you could buy a basic mirror and hand-make a frame for it yourself, using things like drift-wood, shells, dried & pressed leaves and flowers, wooden beads... anything you can think of!
If you enjoyed this post, please follow me for more seasonal crafts and healthy recipes throughout December!
Many thanks.
All photos in this post are my own original.
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