It’s that time of year when we start thinking about what we’re going to give our loved ones for Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. Mike and I love to give and receive handmade gifts because the thought and time put into them make them so meaningful, they’re always one-of-a-kind, and usually it’s more economical than going to the store and buying something.
I’d love to hear what some of you are working on, and I’ll be sharing my gift ideas as well occasionally between now and Christmas.
First up, Jess asked me to share a recipe for homemade sugar scrub- a perfect gift for anyone! It’s all-natural, luxurious, and makes your body silky smooth by exfoliating and moisturizing.
It’s pretty inexpensive to make, but I would recommend splurging a little on a high-quality olive oil so you get the benefit of the most antioxidants possible. Cheap olive oil is more likely to be rancid, expired, or over-processed. I used Lucero Extra Virgin Olive Oil. They’re family-owned and operated and take the art of making olive oil very seriously.
Use equal parts brown sugar and white sugar {about 1/4 cup each for a 6 oz. jar} Fill to the top with olive oil, covering the sugars by an extra 1/2 inch.
Optional: Add 1-2 Tbs of vanilla extract for flavor, a couple drops of your favorite essential oil {something that you know your recipient is not allergic or sensitive to}, or 2-4 Tbs lemon juice for a scrub that lightens dark/age spots on skin.
Wrap it up pretty with a piece of scrap fabric and a ribbon. Done! Easiest gift ever! Thanks for the idea, Jess!
I have been “making” homemade vanilla for months and it’s a lovely amber color now! I used one bottle of vodka and three vanilla beans and it looks and smells gorgeous. I started it in about June and I’ll bottle it up in a few weeks. I’m also making cinnamon butter (whipped butter, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and honey) in little Ball jars with a velvet ribbon and little bells hanging off of it. And finally I’m making homemade granola. I absolutely love handmade gifts. I might make the sugar scrub for a few people as it looks great and I can incorporate my vanilla into it. 😉
I have to give this a try! Thank you for posting it :o)
Does sugar scrub go bad after a while? I’m wondering if I can make it in August and give it as a gift in December. Thanks!!
It will start to mold after a couple months, yes.
[…] Olive Oil and Sugar Scrub: Follow the link and whip up a jar of this glorious scrub. Use it in the shower after your usual soap. It exfoliates dead skin and leaves you moisturized and protected. Hot water is very drying…But I love a good hot shower. The olive oil in the scrub will help keep the water from drying you out, and contains fatty acids that are great for your skin {You can also use it to make homemade hair conditioner!} […]