How to Have Glowing & Glamorous Skin for the Holidays

The holidays can wreak havoc on our complexion. With all the heavy holiday food, stressful shopping, harsh weather, and general lack of spare time for self-care, our skin can take a beating. 

We bet you and your family are yearning for quality natural beauty products in your stockings this year. Why not make this dream a reality by making DIY natural products with essential oils and herbs that are perfect stocking stuffers or can be saved for New Year self-care?

How to Make a Natural DIY Face Scrub

The face gets the most exposure during the harsh winter season. Give your loved-ones the gift of silky, smooth skin with this luxurious natural face scrub recipe. 

Basic Facial Scrub Recipe

• Oatmeal: ½ cup
• Cornmeal: ⅛-¼ cup
• Liquid Honey: about 2 tablespoons or just enough to make a thick dough

Blend the oatmeal and cornmeal together in a blender on pulse or food processor until very fine but not a powder, pour into a bowl, and add honey to the thick dough mixture. Place the mixture in a wide-mouth jar, scoop from the jar with a spoon or spatula or scoop and place in the palm of your hand, add water, and use to gently scrub face; then rinse.

How to Make a Natural DIY Body Scrub

Dry, itchy skin is rampant in the winter months. This DIY scrub is full of emollient and restorative ingredients to help keep the body’s largest organ glowing and nourished all year long.

Basic Body Scrub Recipe

• White clay: ⅛ cup
• Ground oatmeal: ¼ cup
• Ground almonds: ¼ cup
• Kelp Laminaria digitata powder: ¼ cup
• Comfrey root Symphytum officinale powder: ¼ cup
• Powdered roses Rosa damascena petals: ¼ cup (You can also substitute lavender Lavandula angustifolia or peppermint Mentha ×piperita)
• (Optional) Rose Rosa damascena or lavender Lavandula angustifolia essential oil: 8 drops
• Filtered water: ½ cup

Mix all the ingredients together and then slowly add water until the mixture is moist and makes a paste. Gently rub paste onto arms, legs, and torso. This DIY scrub is also gentle enough to use on your face. Rinse with warm water. Add an additional base oil for an oil-rich scrub. Oils like argan Argania spinosa, buriti Mauritia flexuosa, and jojoba Simmondsia chinensis are good options.

*NOTE: Due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloid content in comfrey, the American Herbal Products Association recommends it not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. A very small amount can absorb through the skin, so you can substitute marshmallow root powder Althea officinalis (L.) or slippery elm Ulmus fulva (Michx.) root powder.

BONUS: How to Dry Skin Brush for Self-Care

While you’re formulating high-quality natural cosmetics for holiday gifts, don’t forget to take care of your own skin. Dry skin brushing is a simple way to help keep the skin soft, smooth, and healthy.

Dry skin brushing gently removes layers of dead cells and stimulates the pores to eliminate toxic products. Traditionally, it has been used to help tone the muscles, redistribute fatty deposits, break up cellulite, and increase and stimulate circulation, especially of the small capillaries under the skin.

To correctly and safely dry skin brush, use a natural-bristled brush, preferably a long-handled bath brush. Natural bristles are essential because nylon tears the skin and disturbs the electro-magnetic balance of the skin. 

Take your brush and start in small circles brushing all over the body. Do not brush the face and any tender or inflamed areas, but do brush the soles of the feet. The brush may feel rough to begin with, so just use gentle pressure until you become used to the sensation.

Dry skin brush at least once a day, followed by a hot and then cold shower. If this is too intense for you, just finish off with a shower at usual temperature. The hot and cold temperature is to further stimulate circulation, but it’s not vital.

For a more comprehensive dry skin brushing experience, here is a step-by-step blog post on this technique.

Ready to amp up your DIY passion and start making natural products at the professional level? You can earn your Certificate in Natural Products Manufacturing (CNPM) with ACHS! You’ll learn how to use herbs and essential oils to create handcrafted and natural beauty products, lotions, salves, creams, body sprays and perfume blends with essential oils, bath and bodycare products, and so much more.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: This blog may contain affiliate links. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. This article has not been reviewed by the FDA. Always consult with your primary care physician or naturopathic doctor before making any significant changes to your health and wellness routine.