Red and white are classic holiday colors. In this DIY recipe, we’ve created a festive peppermint body scrub that pampers the skin while calming the mind. It’s soothing, moisturizing, and looks beautiful on a shelf—perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself during the busy season.
Ingredients & Why They Work:
Granulated Sugar – Sugar acts as a gentle exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and encouraging a brighter, smoother complexion. It also attracts and holds moisture from the environment, helping skin stay naturally hydrated. Sugar contains glycolic acid, which aids in renewing skin cells to reveal fresher skin underneath.
Coconut Oil – Coconut oil deeply moisturizes and helps restore skin softness. It can improve skin texture and tone while providing nourishing fatty acids that support skin barrier health.
Peppermint Oil – Peppermint essential oil provides a refreshing scent and a cooling sensation on the skin. It also helps relax tense muscles and acts as a natural deodorizer, enhancing the sensory experience of the scrub.
Optional Additions – To give the scrub a festive look, you can add red food coloring or melted candy canes for a natural tint and peppermint boost.
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup coconut oil, and 6 drops peppermint essential oil. Stir until the sugar is evenly coated and the mixture is slightly damp but not saturated.
2. The texture should be crumbly and moist—not oily. If it feels too dry, add a little more coconut oil; if it’s too oily, add more sugar.
3. Divide the scrub into two bowls for layering.
4. If using red food coloring, add a few drops to one bowl and mix until you reach the desired shade.
5. If using candy canes, break two pieces into a small pan with 1/4 cup water and heat gently until they melt. Allow the liquid to cool, discard any undissolved bits, and slowly add the colored liquid to one of the scrub bowls until you achieve your preferred tint.
6. You should now have one white scrub and one red scrub.
7. To create a striped look, spoon a layer of white into a clean jar, then a layer of red, repeating until the jar is full. Press lightly between layers to settle the mixture without compressing it too hard.
8. To use, gently massage the scrub onto damp skin in circular motions until it begins to dissolve. Rinse or wipe off with a damp towel. Pat skin dry and enjoy the soft, refreshed feel.
9. Store the scrub at room temperature in a sealed container. It makes an attractive addition to a bathroom shelf or a lovely homemade gift.
Sources: Huffington Post, FruetCake
More holiday recipe ideas:
Holiday Peppermint Fudge
103 Best Skinny Holiday Recipes
10 Low-Calorie Holiday Desserts
Creamy Holiday Eggnog
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