DIY Holiday Spa Ideas!

From festive facial masks, to Christmas themed foot soaks, we’ve even got some easy to make facial scrub recipes that you can give as gifts! Get in the Christmas spirit with these holiday DIY spa ideas that smell great and have wonderful benefits for your body! I might even throw in a hair mask recipe for good measure! All recipes have been selected from some awesome and super creative blogs, so be sure to check them out for more inspo! And don’t forget to stock up on all your Apple Valley Natural Soap favorites! Our Limited Edition Christmas soaps make the perfect spa touch!

Homemade Face Mask Recipes From Holland and Barrett

Cranberry and Nutmeg Christmas Face Mask

I jumped for joy when I saw a cranberry facemask, I love tart cranberry sauce and did you know cranberries are FULL of antioxidants?

Ingredients:

• A cup of cranberries
• A cup of seedless grapes
• 1 teaspoon of plain yoghurt
• Four tablespoons of cranberry juice
• A dash of cinnamon
• A dash of nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon of honey

How to make a cranberry and nutmeg Christmas face mask

Blend the berries and grapes before adding in the other ingredients one by one

Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing off

Apple and Cinnamon Face Mask

While Cinnamon can be a powerful ingredient in a beauty regiment, this recipe only requires a dash. The oatmeal in this holiday face mask makes for a gentle pick-me-up for your skin!

Ingredients

• One peeled and grated apple
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 2 tablespoons of oatmeal
• A dash of cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons of plain yoghurt

How to make an apple and cinnamon face mask

First peel the apple and cut out the core, taking care to remove any pips

Then grate the apple and add remaining ingredients

Mix together and apply to your face, leave on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off.

Christmas Themed Facial Scrubs from Her World

Huge shout out to Alex James for these super fun facial scrubs!

Minty Candy Cane Scrub

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of coconut oil (or any other oil or your choice, but I personally recommend coconut oil)
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• Peppermint extract*
• Green/pink food colouring**
• Vitamin E oil

How to make a minty candy cane scrub

Mix the coconut oil with the sugar. If you prefer a coarser scrub, add more sugar, and if you want it smoother then add less sugar. Play around with the consistency to your preference!

Add peppermint extract to preference, as well as vitamin E oil.

*As a natural soap company AVNS suggests substituting extract for a couple drops of essential oil (if you’re making a small batch less is more!) We also recommend adding a drop or two of tea tree oil for someone looking for help with acne-prone skin, as tea tree oil may help due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

**Keep your recipe natural by skipping the food coloring! Especially if you have sensitive skin!

Honey and Gingerbread Scrub

This recipe is full of yummies! Sweet almond oil is a fantastic moisturizer and so is honey!

Ingredients

• ¼ cup sweet almond oil
• ¼ cup raw honey
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1-2 teaspoon(s) of ground cinnamon

How to make honey and gingerbread scrub

Mix all the dry ingredients together first, and then add the liquids in while mixing well. For this particular scrub I decided to use a mix of almond oil and honey, as raw honey is antibacterial, full of antioxidants and super moisturising. It’s probably better than vitamin E oil, except that it’s slightly sticky! This scrub probably smells the best, and it’s edible too (which means that it’s safe for kids and can double as a lip scrub!)

Relaxing Homemade Foot Soak from GrandmasHouseDIY

While I always shop at AVNS for all my big holiday gifts, sometimes you need a quick, easy go-to that you can make by the batch for smaller Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. I plan on making this soak for all my co-workers this year, it’s so easy to make.

Just mix and pour and you’re done!

• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 15 drops Cloves
• 15 drops Cinnamon
• 15 drops Eucalyptus

EXTRA DIY Holiday Hair Treatment from Allure

Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium, so it soothes the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth. To make a pumpkin hair mask, blend two cups of chopped cooked pumpkin*, one tablespoon of coconut oil, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of plain yogurt. Apply the mixture to damp hair and let it soak for 15 minutes. Rinse and shampoo for smoother, shinier strands.

*make it easy for yourself and use canned pumpkin!

We also recommend adding a dash of cinnamon, which is great for an itchy scalp and will boost the smell experience!

Remember to stay hydrated, moisturized, and smelling great during this bitterly dry season! 

Much Love,

Nora