Simple Homemade Bath Salts
• 2 cups Epsom salt • 10 to 15 drops essential oils • Food coloring (optional)
Place Epsom salt in a bowl and add essential oils and food coloring until you reach your desired scent and color. Store in an airtight container with a silica gel pack (if you have one) to keep out moisture and prolong the shelf life. Add a couple scoops to your bath and relax.
Recipe via @Pinterest
DIY Bath Bomb
• 1 cup citric acid • 1 cup baking soda • 1/2 cup cornstarch • 1/2 cup liquid coconut oil • 8 to10 drops essential oil • Silicone molds or cupcake liners • Food coloring (optional)
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Slowly add in food coloring. In a separate bowl, mix essential oils and slowly incorporate into the dry mixture. Knead the mixture with your hands until it reaches the consistency of wet sand. Scoop the mixture into the molds or cupcake liners and allow to sit for 24 hours before adding to bath.
Recipe via @Pinterest
Image via number-2-pencil.com
These customizable, semi-homemade kits are right up your alley. With these spa day products, you get the same beautifying effects as an at-home recipe -- but these little DIY "cheats" make it that much easier.
DIY face masks are great, but they aren't for everyone. For those of us who like the idea of whipping up a fresh, single-use face mask without touching a measuring cup, here are some fun options.
If your face is in need of moisture and plumping, try Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Hydrating Modeling Mask, $46. The mask comes with a hyaluronic acid gel and an activating powder that you mix up right before applying to your face. The gorgeous, turquoise-hued mask firms within 15 minutes and peels off to reveal a smooth, hydrated complexion.
If you suffer from acne or oily skin, try Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal DIY Powder-to-Clay Mask, $15.99. This dry powder mask is completely customizable -- you can add ingredients like yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar or water to the detoxifying activated charcoal formula.
If your face is in need of moisture and plumping, try Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Hydrating Modeling Mask, $46. The mask comes with a hyaluronic acid gel and an activating powder that you mix up right before applying to your face. The gorgeous, turquoise-hued mask firms within 15 minutes and peels off to reveal a smooth, hydrated complexion.
If you suffer from acne or oily skin, try Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal DIY Powder-to-Clay Mask, $15.99. This dry powder mask is completely customizable -- you can add ingredients like yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar or water to the detoxifying activated charcoal formula.
If you want a hair mask that gives a lot of bang for your buck, Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture Custom Hair Masque Cocktail Kit, $38, is the one. The kit comes with a luxurious mask and three add-in oils to tailor the mask to your hair needs: brassica seed oil (a silicone alternative) nourishes and brings life back to heat-damaged hair, coconut oil adds shine and fights against frizz, and black castor oil hydrates hair and scalp to promote hair growth. Try one at a time or a mix of all three. This mask works wonders on curly hair.
Want a totally customizable face serum -- without going through the hassle of getting a chemistry degree? Skin Inc. My Daily Dose Custom Blended Serum Kit, $90, allows you to play cosmetic chemist in your own bathroom. A brief online quiz determines your top three skin concerns and uses your answers to create a personalized serum kit -- one base serum and three serum add-ins that can be mixed and matched to create your own special blend.
Kieh's also has a great kit that pays homage to the company's early days as an apothecary. After a super thorough (free) consultation in a Kiehl's store to determine the blend that will make every day a good skin day, you'll be sent home with your own Kiehl's Apothecary Preparations, $95 -- a kit that includes a concentrated serum and customized vials based on the results of your consultation. Once you take it home, break open the vials and squeeze them into the concentrate bottle that has your name on it. How simple is that?
Kieh's also has a great kit that pays homage to the company's early days as an apothecary. After a super thorough (free) consultation in a Kiehl's store to determine the blend that will make every day a good skin day, you'll be sent home with your own Kiehl's Apothecary Preparations, $95 -- a kit that includes a concentrated serum and customized vials based on the results of your consultation. Once you take it home, break open the vials and squeeze them into the concentrate bottle that has your name on it. How simple is that?