Welllll, the season is officially here for gift giving, holiday cheer and cozy vibes only. And there’s just something extra-special and comforting about a homemade gift for loved ones. It’s going a little out of the way to put some extra thought, intention and love into a gift, and DIY gifts can be some of the most treasured and unique ones of all.
And, they don’t have to be complicated. Or take hours of your time. Or be stressful to put together. I want to share a few ideas for healthy and EASY homemade holiday gift ideas today, so you can share a little more love in a different way to those on your gift list this year.
PS, if you’re still searching for the perfect store-bought gifts, don’t miss our 3 holiday gift guides this year: for the women in your life, for the health lovers & homebodies, and for your family!
Homemade Honey Enzyme Face Mask
Aka, the raw honey face mask. Ok, ok, stick with me here— it sounds way messier than it actually is. Honey is a natural enzyme that’s sooo amazing for soft skin. All you need is 2 teaspoons of raw honey. Paint it all over your face and let soak in for at least 20 minutes, then wipe off with a warm washcloth and water. I try to do this once a week and it’s so amazing what it does!
Gift Idea: get some high quality honey (this superfood honey is my fav and comes in a perfect giftable size) and maybe one of these bamboo washcloths or terry towel headband with a little notecard with instructions for what to do. Tie a little ribbon or twine around the jar and you’re done! And psst, our SRH community has a special code for 20% off your order for the honey if you want it: just use “simplyrealhealth” at checkout.
DIY Lavender Bath Soaking Salts
Mmmm, we all love a good soak right? And there’s nothing better than some luxe bath salts to replenish your skin, joints and body. Epsom salts are so healing, grounding and help the body get some extra magnesium (for muscle repair and great sleep). Mixing up a homemade batch is such a special gift.
Recipe:
2 tablespoons jojoba oil or sweet almond oil
5 drops lavender essential oil (or another essential oil that you love)
2 1/2 cups epsom salts
1/2 cup baking soda (optional)
1/2 cup dried flowers (optional) (check the bulk section of your grocery store, especially in the tea section)
In a large mixing bowl combine the oil and essential oil together. Whisk well. Pour in rest of ingredients and toss well to coat. Transfer mixture to a glass jar with a lid. Instructions to include: add these bath salts to a warm or hot water bath until they dissolve. Soak for 20-30 minutes or to your heart’s content!
Cozy Simmering Spices For The Best Smelling Home
If you’ve never done this, you HAVE to try— it’s one of my fav alternatives to traditional scented candles and will make your home smell like a warm-spiced winter wonderland. It’s a whole experience, and feels like a treat.
Add a few cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, black peppercorn and star anise to a jar with a lid. Optional to add orange peel and rosemary to make it holiday-like.
In the instructions, write to dump the spices into a pot, cover with water and let simmer on the stove for an hour or two.
Easy Soup In a Jar
I LOVE this idea for a friend who’s maybe expecting a baby or is busy with kids, work, etc. It’s a quick and easy way for them to get a nourishing, cozy meal on the table during soup szn. This works great for any bean/lentil soup especially so. Add the dried beans and spices and include instructions on the fresh stuff to add in later.
Here’s my favorite easy SRH Black Bean Soup recipe to try. So add the black beans and all the dried spices: oregano, thyme, cumin, chili powder, sea salt and pepper to glass mason jar. In the note, add the instructions for the onion, garlic and broth to add, and how to mix it all up.
It’s great to do in a big batch!
Rose Lavender Shower Spritz (or Toner)
A quick spritz in the shower (or directly on your face), combined with a few deep breaths is enough to change everything about how you feel. I love using something like this as a transition point in my day– after the kids go down in the shower to make it extra special even if my me-time is short, or spritzed right on to my face mid-day as I switch between all my roles. It’s refreshing and such a small thing that can do so much!
To make your own:
1/4 cup rose water (like this)
2 tablespoons witch hazel extract (like this)
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel (like this)
10 drops lavender essential oil (or another of your preference)
Combine all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Pour into small glass bottles (like these) with a funnel. Directions: Spritz directly onto face or an organic cotton pad to use as a toner. Or for a uplifting shower, spray 3-5 sprays directly into the shower head with the water running. Breathe deep.
Note: If you don’t want to make your own, this is my favorite one already made up! It’s so affordable too. Or this perfect starter kit with all the holistic skin care goodies you need to get going. And psst, our SRH community has a special code for and extra 15% off your order if you want it: just use “simplyrealhealth” at checkout.
See all my other ready-to-go holistic skincare favorite picks here, in the gift guide.
Homemade Hair Mask
I swear, this mask totally replenishes dull and dry hair! My favorite-ever at-home hair mask is soooo easy, and works like a charm.
Add ½ cup melted coconut oil with ½ cup apple cider vinegar to a lidded jar. A drop or two of rosemary essential oil is so great for scalp health and hair growth! Add instructions to apply two tablespoons of the mixture to dry hair from root to tip. Let sit for at least 20 minutes before washing like normal. Va-va-voom, your friend’s hair will be bouncy and shiny in no time!
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For more healthy resources and gifts, check out SRH: The Shop!
main photo by Carina Skrobecki