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Tuesday, May 04, 2010
by Skincare-news.com team
Working with a smaller budget this year? That’s OK! Below, you’ll find seven ideas for creating budget-friendly – but still fabulous – gifts. Remember, a luxurious present that makes her feel special and pampered doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, these gift ideas are truly luxe for less. And the best part? Most of them are one of a kind!
- Bring the spa retreat home. The next time your mom has the day off, tell her you’re coming over to take her to a luxurious spa getaway – in the privacy and comfort of her own home. All you’ll need is to gather up her favorites: robe, slippers, a book, drink of choice, candles and a soothing CD. Make it extra special by saying that you’ll take care of any pressing errands so she can genuinely enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating day.
- Bottle up your own skincare creations. Handmade gifts aren’t just budget-friendly but they’re also unique, thoughtful and fun to make. Here’s a list of skin-boosting recipes – ingredients that you can find right in your cupboard – that are especially great for spring and summer. To put it all together, go to the craft section of any store to get a Mason jar and some cute ribbon. Scoop the skincare concoction into the Mason jar and wrap the ribbon around it. You probably have cute note cards at home, which you can use to record the recipe, so your mom can recreate it later once it’s all gone.
- Create a beauty recipe book. Not so great at cooking up your own skincare creations? Let your mom do the cooking! Go to the bookstore and pick out a pretty journal. Then, find a few great recipes for facials and body treatments online, and write them down in the journal. As a bonus, you can also include your family’s favorite food recipes.
- Give her a beauty book. If she’s interested in taking better care of her skin, then a beauty book makes a perfect present. Moms might think that a beauty book is a splurge, but for you, it’s a save. You can easily find a wide array of beauty books under $15. For instance, The Skin Type Solution, by renowned dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., lays out a revolutionary system for thinking about skin type. Readers can identify their precise skin type and find a comprehensive list of products that specifically suits their skin.
- Create a gift basket. If you can get all – or some – of the above, then create a beautiful gift basket. In it, you can include your homemade skincare treatment, a beauty book, several grocery store-bought scented candles, a relaxing CD, miniature-sized soaps, bubble bath and a few of her favorite sweet treats. Basically, just focus on the items that she considers relaxing and put them in her luxurious spa-inspired basket.
- Give the gift of time. One of the best gifts you can give your mom is quality time. And, fortunately, giving your time won’t break the bank but it will be priceless. You can make your mom her favorite breakfast, take a walk in the park and create a beauty day at home. Here are some ideas for several beauty treatments: step-by-step tips for a manicure and pedicure; quick relief for your feet; and recipes for creating your own facials and steam treatment.
- Host a beauty bash. A half-day at the spa for several people can set you back a few hundred dollars. Hosting a relaxing spa day at home, however, is definitely budget-friendly – and lots of fun. So invite your mom’s friends and their daughters for a spa session. Ask everyone to bring their favorite dish along with a beauty treatment, which might include a recipe for a homemade facial, a few bottles of nail polish or a beauty book to pass around.
Remember that you can still spoil Mom with a beautiful gift while staying on budget. The best part about many of these ideas is that they’re homemade. When your mom realizes that you took the time, care and effort to create something especially for her, she’ll appreciate the gift that much more.
Learn everything you need to know about budget skincare in our Beauty on a Budget Handbook.
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The Skin Type Solution by Dr. Baumann Paperback
"Dr. Leslie Baumann's program has revolutionized the way people everywhere think about—and shop for—skin care. Now you can identify and buy the products that are right for your true skin type. Answer the Dr. Baumann questionnaire inside this book and within minutes you can learn... THE SKIN TYPE SOLUTION."
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L'Occitane Savons De Provence
"Pamper yourself with L'Occitane's bestselling Shea Butter Soap in four indulgent and classic fragrances. This kit comes packaged in a giftable box."
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A: Try using canning jars, which not only have a great look, but also keep your concoction from leaking out, according to Martha Stewart Living. The magazine also suggests using labels to decorate the jars – which you can create on your computer and print out – and tying “a pretty spoon or a bath sponge to the lid with waxed twine.”
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A: Martha Stewart Living has a relatively simple recipe for creating mini glycerin soaps. According to the article, here’s what you’ll need: “glycerin, liquid food coloring, petroleum jelly, cotton swabs, and a microwavable container.” You’ll use a plastic ice tray to create the mini molds. Cut the glycerin so it fits into a bowl or measuring cup. Use the cotton swab to put the food coloring on the glycerin – just a dab. Put the glycerin in the microwave on high, but be sure to stir every 15 seconds. Take it out once it’s melted. Coat the ice tray with petroleum jelly, using your cotton swab. Then pour the glycerin in. Finally, cool down for about two hours. After they’re ready, you can pile the mini soaps into a big Mason jar or a vase.
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A: If you’d like to mimic a spa getaway, start with a schedule of fun and relaxing things to do: Write up a schedule for the entire day with the time and type of activity. Your schedule might include breakfast, followed by morning yoga or meditation, a walk, lunch, homemade facial, a bath and then dinner. You might also want to get some flowers and candles to add to the calming spa-like atmosphere.
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