7 DIY Beauty Gifts You Can Make For $5 (With The Help Of My New eBook!)
Do you do “special math”?
You know, the kind of math which calculates what expense you can nix in order to make room for something you want? Something like, um, 50+ DIY Organic Beauty Recipes, perhaps?
I understand. I do special math, too.
To help you out this holiday season I’ve crunched some numbers for you. Here’s what I found: Using ingredients that are fair-trade, pure and natural/organic – actually all the same stuff I recommend in my book – your loved ones and allow you to vote your values with your Christmas dollars. You can love on the mama, baby, teacher, grandparent, little green alien and/or bestie in your life with gifts while supporting industries and brands you agree with.
Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint – $1.77
Less than two dollars, and that includes these pretty little roller tubes to put them in! Or not so little, actually. One-third of an ounce may not seem like much, but it’s about the size of a medium-large lipstick tube. Supercomputer calculations based on a set of 3 at $1.77 each.
Chocolate Mint Lip Balm (20 tubes = $ .41 per tube)
Some to make, and some to give away! (This estimate includes the price of these lip balm tubes, sans shipping)
White Chocolate & Peppermint Lotion Bar – $2.38-$2.59 per bar
Depending on how much essential oil you use. Calculation based on 3 medium/large bars.
Tallow Balm
AKA the “naughty” skin care ingredient you absolutely must try. If you know anyone who would like younger looking skin (no, seriously!), soothing relief from conditions like eczema or a non-toxic treatment for diaper rash, hand them a jar of this. I’ve also included a slightly reformulated version for pregnant mamas who want to avoid stretch marks (it may not prevent them 100% but it can definitely help!).
And the cost? Well, I didn’t do the math on this one, but that’s only because prices for tallow may vary a bit. My local rancher sell grassfed tallow for $ .99 a pound. You can swing this for under five bucks, promise!
Deodorant – $1.44
Okay, so maybe this doesn’t make the most **obvious** gift, but those of you who have shlepped up and down supermarket aisles looking for a non-toxic option that WORKS know what a find this is! Your mama friends will thank you. Calculations based on a set of three 2 ounce tubes at $1.44 each.
Lotion – $5.15 for two 6 ounce bottles
I used sweet orange for scent. Craft stores carry cute jars for a buck or two. 
And of course, there’s . . . .
This Homemade Bronzer . . .
Which will cost about $ .24 – $ .36 to fill the average loose powder container. Here’s what Kaylyn had to say about it on Facebook
I have been absolutely DYING to get bronzer and I just made your homemade recipe!! I had noooo idea it would be so easy and I loooooove it!!!! This book is the best beauty investment I have ever made!”
Want some more numbers?
Good! Right now you can save 20% by downloading with the coupon code HOLIDAY20. You can click here to purchase. Also, 100 is a really nice, reassuring number, so I’ll throw a 100% money back guarantee in there, too. As in, I will give you 100% of your money back if you don’t love this book!
And they say girls don’t like math . . . .
* A note on my pricing method: In cases where the recipe calls for olive OR jojoba oil I chose the most economical option, and I based my estimates on that of a reputable online retailer (Mountain Rose) but did not include shipping. Also, most places don’t sell 3/4 of an ounce of beeswax so these figures reflect the cost of the amount you will actually be using. The good news is that when all is said and done you’ll have some leftover ingredients to start with – plus you’ll have an extremely useful new book!
Karen
Man, I wish I could buy grass-fed beef fat for $1/pound. My two sources are either $5 or $4.50 a pound. That’s outrageous! That’s the same price I can get for grass-fed ground beef. Anyway, I’ve already tried your solid lotion bars, and they are amazing! Thank you. And I love the idea for using the roller do-dads for the beet lip gloss. Thanks for putting this all together. I can’t wait to try more projects out.
Allie
This looks very interesting – thanks for the sale to help motivate me to pull the trigger! One question I have is about the shampoo recipe(s) in the book. Since trying to reduce the chemicals in my world, shampoo has been my biggest struggle. I have very fine hair, which usually correlates to very oily hair – or so I’m told. With conventional products, I MIGHT get away with not looking too greasy if, for some reason, I need to skip my morning shower one day. But with more natural products, I my hair often looks oily by the end of the day, let alone the next day! It’s bad. Has anyone with oily hair tested these? Any thoughts? I knew my hair was oily – but it didn’t seem THAT bad until I switched to natural products…
Heather
Allie, I’ve had the same problem! I have very fine strands but thick hair (meaning lots of it!) and I walked around like a grease bomb for weeks on end testing recipes. I’d say my shampoos have less wiggle room than sulfate-based shampoos – you can’t use too much or it will build up – but they have worked for me. Another thing I’ve found is that doing a weekly honey or molasses hair treatment is an awesome clarifier that leaves hair soft, shiny and buildup free. Also, there are a few essential oils you can add to your formulas to help with oiliness.
Christy
I have a question that is not clear in your book! Is it okay to use the recipes for shampoo and the recipe for color rinse, or will the shampoos not work with any kind of colored hair?
Thanks!
Heather
Hi Christy! It really depends. Some hair types are really coarse and have a hard time taking color, others drink it in. For those in the first category the answer would be probably not, but for others it will work!
Christy
Thanks! I’ll try to remember to leave some feedback once I’ve ordered the ingredients and tried it out to see how it all works together
Cathy
Hi Heather,
I’m really excited to buy your DIY beauty ebook soon! I have a question: My 18-month-old daughter has very little hair and hence her scalp gets dry and itchy in the winter. Is there a baby shampoo/body wash in your book, or could you recommend a good recipe? Our current “natural” baby shampoo is just too drying and oiling her head leaves her fine hair looking greasy, plus it’s not too natural. Thanks in advance!
Heather
Hi Cathy! I do have a wash for babies, but it is simply a gentle castile soap with a little moisturizing oil and some essential oils blended in. You might also try the leave-in conditioner tip I have in there for her scalp
Heather
Hey Heather (Im a heather too hehe), This looks so awesome!!!! Can’t wait to download the book and start trying things. I’ve never made any natural beauty products but always wanted to.
Heather´s last [type] ..Raw Chocolate Dream eBook
Noel McNeil
I just got your ebook and I can’t wait to start making everything! Thanks for all your hard work, we appreciate it.
Noel McNeil´s last [type] ..We Went For A Drive…
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen
I really need to look into tallow around here.
I was laughing because I can imagine most people’s faces when opening deodorant as a gift! Although I’m pretty sure we all know somebody that would love it!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen´s last [type] ..Steak Salad with Green Beans and Blue Cheese
Emily @ HolisticSquid
I love this book! Thanks for doing all of the hard work sifting through and testing all of these recipes for us, Heather!
Emily @ HolisticSquid´s last [type] ..How to Make Salted Caramels with Real Food Ingredients
Ashley
I love the book and I’m so excited to try some recipes! Where do you get all your jars/containers?
Heather
Hi Ashley! My jars come from many places, but you can usually find a good selection at Hobby Lobby if you have one nearby.
Mel
Hey! I haven’t purchased yet. (I’d like to!) are there explanations of reasons to use X product as remedy, etc? I’m just beginning my journey of natural and organic living. Have to convince the husband that it’s a good use of $. Thanks!
Heather
Hi Mel! I’m not sure if this is what you mean, but there are places where I mention that a certain ingredient is good for dandruff, or acne, etc.
mel
Yes.
thanks!
Lena
Hello and thanks for your ebook. I just purchased it, and I am looking forward to getting it printed out like a real book, and spending lots of time reading it and trying a few things.
Thanks for putting in all the hard work.
Heather
Yay! I hope you enjoy the recipes, Lena!
Carol
Hi, I ordered your book last weekend I think and I’m wondering how I see the videos that are supposed to be included.
Thanks.
Heather
Hi Carol! The links to the videos are listed with the recipes for: peppermint lotion bars, homemade lotion, mint chocolate whipped body butter, eye makeup remover and tallow soap. Hope that helps!
Stella
Hello,
I am a raw foodest, and have regained and maintained health by eating a raw food plant based diet and keeping dead animals out of my body. Therefore, I am not all interested in slathering my outsides with tallow (for ethical reasons).
However, I am intrigued by your book as I am very natural and hate chemical products.
Which recipes have tallow in them? I need to know whether it is a worthwhile investment for me to buy your book since I wont be using any of the tallow recipes.
Thanks
Natalie
Heather
Hi Natalie, there are two recipes for skin balm, one recipe for soap and a few for lip balm that include tallow. I think that’s it!
Stella
Perfect! Thank you so much for replying so quickly.
Be well.
Rachel
Hi! When you were pricing the homemade lotion, which oil did you use? I used coconut oil and got a much lower price then that.
Cindy
Hi Heather,
I bought your book and am looking forward to trying some of the recipes this weekend! I’m wondering where you get your potassium sorbate. The resource link in your book takes me to livestrong.com not a supplier. I checked mountainrose but didn’t find it there either. I’d prefer a non-petroleum based source if you know of one.
Thanks
Cindy
Heather
Hi Cindy! You can find it here: http://www.lotioncrafter.com/potassium-sorbate.html or on Amazon. Unfortunately I have not found a place that lists how the potassium sorbate is derived.
Cindy
Thanks so much!