MAKE: Handmade Gifts for Mother’s Day

Treat your lovely Maman to luxurious homemade beauty essentials housed in empty Bonne Maman jars this Mother’s Day… This spa-at-home gift set of ‘Pomegranate Rose Sugar Body Scrub’, ‘Eucalyptus Fresh Mint Foot Soak’ and ‘Coconut Lemongrass Lip Balm’ is simple to make using easy-to-find all natural products and  a great way to recycle pretty, leftover Bonne Maman Compote, Conserve and Mini jars.

Add that personal finishing touch by tying name tags with a thoughtful note to your mum, and present your creations in a pretty wicker basket sprinkled with dried rose petals, tied with cellophane and ribbon at the top for that extra special present.

Pomegranate Rose Sugar Body Scrub

A refreshingly fruity body scrub using empty Bonne Maman Compote jars for a rejuvenating spa experience… 

Ingredients

100g pomegranate seeds

3 cups of granulated sugar

½ cup coconut oil

6-8 drops rose essential oil

Method

1. Put the pomegranate seeds in a small blender and blitz for 4-5 seconds. Strain through a fine sieve and reserve the juice.
2. In a medium glass bowl, mix together the sugar and coconut oil.
3. Stir in 2-3 tbsp of the pomegranate juice and the rose oil. Keep stirring until completely mixed and an even pale pink colour. Add more pomegranate juice to create the depth of colour you want.
4. Spoon into clean jars and seal with a lid. Keep in a cool place for up to a month.

Tips

• No need for special cup measures, a tea cup will do. Just use the same one for both sugar and oil.
• Buy ready prepared pomegranate seeds, or use a fresh whole fruit. Cut the pomegranate in half, and holding it over a bowl cut side down, hit the outer skin with a rolling pin to release the seeds.
• Use a glass bowl or a disposable container for mixing as the essential oils can taint plastic.
• Coconut oil is available from most major supermarkets.
• A variety of essential oils can be bought from chemists or wholefood shops.

Eucalyptus Fresh Mint Foot Soak

A relaxing and  ‘spa’ gifting essential using empty Bonne Maman Conserve jars…

Ingredients

1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda

2 cups Epsom salt

Finely grated zest of 1 lime

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint

6-8 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Method

1. Simply mix all the ingredients together in a glass bowl.
2. Spoon into clean jars and seal with a lid. Keep in a cool place for up to a month.

Tips

• Use a glass bowl or a disposable container for mixing as the essential oils can taint plastic.
• No need for special cup measures, a tea cup will do. Just use the same one for both oil and salt.
• Bicarbonate of soda, sometimes called baking soda is available from the baking aisle of most major supermarkets.
• Epsom salt can be bought in major supermarkets or chemists.
• A variety of essential oils can be bought from chemists or wholefood shops.

Coconut Lemongrass Lip Balm

An ultra nourishing handbag essential with four simple ingredients, using empty Bonne Maman Mini Conserve jars..

Ingredients

2 tbsp beeswax pearls

2 tbsp shea butter, roughly chopped

2 tbsp coconut oil

2-3 drops lemongrass essential oil

Method

1. Put the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil in a small glass bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Leave to melt slowly for about 20-30 minutes.
2. Stir in the essential oil and carefully pour into small jars whilst still hot. Seal with a lid and leave to cool completely.

Tips

• Use a glass bowl or a disposable container for mixing as the essential oils can taint plastic.
• Beeswax and shea butter are available to buy in small quantities online.

Image courtesy of Bonne Maman UK. Recipe development by Moyra Fraser.