The Ultimate DIY Beauty Gift Guide

Michelle Swift
Dec 14, 2013

There’s no need for DIY gift giving to go awry—select one or a few of our DIY beauty gifts to make someone’s holiday truly shine. Easy to come by natural ingredients, and fresh ideas abound. From Spa Specialties to Kid Approved, give a thoughtful gift and wow those on your holiday gift list this year. Just don’t forget to make enough for keeps!

1. Homemade Coconut Milk Shampoo: Coconut milk is like magic for the hair, not only providing nourishment from root to tip, but also stimulating hair growth, detangling, and adding moisture. Whip up this natural shampoo with the help of trusty Dr. Bronner’s. (via Free People Blog)

2. Sea Salt Spray: You know the look: effortless, loosely tousled, no-muss-no fuss locks—they’re hard to come by unless you’re a beach bum! Life’s truly a beach for the recipient of this sea salt concoction. (via Wonder Forest)

3. Leave-In Conditioner: Here’s another all-natural moisturizer that leaves your hair strong and shiny. This potion includes three simple oils: olive, baobab, and argan. (via Bohemian Kate)

4. Elderberry Syrup to Ward Off Cold and Flu: Give the gift of good health with this simple syrup that’s chock full of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory powers all thanks to the tiny, purple elderberry. (via Tending the Garden)

5. Not Your Mother’s Neosporin: Healing Salve for Minor Scrapes and Burns: Show the ones you love that you truly care with this all-natural healing salve. Be the one they think of every time they reach to their medicine cabinet to relieve a scrape or burn! (via Crunchy Betty)

6. Get Well Soon Kit: We love the idea of this get well soon kit that includes essentials like lip balm, tissue, and throat drops, all packaged in a large tea mug. Plus, everyone loves a honey bear ;) (via Creature Comforts)

7. Bath Tea Bags: Some prefer their tea in a cup, while others prefer it in the tub! (We think both would be mighty dandy). This DIY bag contains a moisturizing mix of Epsom salts, oats, and sprigs of rosemary for a refreshing scent. (via A Thousand Words)

8. Bath and Massage Oil: Useful and beautiful, this bath and massage oil is a great idea for an active pal—perfect for use after the gym and a soak in the tub. (via Design*Sponge)

9. Tea Cup Candles: Clever and designer friendly, these tea cup candles will wow any beauty on your list. (via Miss Renaissance)

10. Tinted Lip Balm in a Locket: Give a lovely locket of color to keep close to the heart. Inventive and fresh, this is a great surprise for the DIY-er in your life. (via Beautylish)

11. Red Hot Cinnamon DIY Lip Plumping Gloss: This will be the hottest stocking stuffer in any gal’s sock! Vibrantly red and glossy, plus yummy cinnamon to naturally plump lips. (via Henry Happened)

12. Rosemary and Peppermint Lip Scrub: This DIY sugar lip scrub is a thoughtful gift that smooths away chapped lips and soothes with fresh peppermint. Try our five other seasonal lip scrubs too, like orange and clove or pumpkin and nutmeg! (via Brit + Co.)

13. Natural Anti-Wrinkle Facial Serum: A great gift to stick in a DIY gift basket, this facial serum smoothes away wrinkles and moisturizers with all-natural ingredients. (via Soap Deli News Blog)

14. Pomegranate Face Toner: Brighten anyone’s holiday with this ruby red, revitalizing toner. (via Mother Earth Living)

15. DIY Face Scrubs: These vibrant face scrubs can each be made with ingredients found right in your pantry. We love the color of the minty green kiwi sugar scrub, which protects and clarifies the skin. (via Brit + Co.)

16. Mason Jar Soap Dispenser: Behold, the ever-popular mason jar as a soap dispenser! Add charm to anyone’s kitchen or bath with this hand washing accessory—don’t forget to fill it up before you gift it! (via Casa Resnick)

17. Liquid Hand Soap: See, we’ve got you covered ;) It’s easier to create a personalized liquid soap than you think: just start with an unscented soap base and add in your favorite essential oil. (via Sarah Hearts)

18. Handmade Deodorant: The cool thing about this deodorant—besides being all-natural and homemade—is that you can craft any scent! This would be a thoughtful gift for naturalists and outdoorsy types. (via Edible Perspective)

19. Rosemary and Peppermint Foot Scrub: For the lover of high-heels and those always on their toes, this scrub will soothe away aches and pains with the cooling relief of peppermint. (via Aunt Peaches)

20. Orange Spice Foot Mask: Give the gift of warmth with this lavish foot mask. Thanks to a blend of warm, wintry spices (cayenne, cinnamon, and ginger), this mask is a cure-all for anyone’s cold feet. (via Whole Living)

21. Herbal Foot Soak: Package this foot soak in a clear jar to show off the glittering effect of Epsom salts interspersed with healing herbs. It’s perfect for easing away pain and soothing tired feet. (via My Own Labels)

22. Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream: Great scent. Great lather. Great gift for the man in your life this holiday! Simple as that. (via Food for My Family)

23. Cooling Mint Soap-On-A-Rope: What a blast from the past! This DIY version refreshes and revitalizes with a hint of mint. (via Hello Home Blogge)

24. Patchouli & Petitgrain Aftershave: This mix of Patchouli and Petitgrain is not just herbalist-approved, it’s also guaranteed to make your man smell extra manly this season. Don’t skimp on the packaging, especially when you can download free printables! (via Fellow Fellow)

25. Bath Bombs: Snap, crackle, and pop! These multi-colored bath bombs are a sure-fire hit as stocking stuffers. (via Idlewife)

26. DIY Bath Caddy: This DIY beauty gift might be the ultimate relaxation enhancer. Since this caddy cost less than $5 to make, gift it with a good book, bottle of wine, and tea light candles to make any bathing beauty’s holiday complete. (via Sawdust Girl)

27. Coconut-Lime Bar Soap: Gift the scent of summer with this fresh and zesty soap. It makes a great moisturizer and exfoliant for winter skin with the added chopped coconut and lime zest. (via Off Beat + Inspired)

28. Bath Paint: Make bath time fun for creative kids with these bright, and natural bath tub paints. So adorable. (via Kojodesigns)

29. Snow Globe Soaps: Bath time can be a magical, winter wonderland with these sparkly soaps. Plus, they encourage sudsing up to reveal the miniature toy! (via Rustic Esscntuals)

30. Peppermint Toothpaste: Make brushing teeth fun and beneficial with this DIY paste. We hear that mint is the flavor of choice by kids! (via Na-Da Farm Life)

Will you be DIYing your beauty gift this holiday? Tell us in the comments below!

“Protective” Peter Gallagher Is “So Grateful” Mischa Barton Survived “Toxic Fame”

No matter what kind of day you're having, Marissa Cooper's having a worse one. Mischa Barton's The O.C. character went through the ringer during the first three seasons of the teen drama (remember how she overdosed in Tijuana...and also saw her parents post-hookup after their divorce?).

And during her time on The O.C., Mischa Barton struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. She was arrested for a DUI in 2007 and eventually received involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in 2009 after allegedly threatening to end her own life. And in a new interview, Peter Gallagher (who played Sandy Cohen on the show) says he's "just so grateful" for "the fact that she’s still alive."

  • Mischa Barton starred alongside Peter Gallagher in The O.C. from 2003-2006.
  • The actress has revealed the "trauma" of being a star at that point in her life.
  • Peter recently opened up about how he's thankful "she’s still alive."


Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC/John Lamparski/Getty Images

The O.C. follows Ryan Atwood, who moves in with the Cohens after getting kicked out of his mom's house, and starts a relationship with Marissa shortly after. While Peter Gallagher played Adam Brody's TV dad instead of Mischa's, Sandy was a definitely father figure for Marissa, and it seems like Peter felt that same responsibility off camera.

"I’ve always felt very protective of her," Peter told The Independent. "First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you. She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful."

“You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life,” Mischa said in a 2023 interview with The Sunday Times. “There’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early twenties, that just doesn’t go away overnight.”

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage revealed that season 1 overdose not only served as a cliffhanger, but gave “network executives an escape hatch on a performer they had been wary about” (via People). But Mischa Barton got her big break, becoming "how people knew the show," and (thankfully) Marissa recovered — only to die after a car crash in season 3.

As hard as that season 3 ending is to watch, Mischa did have the opportunity to watch it with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke for the first time on their rewatch podcast. "It needed to be a thing, after everything she's been through, but if it's here I'll watch it with you," Mischa says.

"I couldn't do it, Mischa, I couldn't do it," Rachel adds. "But I'm going to do it if you're going to do it."

Mischa says even though being written off the show "was a little bit of a bummer," it wasn't necessarily a surprise. "The character was just doing too much," she told Vanity Fairin 2023. "And I think they ran out of places for her to go. It was not the best thing in the world, [but] there wasn’t much you could do at that point. It was whether she could sail off into the sunset, or die. At that point, I guess it’s better to have the more dramatic ending.”
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See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

Former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse and model Barbara Palvin are certainly living the sweet life after tying the knot in Palvin's native Hungary. The couple, who have been together for nearly five years, have always been pretty low-key — except for the occasional and undeniably adorable Instagram post (and a stunning wedding!). We are simply ~obsessed~ with this celebrity couple, especially after they pulled out all the stops for their couple's Halloween costume. Keep scrolling to see some of their best moments :').

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Halloween Couple's Costume!

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For Halloween Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin stunned as the Phantom and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. Dylan wore a mask and a black cape, while Barbara wore a beautiful white dress. While the costume is obviously a nod to the musical, it also totally reminds us of their day as bride and groom.

"In Sleep He Sang to Me," Barbara said in a post, quoting the musical's titular number. "@dylansprouse my forever Phantom."

Who did Dylan Sprouse marry?

www.instagram.com

On the couple's wedding day (July 15, 2023), Barbara wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown to celebrate her Hungarian nuptials, bringing together their nearest and dearest for an intimate(-ish) celebration. Barbara and Dylan tied the knot on her parent's property, which conveniently doubles as an event venue, with plans to host an larger wedding in California in the fall.

"This past weekend was supposed to be an intimate event, but we ended up having 115 guests in the end because there are a lot of people we care about, and we wanted them all to be there," Barbara told Vogue.

When did Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin get engaged?

www.instagram.com

Barbara Palvin on Instagram: "♥️"

After months of speculation surrounding the couple's engagement, Dylan and Barbara confirmed their engagement in conversation with Sprouse's twin brother, actor Cole Sprouse, for V Magazine in June, sharing that they got engaged last September.

"We didn't necessarily feel the need to be fully transparent with the public about that aspect of our engagement," Dylan said. "What we wanted to do with Stephen [Gan, V editor-in-chief] and the V team is make something that was kind of tongue-in-cheek about the nature of private versus public. We're playing with the idea of perception."

Barbara noted that the lovebirds wanted to announce the news "on our time," adding, "When some people leaked the information that we got engaged, our PR team was like, 'Hey, so you guys should do maybe a post about it or talk to this magazine or talk to that magazine…' That really annoyed me because I knew we were building this story up. So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way."

When did Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse start dating?

Sean Zanni / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment

See Dylan Sprouse & Barbara Palvin's Dreamy Halloween Costume: "My Forever"

According to People, the couple met back in 2017 after a party when the Suite Life On Deck star slid into the model’s DMs (and as they say, the rest is history). The duo made their relationship Instagram official back in 2018 with Barbara’s sweet birthday tribute for Dylan’s 26th birthday.

Let’s be real here for a second though, we all knew they were endgame the minute Dylan went above and beyond to support Barbara at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show that same year (remember this viral video?). Three days after the fashion show, the Hungarian model told Vogue Australia that she hadn’t had a boyfriend in six years, but had now found “the perfect guy” in Dylan (we aren’t crying, you are).

How old are Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse?

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Barbara Palvin was born on October 8, 1993, making her 31 years old. Dylan Sprouse was born on August 4, 1992, meaning he's 32 years old. So there's only a one-year age gap between them!

Stay up to date with all of Brit + Co's favorite celebrity relationships. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter!

This post has been updated.

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Elle & Dakota Fanning Will Collab On Apple's 'Margo's Got Money Troubles'

2017's The Beguiled gave us one of the best groups of people of all time: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, and Kirsten Dunst just to name a few. And we're finally getting an Elle and Nicole reunion thanks to Apple TV+! "THRILLED to bring @rufithorpe genius hysterical heart-wrenching heartwarming book to your TV screens alongside a dream group of people!" Elle says on Instagram. Rather than having to test the success of its pilot, the series has already been ordered — even though the book it's based on isn't even out yet! Here's everything you need to know about the series.

  • Dakota and Elle Fanning will produce the upcoming Apple TV+ show Margo's Got Money Troubles.
  • The series follows Margo, who signs up for OnlyFans after learning she's pregnant.
  • The cast includes Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman.

Who's in the Margo's Got Money Troubles cast?

Amy Sussman/Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Margo's Got Money Troubles Cast

We couldn't contain our excitement when we learned Margo's Got Money Troubles will star Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, but knowing Michelle Pfeiffer is also joining the cast is too much to bear! This is the first time the actress will collaborate with her husband, TV creator David E. Kelley, so we can't wait to see the magic they'll create (via Deadline).

Nick Offerman from The Last of Us and Parks and Rec will also star.

When is Margo's Got Money Troubles coming out?

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Margo's Got Money Troubles Release Date

We don't have an official release date for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV show yet. I'm thinking if the TV show is in the early stages of planning, we could see it in 2025! Check out all of this year's best New TV Shows to hold you over until then.

What is Margo's Got Money Troubles about?

Amazon

Margo's Got Money Troubles Plot

Margo Millet is the daughter of a Hooter's waitress named Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-wrestler (via Deadline). She's always had to make it on her own, even though she's not sure how. When she enrolls in her local junior college, she's totally unprepared to get swept up into a torrid love affair with her English professor — or to get pregnant.

Now at 20 years old, Margo needs an income and fast. She decides to experiment with OnlyFans and ends up taking some of her estranged father's advice from the world of wrestling to create a character users will fall in love with. You can order the book now!

What is Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's new TV show?

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Margo's Got Money Troubles is coming soon to Apple TV+ thanks to a bunch of different producers. A24 is backing the film, as well as Elle and Dakota Fanning’s production company Lewellen Pictures and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films, to name a few.

What else has Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in?

Focus Features

Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman starred in 2017's The Beguiled. The movie follows John McBurney, an injured Union soldier, who winds up at a female Southern boarding school after deserting the Civil War. But soon, as the women help him, tensions turn to rivalries and friends turn to enemies.

Are you excited for Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman's TV reunion? Let us know what other New TV Shows you're watching in the comments.

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This post has been updated.

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