Remember when we said that the holidays are all about pumpkin? Well, they are, but peppermint is an equally important holiday ingredient that deserves love in December. You can incorporate it into numerous recipes, but peppermint goes great in DIY beauty recipes, especially sugar scrubs. In fact, a homemade peppermint sugar scrub is a great holiday gift idea if you’re trying to conserve funds. 

Any gift that comes in a mason jar is adorable. Tie a ribbon around it, paint the jar, or make it glittery and festive. Get in the holiday spirit! Or you don’t have to get in the holiday spirit; no pressure here. Although, we are pressuring you to make this peppermint sugar scrub if you want your skin to feel soft and smell enchanting. 

It may come as a surprise to you, but the sugar scrub in this article only contains three ingredients. Simplicity is often the best option for your skin. The reason for this is because too often do people lather their bodies with cosmetic products that contain harmful chemicals. Knowing exactly what you’re putting on your skin is wise, beautiful, and healthy. After all, you can’t expect to have your skin look flawless if you douse it in chemical-laden products all day!

How Does Coconut Oil Benefit The Skin?

According to research on coconut oil and skin health, applying coconut oil to the skin can help calm inflammatory skin disorders. Coconut oil contains antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties, which may help to cleanse the skin and strengthen the skin’s barrier. The anti-fungal and antiviral properties are beneficial for rashes, acne, or people with atopic dermatitis. Most scientists attribute coconut oil’s ability to improve skin health to the rich fatty acid content and the polyphenols. In fact, cellular studies determined that these fatty acids helped protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation. 

What Does Peppermint Essential Oil Do For The Skin?

This aromatic essential oil is extracted from the leaf of the peppermint plant. While it benefits the body in numerous ways, a lot of people appreciate its ability to improve skin and hair health. Peppermint oil is a very common ingredient in cosmetic products, and rightly so! A small study found that topical application of peppermint oil diluted in a carrier oil reduced chronic itching. A second study confirmed peppermint’s ability to reduce itching in pregnant women. A 0.5% solution of peppermint oil applied twice daily reduced the severity of the itching sensation.

DIY Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil, melted
• 15 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the sugar and melted coconut oil. 
• Once you form a thicker paste, stir in the peppermint essential oil. 
• Spoon this mixture into a mason jar and screw on the top. 
• If you want to make your scrub cute and decorative, get some candy cane twine, some pine needs or rosemary sprigs, and tie it around the jar. 
• Get festive with your sugar scrub, especially if you want to give it as a gift. Just make sure to store it in a cool, dry place. 

Vincent Stevens

Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.