Blogmas 2020 Day 8
Tis the season for fabulous manicures! Whether you just want to look amazing for Christmas dinner, or you’re expecting a little blue box under your tree this year, treating yourself to a manicure is a great idea.
Since she does everything for our family year round, I wanted to give my mom a special experience this holiday season. She’s not quite ready to go back to the nail salon, so I decided to treat her to an at home spa service- budget babe style. Her very merry manicure consisted of a peppermint sugar scrub, aloe and honey hand mask, and full set of luxury press-ons.
Peppermint Sugar Scrub
I put a holiday spin on a classic sugar scrub for the first step of the manicure. I simply pulsed a couple candy canes in my food processor to create “sugar” and added in coconut oil little by little. The result was a festively fragrant exfoliant/moisturizer perfect for remedying rough, dry winter skin. (P.S. – This peppermint sugar scrub would make for wonderful handmade gift this holiday season. You don’t have to spend a lot to let your loved ones know you care!)
Aloe & Honey Hand Mask
Next was the hand mask. It was just as simple as the scrub- just two ingredients. I combined fresh aloe vera with some regular honey from the pantry and warmed it slightly in the microwave. I then poured the mixture into latex gloves (which we have an abundance of since, you know, COVID). My mom then sat for 20 minutes and soaked up all that moisturizing goodness. After rinsing the mask, we moved on to the last step!
Luxury Press-Ons
The final step is to add some glam! My mom usually goes for a plain gel polish, but since it’s the holidays, we agreed to go for a special touch. For less than $10 and in less than 10 minutes she had a manicure that rivaled an $80 set.
Bonus- Whipped Peppermint Hand Cream
Keeping in theme with our two ingredient manicure elements, I took my off brand Cerave (gotta stay bougie on a budget), added some peppermint oil, and used my hand mixer to whip it up! Whipping is completely optional, but it gave the cream a more luxurious feel, and you all know I’m all about luxury. This cream would also make a great gift! Pair it with the sugar scrub, a nice nail color, and a nail file, and it will make the cutest (and most cost effective) at home nail kit!
In the midst of a pandemic, you can pamper yourself from the comfort of your own home and for a fraction of the salon price. If you’re ever in the need for an inexpensive, yet fabulous manicure, give this routine a try!
Merrily,
