DIY Spa Party Favor Bar with recipes + free printables

Homemade spa treatments make fantastic gifts or party favors for any time of year. About a year ago I co-hosted and styled a glittery and oh-so-girly hot pink, coral and gold baby shower for my sister, who traveled all the way from London for the party. (Yes, I definitely need to share the full party photos, but here’s a sneek peak!) For the party favors, I set up a spa-themed favor bar filled with decorated goodies…mini jars of homemade oatmeal cookie bath soak mix, homemade flavored lip gloss, glittered nail files, mini bottles of bubble bath that looked like champagne bottles, and mini manicure sets. It was pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself. What was even more fabulous? The budget! All of the items were either homemade or found in the dollar section at Target and then fancied up with pretty DIY packaging! (Pretty please, excuse the photography…I am still learning how to use my camera now and I definitely didn’t know how to use it then!)

One of the things I loved most was that we also included a handmade beauty product with a heartfelt story behind it. My dad is part of an organization called Twice Cleansed that is striving to make a difference in the world while providing a useful, all-natural product. They sell olive oil soap, which is hand crafted in Lebanon, mostly by women and young girls who are at risk for being sold into human trafficking. Making soap provides them with a purpose, dignity, job skills and an income for their families. Purchases of this soap allows people to be “twice cleansed”…the cleansing of your body, and the cleansing of their lives from slavery and abuse. The pure olive oil soap comes packaged in a cute cotton drawstring bag and is a gift that you can truly feel good about giving. We included these bars of soap on our spa party favor bar and all the ladies loved them!

Everyone needs to calm their frazzled nerves sometimes, but if you’re anything like me it takes a very intentional, deliberate effort to give myself permission to pamper myself. (Truth: it might happen once every month or two, if I’m lucky.) You can find the relief and relaxation of a spa in the comfort of your own home! Let the dishes sit in the sink, to turn off the computer/phone/TV, to grab a long-neglected book instead and fill up the tub, drink a steaming hot cup of tea or a glass of chilled wine and just RELAX. Force yourself to be UNproductive for once. Just breathe, imagine a pure white curtain being pulled across your mind and hiding the clutter of your thoughts. Take some time–you deserve it!

If you are going to be hosting a party, whether it be a bridal shower, baby shower, girls night out, or grown-up birthday party, here are some of my favorite DIY spa treatments that you can easily make at home for party favors, or just to pamper yourself and your girlfriends. Many of them come with free printable labels, so make a double batch and package them up in Mason jars from the grocery store, recycled baby food or sauce jars, elegant Weck canning jars, or spice jars from Ikea. You’ll be glad you did!

coconut lime sugar scrub {photo + recipe by The Idea Room}

Homemade Spa: Sugar Scrubs

10 DIY spa recipes, including a honey yogurt mask, bath fizzes and peppermint sugar body scrub {Sparkle & Mine}
ginger and coconut oil sugar body scrub {Food for my Family}
coffee sugar scrub {Mom on Timeout}
sugar body scrub with free printable labels {Hey Gorgeous Events}
lemon bar scrub {The Lovely Cupboard}…mmm, I bet that smells divine!

Amy at The Idea Room blog has quite a collection of spa goodie recipes she’s created, including these favorites: (some also include free labels)

lavender bath salts with free printable labels {Photo + recipe by Lia Griffith}

Homemade Spa: Soaps, Lotions & Bath Products

oatmeal cookie bath soak with free printable {Mom Advice}…I made this a couple years ago as favors for my sister’s baby shower. It works wonders! I even used it a couple times when my daughter broke out in hives…a soak in the tub for 20 minutes with this sprinkled in and the hives were gone! Very soothing.
oatmeal + eucalyptus bath bombs {Coterie}…great for relief of cold symptoms, too, and safe for kids.
mint lime foot soak with free printable tag {Echoes of Laughter}
collection of spa treatment recipes and free labels from Martha Stewart