STEM Present: Peppermint Salt Scrub

 

Yes, there's only a few shopping days left until Christmas - BUT the best gifts are handmade, and when you can create it at home with your kids, that make's it even more special! 

This year, my boys and I decided that cookies (not covering that here, sorry!) and Peppermint Bath Salts would make an excellent Co-Ed gift package.  

Bath salts are not only a great gift that can be enjoyed by women (and face it guys, sometimes you need some pampering too!) for scent and relaxation.  Something we all need a little of during the holidays! 

Peppermint is said to help relieve stress and may have antibacterial properties. It is also reported to help relieve pain from cracking and dryness.

This scrub can be made in 2 different colors and may be layered in the jar to resemble a peppermint stick or can be colored all red. In order to layer the colors, cut the ingredients in half and mix separately in 2 bowls adding 1–2 drops of red food coloring to one batch. You might want to add the oil a little at a time so that you don’t get too much. Epsom salts do not absorb the oil quickly and you do not want it to be runny if you plan to layer the colors.

Ingredients Needed Per/Jar:


  • 1 5oz glass jar with lid
  • 1/4 cup of Coconut oil
  • Peppermint Essential oil
  • 1 cup Epson salt
  • Bowls
  • Mixing spoon
  • Measuring cups
  • Red food coloring
  • 1/2 Tbsp. Baking soda

Directions:

Part 1:  Measure out your ¼ cup of Coconut Oil in a small bowl. Add the peppermint essential oil to your coconut oil and mix. 
    TIP! Add about 10 drops at a time and mix, this will help you not over-scent your scrub mix (I usually add about 25 drops). Once you reach a scent level you like, set bowl aside and move to part 2

Part 2:   In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup of Epsom Salt with 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl and stir until well blended. Add 1/8 cup of the scented coconut oil to the bowl and stir until all ingredients are well mixed. Add 1–2 drops red food coloring and mix until color is even.    
    To do red and white colors, repeat this process in another bowl, but do not add the red food coloring.

Let the two bowls rest for a bit to give the Epson salts a chance to absorb the oils. 

Part 3:  When both bowls are well blended, add the finished product a spoonful at a time, alternating colors to make a candy cane effect.

For the final detail, add a Christmas colored fabric topper and a ribbon with scrub name and note to
each jar.  You might also want to list the ingredients on the tag for gift receiver's!

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this scrub will be a holiday winner AND a great hands on activity at home with the kiddos to help add to basic measuring and motor skills.

For a printable version of this recipe - click HERE!


I am a STEM/k12 Educator with Colorado State University Extension. I love working with youth and encouraging them to participate in many forms of hand on education! Overall, our goal is to promote positive youth development and encourage youth to pursue higher education after high school.

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