deseretnews.com | Gourmet glamour — Spa-style gifts from the kitchen hold a certain cachet
ACHES & ITCHES BATH SALTS

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1 cup Epsom salt
1 cup sea salt

Mix all ingredients in a large zip-style plastic bag or decorative jar. To use, throw a handful into your bath water.

—Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension

LEMON SUGAR BODY SCRUB

1/2 cup granulated sugar

10 drops lemon oil, or half a lemon, freshly squeezed
1 cup olive oil (or jojoba or almond oil)

Mix all ingredients together. Apply to body by massaging in a circular motion, then shower off. Makes 1 full body treatment.

—Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension

BATH BOMBS

“Bath Bombs” use citric acid and baking soda — when the two are combined with water, they have a fizzy chemical reaction, like Alka-Seltzer.
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup citric acid
1/8 cup Epsom salt (optional)
Essential oil (such as cinnamon or peppermint) or dried herbs (such as basil or rosemary)
Witch hazel in a spray bottle

Sift all dry ingredients in a glass bowl. Add essential oils (about 10-20 drops per recipe). Spray 3 times with witch hazel and mix well. Keep spraying the mix until it clumps together when you squeeze it in your hands, but make sure it is not wet, or the mixture will start foaming.
Add dried herbs if using them. Press firmly into molds (ice cube trays or plastic shapes). Or roll into balls with your hands and let sit one minute. Wrap in waxed paper or foil. Let dry 24-48 hours. Don’t let the bath bombs get wet until you use them, or they will begin foaming.

—Angel Shannon

CHOCOLATE LIP GLOSS

2 teaspoons petroleum jelly
1/8 teaspoon honey
5 chocolate chips (milk chocolate for a light color; semisweet for a dark color)
1/8 teaspoon shortening

Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe container. Microwave, uncovered, on high power for 20 seconds. Stir. Repeat until chips are fully melted. Pour into a small jar and freeze 15 minutes or until solid. Then apply it on your lips. Makes about 1 tablespoon of gloss.

—Angel Shannon

CHOCOLATE BROWN SUGAR BODY SCRUB

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Pour brown sugar into a bowl and pack down. Pour olive oil slowly into bowl and mix until scrub has a wet-sand consistency. Blend in cocoa powder. Add almond extract and mix well. Scoop into a jar. Makes about 1 1/2 cups scrub.

To use: Gently massage onto body to exfoliate and moisturize skin. Not for facial use.

—Angel Shannon

COUNTRY MILK BATH

1 cup dry powdered milk
1 cup Epsom salt or sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup crystallized citric acid
20 drops scented oil

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and transfer to a decorative jar. Feel free to play with different combinations of scented oil to come up with your “signature” fragrance. To use, add about a half cup to your bath water.

—Christine Jensen and Teresa Hunsaker, Weber County USU Extension