1. Candles

Our first travel-inspired DIY self-care kit item is inspired by Denmark: candles! An essential item for feeling the cozy contentedness of Danish hygge is plenty of candles. How else do you think they all stay one of the happiest countries in the world despite their long, dark winter days?

Fun fact! Denmark is the world’s largest consumer of candles. I can personally say that since living in Denmark, adding candles to my DIY self-care kit has drastically improved my well-being! So get a bunch of tealight candles, pillar candles, and whatever floats your boat and add them to your DIY self-care kit.

Related: Did this inspire you to take a trip to Denmark? Check out my ultimate local’s guide to Copenhagen as well as the 8 best restaurants in Copenhagen to eat like a local!

2. Face mask

The second travel-inspired essential you should add to your DIY self-care kit essential is some sheet masks. These sheet masks originally came from Korean beauty lines and have since become super popular because they’re so easy to use! Just unwrap the mask from the package, put it on your face for 10-20 minutes, take it off, and you’re done. I love these masks so much because they’re so much less messy than paste masks that you apply with your fingers.

To get you started, try out this bestselling Korean sheet face mask! Apparently, this brand sells five sheet masks every second. Users love them for their glow-enhancing abilities and hydrating powers. You can also add in this 2-for-1 layering sheet mask which has saved the skin (literally!) of more than one gal on an overnight flight.

Related: Taking a flight overnight in economy? Check out my top 10 tips for flying internationally to make economy feel like first-class!

3. Bubble bath/herbal bath salts

One of my favorite self-care practices and an essential for your DIY self-care kit is soaking in the tub with some herbal bath salts. I usually prefer bath salts over bubble bath as most commerically-available bubble baths have a lot of unnatural chemicals in them. For inspiration from traditional Chinese medicine, I love this vanilla patchouli dead sea bath salt soak. And if you’re looking for a “foamier” bath experience in your DIY self-care kit, I recommend this patchouli and sweet orange aromatherapy foam bath from Aura Cacia.

Feeling even craftier? Make these bath salts yourself. For a basic salt soak, you’ll need 2 cups of sea salt combined with 10 drops of your favorite essential oil(s). Combine them in a bowl and then put them in your bathtub while you fill it up!

4. Exfoliating body scrub

The first step for total body rejuvenation in your DIY self-care kit is an exfoliating body scrub. The inspiration comes from the Himalaya this time with this pretty pink Himalayan salt scrub for your face and body. With nourishing ingredients like coconut flakes, shea oil, and kaolin clay, you’ll be on your way to self-care central in no time!

You can also make your own DIY Pink Sugar Body Polish with my favorite recipe from A Beautiful Mess. I made this scrub for my DIY self-care kit and I love it!

5. Eye mask

Next in your DIY self-care kit is an eye mask packed with some serious hydration. And no, I’m not talking about an eye mask to block out the light. I’m talking about a mask like a face mask, but for your eyes! Now, the great thing about an eye mask in your DIY self-care kit is that you can make it as prepackaged or DIY as you want! Many things we can use as eye masks are already right in our fridge – like cucumbers! You can check out 10 amazing, natural DIY eye masks from Fustany here if you want to DIY it. Otherwise, there are also fabulous options you can purchase. Get inspired by Japanese traditions with this green tea matcha undereye firming sheet mask or this fun moisturizing eye sheet mask to depuff and brighten!

6. Foot scrub

Though a walk on the beach is something you can enjoy in many countries, I’m going to call this DIY self-care essential an all-American classic. That’s because I created this DIY Walk on the Beach foot scrub myself! To make it, you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup sand (you can substitute white sugar for this if you don’t have access to sand)
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 tbs. coconut oil
• 9 drops vanilla absolute essential oil (you can also use whatever your favorite essential oils are)

Start by putting the coconut oil on low heat until it’s just melted (I recommend doing this in a double boiler to prevent burning the oil). Then, blend the oil with the sugar and sand using a small whisk, breaking any lumps of sugar. Finally, add the essential oil(s) drop by drop, blending after each addition.

If you’d rather create a “reviving” foot scrub, you can combine 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of white sugar, and 3 drops each of lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils using the same process!

Want to forego the DIY foot scrub altogether? For a little Indian-inspired foot scrubbing goodness, check out this fabulous all-natural Tropical Mango Shea Sugar Scrub from Tree Hut. I also love this invigorating collagen-infused Himalayan salt scrub designed to eliminate cellulite, dead skin, wrinkles and scars.

7. Nail conditioning oil

Next in your DIY self-care kit is a conditioning nail oil to moisturize those hard-working nails and cuticles! I love making my own Australian-inspired nourishing nail oil by combining:

• 1 tbs. almond oil
• 1 tbs. jojoba oil
• 10 drops pure Vitamin E oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 4 drops Australian sandalwood essential oil
• 5 drops benzoin absolute resin
• 1 drop frankincense essential oil
• 1 drop ylang-ylang essential oil

After combining the ingredients, I put it into a pretty glass dropper bottle for easy application.

Some great natural nail oils you can also buy on Amazon include this Bee Naturals nail and cuticle oil and this Cuccio conditioning cuticle oil with milk and honey!

8. Deluxe nail clipper & buffer

Now that your nails are all moisturized, it’s time to add a deluxe nail clipper and buffer to your DIY self-care kit. This will help you feel like you’re getting the real spa treatment and taking good care of your body at the same time! My faves are this nail clipper set perfect for fingernails and toenails and this 4-in-1 buffer file.

9. Moisturizing lip balm or mask

I always have my Burt’s Bees lip balm on hand to moisturize my lips. But for this DIY self-care essential, you can go one step further with a DIY lip moisturizing mask. My favorite DIY lip mask is combining a little bit of coconut oil with a little bit of honey, spreading it on my lips, and keeping it there for at least 10 minutes before rubbing it in more or wiping it off. Inspired by Mexico with its jojoba oil infusion, you can also purchase this peach paint-on lip mask with plenty of other goodies packed inside, like peach extract, coconut oil, and shea butter!

10. Moisturizing lotion

Nothing says “self-care” quite like a luxurious moisturizing lotion. Add this moisturizing coconut lotion from Avalon Organics inspired by the tropics or this Manuka honey super moisturizer cream inspired by the manuka bush of New Zealand and Australia to your DIY self-care kit. Both are equally luxurious options!

11. Blackout sleep mask

In order to practice the best self-care, you need to get some quality sleep! Add this 3D contoured blackout sleep mask to your DIY self-care kit and you’ll be on your way to some shut-eye no matter where you are in the world. This sleep mask is also one of my solo travel essentials because of how well the little eye pockets work to block out light!

12. Humidifier

Finally, you need to make sure that a quality humidifier is a part of your DIY self-care kit, and your everyday life, for that matter! Humidifiers not only help your skin to stay fresh and moisturized during the winter months but also have been shown to improve your immunity. I personally have this minimalistic 1.7L quiet humidifier at home and it works wonders! I can notice the difference in my skin and health when I have the humidifier on.