Skincare

Let’s talk skincare, specifically, let’s talk about how I turned my pretty awful skin into pretty awesome skin within two weeks.  Yup.  2 freaking weeks.

My skin has been a disaster for 10 years.  At least.  I remember crying at my wedding because of breakouts and asking the photographer if he could fix it.  As a photographer myself, I know how irritating this is, but I was devastated.

Hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars were spent on this sad skin of mine.  Add in melasma from three pregnancies, summers spent as a lifeguard, scars from particularly awful breakouts and it is a disaster.  Now, it isn’t perfect now.  I am working on lightening my scars and melasma, but being without a single pimple isn’t something I have been able to say since college.

So what did I do?  It has been a process.  I started doing oil cleansing about a year ago.  Sounds scary and stuff, but it is wonderful.  I ditched the cleansers, toners, spot treatments, serums, day creams, night creams, astringents, masks, and all the stuff I had tried and that had failed me miserably.  Next I made my own toner using honey and peppermint essential oil.  The final step, which I just added two weeks ago was consistently applying rose ointment, frankincense, and tea tree oil after cleansing.  Today I added geranium in to amp it up a bit and hope this helps with the texture and tone of my skin.

I am thrilled!  I actually leave the house, without makeup (I KNOW.  THE SCARIEST EVER.) and while I don’t look my best, it isn’t horror inducing.  Last month, this wouldn’t have been a consideration.  My husband actually noticed how clear and nice my skin was and wondered if I had makeup on (I didn’t).

So here we go, how I revolutionized my skin using natural non-toxic and chemical-free ingredients that cost a fraction of those products promising (but not delivering) amazing clear skin.

Oil Cleansing
Yep, cleaning your skin with oil.  Sounds so wrong, but it is oh so right.  The theory behind oil cleansing is that like dissolves like.  So what you are doing is taking the dirty oil that is on your face and replacing it with clean oil.  I don’t know the full science behind it, but just trust me, it is pretty awesome.  No need to use a separate eye makeup remover either.  It is fast and effective and feels lovely.  For a more in-depth look at oil cleansing, google “Crunchy Betty Oil Cleansing Method” which explains it so much better than I can and breaks down which oils and ratios are best for your skin type.

Ingredients:
Castor oil
Jojoba oil
Frankincense essential oil
Lavender essential oil
I use a 4 oz glass container and make a big batch.  For 4 oz, I use 5 drops each of the essential oils.  I chose frankincense and lavender for their great skin properties.
Washcloths.  Lots of them.

Directions:
Fill the 4oz jar 2/3 of the way with castor oil.
Fill it up the rest of the way with jojoba oil.
Add your essential oils.
Shake to combine.

I do this at night when I am not exhausted and lazy.  I turn on my faucet and get the water nice and hot and soak my washcloth.  I then take about a quarter size amount the oil mixture and put it right on my face and rub it around all over for about 2 minutes or so.  Then I grab the nice hottish washcloth and place it over my face for a mini steam session for about 20 seconds and then wipe the oil off.  If I don’t have time, I just wipe off and skip the steam part.  And then I let it dry a bit before moving on to…

Peppermint, Lavender, and Honey Facial Toner
I love this mixture.  The peppermint is invigorating and the lavender adds some skin rejuvenating properties.  you can add whatever oils you love for your skin though.  Honey is wonderful for your skin and is anti-bacterial as well.  ACV because it is an awesome natural pH balancer.  This is super fast and easy to make.

Ingredients:
4oz glass spray bottle
1 tbs honey
1/3 c warm water
1/4 c ACV
1 c water
5 drops peppermint and 5 drops lavender essential oils

Directions:
Combine heated water and honey.  Add other stuff.  Put in bottles – this makes about 2 1/2 bottles worth.  Shake prior to each use.  I apply with a cotton round because I can’t spray it right on my face.  I don’t know why, but it makes me crazy.  Now you are ready for the final step…

Rose Ointment with the “Skinny” Oils
I just bought Rose Ointment from Young Living and LOVE it.  So much.  If you don’t have this, that is fine.  You can use hempseed oil or any other oil that your skin loves.  The “Skinny” oils I use are:

Frankincense
Geranium
Tea Tree Oil

I just got geranium so you don’t HAVE to use that, but it is an excellent addition to this regimen.  My skin responded well to just using frankincense and tea tree, but I wanted to add the geranium to see how much better I can get it.  Really, you can’t beat these three oils in terms of revitalizing your skin.

I don’t pre-mix this because it is just so easy to apply.  I take about a dime size amount of rose ointment and add one drop each of frankincense, tea tree, and geranium and then massage into my skin, being careful to avoid my eyes.  I love it.  My skin is so smooth after doing this.

In the mornings, I follow the same regimen except I switch out the oil cleansing and use just plain honey.  Yep.  I rub sticky honey all over my face and love it.  Try it.  Additionally, I try to drink a TON of water to keep my skin nice and hydrated.  I fail miserably many days, but I think if I get better at being consistent, my skin will continue to improve.

*A note about oils. Buying quality oils MATTERS people. If you are going the non-toxic, chemical-free route, make sure that you are using oils that are of the best purity. We use Young Living and wouldn’t do any other brand because they have a wonderful Seed To Seal promise. Read more about it here: http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/seed-to-seal

Additionally, I send over a fabulous ehandbook from The Happy Oils to help you on your journey and have a huge support team available to assist you in your journey and answer questions!

If you want to order your VERY own amazing kit that includes 11 of their most well-loved and most frequently used oils and a diffuser, and a bunch of other awesome goodies here is how to do it:

1. Click over to the sign-up page: https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1842761&enrollerid=1842761

2. Select “Sign Up As: Young Living Wholesale Member” (this secures you the 24% off discount on all future orders)

3. The “Enroller ID” and “Sponsor ID” boxes should already be filled in for you. If they aren’t, fill in 1842761 in both spots.

4. Fill out your name, billing address, shipping address, and contact info. (The reason you are asked for your SSN is for tax purposes; if you make over $600/year selling Young Living products, you will receive a 1099 form in the mail, as is required by law. Young Living never shares this info with anyone, and you’re not obligated to sell anything if you do not want to. I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray here!)

5. Create your password and pin which you will use to log in to your account and order your oils.

6. Select your enrollment order. This is where you can specify which starter kit you would like. I recommend the Premium Kit with the Aroma Diffuser.

7. It will ask if you want to sign up for the Essential Rewards program. I recommend saying no to this for now.

8. Agree to Terms & Conditions

9. CONFIRM YOUR ORDER. Some folks miss this step and end up not fully checking out. To confirm, the tool will log you in and it will show you your order again and it will make you enter in your payment information again.

10. Wait for the mailman to arrive! This step is will be agonizing.

Oh, and
11. Please friend me on Facebook so that I can add you to some fun oily Facebook groups! : )

Non-toxic Hair Detangling Spray

My little girl has a lot of hair and she hates when I brush it.  Apparently, just me though, since others are able to french braid her hair without issues.  I used to make my own using watered down conditioner or buy California baby.  But I was close to running out and didn’t feel like paying a ton of money for either organic conditioner or the commercial spray and did some research and found a few recipes that work.  I tried the easiest one and the one that didn’t require any refrigeration so it is shelf stable.

I added lemon and lavender essential oils to this for fragrance and for their happy and calming properties since she is is spicy thing.  She also has blonde hair and lemon will lighten it up and she smells delish.  Lavender is good for encouraging growth and scalp health.  You can also use chamomile, tea tree, or cedarwood.  But she is a girly little thing and these make us both happy.

Before posting this, I wanted to make sure it worked.  It had to actually detangle her hair, smell good, and not make her look like I just combed oil into her hair.  And it works beautifully!  I was hesitant about the smell of apple cider vinegar because when I initially applied it, she smelled like a salad bar.  But the smell faded quickly and we were left with the lovely lavender and lemon fragrances.  I can’t tell if it helped keep her calm, but because it works so nicely and is chemical free, I felt better.  Also, you all know I am in LOVE with ACV for my hair, so I figured it would be wonderful for hers as well.

Here we go, the ingredients:
4 oz spray bottle
ACV
1/2 tsp jojoba oil
Essential Oils – 20 drops total

Directions:  Fill up the spray bottle about a 1/4 of the way and add your oils – 20 drops total.  So for this one, I did 10 drops lemon and 10 drops lavender.  Shake it up.
Add jojoba oil.  Again, shake
Add water.  Shake.
Shake before using.  Spray and brush through hair.  Feel awesome because YOU made this.

To purchase your own fabulous essential oils (lemon and lavender are included in the amazing Premium Starter kit, which is basically like the holy grail of oil collections and great for beginners or people like me who are obsessed and need ALL THE OILS) follow this link!

DIY Deodorant

I bought the ingredients (really just the arrowroot powder) about 8 months ago to make this and just procrastinated about doing it for fear that it would just be a disaster.  But, I work from home, so I figured the only one who would have to suffer if this didn’t work would be my husband, who also works from home.  So, off we go.  Into a world with a non-toxic and aluminum free deodorant that works.  It actually does an amazing job and smells divine.  Plus, it is easy to apply and your body will thank you for this lovely chemical free option.

Ingredients:
1/4c arrowroot powder
1/4c baking soda
5 TBS coconut oil (I used liquid, but I am sure that the solid version would work as well)
5 drops of any lovely essential oil combination you can dream up.  I used lavender and lime for this one because, SPRING.  Lemon and lavender, tea tree and lavender, and if you feel like being awesome and your husband is on board, whip up one made from cedarwood and lemon for the man in your life.

Directions:
Combine it all in a bowl and stir.  Add to glass storage container and apply.  That is all!

*A note about oils.  Buying quality oils MATTERS people.  If you are going the non-toxic, chemical-free route, make sure that you are using oils that are of the best purity.  We use Young Living and wouldn’t do any other brand because they have a wonderful Seed To Seal promise.  Read more about it here:  http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/seed-to-seal

Additionally, I send over a fabulous ehandbook from The Happy Oils to help you on your journey and have a huge support team available to assist you in your journey and answer questions!

If you want to order your VERY own amazing kit that includes 11 of their most well-loved and most frequently used oils and a diffuser, here is how to do it:

1. Click over to the sign-up page: https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1842761&enrollerid=1842761

2. Select “Sign Up As: Young Living Wholesale Member” (this secures you the 24% off discount on all future orders)

3. The “Enroller ID” and “Sponsor ID” boxes should already be filled in for you. If they aren’t, fill in 1842761 in both spots.

4. Fill out your name, billing address, shipping address, and contact info. (The reason you are asked for your SSN is for tax purposes; if you make over $600/year selling Young Living products, you will receive a 1099 form in the mail, as is required by law. Young Living never shares this info with anyone, and you’re not obligated to sell anything if you do not want to. I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray here!)

5. Create your password and pin which you will use to log in to your account and order your oils.

6. Select your enrollment order. This is where you can specify which starter kit you would like. I recommend the Premium Kit with the Aroma Diffuser.

7. It will ask if you want to sign up for the Essential Rewards program. I recommend saying no to this for now.

8. Agree to Terms & Conditions

9. CONFIRM YOUR ORDER. Some folks miss this step and end up not fully checking out. To confirm, the tool will log you in and it will show you your order again and it will make you enter in your payment information again.

10. Wait for the mailman to arrive! This step is will be agonizing.

Oh, and
11. Please friend me on Facebook so that I can add you to some fun oily Facebook groups! : )

Lavender Ginger Detox Bath

I love a good detox bath.  On days when the kids are all at their various schools and I allow myself some downtime, my first order of business is a nice detox bath.  I try to do this once a week, but no more than three times a week.  I use a few ingredients that are known for their ability to pull out toxins, heat the body, and enable me to relax.
I also incorporate dry brushing into the routine to help stimulate the lymphatic system.  Dry brushing is so beneficial and I try to do it as often as I remember.  I use this dry brush and adore it.

I also make an Epsom salt blend to make it easier and allow the essential oils to disburse evenly in the water.  I prefer lavender essential oil to promote relaxation since I struggle with this so often.

Epsom Salt Blend:
1 cup of Epsom salts
A pinch of lavender flowers
5 drops of lavender essential oil (I buy mine from Young Living and will include instructions on how to buy them if you want to love your oils as much as I do)
Combine and store in a glass jar.  You can make as much of this as you want just so you have it on hand.

I also add pure ginger tea bags to the bath to help heat the body, which also assists in flushing toxins.  I love these, but you can also use fresh ginger if you have some on hand.

Here is my detox bath routine:

1.  Fill up the bathtub as HOT as you can stand it.  You want to sweat.  While the bathtub is filling, I do the dry brush thing.

2.  Add baking soda, your Epsom salt blend, and the ginger tea bag or fresh ginger to the bath and swirl to mix it all in there.

3.  Get into the bath.  Make sure you have a big bottle of water and drink that while you are bathing and after to flush toxins.  Sit there for 20 minutes.   I have a playlist on my phone that acts as my timer.

4.  Get out and dry off.  Some people get dizzy when they get out, so just be careful and move slowly.

5.  I cozy up in my robe afterwards and then lay in my bed under the blankets for another 20 minutes.  I also make sure to drink a ton of water while I am doing this.

6.  Try not to eat a ton prior to or after the bath.

Boom.  Detox bath done and your body is happier for it!

How to purchase Young Living Oils:

1. Click over to the sign-up page: https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1842761&enrollerid=1842761

2. Select “Sign Up As: Young Living Wholesale Member” (this secures you the 24% off discount on all future orders)

3. The “Enroller ID” and “Sponsor ID” boxes should already be filled in for you. If they aren’t, fill in 1842761 in both spots.

4. Fill out your name, billing address, shipping address, and contact info. (The reason you are asked for your SSN is for tax purposes; if you make over $600/year selling Young Living products, you will receive a 1099 form in the mail, as is required by law. Young Living never shares this info with anyone, and you’re not obligated to sell anything if you do not want to. I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray here!)

5. Create your password and pin which you will use to log in to your account and order your oils.

6. Select your enrollment order. This is where you can specify which starter kit you would like. I recommend the Premium Kit with the Aroma Diffuser.

7. It will ask if you want to sign up for the Essential Rewards program. I recommend saying no to this for now.

8. Agree to Terms & Conditions

9. CONFIRM YOUR ORDER. Some folks miss this step and end up not fully checking out. To confirm, the tool will log you in and it will show you your order again and it will make you enter in your payment information again.

10. Wait for the mailman to arrive! This step is will be agonizing.

ACV Rinse | A Goodbye Letter to my Conditioner

I have super long and super thick hair.  When I read about using ACV as a conditioning treatment, to be honest, I was scared.  I have had to use conditioner since before I can recall.  And not just a little conditioner.  My hair can take down a large bottle in less than a month.  I go through it at about three times the rate of a shampoo bottle. The struggle is real.

So I made sure to give this a good test run and gave myself ample time to take another shower just in case I couldn’t manage to get a brush through my hair and had to hop back in to re-shower and condition.

Surprisingly, I was pleased.  Actually, scratch that, more than pleased, ecstatic!  For the first time in forever, I didn’t use conditioner.  And my hair was shiny, sparkly, and smooth.  Basically I felt like a Disney princess and, if I had any kind of singing voice, would have broken into a love song about this ACV rinse.

So, here we go…the details.

Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV is an essential item for any good natural lifestyle home.  It has a million (*probably) uses, but today, I am just going to chat about using it as a rinse.  ACV works to balance the PH of the scalp and the hair and remove all of the icky chemicals and build-up.  So if you have dandruff or dry scalp, definitely give this a try!  It also smooths the hair cuticles to make it really shine.

The essential oils I am using in this are for both fragrance – because who wants to walk around smelling like a salad bar, not this girl – and for hair health.  I selected lavender, rosemary, and cedarwood.  All three are excellent for promoting hair growth and supporting scalp health.  They work to hydrate and moisturize the scalp and also provide nourishment and nutrients.

I purchase all of my essential oils from Young Living because they work best for our family and their seed to seal promise keeps me happy and worry free.  To start your own amazing collection, check out the starter kit which is a fabulous deal and contains everything you need to crunchify your home.

Ingredients:
1 bottle – you can use plastic for ease and safety – make sure it is squeezable.
Apple Cider Vinegar (Braggs is awesome)
Water
Lavender Essential Oil
Rosemary Essential Oil
Cedarwood Essential Oil

Directions:
Fill up bottle 1/4 of the way with ACV and add filtered water.
Add 2-3 drops of each essential oil.
Shampoo as usual.
Add ACV rinse to hair making sure to tilt your head back to avoid getting it into your eyes (it burns.  A lot.  Trust) and work it into your hair.  I usually let it sit in my hair for a while while I finish up – I aim for at least 5 minutes to allow it to soak into my hair.
Rinse with cold water, which will help seal in moisture and add shine.
Dry your hair and be amazed.  I couldn’t stop petting myself.

Interested in getting your hands on some essential oils???  The starter kit is hands down the BEST way to get started!  Here are the step-by-step instructions!

1. Click over to the sign-up page: https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?site=US&sponsorid=1842761&enrollerid=1842761

2. Select “Sign Up As: Young Living Wholesale Member” (this secures you the 24% off discount on all future orders)

3. The “Enroller ID” and “Sponsor ID” boxes should already be filled in for you. If they aren’t, fill in 1842761 in both spots.

4. Fill out your name, billing address, shipping address, and contact info. (The reason you are asked for your SSN is for tax purposes; if you make over $600/year selling Young Living products, you will receive a 1099 form in the mail, as is required by law. Young Living never shares this info with anyone, and you’re not obligated to sell anything if you do not want to. I promise I wouldn’t lead you astray here!)

5. Create your password and pin which you will use to log in to your account and order your oils.

6. Select your enrollment order. This is where you can specify which starter kit you would like. I recommend the Premium Kit with the Aroma Diffuser.

7. It will ask if you want to sign up for the Essential Rewards program. I recommend saying no to this for now.

8. Agree to Terms & Conditions

9. CONFIRM YOUR ORDER. Some folks miss this step and end up not fully checking out. To confirm, the tool will log you in and it will show you your order again and it will make you enter in your payment information again.

10. Wait for the mailman to arrive! This step is will be agonizing.

Oh, and

11. Please friend me on Facebook so that I can add you to some fun oily Facebook groups! : )