The More You Know: Carrier Oils
Essential oils are powerful plant allies that can soothe and calm. However, if applied undiluted to the skin, many essential oils and absolutes can cause irritation, redness or other reactions. This is where carrier oils shine. A carrier oil is usually a vegetable oil (many are made from nuts or seeds) used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin. They are named carrier oils because they “carry” essential oils onto the skin in a safe manner.
Each carrier oil offers different benefits. Jojoba oil absorbs easily because it’s the closest to our sebum which makes it great for facial creams, etc. Coconut oil is moisturizing and serves as a protective layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. Natural lotions, creams, body oils, bath oils, lip balms and other moisturizing skin care products are also made using vegetable (carrier) oils.
Remember, if you are making products with these oils, note the shelf life of each of the oils used.
Popular examples of vegetable oils that are used as carrier oils:
Almond Oil - rich in Vitamins A & E, one year shelf life
Coconut Oil - barrier moisturizer, two-year shelf life
Grapeseed Oil - light and easily absorbed, one year shelf life
Jojoba - moisturizing and easily absorbed, indefinite shelf life
Olive Oil - rich in Vitamin E, anti-inflammatory, up to 3 year shelf life
Pomegranate Seed Oil - high in Omega-5’s, great for skin care, 1-2 year shelf life
Product Hightlight: Frankincense Aromatherapy Roller
Calm and focus the mind with this ally in emotional healing. Frankincense is also a favorite in skin care for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. And, the woody pine-like and citrus scent notes are gender neutral - making it a great gift for any special person in your life.
Suggested Use: roll on temples, wrists or nape of neck to relieve and relax.
Ingredients: organic jojoba oil, organic Boswellia carterii (frankincense) essential oil
Ingredient Spotlight: Rosemary
This wonderful herb is astringent, antiseptic, cleansing, and normalizing for the skin. It aids circulation, has stimulating properties, and helps bring blood flow to the surface of the skin.
It can help protect skin from damage caused by the sun and free radicals. It’s a natural antimicrobial and antiseptic that helps to eliminate eczema, dermatitis, oily skin, and acne. Rosemary is also widely used for hair care in shampoos, hair oils, and lotions. Regular use of rosemary oil helps stimulate follicles, making hair grow longer and stronger.
Product Spotlight: Rosemary Replenishing Hair Oil
Softer, smoother, healthy, happy hair? It’s all in here.
Did you know Rosemary essential oil is an OG herbalist’s hair growth ingredient?
Argan Oil, sometimes called liquid gold, helps make hair softer, silkier, & shinier while taming frizz. Nutrient rich Jojoba Oil hydrates, repairs, & helps to add shine and softness. Nourishing high-antioxidant Pomegranate Seed Oil revitalizes dull and dry hair, and balances and soothes the scalp. Anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal Castor Oil may also encourage hair growth. And, organic Rosemary and Lavender essential oils add a gender-neutral scent that both uplifts and relaxes.
Ingredient Spotlight: Rose
True confession? I never liked anything rose-scented until I began studying aromatherapy. I resisted, but rose finally won me over. It has a gently persuasive way with skin, is balancing and moisturizing, works well in acne blends and helps skin regenerate and heal. It is especially helpful for damaged, mature and aging skin which is why I now use rose otto and rose hydrosol in blends for both face and body.
Read moreBath Gift Set for Your Valentine / Galentine
For your #Valentine/ #Galentine, give the gift of relaxation and renewal with our Bath Gift Set for $25
Pick Soaking Salts or a Scrub with your choice of Spray (2oz), Deodorant, or Make Up Remover to go together!
Soaking Salts
1. Himalayan Rose Soaking Salt: Natural minerals and pure essential oils melt away your tension and restore your soul.
2. Detox Soaking Salts: Green tea is a great antioxidant and detoxifier and epsom salts soothe your sore muscles.
Sugar Scrubs
1. Citrus Bergamot Sugar Scrub: A CUSTOMER FAVORITE! Perfect for dry winter skin! Our most popular scrub leaves skin glowing, smooth, and hydrated.
2. Awake Sugar Scrub: Invigorate your morning shower routine with organic fair trade coffee firms and improves skin's appearance.
Sprays:
1. Goddess : A divine spray/ toner with calming blend of essential oils to balance emotions and cool the skin.
2. Protection: Our Protection Spray is a 2-for-1: a lovely smelling body spray that will also sanitize. Its naturally antibacterial essential oils ward off stinky, germy things and leave you smelling great.
3. Renewal: Our Renewal Spray blends relaxing properties of lavender with uplifting peppermint.
Makeup Remover:
Lavender Jojoba Makeup Remover: Naturally remove your makeup with this toxin-free remover. Lavender is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory- perfect for burns, rashes, and irritated and damaged skin.
Chamomile Jojoba Makeup Remover: Naturally remove your makeup with this toxin-free remover. Soothing and healing Chamomile is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory making it a perfect compliment to the jojoba oil.
Deodorant:
Goddess Deodorant: Our long-lasting aluminum free deodorant refreshes while it conditions your skin (and keeps you smelling great). Himalayan Rose Deodorant: Our long-lasting aluminum free deodorant refreshes while it conditions your skin (and keeps you smelling great).
Ingredient Spotlight: Aloe
I love using Aloe in our products, especially our Aloe Chamomile Moisturizing Cream. This wonderful plant originated in Africa but is found in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The juice from the plant is fantastic for first aid for burns, rough or irritated skin, and also wounds. And also a moisturizer that firms and tones the skin. Be sure that when you're buying Aloe Vera Gel to make sure it has no carrageenan, which is sometimes used as a thickener but it's a possible carcinogen and gastrointestinal irritant. Carrageenan is creepy stuff. Watercolor painting by our own Maggie.
Lovetree Essentials will be at Odd Nights at the Autry This Friday
We will be a vendor at the Odd Nights at the Autry this Friday, June 16, 2017. The event is held o outside on the Autry Lawn. There will be shopping, live music, food, and crafts. The Odd Market is an independent bazaar with more than 100 vendor booths.
Select museum galleries will be open from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For a list of vendors and other event updates, visit TheOddMarket.com.
Location: Autry Lawn (4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462)
Admission: Free for Autry Members and Children Under 12 / $5 General Admission
RSVP/Reservations: No Reservations Necessary
Product Highlight: Aloe Chamomile Moisturizing Cream
Are you looking for a lightweight moisturizing cream that works wonders not only on your body but also your face? Our soothing Aloe Chamomile Moisturizing Cream is perfect for radiant and glowing skin all over! This almost fragrance free cream easily absorbs into skin because of the jojoba which is closest to our natural sebum. Skin soothing and healing Chamomile is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. The essential oil blend in the cream is specifically mixed to benefit skin by their natural healing and moisturizing properties.
Handmade. Local. Cruelty Free. Natural. Because we love YOU!
Suggested Use: Massage into skin to soften & restore skin's natural elasticity. Absorbs quickly. May be used on face. Discontinue if irritation occurs. External use only
Product Highlight: Himalayan Rose Deodorant
Our long-lasting aluminum free deodorant refreshes while it conditions your skin (and keeps you smelling great).
Simply massage a small amount into your armpit! Made with only the best ingredients- organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, calendula-infused jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax, baking soda, vitamin E, and a blend of pure essential oils. If it melts, give it a stir and refrigerate until solid again, remove from fridge and apply as usual.
Product Highlight: Goddess Body and Face Mist
As Mother's Day approaches, we wanted to highlight our Goddess Body and Face Mist Spray. A calming blend of essential oils to balance emotions and cool the skin. This light mist can be used on your face, body, and even in a room for a divine pick me up. It comes in three sizes: a to-go pen spray, a two ounce bottle, and a four ounce bottle.
Ingredients: water, organic witch hazel extract, Epsom salts, essential oils of bergaptene-free Bergamot, atlas cedar wood, clary sage, lavender, cypress, ylang ylang, geranium, sage, and blue chamomile.
Product Highlight: Lime Lip Scrub
Want soft and kissable lips? Try out our Lime Lip Scrub! This amazing sugar scrub exfoliates your lips with a hint of Shea butter to moisturize.
NO parabens. NO animal testing. NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. No creepy stuff because we love YOU!
Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Chamomile Infused Jojoba Oil, Organic Sugar, Lime Essential Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E Oil
Suggested Use: Gently rub a small amount with finger on your lips, let sit for a few minutes and then rinse or wipe off with a warm cloth. It's non-toxic so it's okay if you lick it off!
Net Weight: 0.5 ounces
Product Highlight: Himalayan Rose Shea Body Butter
Are you looking for a lightweight and super moisturizing body butter that will leave you radiant and soft all over? Our delicate and beautiful Himalayan Rose Shea Body Butter works two ways, jojoba oil makes it easily absorbed and shea butter creates a protective barrier around your skin to soften and restore your skin's natural elasticity. Shea Butter has a remarkable capacity to protect and soothe and is used for healing damaged or scarred skin as well as dry and rough skin.
Handmade. Local. Cruelty Free. Natural. Because we love YOU!
Ingredients: Organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, chamomile-infused jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax, vitamin E, and a blend of pure essential oils
Suggested Use: Massage into skin anytime to soften & restore skin's natural elasticity. Especially helpful right after a shower or bath so retain moisture.
Carmelized Shallot, Chard & Mushroom Quiche Recipe
Here is a fantastic recipe that highlights one of our favorite vegetables: Chard. Chard which is a leafy green contains high levels nitrates (which been shown to lower blood pressure), vitamin K, and vitamin A. It can be a tricky vegetable to cook but this recipe takes the guessing out of it: by baking it in a quiche!
Recipe From Farm Fresh to You and Image by Ann Braden.
Caramelized Shallot, Chard and Mushroom Quiche
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) ball of your favorite pie dough for an 8-9 inch pie plate
8 ounces white cheddar cheese
6 eggs
1 pint half & half
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 bunch (4 cups) chard, washed, destemmed and coarsely chopped
1 (3.5 ounce) package brown beech mushrooms or maitake mushrooms
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray an 8-9 inch pie plate with nonstick spray or coat with butter.
Roll out the pie dough into a 12-inch diameter circle, approximately 1/8-inch thick. Place the dough into your 8 - 9 inch pie plate, making sure to press the dough into the corners and bottom of the pie plate. Fold the excess dough over the top edge, and using your forefinger and thumb, flute the edges. Chill the dough while you prepare the other ingredients.
Grate the cheese, setting aside 1/2 cup to use later.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the shallot and cook until slightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Lower the heat to medium and add the chard. Sauté, stirring frequently, until chard is tender, about 5 minutes. Place the chard mixture into a small bowl and set aside.
In the same sauté pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender and slightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir the mushrooms into the chard mixture and let cool a bit.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs slightly, then whisk in half & half, cheese (except the 1/2 cup), salt and pepper. Whisk in chard/mushroom mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared pie shell. Bake for 40 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake 5 to 10 more minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Serve warm.
