Spotlight On: Geranium Essential Oil
Botanical Name: Pelargonium graveolens / Pelargonium asperum
Geranium Essential Oil has a distinctive floral scent. You'll find it in many skin and hair care products because of its trifecta of loveliness: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Geranium works beautifully blended into a body oil or face cream, or with aloe vera gel as a quick-absorbing muscle rub. It is also believed to reduce anxiety and uplift the mood. (Perry and Perry, CNS Drugs, 2006)
Try adding a drop of Geranium to your shampoo just before washing your hair. It is appropriate for all skin type and can balance both excess oil and dryness. We love using geranium in our Himalayan Rose Soaking Salts and also in our Goddess Spray and Roller for its relaxing and healing properties!
DIY Recipe: Extra Moisturizing Egg Yolk, Coconut Oil, and Honey Hair Mask
This easy, affordable, and moisturizing hair mask is perfect for all hair types - especially those with dry or frizzy hair. Honey is truly a magical ingredient - it's naturally moisturizing, cleansing, and it repairs dull hair without weighing it down.The egg yolk contains protein which helps strengthen and moisturize hair (and prevents breakage!). Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to condition and smooth hair cuticles which helps with frizz and dryness. We tried this hair mask and were amazed with how soft, shiny, and moisturized our hair felt.
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil
Shower Cap
1. Wet your hair - in the shower is quick and easy, then gently wring out excess water so hair is wet but not dripping
2. With hair wet, lightly warm up coconut oil so it becomes a liquid. Be sure to not heat it up too much (or wait to cool down to room temperature) because it will cook your egg!
3. Mix egg yolk, honey, and coconut oil in a bowl and lightly warm up in a pan (again for around 10 seconds just to get it warmed up and not cooked).
4. From root to tip - using your fingers or a basting brush spread through your hair
5. Place shower cap on and wait 40 minutes
6. Rinse hair with lukewarm/cool water first to get egg out then continue to wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner
7. Style
Happy Earth Day!
Here are some tips to save the Earth:
1. Adjust your thermostat - increasing the temp by one degree in the summer and decreasing it by one degree in the winter will save you 10% on your energy consumption
2. Go vegetarian once a week - it takes 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef
3. Reduce waste by composting your food scraps
4. Reuse your shopping/grocery bags
5. Recycle your electronics, plastics, and glass
Love After Love
This is a favorite poem and a beautiful reminder to welcome and love ourselves the way we would greet a beloved love or dear friend. Nourish your own heart and soul.
Product Highlight: Rosewater Facial Toner
A calming facial toner and refresher for all skin types, especially for sensitive or mature skin.
Rose 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 rose otto and rose hydrosol is used in this beautiful Rosewater Facial Toner. And if that isn't enough, rose also can support healthy breathing, balanced hormones and, in emotional aromatherapy, is said to heal the heart. Deep bow to the rose!
https://www.lovetreeessentials.com/shop/rosewater-facial-toner
And I said to my body...
<3 I totally relate. How about you?
Skin Care 101: Knowing Your Skin Type
Many skincare products are recommended for certain skin types. But how do you know what type of skin you have? One easy way to figure out what type of skin type you have is to try this test at home:
Clean your skin thoroughly, rinse well and pat dry with a towel. Allow it to rest for two hours or overnight and then lightly press a tissue onto the T-zone area of your skin (forehead and bridge of nose) then repeat over the rest of your face. If the tissue comes away with an oily residue, you have oily skin; if there is residue only in the T-zone, you have combination skin. And if the tissue comes away unmarked, wash your face again with facial cleanser and water. If your face feels supple and smooth afterwards, it’s normal (which is the rarest form) and if it feels taut, it’s dry.
Normal Skin: soft, smooth, and springy. Normal skin requires the least specialized care.
Dry Skin: feels taut, dry, and has no shine. Dry skin also tends to be more sensitive so use gentle products to avoid irritation. It requires regular moisturizing, mild cleansers and gentle care. Wash with warm but never hot water. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Protect hands with gloves when cleaning.
Oily skin: has a shine and is supple. The pores are open and are less vulnerable to sun and damage via natural elements. It needs thorough cleansing as the oil acts as a magnet for dirt (leading to acne,etc.) but cleansing needs to be gentle enough to avoid stimulating the sebaceous glands into further oil production. Wash face no more than twice a day. Do not scrub harshly or pop pimples. Look for products marked non-comedogenic, signaling they are not likely to clog pores.
Combination Skin: most common type, as pores on the forehead, nose, and chin are usually larger than those on the rest of the face. The T-zone is oily, while the remainder of the face is dry. It is best treated differently according to the needs of the specific area.
Here are a few basic tips for all skin types:
Wear sunscreen (seriously! one that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.)
Protect skin by wearing a hat and sunglasses or avoid extended time in the sun.
Wash your skin gently but thoroughly every day and never wear makeup to bed.
Don't smoke.
Stay hydrated.
Moisturize.
