Your New Winter Skincare Habit!

Your New Winter Skincare Habit!
We are smack dab, in the middle of the winter months! Every time the seasons change, our skin is expected to adjust, and we are quickly Googling to see what we need for dry skin, red skin, chapped skin, or increased breakouts.
Something my clean-living journey has made me realize is the simple ingredients make a BIG difference. When it comes to essential oils, outside of a sleep solution for kids, skincare was next up on my “aha” moment list. As I continued to incorporate natural ingredients into my beauty routine and learned how essential oils worked, I transformed my skin to be the best it has EVER been.
However, the winter months sure do throw me for a loop! That was until I discovered the oil cleansing method. As a female with oily skin, I immediately pumped the brakes on this skincare habit. However, the more I read, the more curious I got.
Guess what?
I have been oil cleansing for at least 6 years now. It started with a DIY recipe and then I fell in love with an oil cleanser from one of my favorite essential oil lines called Mirah.
I am someone who needs to wash their face when they wake up. Then, I usually workout and need to wash it once more. Come bedtime, I am cleansing once more! That is a lot of stripping away dirt and oil and obviously can contribute to my oily skin.
In reading about oil cleansing, I learned that oil dissolves oil. When you massage your oil cleanser into your skin, it is dissolving all the dirt and oil from your day and nourishing it with the new oil! This is perfect for those of us who tend to wash multiple times a day. Even for any of us looking to restore balance in our skin’s moisture levels.
Here is a list of carrier oils you can use: 
Castor Oil (cleansing)
Rosehip Oil (nourishing)
Sunflower Oil ( all skin types)
Avocado Oil (dry skin)
Sweet Almond Oil (oily skin)
Jojoba Oil (oily skin)
Apricot Kernel Oil (dry skin)

Some of my favorite essential oils to add: 
Melrose (a blend that is fantastic for irritated or skin that breaks out)
Lavender (calming)
Frankincense (aging with grace)
Grapefruit (skin tone)
Lemon (clogged pores)
Geranium (skin tone)
Joy (floral blend)
Palmarosa (balance)
Peppermint (balance)
 
Here is a great DIY recipe and directions to get started! Keep in mind, you can swap the carriers and essential oils out for your skin type.
2 Tablespoons Castor Oil
2 Tablespoons of Rosehip Oil
2 Tablespoons of Jojoba Oil
10 drops Joy or Geranium
5 drops Grapefruit or Lemon
5 drops Frankincense
 
Combine in a pump or squeeze bottle. Massage about a teaspoon of oil cleanser into your skin. Grab a washcloth and soak it in very warm water. Place the washcloth on your face and steam the dirt and oil away. Wipe clean.
 
If you prefer to purchase a cleansing oil. My favorite is the Lustrous Mirah Cleansing Oil from Young Living. It lasts me months and months. I use it in the morning when I don’t need such a deep clean. It is loaded with floral oils which is just what my almost 40-year-old face needs! You can grab it below.

Simple Skincare with Oil Cleansing!

Simple Skincare with Oil Cleansing!

Oil cleansing has been a GAME CHANGER for my oily skin! Who knew?!

I have always struggled with deep cleaning my skin without stripping away the moisture and balance my skin needed. This always led to more oil! Since using an oil cleanser, my skin is brighter, softer, and balanced. I did try a couple of DIY oil cleansers but nothing has surpassed the Mirah Cleansing oil by Young Living. You cannot beat the luxurious essential oils and carrier oils used in this formula. To oil cleanse, you simple use 2-3 pumps on your finger tips, massage into your skin, and rinse cleanser away with warm water. Then, gently pat your skin dry. I noticed the change in your skin's balance and tone over a few weeks. 

Now, you know I love a VERSATILE product! VERSATILE usually means I save money by creating multiple products from one. Cleansing oils are versatile products! Check out all the ways I love to use my Mirah Cleansing oil. 

Cleanser- I love getting my face damp and massaging two pumps in to my face. I rinse with warm water and pat dry. My skin is left refreshed and soft.

Makeup Remover wipes- 1-2 pumps onto a Seedlings wipe to remove my makeup or for a "lazy gal clean" at the end of the day. Why Seedlings wipes? More skin nourishing essential oils and they don't leave a soapy/foamy reside like other wipes.

Face cleansing wipes with Mirah Cleansing oil 😍
3/4 cups water
3/4 cup alcohol free witch hazel
1/4-1/3 cup Mirah cleansing oil
At dry wipes (search dry wipes on Amazon) to the mixture! Wipe face to cleanse.

Himalayan Salt Exfoliator or Mask:
3 Tablespoons Himalayan Salt
2 Tablespoons Mirah Cleansing Oil
3 drops Grapefruit
3 drops Cypress
1-2 drops Peppermint.
Combine in bowl and apply to face. Make gentle circles to exfoliate. To use as mask allow to sit on skin for 10-20 minutes and rinse clean. Pat dry!

If you are ready to give oil cleansing a try, grab your Mirah Cleansing Oil here!Throw on some Seedlings wipes to go with it to create makeup remover! ( save 24% by putting these items in a subscription cart) 

Itchy Scalp...

Itchy Scalp...

The last blog entry led to more questions about tools that can be used to struggling with an itchy scalp. 

There are so many factors to consider when dealing with an itchy scalp. Is it dry? Is it dermatitis? Is it stress related? There are somethings you can be doing to help maintain a healthy scalp that can help with all the above. 

From the inside: 

Again, check your diet. If it is high in sugar, this could lead to imbalance in pH and the good bacteria your skin needs to thrive and be healthy. Once more, a quality probiotic, such as Life 9, can support this. Not only, can you take it as directed BUT you can open a capsule up and add it to your shampoo from time to time to support your scalp with some healthy bacteria. 

Another way to get that scalp exposed to healthy bacteria, is with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR RINSE

Supplement the conditioning benefits of our hot oil treatment with our clarifying apple cider vinegar rinse. If built-up product has left you in a hairy situation, use this recipe to help untangle the mess. After you rinse away the excess weight from dead skin cells, pool chemicals, saltwater, shampoo, and conditioner, you’ll notice more bounce and volume to your hair.

In addition to helping, you nail the perfect hair flip, our apple cider vinegar rinse also soothes the scalp and adds luster to your locks.

What you need:

YL tip: For dry hair, use 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; for normal to oily hair, use 1/2 cup.

How to make it:

1. Mix all ingredients together in the spray bottle.

2. Spray mixture all over hair, focusing on the scalp and roots. Lift hair in sections to make sure you completely saturate your hair—your hair should be thoroughly damp, but not dripping.

3. Massage into scalp with fingertips to stimulate the scalp and increase circulation.

4. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 minutes.

5. Rinse, then shampoo and condition hair as normal.

6. Use once per week.

 Check out this Lavender Life blog entry for more recipes that support a healthy head of hair.


See the above link for more hair recipes from Young Living.  



Now, let’s chat supporting those over symptoms of an irritated scalp. There is nothing worse than an uncontrollable itch on your head and a pile of flakes on your shoulder. Over time, I have seen really great results using Young Living’s Voluminous Lavender Shampoo (remember, it contains MSM!! 😊) and the addition of some of my favorite oils. 

My favorite blend of essential oils to add to my Lavender shampoo are Melrose (blend), Cedarwood, and Peppermint. Now, you do not want to overdo this and walk away with an oily head of hair. I recommend starting with 1 drop of essential oil per ounce of shampoo. If you need to add more, you can always do so. If you add too much, then you are going to struggle. If your bottle is 8 ounces, add 2 drops Melrose, 3 drops of Cedarwood, and 2 drops of Peppermint. 

Take to topical application up a notch post-shower! Create a scalp mist to spritz on your scalp before drying. See the recipe below: 

4 ounce spray bottle

2 ounces distilled water

2 ounces alcohol-free witch hazel

2 drops Melrose

2 drops Lavender

2 drops Cedarwood

2 drops Peppermint 

Spritz scalp and massage mixture into the root of your hair. Blow-dry as usual! 

If you are interested in trying these recipes and do not have all these oils on hand. Do not hesitate to reach out for assistance with substitutions. 

Here is to a healthy head of hair!


Eczema...much more than dry skin!

Eczema...much more than dry skin!

It never fails, around this time every year, the word eczema starts popping up everywhere. Every so often, I hear someone blame it on the weather and time of year, but from experience, I have news for you. It is so much more!

The skin is the largest organ of the body. My own skin issues and experience with eczema have taught me, if my skin is acting up, something is going on within. I have always considered it a sign of inflammation. Through some digging for myself and my son, I learned there is a HUGE link between the health of our skin and our gut health. If you are having issues with your skin, you better check your gut.

This time of year, we start bombarding our systems with all of the indulgences and sweet treats. Sugar doesn't do our gut health or immune system any favors. 

So, what are somethings that support a healthy gut? Well, watch your sugar intake! It has a great impact on your gut health. Hence, the flare ups around this time of year. Dairy can also negatively affect your GI tract.  My skin and my son’s skin will flare up when we overdo the dairy. If your skin is suffering, you may want to consider cutting it out completely for a bit.

A good probiotic can help you support a healthy gut! For several years now, we have been using Life 9 for myself, and MightyPro Pre+Probiotic, for the boys. You cannot beat the quality and the all the beneficial strains of bacteria in these two products.  Make sure you are taking your probiotic at night. 

Also consider, apple cider vinegar! If you are not a fan, Bragg’s makes capsules that are easy to swallow. Otherwise, we like this simple “tea” in the morning. My son calls it his “morning tea.”


“Morning Tea”

Mug of warm water

2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (we like Braggs)

2 drops Lemon oil (also helps to support your gut and cleanse the system)

1 teaspoon of honey


Now let’s talk about how to help the scaly, itchy, dry patches that can drive a person crazy!!


Have you ever heard of MSM or Methylsulfonylmethane? Well, if not, Google away and be amazed at the benefits. One of them is skincare. You can use a lotion that contains MSM, such as the Genesis Lotion, or you can take one of my favorite supplements called Sulfurzyme. 

Now, why the Genesis Lotion? Well, it contains MSM (big win) AND an abundance of skin supporting essential oils such as Geranium, Jasmine, Coriander, Ylang Ylang, and more! This way your external symptoms aren’t stuck waiting for your internal issues to improve.


I personally, like to add an essential oil blend called Melrose to the lotion. It takes things up a notch! Especially when we are making our way through some flare ups. Melrose is inexpensive and contains Tea Tree, Niaouli, Rosemary, and Clove. I love adding this oil to my shampoo for an itchy scalp as well! This oil is so versatile that I feel like I could write an entire blog entry on it! Put Melrose, Cedarwood, and Lavender in an Epsom Salt bath and you have some winning relief. Whether you decide to use it in your lotion or not, it is a must have for so much more.

This routine is quite simple if you can remember to take your probiotic at night and apply your lotion/oil as needed. All of the above has definitely helped our family though some troubling skin issues.