toxin free

As we talk about hormonal support this week, it is important that we touch on the products we use in our home. You can be the healthiest eater and someone who exercises everyday, but if you aren't watching the products you bring into your home, you are still putting yourself at unnecessary risk for so much. The next topic can REALLY get me going 😊 Shall we dive in?

Paraben free, Dye- Free, SLS-free, Sulfate-Free, Phthalate-free….we are seeing all of our household and personal care products try to clean up their act! Why? People are slowly waking up. They want reasons for their health issues and they are starting to become aware of the long-term impact the products we use in our homes have on our health. Unfortunately, people wait for that reason or health concern to arise before they start to do their research and pay attention.

You know what you will not see removed from most of these products claiming to be clean? FRAGRANCE.

It is in everything! From the candles we burn, the air fresheners we spray, to our dish soap and make-up. (Seriously though, why do you need fragrance in your dish soap?) There are a little over 3,000 chemicals than can be blanketed in that term fragrance and guess what… some of them are harmful! Endocrine disruptors, chemicals linked to tumor growth, chemicals that can have an impact on the respiratory system, chemicals that have been linked to cancer, and more. We often see a “green” label or “clean living” being advertised and ignore the FRAGRANCE label that is listed right there in the ingredients. The worst part about this label is none of the chemicals under this umbrella being used in your product are required to be disclosed to you. It is considered proprietary information. You could have an allergic reaction to a product, and they do not have to tell you what is under that label.

Think of the air in your home. Especially, with the holidays approaching and people wanting anything and everything to smell like pumpkin spice. It doesn’t matter what kind of wax you are using, fragrance is fragrance and you are polluting the air in your home. If the word fragrance is written on the label of your candle/spray/wallflower, it is not clean ( even some aromas claiming to be essential oils are labeled as “fragrance”). Your home is the one place that you can control what your family is exposed to. Already, your body is having to process these chemicals that are in the air you are breathing all day long before you leave the house.

Then think of your skin care products, soap, lotion, make-up, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, and your laundry products!! Laundry products kill me. When I can smell your laundry from down the street while I am running, I get concerned for your health. On top of that, you wear and smell that fragrance all day long. You sleep with that fragrance! The smell of flowers does not equal clean.

I challenge you to look at your products. Even the ones you do not think would contain fragrance. Read that label!  This is why we use oils! High quality oils from a trusted source (the regulation on the essential oil industry is an entirely different post 😊) This is why we use Young Living! You will never see “fragrance” listed under the ingredients. They tell you what ingredients are making you product smell so good. I do not have to label read and worry about transparency with them. The other thing I love, is how long the products last because they are not filled with all the junk.  From the outside it may look a little complicated, but it is quite simple to do this on a budget with the right help and resources!

Here is one of my favorite recipes to replace those nasty aerosol sprays:

5 ounce continue mist spray bottle

1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner (

Add 15-20 drops essential oils of your choice

I like Northern Lights Black Spruce and Orange right now

Top with witch hazel or vodka

You now have yourself a continuous mist “clean” air freshener/spray

Add a cute Avery label if you wish 😊

Sleep troubles are the reason why so many of us dipped our toes into the world of essential oils. Whether it be racing thoughts, anxiety, restlessness, interrupted sleep, or even hormonal issues, the struggle is real. I think it is safe to say that we all have, at some point, looked for support in regards to healthy sleep patterns. 

Sleep routines and support, involve so much more than a simple bottle of Lavender for some of us. There can be various contributing factors and the versatility of essential oils allow us to create personalized routines to meet our needs. 

Before we dive into routines and recipes, let's chat about the oils we tend to think of when we think of a goodnight's sleep. Tree oils always come to mind! They are warm, cozy, and grounding. Some of my favorites are Northern Lights Black Spruce, Cypress, Pine, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Grounding, and Sacred Mountain. There are also some popular floral scents that tend to calm an anxious mind! Lavender, Valerian, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage,  German Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, and Geranium. Vetiver, Valor, Stress Away, Tranquil, Peace and Calming, Gentle Baby, and Rutavala. I always recommend picking 1-2 good blends and 2 single oils to layer and create a sleep routine with! 

At our house, we TRY ( it can be hard), to promote a sense of calm before it is even time for bed! I tend to grab some comforting oils to diffuse right after dinner. A grounding aroma helps to signal the mind that it is the day's end and it is time to chill. This is great if you are prepping kiddos for bed, cleaning the kitchen, or just lounging and watching some TV. I like to call these our " After Dinner" diffuser blends. Here are a few that we tend to rotate between. 

3 Peace and Calming, 3 Orange 3 Cedarwood

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3 Valor, 3 Frank, 4 Bergamot

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3 Rosemary, 4 Cedarwood, 3 Lavender

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3 Thieves, 2 Northern Lights Black Spruce, 2 Roman Chamomile

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3 Grounding, 3 Orange, 3 Bergamot

Do you see how I start with a few drops of a blend and then layer my singles with it? I have found that to be key in creating so many blends! 

Next up, pre-bed. 

Has it has been an REALLY long day? Do you have some kids that can't seem to stop bouncing off the walls? Are you worried about something or feeling anxious?  Consider pausing your usual night time routine and taking some time for an Rest Easy Soak! You will need Epsom salt for this. If you want to take it up a notch, grab some baking soda while you are at it. ( thank you Jessica Davis for this recipe!)

This is for a larger batch! Store it in a jar and have it ready to go for those nights when you don't have the energy to do anything extra :) If you find yourself scrambling, just grab 1/4 Epsom salt, add your oils (4-5 drops total), and soak! 

1C Epsom salt

1/4C sea salt

1/4C baking soda

15-25 drops Essential Oils ( cut in half for the kiddos)

Favorite oil combinations for a relaxing bath!

In preparation to lay your head down, I recommend creating a pillow/linen Spray! Another gift alert! This allows you to use your oils aromatically x2 if you also plan to run your diffuser. Not to mention, the oils can work their magic on anything that may be lingering on your sheets. For the kiddos, we call this "No More Monster" spray or " Sweet Dreams" spray. If you have never created one, you are missing out! Here is our favorite recipe: 

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that we wash our hands to support a healthy immune system, but the majority of the hand soaps on the store shelves are riddled with toxins and unwanted chemicals? 

If you think your soap is " clean" check for that "Fragrance" label. That is the term companies are able to hide the nasty ingredients under (whether it has to do with the smell or not!). They do not have to disclose that information either....it is proprietary! 

Well, here is an INEXPENSIVE and TOXIN-FREE recipe to keep those hands clean and moisturized. All you need is three ingredients and your distilled water! The ability to create your own signature soap scent, is endless! 

Here is the recipe:

1/3 cup Castile Soap or YL Bath & Shower Gel base
1 tsp. Carrier oil
20-25 drops EOs
8-12 ounces water

Mix in foaming soap dispenser! Great gift idea too!

What are some of your favorite combos?

 

Masks have become a part of our daily routine. Some of us are wearing them for short trips to the grocery store and others wear them for a prolonged period of time, day in and day out. After wearing a mask for over 8 hours while flying last month, I found myself reaching for my Peppermint and Thieves Spray time and time again. The peppermint helped with a heavy ache that I would get in my head mid-day as well as some wooziness during some rough air. I clearly wasn't able to hand wash my mask, so I found myself giving it a good spritz with Thieves Spray from time to time. There is no other disinfectant I would use for this. Why? Because I am putting it back on my face and want to make sure I am inhaling a clean, non-toxic aroma. Since this trip, I have come across several helpful recipes in various oily groups! I wanted to share them with you as I have found them effective yet safe when it comes to staying away from toxins. Staying away from harsh chemicals and toxins is part of maintaining a healthy immune system. 

Witch Hazel

Essential Oils ( this is your choice!) 

I selected Peppermint and Raven for respiratory support and an uplifting aroma. You could also do Thieves, RC, Lavender, Spearmint...think of what you are wanting to address! 

10 mL spritzer 

Add 7-10 drops of desired oils into spritzer. Top with witch hazel, add top, and shake. Spritz the inside of your mask before wearing. 

You can purchase this already made ( That is what I would do :) )  OR you can DIY this! 

15 drops of Thieves oil

1 teaspoon witch hazel 

A little under 2 ounces of distilled water.

Spritz your mask front and back with Thieves Spray in between wears. 

Mask Soak: 

16 ounces warm water

1 teaspoon Thieves Laundry Soap

1 teaspoon Thieves Household Cleaner

3-5 drops Lemon Oil 

Mix all ingredients in bowl of water. Add masks to the bowl and gently work the solution through the masks. Soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse clean under warm water. Hang to air dry. 

I hope you find these recipes helpful as we adapt to a new routine. 

Giveaway #4: Thieves Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash aka The Dental Duo

We have been using Thieves dental products and the Kidscents toothpaste for at least 5 years now. After missing cleanings for two years, I still walked away with an amazing hygiene report. My hygienist wanted to know what I was using and then bought some for herself :) My last visit, she whispered in my ear, " All of the stuff that is put into toothpastes, is not meant for everyday use...it's not good for us everyday."