Essential Oils and UV Sensitivity - Photosensitive

Citrus oils can be very clean, refreshing and invigorating! Sun sensitivity (phototoxicity) or otherwise also known as photosensitization occurs when an agent, in our case citrus essential oils, are used and they can cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight (actually any ultra violet - UV - light) and one would therefore burn and damage more easily. This process does occur most frequently with citrus EOs. If you apply a photosensitive EO be sure to avoid direct UV Rays for 12 hours after application. 

DIY At Home Weight Loss Wraps With Essential Oils

Just another one of the great things you can do with essential oils! The inches do come back in a few days but this is a quick fix for a night out or a tropical beach vacation!

I lost close to 2 inches doing this recipe!

DIY Natural Essential Oil Hair Spray Recipe

After using essential oils for months now and redesigning the products that I use on a daily basis, I CANNOT stand the smell of hair spray! It chokes me! It is so over-powering to me now and I decided why not try to make an all natural safe and effective hair spray!?

Here is an all natural flexible hold Citrus- Lavender Hair Spray made with essential oils.

What You Need-

- 1 whole organic orange for dark hair or 1 whole organic lemon for lighter hair

- 2 cups of distilled water

- 2-3 tablespoons of high proof vodka

- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

- 1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)

- 1/8 tsp of a carrier oil

- PET plastic or glass fine mist sprayer

What To Do-

1. Cut the fruit into wedges and combine with the 2 cups distilled water in a medium cooking pot.

2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and let the water evaporate by half.

3. Strain liquid with a cheesecloth into a glass measuring cup.

4. Make sure you have 1 cup of water left, if you boiled too much add more distilled water until it reaches 1 cup. Allow the juice to cool.

5. Combine the alcohol, vitamin E and essential oil in a small bowl. Mix well.

6. Add the citrus juice to the alcohol mixture.

7. Pour the mixture into a glass or PET plastic fine mist sprayer. 

To use- Shake well before use and spray onto hair as you would with commercial hair spray.

NOTE- You can add 1/2 tbsp of white granulated sugar to the boiling process above to make this a more firmer hold hairspray and you can also add a drop or two of peppermint essential oil to repel any bugs the sugar may attract.

DIY Homemade Natural Essential Oil Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

I LOVE this sugar scrub! It makes my hands so silky and soft. I also use it in the shower to exfoliate. The candy canes give it a nice touch and would make a great Christmas Gift!

What You Need:

- 1 cup of white granulated sugar

- 3/4 cup of coconut oil; melted

- 1/4 cup of organic raw shea-butter; melted

- 5 capsules of Vitamin E oil; poke capsule with a pin to release oil

- Candy canes; crushed

- 20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

- 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

- A seal-able glass or PET plastic container

What You Need To Do:

1. In a medium sized mixing bowl add- the sugar and crushed candy canes.

2. Mix both well.

3. In a separate small bowl add- melted coconut oil, melted shea butter and vitamin E oil.

4. Mix the oils well.

5. Add the oil mixture to the sugar/candy cane mixture.

6. Mix them together very well.

7. Add the essential oils.

8. Mix and pour into a desired seal-able container.

9. Label and you're done! Easy Peasy!

To use- scoop a small amount about the size of a nickle out the the container and scrub onto hands or preferred body part and then rinse! 

Aromatherapy - Child / Toddler Sensory Box - Play Time

We have the winter blues in our family. Where we live in Pennsylvania it has been so cloudy every day for the past 3 weeks except ONE Sunday. That's it. My toddler is used to being outside in the summer everyday, all day. I saw this online and tweeked it a bit. Why not add some essential oils? Perfect to help them grow mentally and keep them busy! Essential oils, especially A Grounding Blend will calm their moods too.

What You Need:

- A shoe box

- A bag or two of Garbanzo Beans

- Some measuring cups and spoons

- Toys

- 3-4 drops of Grounding Blend or Calming Blend

- I put down a large sheet for easy clean up.

What You Need To Do:

I think it's pretty obvious. 

Put down a sheet. Place the beans in a shoe box. Add the essential oils. Add the toys. 

My toddler LOVED this. He sat there and took his trucks and cups and played for a very long time. Enough time for me to get some things done around the house!

Essential Oil Infused Bath Salts

1 cup Espom Salt
1/4 cup dead sea salts or plain sea salt
1/8 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
6 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
4 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil
2 tablespoons dried herbs (1 tbsp lavender & 1 tablespoon rosemary herbs; optional)

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Store in an air-tight container for 3 days, this helps the oils infuse well into the salts.
3. To use, grab a handful of salts and place in the tub. Relax and enjoy!