Relaxing Bath Time

     So all the Holiday hustle and bustle is FINALLY over, your relatives are working their way home and you are quite beyond exhaustion.  This is the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy a nice bath (maybe with a nice glass of wine or your favorite martini even).  Most of the bubble bath and body wash, at least the stuff that you can find in the stores, are so packed full of chemicals that it can be a bit scary.  However, you can usually make your own at home that can be even more luxurious, even if the natural products don’t get as bubbly. 

A Quick Word on Ingredients

Honey helps your skin in a number of ways.  It helps retain moisture and elasticity, speed the healing of wounds, and helps to clear up blemishes.  Honey is great for aging, itchy, dry or damaged skin and actually makes body wash smooth and creamy instead of sticky.  Using raw, unfiltered honey is best, especially local honey.    

Liquid Castile Soap is all natural and helps your body wash and bubble bath to be full of suds.  It may not be as bubbly as a commercial body wash, but you can make up for it by adding more luxurious ingredients to your bath, like rose petals or tea.  I like to use the unscented castile soap because I add my own essential oils, but if you want to leave out the essential oils, feel free to use one of the scented castile soaps. 

Coconut Oil is not in these recipe, but I wanted to mention how wonderful it can be if your skin is not sensitive to it.  Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal.  It also has a natural SPF of around 4.  This makes it great to use on a daily basis, especially in sunny places such as Florida.  Coconut oil has many antiaging benefits and does not go rancid.  It really is a great oil and I encourage people to use it, just keep in mind that if you use it too often, your skin may need a bit of a break!  If you do want to use it, replace the avocado oil in the following recipes with coconut oil and make sure to melt it before mixing to ensure that it mixes well.

Jojoba Oil is actually not an oil at all.  It’s a wax, which is what makes it stand out when talking about skin care.  It absorbs into your skin and helps to keep the moisture locked in for up to 24 hours, without leaving your skin overtly oily.  It’s also great to protect your skin from annoyances such as razor burn.  It fights fungal and bacterial infections and since it is a wax, it does not go rancid as fast as oils do. 

Avocado Oil (cold pressed is best) is great to get rid of (and prevent) acne, blackheads, and eczema issues on the skin.  This is another natural oil that is readily absorbed by the skin and does not leave it oily.  It’s is believed to penetrate further than most oils, down into the dermis layer of our skin.  This makes it a super amazing oil to help with deep seeded problems.

Vitamin E helps to reduce wrinkles and keep the skin looking healthy and youthful.  It is included in this recipe mainly as a natural preservative, however it has quite a well-earned reputation for being great for the skin.

Epsom Salt is one of the best ingredients to add to a relaxing bath soak.  They are easily dissolved in water and absorbed by your skin.  The magnesium in them helps to relieve stress and reduce the effects of adrenaline.  They also help to relieve muscle tension, pain, and inflammation.  In short, Epsom salts are GREAT for preventing and relieving leg cramps.  There are two other benefits that can be especially helpful after Christmas (or whichever Holiday you observe this time of year), Epsom salts help to lower your blood pressure and regulate your blood sugar. 

Vegetable Glycerin can increase the amount of suds your bubble bath will produce.  It’s also a great moisturizer.   

Dried Herbs are amazing additions to your bath adventures.  You can choose to use premade tea blends or add individual herbs.  There are many herbs that are great for your skin and great for relaxation.  Here is a good list of herbs to add to your bath.  I typically stick with rose, lavender, chamomile, mint (I prefer using dried mint instead of the essential oil because of how strong mint can be), or rosemary.  I like to use calendula as well, but not usually for a relaxing bath soak, I use this more for healing my skin after sunburn, abrasions, or physical trauma.

Essential Oils are great additions to just about everything.  Not only do they smell great, but they have lots of therapeutic uses.  Here is a good, basic chart for essential oils in skin care.  Feel free to use whichever oils you prefer, just keep in mind that some are super strong (peppermint), so only use half the recommended amount, some can trigger seizures in people who are epileptic (rosemary, eucalyptus, camphor, some lavenders), and some are phototoxic (mostly citrus) so don’t use these before going outside.  My personal favorites for relaxation are lavender, chamomile, and frankincense.  For a bit of energy after a long day I like peppermint (I usually use the dried herb here), lemongrass, and neroli.  I usually stick with 3 essential oils for my blends, however please feel free to experiment.  Here is a good resource for blending your own.

Soothing Honey Body Wash

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Liquid Castile Soap

¼ cup Raw Honey

2 teaspoons Jojoba Oil

1 teaspoon Avocado Oil

2 Vitamin E Capsules

40-50 drops Essential Oils

(my preference is 10 drops frankincense, 20 drops roman chamomile, 20 drops lavender)

  

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bottle (squirt tops work great for this one).  For the vitamin E, puncture the capsule and squeeze out the contents.  Shake gently before using each time, separation is natural. 

Lightly Bubbly Bath

Ingredients:

½ cup Liquid Castile Soap

¼ cup Vegetable Glycerin

2 Vitamin E Capsules

40-50 drops Essential Oils

(my preference is 10 drops frankincense, 20 drops roman chamomile, 20 drops lavender)

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bottle (pump tops work great for this one).  For the vitamin E, puncture the capsule and squeeze out the contents.  Shake well before using each time, separation is natural. 

Relaxing Bath Soak

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups Epsom Salts

¾ cup Soothing Honey Body Wash

¼ cup Jojoba Oil

¼ cup Avocado Oil

2 teaspoons Raw Honey

2-3 teaspoons Dried Herbs (ground or not, your choice)

(my preference is 1 teaspoon chamomile,1 teaspoon rose petals, ½ teaspoon lavender)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

Optional* ½ teaspoon Rose Water

Optional* 10-15 drops Essential Oils

  

Instructions:

Combine herbs and Epsom salts in a medium bowl.  Once well mixed, add in body wash and honey.  Mix well.  Once combined, slowly add in remaining ingredients.  Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.  Once done, store in an airtight jar.   

    These recipes will last for several months, however if you think it is beginning to smell funky, throw it away and make some more!  The vitamin E is a natural preservative so you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a while (if you add rose water to your bath soak, it may not last as long, but it’ll be well worth using on a regular basis).  I hope you enjoy your relaxing bath, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Resources:

DIY Natural- Homemade Bubble Bath: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-bubble-bath/

DIY Natural- Homemade Body Wash: https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-body-wash/

Don’t Mess With Mamma- Homemade Bubble Bath: http://dontmesswithmama.com/homemade-bubble-bath/

Growing Up Herbal- Blending Essential Oils for Beginners: http://www.growingupherbal.com/blending-essential-oils-for-beginners/

Hello Glow- 12 Essential Oils for Gorgeous Skin: http://helloglow.co/12-best-essential-oils-gorgeous-skin/

Natural Living Ideas- 20 uses for Epsom Salt: http://www.naturallivingideas.com/20-epsom-salt-uses/

Prevention- Healing Herbs to Use in a Bath: http://www.prevention.com/health/diabetes/healing-herbs-use-bath

Savy Naturalista- Relaxing Bubbly Bath Soak: http://www.savynaturalista.com/2014/01/31/relaxing-bubbly-bath-soak/

Using Essential Oils Safely- Phototoxic Essential Oils: http://www.usingeossafely.com/phototoxic-essential-oils-which-ones-to-avoid-when-out-in-the-sun/

Scary-Good Makeup Remover

     With Halloween comes scary costumes and makeup.  With those scary costumes and makeup comes something even more terrifying…makeup removal.  I remember some of my best Halloween costumes.  Many of these included heavy application of makeup for just the perfect result.  I also remember that sometimes I’d be removing the makeup in stages.  The first stage would be just after the night of Halloween goodness, where I would be scrubbing my face before getting in the shower.  Then my usual shower routine including more facial scrubbing.  Then I’d give up and go to bed.  The next morning I’d wake up and spend yet another hour scrubbing my face before heading off to either school or work.  Hours and hours of Halloween makeup removal.  Eeek! 

     Now many of you might have heard of the wonders of Coconut Oil for makeup removal, and once I heard about Coconut Oil I began using it.  Coconut Oil does work amazingly!  However, if your skin is super sensitive, you don’t want to use it on a regular basis.  Over time it can cause some side effects such as breakouts and dryness.  It also leaves your face a little oily after cleaning, which is good if you have dry skin, but if you have normal or oily skin like me, you want to use something that takes care of the makeup without leaving so much oil in its place. 

A Quick Word on Ingredients

Witch Hazel has been used for centuries to fight swelling, sores, and infections on the skin.  It’s one of the best astringents used to help clear up acne, and recent studies have shown it to help protect your skin from cancer!  It helps to heal abrasions on the skin and is second only to isopropyl alcohol in wound cleansing properties.  You can find witch hazel in your local pharmacy, just be sure to get a natural one that does not have alcohol in it.  If you find a witch hazel that has vitamin E or aloe in it, feel free to use that one as both of those additions are great for your skin.

Coconut Oil is not in this recipe, but I wanted to mention how wonderful it can be if your skin is not sensitive to it.  Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal.  It also has a natural SPF of around 4.  This makes it great to use on a daily basis, especially in sunny places such as Florida.  Coconut oil has many antiaging benefits and does not go rancid.  It really is a great oil and I encourage people to use it, just keep in mind that if you use it too often, your skin may need a bit of a break!

Jojoba Oil is actually not an oil at all.  It’s a wax, which is what makes it stand out when talking about skin care.  It absorbs into your skin and helps to keep the moisture locked in for up to 24 hours, without leaving your skin overtly oily.  It’s also great to protect your skin from annoyances such as razor burn.  It fights fungal and bacterial infections and since it is a wax, it does not go rancid as fast as oils do. 

Avocado Oil (cold pressed is best) is great to get rid of (and prevent) acne, blackheads, and eczema issues on the skin.  This is another natural oil that is readily absorbed by the skin and does not leave it oily.  It’s is believed to penetrate further than most oils, down into the dermis layer of our skin.  This makes it a super amazing oil to help with deep seeded problems.

Vitamin E helps to reduce wrinkles and keep the skin looking healthy and youthful.  It is included in this recipe mainly as a natural preservative, however it has quite a well-earned reputation for being great for the skin.

Calendula is a great herb/flower that has been used for hundreds of years to help with skin issues.  The uses range from first aid issues (cuts, scrapes, bruises, etc) to cosmetic issues (it’s even used to dye hair).  It’s anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, it’s full of antioxidants, brightens the skin, reduces the appearance of scars, and helps promote the regeneration of collagen which helps keep the skin youthful and minimizes wrinkles.  For this recipe, if you want to add calendula, you can either make a strong tea with this herb to use the tea in place of the purified water, or you can make calendula infused avocado oil to use.  For that, just fill a jar with calendula, leaving plenty of room at the top.  Pour avocado oil over the calendula, going about ¼ inch over the herb.  Seal the jar tightly and store it in a dark, cool place.  6 weeks later you have calendula infused avocado oil.

Scary-Good Makeup Remover

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons Witch Hazel (without alcohol)

3 tablespoons purified water (optional, strong Calendula tea)

2 tablespoons Jojoba oil

1 tablespoon Avocado oil (optional, Calendula infused avocado oil)

1 Vitamin E capsule

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a glass jar.  For the vitamin E, puncture the capsule and squeeze out the contents.  Shake well before using each time, separation is natural. 

 

Makeup Removal Pads

Take a pint-sized jar and fill it up with organic cotton pads (about 25).  Pour 1 cup of your makeup remover in (double the above recipe).  Press on the pads to help with even absorption, then close the jar and shake.  In a few moments the cotton pads will soak up all the makeup remover and you’ll have makeup removal pads. 

    This recipe will last for several months, however if you think it is beginning to smell funky, throw it away and make some more!  The witch hazel and vitamin E are both natural preservatives so you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a while.  You can also use this product daily as a cleanser and moisturizer.  I hope you enjoy making your own makeup remover and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Resources:

Annmarie: http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-showcase-jojoba-oil-the-superfood-for-skin/

Astrid Naturals: https://www.astridanaturals.com/calendula-skin-care-benefits

Dr. Axe: https://draxe.com/homemade-makeup-remover/

                 https://draxe.com/witch-hazel/

Live Simply: http://livesimply.me/2015/05/17/diy-2-ingredient-makeup-remover-without-coconut-oil/

Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/oils/coconut-oil-for-skin.html

Redefined Mom: http://redefinedmom.com/diy-homemade-makeup-remover-pads/

Superfood Profiles: http://superfoodprofiles.com/how-to-apply-avocado-oil-face-moisturizer

Sweet Pennies from Heaven: http://www.sweetpenniesfromheaven.com/diy-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/

Whole New Mom: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/best-homemade-eye-makeup-remover/