Natural Eyelash Conditioner

    Thick, long, healthy eyelashes are a beautiful thing. So ingrained in our idea of beauty, in fact, that false eyelashes have seen a boom in popularity. Not only the temporary ones that you can apply in your daily makeup routine, but also extensions that require a professional and that last for a long time. However, most eyelash glues contain super harsh chemicals, and removing these “falsies” can rip out natural lashes. All in all, I'd much rather prefer to stick to my natural eyelashes. However, a friend of mine recently had her extensions removed and was asking for advice on helping her natural lashes get back to their healthy, former glory. So I shared with her a few recipes to help hydrate her lashes, and stimulate their growth. I also figured that you guys might be interested in this as well. These recipes are great, even if you don't wear false lashes, or even wear makeup at all. You can also use them on your eyebrows to help encourage their growth.

How to Use These Serums:

     After your long day, make sure to remove all of your makeup before applying (here's my recipe for a DIY makeup remover). Simply dip a cotton swab into the serum and massage it into the root of your lashes, both the top and bottom ones (you can also rub the serum onto your eyebrows). Don't put too much on or it may drip into your eyes. Leave it on over night and remove it in the morning. You can also use a clean mascara wand to apply the serum to cover your lashes for extra conditioning on your existing lashes.

   
A Word On Ingredients:

Coconut Oil- This oil is super full of healthy, fatty acids and vitamins. These bind to the protein in the lashes to protect both the roots and strands. Coconut Oil is also antifungal and antibacterial which helps protect your eyelashes from falling prey to infections that limit hair growth.

Olive Oil- This oil contains a great amount of Vitamins E and K, both of which are necessary for healthy skin and hair. It moisturizes the hair, hair follicle, and the skin around the follicle, helping to promote healthy growth.

Castor Oil- This oil is full of healthy proteins, Vitamin E, and fatty acids. Known to be readily absorbed by hair follicles, castor oil will help hydrate and nourish your lashes. It's also helpful in relieving dry, itchy eyes due to allergies.

Almond Oil- This oil is the perfect oil to mix with some of the more strongly smelling oils (such as Neem). It’s also full of health promoting fatty acids, Vitamin E, and even calcium. It’ll moisturize and deeply hydrate your lash hair follicles and prevent against them breaking off and falling out!

Argan Oil- This oil is full of antioxidants like Vitamin E as well as fatty acids which nourish, hydrate and promote healthy lash growth. Argan oil is especially great for reversing damage done through harsh chemicals, such as lash glue and mascara.

Jojoba Oil- This is not a true oil. It's a liquid wax and it has made its way to prominence in the cosmetic industry since the 1970's. Jojoba oil helps to unclog blocked follicles and stimulate healthy hair growth. It can also clear up quite a few skin irritations that lead to hair loss.

Neem Oil- This oil may smell awful, but it's worth putting up with the smell for the results. Neem oil is one of the best oils for eyelash growth, period. It’s rich in the fatty acids that deep condition and moisturize dry, brittle lashes. Plus it has regenerative properties that support healthy hair cells and stimulate hair follicle growth and function.

Vitamin E- Many vitamins are important to the health of both skin and hair. However, one of the most effective ones is Vitamin E. This vitamin is a great antioxidant that helps promote circulation to your hair follicles. This ensures that they receive proper nutrition and allows your lashes to grow to their full potential.

Lemon Peel- Lemon peels contain quite a few vitamins, including B, C, and folic acid. It's also full of other nutrients essential for promoting natural growth of eyelashes. Lemon peels also have the ability to stimulate the cleansing properties in castor oil, helping to repair damage done to the lashes by harsh chemicals.

Lavender- This herb helps eliminate free radicals and has been proven to boost hair growth, which makes it ideal for eyelash growth too. Lavender oil also has anti-parasitic and antibacterial properties, which help to keep your lashes clean and healthy. When lavender is applied around the roots of the eyelashes it stimulates blood flow, making sure that the eyelash hair follicles receive more nutrients while improving regeneration of the skin.

Rosemary- Rosemary is one of those herbs that always comes up when natural hair care is discussed. The herb is widely known for its ability to boost healthy circulation, cellular regeneration, and hair growth. Rosemary is not only good for hair growth, but also helps reverse signs of graying. All of these properties help keep the eyelashes looking more plump and healthy.

Why I don't recommend essential oils:

     Essential oils are wonderful for so many reasons. However they are strong, so strong that I advise caution while using them. Certain essential oils can be so strong that just the scent of them can trigger seizures in certain individuals. They are also quite irritating to mucus membranes. When you are dealing with any recipe that may be used around your eyes, I would recommend you leave out the essential oil and, instead, use the herb itself. It may require more patience to get the desired result, but it is much more gentile and has less of a chance to trigger an extreme reaction. While there are quite a few recipes, floating out there on the web, that include essential oils for use in eyelash serums, I am personally not comfortable using them. One of my rules as an herbalist is that if I am uncomfortable using something for myself, I won't recommend it for someone else.

On To The Recipes!:

Simply Conditioning

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

2 teaspoons Olive Oil

1 Vitamin E Capsule

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler and add in olive oil. Break open the Vitamin E capsule and add the contents to the other oils. Mix well and remove from heat. Pour into an air-tight container. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

Deeply Conditioning

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon Castor Oil

1 teaspoon Almond Oil

1 organic Lemon Peel, abut ¼ inch long

2 Vitamin E Capsules

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with castor oil, almond oil, and lemon peel in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the peel before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

A Little More Oomph

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon Jojoba Oil

1 teaspoon Argan Oil

¼ teaspoon Rosemary Leaves (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

¼ teaspoon Lavender Flowers (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

    Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with jojoba oil, argan oil, rosemary, and lavender in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the herbs before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.

Bring On The Growth

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon Neem Oil (depending on your tolerance of the smell

2 teaspoons Almond Oil

¼ teaspoon Rosemary Leaves (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

¼ teaspoon Lavender Flowers (fresh is preferred, but dried will work)

2 Vitamin E Capsules

     Warm the coconut oil over a double boiler. Once the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and combine with neem oil, almond oil, rosemary, and lavender in an air-tight container. Close and place in a cool, dark area for 3-4 days. Break open the Vitamin E capsules and add their contents to the mixture. You do not have to remove the herbs before use. This recipe will keep for 6 months or more as long as you do not expose it to water or humidity.




I hope you enjoy these eyelash conditioners. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Happy Pits!

     One of the worst things about living is Florida is that it's hot. Not just in the summer, but all year round, it's hot. Since moving to Central Florida 11 years ago, I have used my winter coat maybe 10 times. Last year I didn't even have to put it on once. This consistently high temperature is great for growing plants, but not so good for for the whole BO (body odor) situation. While having a good diet and being in moderately good health can go a long way to eliminating the stink of BO, sometimes you need a little extra boost. Enter, deodorant.

     Deodorant is part of my morning (and sometimes afternoon) routine. I wake up, brush my teeth, do a little dry brushing, take a shower, and apply my deodorant before I really get my day started. But I cannot justify using typical deodorants. There are so many ingredients, even in some of the “natural” deodorants, that are linked to health problems. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer. Parabens have also been linked to cancer, as well as several hormone conditions. And there are many more of these nasty ingredients in most store-bought deodorants. This is why I decided to make my own.

     Making the switch to a homemade deodorant seems like an easy thing to do, but I just want to warn you that there is a detox period. Your body detoxes itself by sweating. Conventional deodorant and antiperspirant clog your pores. When you sweat, your body pushes out those toxins, but if you are using a typical deodorant, you're just putting those toxins right back. This is why pit stains occur. After you make the switch to natural deodorant, your body will push out all those toxins that have been clogging your pores, and after a few days your pits will be detoxed and much happier.

     Now, there are hundreds of recipes for homemade deodorant online now a days. They range from a liquid spray, to a cream, to powder, and all in between. This recipe is for my favorite application, deodorant bars. I tend to work in hot environments, moving around quite a bit. I wanted a deodorant that I could take with me and use when I felt I needed a touch up. So I worked on a few recipes, combining ideas and finally developed my deodorant bar. This recipe mashed together the concept of deodorant and lotion bars. You can use an old deodorant container if you want, but I like to use silicone molds for mine. It stays solid enough that I can leave a small bar in my bag during most of the Florida year (as long as I remember to not leave it in the car).

A Word on Ingredients:

Coconut Oil is super antibiotic, and when you're dealing with your pits, you want as much antibiotic action as possible. You can choose a different oil, but coconut oil is semi-solid at room temperature so if you decide to substitute, make sure you increase your beeswax to match it.

Almond Oil is full of amino acids and vitamins that your skin needs to stay healthy. It also helps the more solid oils, such as coconut oil, to penetrate deeply. You can choose a different oil here if you'd like. One of my other favorites is olive oil.

Cocoa Butter will help your deodorant to stay more creamy and less oily. It's also super packed full of nutrients that help to keep your skin happy. You can substitute Shea butter if you'd like, but cocoa butter is more dense and will help your deodorant bar stay more solid in those hot months.

Arrowroot Powder is a must for deodorants. Not only does it act as a thickener to help your deodorant bar stay solid. It also helps to draw toxins out of your body.

Beeswax helps to solidify these deodorant bars, but it also helps to provide a protective layer on your skin, without clogging your pores.

Vitamin E can be found in most oils you might use, but it's essential for healthy skin. This is why I like to add extra vitamin E to all of my skin products.

Tea Tree Oil may not be 100% necessary for a deodorant recipe, but I like to add it in to all of mine. The #1 reason? Because it is one of the most powerfully antibiotic essential oils I know of. Your pits are breeding grounds for bacteria, and bacteria is the leading cause of body odor. It just makes since to pack extra antibiotic power into your deodorant. Plus, it doesn't irritate most people's skin! If you don't like the scent, don't worry. This recipe only calls for 5 drops, you can overpower it easily by adding more of your favorite essential oils. However, I think it blends very well with lavender essential oil, which is one of my favorites.

Essential Oils are all antibiotic to a certain extent. However, the main reason for these is to make you happy. Add whatever essential oils you want, in order to make your deodorant smell pleasant. I personally like to do 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Cedarwood, and 5 drops Lemongrass. A word of caution however, make sure to test your essential oils on the inside of your wrist first. That way you don't put irritating oils on such a sensitive area.

Happy Pits Deodorant Bars

¼ cup Coconut Oil

½ cup Almond Oil

½ cup Beeswax (grated or pellets)

¼ cup Cocoa Butter

8 tsp Arrowroot Powder

Vitamin E (2 capsules or ½ tsp)

5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

15-20 drops Essential Oils of your choice

Combine first four ingredients in a glass jar and place in a pot half filled with water. Bring water to a boil and stir ingredients until melted. Remove jar from pan and slowly add arrowroot powder, stirring constantly to prevent the formation of clumps. Allow to rest until you are able to safely handle the jar (don't wait too long or the mixture will be mostly solid and hard to work with). Add remaining ingredients and stir. Pour liquid into molds (or deodorant containers), cover, and allow to cool overnight. You can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process if you want. Once completely cooled, remove from molds and wrap with wax paper. Store in a cool, dry place.

I hope you enjoy these deodorant bars. For more essential oil blend ideas, check out my previous entry, Herbal Home Fresheners for Spring. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Resources:

Homemade DIY Deodorant Recipe: Pronounce Skincare: https://pronounceskincare.com/effective-easy-homemade-deodorant/

How to Make Natural Deodorant: Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/1523/natural-deodorant/

Luxurious Lotion Bars: Fabulous Farmgirl : https://fabulousfarmgirl.com/diy/lotion-bars/

Healthy Eyes: Natural Tips for Eye Health

I have a confession to make. I wear glasses. Shocking, I know. However, the real confession is that even though I wear glasses, I don't ever really think about eye health. I mean, I know about glaucoma, cataracts, and how diabetes can be disastrous for your eyes. I just never really give a thought to general eye health. I never question just how healthy glasses/contacts really are. I never really think anything of it when my prescription glasses have to strengthen. I just go to my annual checkup, wear my glasses, and occasionally remember to turn on the blue light filters on my devices.

Recently, I came across a great article while browsing Wellness Mama's blog. It went into great detail on how she began improving the eyesight of her daughter using natural methods. I had never thought to even ask if you could use more natural methods. This sparked a frenzy of research and a decision to inform myself, and you, about natural eye health.

Nutrition

Like so many things in life, your eyesight can be greatly improved by what you eat. Your diet can also play a big part in preventing future eye conditions. One of the most notorious nutrients for eye health is vitamin A. There are actually 2 different forms that this vitamin can be found in. First there is retinol. Retinol is vitamin A that is derived from animal products. This version can be used directly by our bodies and is found abundantly in whole milk dairy, and beef or chicken liver. Provitamin A carotenoids are found in fruit and vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and cantelope). These are converted to retinol in our bodies. The most infamous one of these is Beta-Carotene. Vitamin A helps to protect the surface of our eyes, preventing infections and helping to prevent vision loss due to macular degeneration (AMD). Vitamin A also helps improve night vision. Vitamins C and E, as well as Lutein are also great for your eyes and can help prevent age related vision loss (from AMD), slow down the formation of cataracts, and help keep your eyes healthy over all.

Herbs

You should all know by now that I have a love for herbs and all the amazing things they can do for us. Like in every other situation in life, there are several herbs that you can turn to for help with your eyes. Eyebright, Euphrisia officinalis, has a reputation for being great for your eyes. A reputation that has been well, and truly, earned throughout the years. In the 14^th century, it was a cure-all for the eyes. It is used to reduce inflammation of the eye caused by irritation or infection. Other beneficial herbs for the eyes include garlic and turmeric (help prevent cataracts), bilberry and black current (help improve night vision and reduce visual fatigue), ginko (improves blood circulation to the retna), and coleus (reduces the production of fluid in the eye).

Healthy Habits

One of the most important things you can do for your eyes is to utilize proper eye protection. I'm talking sunglasses, blue light filters, etc. UV damage can severely increase the risk of developing major eye issues later in life, as well as cause a loss of vision in the shorter term. Keeping your blood pressure and blood sugar under control are also great ideas to keep your eyes healthy. Both can severely effect your vision and eye health. The absolute most important tip for eye health, however, is to visit your eye doctor regularly. Many problems with your eyes start with little to no symptoms. Your eye doctor, however, will test for these and knows what to look for to get an early diagnosis.

I hope this has encouraged you (and me) to think more about your eyes. Please seek out other tips and feel free to share. Do you have any questions or comments? Post them below!

Resources:

5 Foods for Healthy Eyes: Health: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20680738,00.html#beyond-carrots-0

9 Herbs for Healthy Eyes: Mother Earth Living: http://www.motherearthliving.com/Health-and-Wellness/ask-the-herbalist-herbs-for-healthy-eyes?pageid=1#PageContent1

How to Improve Eyesight Naturally: Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/36927/improve-eyesight/

Keeping Eyes Healthy: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Food-Nutrition-and-Wellness/Living-Healthy-in-Florida/Healthy-Learning/10-Tips-for-Living-Healthy/Keeping-Eyes-Healthy

Natural Eye Health: Mother Earth Living: http://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/natural-remedies/natural-eye-health-zmez13mjzmel

Vitamin A and Beta-Cerotine: Eye Benefits: All About Vision: http://www.allaboutvision.com/nutrition/vitamin_a.htm

Vitamins for Vision: Cooper Vision: https://coopervision.com/eye-health-and-vision/eye-vitamins-vision

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/

Aloe Based Hand Sanitizer

    Anyone that knows me knows that I am strange.  With that said, I like germs.  Not that I like being sick, or seeing other people sick, but that germs help our immune systems to develop.  Currently, in modern America, everywhere you go you see antibacterial this and antibacterial that.  I think all of these antibacterial products are contributing to the prevalence of certain diseases such as resistant strains of bacteria.  There are actually quite a few of scientific studies that back up my beliefs in this, check out this article from Scientific American for a good introduction to the concept.  There is a lot more information out there about this rising problem, I encourage you to check it out.

    That little rant being said, we need to be mindful of cleanliness as well.  It’s no secret that many diseases are spread through contact with a sick person or animal.  You can still protect yourself from these without all the added issues that come with overpopulating the world with harsh antibacterial chemicals.  Many plants are naturally antibacterial and products made with these are not as harsh on both your body and the environment.  Homemade, natural hand sanitizer is a great way to protect yourself from the spread of contagions.  I don’t necessarily think that you should carry it around and use it after washing your hands or touching everything, but I always take some with me camping or on road trips in case I end up having nature call in a less than sanitary environment (think about those yucky convenience store bathrooms you always encounter on road trips). 

A Quick Word on Ingredients

Aloe Vera gel is a great base for hand sanitizers because it is gentle on the skin and naturally both antifungal and antibacterial. 

Vitamin E Oil is a great moisturizer for your skin and acts as a preservative which can prolong the shelf life of your sanitizer.

Witch Hazel is a great astringent (meaning that it tightens the tissues) which helps it to get rid of excess oils from the skin and shrink down pores.  

Rubbing alcohol is a great disinfectant and cleaning agent.

All essential oils are also antibacterial, so to an extent you can feel free to vary the essential oils in my recipes, but tea tree and lavender essential oils are typically considered the best antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal oils.  Essential oils are really strong medicine and should be treated with respect.  Rosemary, eucalyptus, camphor and certain kinds of lavender essential oils have been known to trigger seizures in epileptic patients, please use caution when using these oils.

Moisturizing and Gentle Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients:

¼ cup 100% Aloe Vera Gel

20 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

5 drops Lemon Essential Oil

¼ teaspoon Vitamin E Oil

*optional 1 teaspoon either Witch Hazel or Rubbing Alcohol

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Pour the mixture into the bottle/container you want to use (Specialty Bottles has a great selection ).  The Vitamin E Oil will act as a preservative (as well as softening your hands) so that the gel will be good for several months.

    Like all of my recipes (both edible and non-edible), you can feel free to play around with it.  I rarely use the exact same recipe twice for my own purposes.  You can even turn this into a spray by making a strong antibacterial tea (some good herbs for this would include lemongrass and green tea) to add to this recipe.  I hope you enjoy making your own hand sanitizers and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Resources:

DIY Natural: http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-hand-sanitizer/

Everyday Roots: http://everydayroots.com/diy-hand-sanitizer

Live Strong: http://www.livestrong.com/article/191247-common-uses-for-rubbing-alcohol/

Natural Living Ideas: http://www.naturallivingideas.com/14-reasons-why-witch-hazel-should-be-in-every-home/

Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-antibacterial-products-may-do-more-harm-than-good/

Specialty Bottles: http://www.specialtybottle.com/plastic-bottles/natural-hdpe

We Love Aloe: http://www.aloeplant.info/the-antibacterial-qualities-of-aloe-vera/

Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/281/homemade-hand-sanitizer/