You want to make some beautiful Valentines Day gifts? You can make something so beautiful and this bath soak is so refreshing and relaxing and absolutely therapeutic while it supports balancing your magnesium levels. I already did a blog post on epsom salt baths, but seriously this is such an easy and effective way to love on yourself and support over all wellness. 

In this recipe I have paired this "magic mineral" with two great essential oils that are known for decreasing stress, supporting the immune system and supporting healthy and smooth skin. Frankincense & Lavender!!!

Lavender: This essential oil, is also known as the swiss army knife of oil. It is versatile and gentle, powerful and healing. It soothes the skin, and purifies the skin at the same time, promoting healing. It helps to reduce stress and lower your cortisol levels. Neurologically it calms the central nervous system and supports one who is working through trauma. Check a great study on Lavender here.  It is a must have for every home. 

Frankincense is a powerful oil that is being studied aggressively for its ability to support healthy cell function  and its ability to tell if a cell is past the point of repair and needs to move out of the body or if  it can support a cell to reabsorb oxygen and heal it self. It is also extremely calming to the central nervous system and supports one experiencing anxious feelings and stress. Not only that but its beautiful choice to incorporate into your skin care routine. It purifies the skin and also smooths the skin reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or age spots. Add to your bath salts and enjoy a therapeutic spa night. For more uses on Lavender and Frankincense, check out my blog post on the top 10 ways here. 

RECIPE: 
3 Cups Espsom Salts
​8-10 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil
​8-10 Drops of Frankincense Oil
3 tabelspoons of liquid castile soap

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS: 
Add 2 tabelspoons of dried Lavender
or 2 tabelspoons of dried roses 
or 2 tabelspoons of Calendula flowers. 

How to make:
Mix your Castile soap and essential oils in a bowel and then pour them into a bowel or glass jar with your epsom salts... mix with a metal straw or spoon and then add in your dried flowers and mix through.  Then store in an airtight container. 

To Use: 
Run your bath and add 1 1/2 cups of this mixture to your bath and soak for 30-40 minutes to absorb the magnesium, and detox your cells and destress. I love to listen to a podcast and then bring a tall glass of water with a couple drops of lemon. BOOM!!!! 

Happy Self Care Sunday!!! Love to hear from you on what your favorite self-care practices are and if you have any questions.

Loves, 
Holly Boyer

​I have been dry skin brushing for the last two years and it has been so helpful at improving my skin, and supporting my filtering organs as I detox from heavy metals, and support my body as it heals and my hormones and metabolism balance and recalibrate. I have loved incorporating my essential oils into my dry skin brushing routine. Its super easy, fast, and inexpensive... and has amazing benefits for your overall wellness. 
Dry skin brushing has been around for centuries.. The Russians and Scandinavians have used this for a long time. Here is a great article that talks about how the Naturopath, Dr. Dennis Moffat prescribes his patients to dry skin brush. Moffat states that it also aids the kidneys and liver by stimulating the skin to help rid the body of toxins. It also helps improve the function of the nervous system, increases lymphatic flow and stimulates the sweat glands.
Did you know that your skin is considered the largest organ in your body and excretes 1/3 of your bodies toxins... That being said, we must nourish and take care of this organ because of all that it does. Your skin regulates body temperature and permits the sensation of heat, cold and touch.. Keeping this organ humming is essential. 
So what is dry skin brushing?
So first you need to purchase a natural dry bristle brush with a long handle so that you can reach all the hard to reach places. I then begin dry skin brushing before I get into the shower or bath. I start from the bottoms of your feet and gently brush your skin in a circular motion upwards toward you heart. Remember to do it gently and I usually do 10 strokes per area before I move on and always moving up and towards the heart. 
Why is it beneficial?
1. It helps to exfoliate your skin, especially as you age... your body doesn't exfoliate as easily on its own after your 20's... so gently brushing.. daily and or several times a week will exfoliate and stimulate collagen production. 
​2. It helps to support your skin to eliminate toxins. Did you know that you skin filters out 1/3 of your bodies toxins. When you dry skin brush you are also are supporting your lymphatic system because your skin is stimulated to release toxins, so that your body does not have to work so hard to do that on its own... this is especially helpful for those that may have overworked kidneys and liver that needs a little support and love. 
3. It helps to manage stress... Did you know that 75-90% of all Dr. Office visits are related to stress... so being able to nurture your body and being intune with what your body needs is huge to manage your stress... Dry Skin brushing has been compared to a light massage... I love to apply the Balance blend or Grapefruit and Yarrow and then you can balance and support your cells to do what they were meant to do as well as calm your mind and detox your body, all in 5 minutes.. Here is a great article I read from Dr. Mercola. 
4. Lastly it can reduce the appearance of cellulite. It is thought that this happens when you brush there is a breakdown in the adipose tissue... and also the exfoliating reduces the appearance of cellulite and breaks it down. 
5. Lastly, when you use your essential oils you are affecting change by supporting your cells to reabsorb oxygen and then be supported to do what they were meant to do.. its a beautiful and amazing thing... I love to use Balance, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Yarrow/Pom, Lavender, Aromatouch... A couple drops on the brush and its pure bliss... IF you want to know more about them or need some, you can click here. 

Enjoy dry skin brushing and remember its all about reducing toxic load and doing what we can to support our bodies... Be empowered, be encouraged and educate yourselves,
So much love and support,
Holly