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 This salve has been huge in our family. I recently got my friend Tiffany @belvoedessentials recipe and tweaked mine to make it even more healing... I added some amazing oils like Copaiba and Yarrow/Pom. This SALVE is a must have for all the diaper bags and all the mamas. I love love love this. and love that i know what is in and all fo the ingredients are nourishing to your skin with no fillers, chemicals, synthetic fragrance, or petroleum..... This salve is amazing for chapped skin, diaper rash, dry skin, eczema, or any irritations. My little guy has always had super sensitive skin and always had bumps and going green with all of my personal care products has been essential... I took one thing at a time. So I love to my salve, body butter, use dryer balls, diluted essential oils and all the things.... reducing toxins is so essential.... So here is a fabulous recipe that I think you will really enjoy!!!!! Recipe:
1/2 Cup of Raw organic coconut oil. 1/2 Cup + 2 tablespoons of Raw Organic Shea Butter. 4 Tablespoons of Beeswax... 1 Tablespoon of Vitamin E oil. 20 Drops of Frankincense. 20 Drops of Lavender. 20 Drops of Copaiba. 10-20 Drops of Yarrow/Pom Optional... but so good. 2 Oz. metal tins. Double boiler Stir Stick or metal straws to stir. Directions: Melt all the raw ingredients together in a double boiler. Or I just put a glass pyrex dish in a pan of hot water and let boil, so the ingredients melt together. As soon as all of the beeswax is melted down, and you don't want the ingredients to boil., take off of the stove and let sit. Let it cool but before it starts to set up, add your essential oils. After you add and stir, then pour the liquid into 2 oz. metal tins. I pour mine til it reaches the ribbing... then stop.. Allow the salve to set up and harden. and then you have some awesome salve that we love to use for hydration, for chap lips, for diaper cream, for cracked heals... radiation burns...... ALL the THINGS!!! This makes a great gift. If this was helpful please leave me a comment and tell me how you used it. Loves, Holly 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 We live in such a toxic soup and are bombarded with toxins in our beauty products, in our food, in our soil, and in our cleaning products and all the things...The Environmental Working group spear headed a study to measure the toxic burden in the cord blood of 10 brand new babies.. what they found is absolutely shocking and disheartening. Read the article in full here. Chronic disease is on the rise and we are becoming increasingly unhealthy. Here is another article posted by CNN. Incorporating detox baths has been a powerful tool that I have in my mama toolkit to gently detox my kids and keep them healthy and their immune systems humming. It is so important to learn how to gently detox our bodies daily to be proactive about our health in a preventative matter before it happens, rather than after we get the diagnosis... We are so toxin ridden and yet we spend more money on healthcare than any other industrialized country... Here is a good picture... Look at where the U.S. is on the list for mortality and life expectancy compared to other countries. We are number 29 on this list... However we can reduce toxic load by educating and being proactive about our health. Detox baths are just one way that we can reduce toxins and manage stress and support healthy sleep. Epsom salts and essential oils are a very effective way to flush toxins out of your system. The sulfates in the Epsom salts are what bind to the toxins and your skin being very permeable, allows the minerals and essential oils in the bath water to absorb and something amazing happens... Reverse osmosis. This pulls sodium out of the body and also pulls the toxins with it. The organic baking soda helps to rid the body of chemicals from food, drugs and radiation exposure. Make sure that the baking soda you use is organic and aluminum free. Materials Needed: 2 Cups of Raw Epsom salts with no fillers or fragrance. ( use 1 cup for a child) 1 Cup of organic Baking Soda ( make sure aluminum Free, and use 1/2 cup for a child). Add 2 drops each of Lavender and Frankincense for a gentle detox and relaxing bath. OR Add 2-4 drops each of Rosemary and Juniper Berry to really detox. NOTE: make sure to add some sort of bath oil and or vegetable oil to your bath as a diluent for sensitive skin. I love to put a little fractionated coconut oil or DoTerra's bath oil is a great option as well. Allow your kids to soak and play in the tub for a good 30 minutes to give the Epsom salts and essential oils to really absorb into the skin and then if your a mama or an adult soak for a good 40 minutes and listen to a podcast, and pour a tall glass of water with some lemon essential oil and just relax and unwind.
I did this 3-4 times a week during my heavy metal relation the last 6 months... the magnesium in the Epsom salts was so good for my body.. Most of us are super deficient and Magnesium is necessary for everything. Check out this awesome article on the benefits of magnesium. After the bath have the diffusers going with oils to promote restful sleep.. crawl into bed, drink another class of water.. read for 15 minutes and fall into a blissful sleep. Its all about the daily rhythms of wellness. One of my favorite Diffuser Blends for a Restful Night: SLEEPY TIME 2 drops Lavender 2 drops Cedarwood 2 drops Vetiver SWEET DREAMS 2 Drops Breathe 2 Drops Serenity 1 Drop Roman Chamomile DEEP SLEEP 2 drops of Lavender 2 drops Balance 2 drops of Juniper Berry Clay Mask: One of my favorite things to do is to create a spa evening for myself weekly.. I love that I can make some amazing things with pure, natural, and effective ingredients. This Clay Mask is amazing at detoxifying and cleansing the skin of toxins, dead skin cells, unwanted debris and leaves my skin feelings smooth, supple and so clean. Ingredients: 2 tbsp of bentonite clay 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar 1 drop of Frankincense 1 drop of Lavender 1 drop of Melaleuca 1 drop of Geranium Method: Combine clay and vinegar in a bowl and stir until combined. Add the essential oils to mixture. Apply to clean skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth. Let dry for 10 minutes, or as long as you desire. Rinse with warm water and follow with your favorite moisturizer. Tips: I love to follow with DoTerra’s Verage Toner and Moisturizer and I love to nourish my skin with a mask once a week. For a thicker mask, add an additional teaspoon of clay. Also consider creating rhythms for yourself on a daily and weekly basis so that you can incorporate self care into your busy schedule... Self care is vital.... we have to fill our cup so that we have something to give others... it can be so simple, such as a detox bath and a book for 20 minutes, or a face mask and a cup of hot tea.. Love Yourself, YOur so worth it, Cheers, Holly Coconut Salt Scrub
Ingredients: 1 cup of organic virgin coconut oil 1 cup of Pink Himalayan (or Epsom) salt ¼ cup of Fractionated Coconut Oil 15 drops of your favorite essential oil Directions: Melt coconut oil in a double boiler or in a pot on the stove. Once melted, remove from heat. Add Fractionated Coconut Oil and Pink Himalayan Salt to melted coconut oil. Stir until combined. Add essential oils. Let sit until coconut oil solidifies, stirring every 10 minutes. Stir until well combined and store in airtight container. To use, rub on skin and rinse in warm water. Note: May keep in refrigerator to speed up the cooling process. * Also one may substitute the Himalayan Salt for Organic Sugar and make a Sugar scrub instead. Enjoy some amazing smooth and hydrated skin with no toxic chemicals!!! ~Holly Whipped Body Butter This is my favorite body butter recipe after many many attempts at finding the perfect one. This luscious, organic, whipped cream will leave your skin feeling supple and moisturized for days. Ingredients: ½ cup of Raw Shea Butter ½ cup of Raw Cocoa Butter ¼ cup of Organic Coconut Oil ¼ cup of Organic Almond Oil 15 Drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil 15 Drops of Wild Orange Essential Oil Double Boiler or any Pan you want to use. Hand/Stand Mixer Method:
*Citrus oils can cause photosensitivity so we don’t recommend using them if you plan on being in direct sunlight after topical application. Let me know what you think, love to hear from you! Cheers. xo Epsom Salt Bath
I have been incorporating Epsom Salt Baths, otherwise known as "detox baths", in my weekly rhythms for the past 5 years and they have definitely supported my body in managing stress, decreasing muscle and tissue soreness, gently detoxing my body, and supporting healthy magnesium levels. I try to take two to three Epsom Salt Baths a week. I consider this time, “My Mama Wind Down Time”. Method: 1 ½ cup of Raw unscented Epsom salts. 5-8 drops of Essential Oil 1-2 Tablespoons of bath oil, or vegetable oil. Pour your bath add in the Epsom salts and your bath oil to bind to the essential oils. Then add in your favorite essential oil or combination of essential oils. Then jump in with your favorite book or listen to a podcast and sip your favorite beverage and soak for a good 30 minutes. The Epsom Salts are an excellent source of Magnesium, which most of us our deficient in. You will feel amazing and sleep so soundly. I also give my kids "detox/epsom salt baths" a couple times a week. I use 1/2 a cup of epsom salts and then just add in 3-4 drops of essential oil with some bath oil. They love them they sleep so well. Here are some of my favorite combinations of essential oils for the bath: 1. Lavender & Breathe: 3 drops each 2. Frankincense & Lavender : 3 drops each 3. Aromatouch & Lime: 3 drops each 4. Rosemary & Lime: 3 drops each 5. Serenity & Aromatouch: 3 drops each For more science behind how epsom salts support the body, cleanse the body of toxins, and balance magnesium levels, check out Dr. Axe's article on epsom salt baths. Enjoy yourself some great " mama time". Holly xo |
about meMy name is Holly Boyer and I am a life long Alaskan, mama of two of the most precious babies, and wife to my soulmate. categories
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