My New Display For The Upcoming Season

I am preparing for my first ever booth at a local event.  Please join me at The Rolling Hills General Store this Saturday, March 16th, from 9-4 for their annual garage sale.  There will be 15 other venders offering a wide array of crafty and equestrian-related items.  Hope to see you there!

Recipes - Two Essential Oil Facial Serums

It has been a month since I posted about replacing your expensive skin care regimen with some simple essential oils, (EOs).  I spoke about the two least expensive and easily obtained EOs, lavender and tea tree.  If you would like to read that article before starting this one, you can view it here.  

Left - Day Serum, Right - Night Serum

Over the past month I've created two new blends which I find both effective and pleasantly aromatic.  Neither of these are as inexpensive as lavender and tea tree, however, offer a host of benefits for my particular skin type - (sun damaged and still prone to break-outs).... yes, wrinkles AND pimples at the same time.  Mother nature can be cruel at times.

Remember that I mentioned some EOs photo-sensitize your skin?  There are many that do and that is why I have created two recipes, one for day, and one for night. Luckily for me, the daytime serum has turned out lighter than the one for night.  Easy-peasy...

   Daytime

For daytime, I have come up with with a simple Frankincense and Myrrh blend.  Frankincense is used in aromatherapy for blemishes, dry and 'mature complexions', scars and wrinkles.  Yeah, I have all of those!  Frankincense is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.  

Myrrh is good for chapped and cracked skin, 'mature complexions,' and wrinkles.  It is an antiseptic and astringent, among having many other beneficial qualities.  Mixed together with a carrier oil, (I have chosen Meadowfoam), you have a facial serum of biblical proportions.  Myrrh is a non-irritant and non-sensitizing but should not be used during pregnancy.

Used in your handmade recipes, Meadowfoam Oil is known for its moisturizing and rejuvenating properties. This oil has a non-greasy feeling, blends well with other carrier oils and has binding qualities, allowing it to help your products retain scents longer.  

On left for day - Myrrh EO, Frankincense EO and Meadowfoam Oil
On right for night - Rose Absolute, Neroil EO, Bergamot EO and Rice Bran Oil

Night

For night time use, I have chosen three lovely smelling and functional EOs...  Rose Absolute, Neroli and Bergamot.

Using rose absolute for mature skin is a widely touted favorite amongst aromatherapists.  Valuable for all skin types, it's an excellent treatment for the face, hands, neck and lips.  It is moisturizing and stimulates cellular regeneration  It helps to clear blotchy skin, along with a host of other benefits relating to women's health.  Great before bed, it is sedating and an aphrodisiac.  Non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

Neroli, aka Orange Blossom, is used in aromatherapy for mature skin, as it improves elasticity.  On top of that, it is antibacterial, anti-depressive and guards from or prevents the spread or occurrence of disease or infection, (immuno-stimulant).  On top of that it aids in sleep, making it perfect before bed.  Non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.  

Great for acne-prone skin types, Bergamot clears up loads of other skin ailments such as psoriasis, eczema and cold sores.  Mixed with the other two, you've got your wrinkles and pimples covered.  And like the others, it is a mild sedative making it great for bed-time use.  Non-toxic and low-irritant factor.  Photo sensitizing.  

With the night-time blend, I have chosen Rice Bran Oil.  Cold Pressed Rice Bran Oil is rich in Vitamin E and anti-oxidants. This oil has long been used in Japan as a base for soap, skin moisturizer and protector. It is said to be an effective substitute for lanolin. Rice Bran Oil is especially used for treating dry and mature skin.

If you are unsure as to how these should be mixed, please refer to my prior blog, located here.  I recommend mixing up your serums in roller bottles like the ones pictured above.  They are extremely handy for application and airport friendly.  

Coupling this EO regimen with a nice salty soap, and this DIY goat's milk facial cleanser/scrub recipe - you should be completely good to go.  

NOT INTERESTED IN BUYING ALL THIS STUFF?  BOTH FACIAL SERUMS ARE AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE.

Before starting any regimen,  a patch test should be tried in an out-of-the-way place to test for allergies or other sensitivities.    

DIY - Goat's Milk Facial Scrub Recipe

I am a Do It Yourself kind of person.  Coupled with that, I like a good deal.  In my travels around the web, I have come across a stellar recipe to gently exfoliate your face, (arms, back etc.), with some lovely, earthy ingredients readily available at the supermarket.  Best of all, it's inexpensive and works great... even for the most sensitive skin.

DIY Goat's Milk Facial Scrub Recipe

Ingredients: 

2.5 oz. powdered goats milk
2.5 oz. colloidal oatmeal (or oat flour)
2.5 oz. baking soda
1 oz. salt (optional - but you know how much I love it)
1 small jam jar or similar

Directions:

Weigh out all of your ingredients using a scale, (or simply ratio it out into larger or smaller quantities), and combine in a  bowl. Mix well. Then spoon into air tight containers for storage.  That's it!

To use, simply remove a small amount of this all natural facial scrub from the container and mix with just enough water or honey (up to one Tablespoon) to form a paste. (For extra dry or mature skin, try mixing this scrub with rice bran oil or olive oil.) Then apply to facial skin in a circular motion for up to one minute. Alternately, you can use this scrub as a mask by applying and letting set for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with water to remove and pat dry. Store your scrub in a cool dry location.

What Conditions Are Helped By Colloidal Oatmeal?

Colloidal oatmeal works great to help relieve dry, skin patches (Eczema), psoriasis, acne, bug bites, sunburns, and other minor skin irritations. It also helps relieve chicken pox, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other itching and scratching rashes. Since colloidal oatmeal has an anti-itch property that helps reduce the “need to itch,” soaking in the bath brings soothing comfort to those infected. When your skin is itchy and irritated, its pH level may be higher. Colloidal Oatmeal helps bring the pH back to normal levels, taming "the need to itch."

And What About Goat's Milk?

Goat's milk is a natural emollient that helps soothe and moisturize the skin. It contains vitamins A, B6, B12 and E. Goat's milk has 3 times more beta-casein than cow's milk. Caseins are easily absorbed into the skin and allow for quick hydration of dry skin. The content of triglycerides, capric, caprylic and caproic acid helps balance the skin's natural pH and promotes natural exfoliation of dry skin. Goat's Milk Powder is an excellent ingredient to include in bath, soap, cream and lotion formulations.

Baking Soda?

This stuff is awesome at not just scrubbing away dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth; it’s also an excellent contender against those nasty, pesky blackheads. And because baking soda helps neutralize your skin’s pH, your skin will start to produce less oil, and eventually, with regular treatment, your blackheads will take a hike!


~Sandy