The 2023 Summer Handbook
Hello summer. Warm weather, sunshine-filled days and vacations (or staycations) are on the agenda, and we are ready for it all - with our favorite oils and Young Living products in tow! Here are some of our best tips, tricks, recipes and DIYs for enjoying the summer months to the fullest.
Summer Skin
Two simple steps for getting that beach body:1. Have a body.
2. Go to the beach.
Of course, it wouldn't hurt if our skin was smooth & glowing too right?! A few of our favorite summer body DIYS!
Margarita Body Scrub via Hello Glow
- 1/2 cup salt (You can use regular salt, kosher salt or leftover margarita salt)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons tequila
- Juice of 1 lime
- A few drops of Lime EO
Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until you have a paste. Add more olive oil if needed. Then scrub away in the shower. One note of caution – use the scrub before you shave, not after, because it might burn. The tequila and lime juice are natural antiseptics, the salt exfoliates any dead skin, and the olive oil adds lots of moisture!
Grapefruit Body Smoothing Oil
- Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil
- Grapefruit Essential Oil
In your hands, mix together one pump of Cel-Lite Magic + one drop of Grapefruit. Massage into legs and arms in a circular motion. Continue on any areas that need a little extra smoothing & get your beauty sleep! Be sure to shower before going out in the sun!
DIY Summer Glow Serum
Ditch all the other moisturizers and serums because this one is the game changer! Apply morning and evening for healthy, glowing skin. (PS - CBD Beauty Boost has been nicknamed ‘Botox in a Bottle' so you know it's good!)
- 2 oz glass dropper bottle
- 10 dropperfuls CBD Beauty Boost
- 40 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
- Optional: 20 drops Blue Tansy Essential Oil
- Carrier of choice: argan oil (great for dry skin), jojoba oil (good for all skin types), rose hip oil (for all skin types)
DIY Vitamin C Facial Toner
Vitamin C and Geranium are a dynamic duo when it comes to brightening the skin. Try out this simple toner as we head into the summer!
- 2 oz glass dropper bottle
- 1&1/2 tsp Organic vitamin C powder
- 5 drops Geranium essential oil
- 3 Tbsp distilled water
- Splash alcohol-free witch hazel (optional for more oil-prone skin)
Mix vitamin C powder into the water until dissolved, then add Geranium and top with a splash of witch hazel (optional). Use morning and evening or as desired.
Store up to 2 weeks at room temperature or longer in the fridge.
Moisturizing Oatmeal Soak
Sun and wind and heat can leave the skin needing a little extra moisture. Give your skin (and your whole self!) some TLC with a long, luxurious soak with these simple but effective ingredients.
- 1 cup organic oats, ground
- ¼ cup organic powdered milk (or coconut milk) (or goat milk)
- 1 Tbsp liquid castile soap
- 2 tsp Vitamin E oil
- 10 drops each Frankincense, Cedarwood OR use the YL Dry Skin Serum
- (Optional) 5 drops Helichrysum
Sit and soak for 30 minutes or as long as desired.
Wellness 101
School may be out for the summer, but we aren't getting lax on our wellness routines. Summer is a great time to really focus on great daily wellness habits that we can continue when the colder months arrive! Here are five simple things we're dong everyday this summer to focus on true self-care and overall health.
Master Formula
Our favorite daily multivitamin that packs a HUGE nutritional punch and helps us work towards daily wellness. The prepackaged capsules make traveling with this supplement so easy, too. Check out the Master Formula Supplement Spotlight bog post for more on this daily favorite.
Daily Red (NingXia Red, that is!)
If there were only one habit that you can start or continue during the summer, a daily dose of NingXia Red would be it. This delicious supplement is a powerhouse of antioxidants and nutrients that we want for everyone in the family. Check out the NingXia Red Spotlight blog post for more on this incredible supplement.
Wellness Roller
This bend is something we use year round to help keep our immune systems on the go! We roll this blend over the lymph nodes, on the feet, or along the spine morning and evening year round, then us it more frequently as needed. To a 10 mL roller bottle, add:
- 25 drops each Thieves, Pine & Lemon
- 20 drops each Geranium & Frankincense
- fill with a carrier oil of choice
Note: If you plan to be in direct sunlight, apply this somewhere your clothing will cover.
Diffusing 24/7
If we are awake (and even overnight too), our diffuser is on . Diffusing is such an incredible health habit. Not only will your home or office (and car too) smell amazing, you get the health benefits of breathing in the oils.
- Start the morning off with Raven + Lemon to get everyone going and support the airways
- Set the stage for a peaceful midday rest with Lavender + Grapefruit + Vanilla.
- Bring the 'afternoon pick-me-up' vibes of a cup of coffee with Peppermint + Tangerine + Stress Away.
- End your day with Thieves + Cedarwood to boost immunity and promote restful sleep.
Ditching and Switching
One of the biggest impacts you can have on your health is by ditching conventional products that are FULL of toxins and fragrance. Sadly these ingredients are often hidden or disguised by clever marking (greenwashing anyone?) or renamed as things that sound more natural. Here are a few simple swaps to make this summer.
- Conventional household cleaner ----> Thieves Household Cleaner
- Antibacterial hand soaps ----> Lushious Lemon Foaming Hand Soap
- Beauty store face serums ----> BLOOM Brightening Cream or CBD Beauty Boost
- Kids toothpaste, shampoo, bath gel ----> KidScents Toothpaste, Shampoo, Bath Gel
Sweet Summertime DIYs
Mermaid Hair Salt Mist - For mermaid-inspired waves any day of the week! In a 4 oz. glass spray bottle, add:
- Warm water
- 1 tsp fine grain sea salt
- 1 tbsp fractionated coconut oil
- 10 drops each Lavender, Grapefruit, Rosemary
Mix water and salt gently, then add in remaining ingredients and shake to combine. Spray it in your hair after towel drying & get soft, beachy waves!!
Mermaid Hair Detangler Spray - for soft, smooth post-pool locks!
- 1 bottle Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood Hydrosol
- 1 Tbsp Copaiba Vanilla Conditioner
- 10 drops each Lavender, Rosemary, Grapefruit
Add essential oils and conditioner to the bottle of Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood Hydrosol and shake well. Use after a shower as a detangler!
DIY Nail Polish Remover - a non-tox way to have pretty nails and toenails!
- 2 oz glass dropper bottle
- 2-3 drops each Grapefruit, Orange essential oils
- 5-6 drops Lemon essential oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- White vinegar
Add essential oils to the bottle, then fill the remaining amount of the bottle with 2/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 vinegar. Gently shake gently to mix. Add solution to a cotton pad and wipe your nails clean. Voila!
Fun in the Sun
'Tis the season for hot, sunshine-filled days, and we want to soak in every second of it while staying safe and health. Here are our top three necessities for safe, healthy fun in the sun.
Hands-down, the Young Living Mineral Sunscreen is our favorite sunscreen. It checks all of our boxes - reef safe, effective, all natural, great for all skin types, non-nano zinc, won't clog pores. What else is there?
Quick Tip - Make YL's Mineral Sunscreen application easy with this hack! Makes it even easier to apply, especially with kids by adding some to your hands and apply to the face.- 10 oz continuous spray bottle
- YL Mineral Sunscreen
- 5 tbsp fractioned coconut oil or ClaraDerm Spray
- 20 drops Carrot Seed essential oil
- 30 drops Citronella essential oil (optional)
Add all items to the spray bottle and shake well.
LavaDerm After Sun Spray is your first aid kit BFF! LavaDerm brings relief from the pain and itching of minor burns, cuts, sunburns, scrapes, insect bites, or really any minor skin irritation. Whether or not your skin has seen a little too much sun or wind, this spray will help you feel soothed and refreshed. Apply after a day outdoors for a sigh of relief.
Quick Tip - If you need some relief ASAP and don't have any LavaDerm on hand, try this DIY After Sun Spray:
- 5 oz continuous spray bottle
- 25 drops each Lavender & Frankincense
- 18 drops each Tea Tree & Peppermint
- V-6 Vegetable Oil or carrier of choice
Insect RepellentNo one wants to come in from a wonderful day outdoors with tons of itchy bites from outdoor pests... and you won't have to with the Young Living Insect Repellent! This liquid formula effectively prevents mosquito, flea, and tick bits - so you can enjoy the great outdoors worry free.
This incredible formula is gentle enough for the little ones, yet effective. You can use an empty Thieves Surface Spray bottle for easy applications. It is also available as wipes, with makes application on the go super easy!
Grab the Insect Repellent bottle and make it into a spray for easy use:
- Continuous spray bottle
- Bottle of YL Insect Repellent
- 3 tbsp fractioned coconut oil or ClaraDerm Spray
- 20 drops Citronella essential oil
Add all items to the spray bottle, but add the insect repellent last (it will not all fit!)
Quick Tip - If you live in a state that has shipping exclusions for the Insect Repellant, try the wipes! Still can't order because of limitations - add a spray top directly to your bottle of Citronella. Also try this DIY Outdoor Spray. To a small continuous spray bottle, add:
- 25 drops each Citronella, Geranium, Lemongrass, & Lavender
- 20 drops Eucalyptus Radiata & Tea Tree
- V-6 Vegetable Oil or carrier of choice
Note: if you want to use a larger bottle, simply double the recipe. Also, if you feel you need a stronger formula or are expertly susceptible to outdoor pests, add more Citronella, Lemongrass and/or Geranium.
Citronella, Lemongrass and/or Geranium!
DIY Itch Stick - for those times you forget your insect repellent! In a rollerball, combine 10 drops Purification, 10 drops Lavender, and 10 drops Lemon, and top with a carrier oil. Roll on bug bites & itches.
Quick tip! - Dining outside & want to keep the bugs away? Grab an outdoor fan, put a few drops of Citronella + Geranium on a clothespin (or two!) & attach to the front of the fan & you have yourself a giant outdoor diffuser!
Photosensitive Oils
Summer and citrus oils are synonymous, and we are all about using citrus oils this time of year. As always, we want to keep everyone healthy and safe, so make sure to separate application of citrus oils and exposure to sunlight. As a general rule, avoid direct UV exposure to an area where you applied citrus oils for a minimum of 12 hours, up to 48 hours.
WHY?
Citrus Oils (and some others) contain natural molecules that react with sunlight and cause sensitivity to the skin. All of the Young Living oils and blends that contain these compounds re labeled with a warming to avoid sun/UV light for 12 to 48 hours after applying.
Does that mean you have to put your beloved Grapefruit and Bergamot away for the summer? NO WAY! Just apply to areas that won't be exposed to the sun for at least 24 hours (basically under your clothes). And you can always diffuse.
Beach Essentials
- NingXia Red packets - freeze them overnight for a slushie-like treat
- Lavender Lemonade Vitalty Drops - to keep us hydrated.
- Thieves Hand Sanitizer & Thieves Surface Spray - for clean hands, e-readers, toys, phones, etc.
- Lavender Lip Balm - great for lips, cheeks, noses and makes a great carrier stick too
- Einkorn Granola - for a tasty, healthy snack
- Seedlings Baby Wipes - for clean hands, even in the sand
Quick tip - Easily remove all the sand from everyone's feet, legs, and hands with Seedlings Baby Wipes. We keep a pack in every bag for easy sand removal and clean, fresh hands.
NingXia Red Recipes
Superfood Lemonade Popicles
These simple, delicious popsicles are a HUGE hit in our house, and my kids love to help make them. The best part is you can't mess them up. There isn't a specific amount of each ingredient needed, so just pour a little of each item into your mold and go.
- NingXia Red
- Lemonade
- NingXia Zyng
- Citrus Fresh Vitality
Step 1 - In a popsicle mold, add equal parts NingXia and Lemonade, 1 drop of Citrus Fresh and top with NingXia Zing. Do this in layers for a pretty end result.
Quick Tip - Heading out to the pool, beach or a hike? Simply freeze your NingXia packets overnight, then pack in a plastic bag and enjoy that afternoon as a cool, slushy-like treat.
Anytime NingXia Spritzers
Whether you're pool side, riding in the car or simply lounging on your couch or porch, this spritzer is the perfect companion. But be warned, your kids/friends/husband will want to setal it.
- 1 can sparking water in your favorite flavor
- 1/3-1/2 bottle of komucha
- 4 oz NingXia Red
- 1-2 drops Grapefruit Vitality or Tangerine Vitality essential oil
- 1 squirt of Grapefruit Bergamot Vitality Drops
- 1/2-1 can NingXia Zyng
Add it all together in a glass, stir, and enjoy!
Go Red Electrolyte Replacement
Ditch the artificially flavored and colored electrolyte drinks and whip up your own with this simple recipe. You can also always grab the Lavender Lemonade or Grapefruit Bergamot Vitality Drops for a quick electrolyte boost as well.
- 1 cup coconut water
- 4 oz NingXia Red
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 lime juiced
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt
- 1-2 drops Young Living Vitality of choice: Tangerine, Orange, Lime, Citrus Fresh or Grapefruit
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients in a blender with some ice for one of the most refreshing drinks EVER. You could even do this without a blender - just throw everything in a shaker cup and enjoy.
Summer Blockbuster Diffuser Blends
Summertime movies on the lawn anyone? These blends are reminiscent of warm nights in the grass watching our favorite movies with our favorite people.Sweet Magnolias - 4 drops Orange + 3 drops Vanilla + 3 drops Grapefruit + 2 drops Lime
Emily in Paris - 4 drops Jasmine + 3 drops Tangerine + 3 drops Ylang Ylang + 2 drops Lime
Yellowstone - 4 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce + 3 drops Bergamot + 3 drops Vanilla + 2 drops Clove
Yellowstone - 4 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce + 3 drops Bergamot + 3 drops Vanilla + 2 drops Clove
Grease - 4 drops Stress Away + 3 drops Neroli or Orange + 4 drops Jasmine
The Sandlot - 5 drops KidPower (or Valor + Vanilla) + 3 drops Ylang Ylang + 3 drops Lavender
Mama Mia - 4 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood (or Cedarwood) + 3 drops Lime + 3 drops Lemon + 2 drops Tangerine
Summer Abode
Give your home a summer refresh with these simple tips!Summertime Citrus Thieves Cleaner
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 1-2 capfuls Thieves Household Cleaner
- 15 drops each Orange, Bergamot, & Jade Lemon
- 10 drops Palmarosa or Ylang ylang
- Water
Add cleaner and oils to a 16 oz glass spray bottle, then fill with water. Use for all your cleaning needs!
Seaside Breeze Room Spray
- 16 oz glass spray bottle
- 15 drops each Lime, Rosemary, Lavender Bergamot
- Splash of witch hazel
- Filtered water
Add oils, water and witch hazel to your spray bottle. Spray around the room, on curtains or carpet to freshen your home & make it smell like a beach house!
Flower Saver Hack
Bringing all those lilacs & hydrangeas inside from the garden? Try this hack! Put them in a vase of water with a sprinkle of sugar, a drop of Purification, and a penny to keep them fresher longer! Purification in the diffuser is also amazing in bathrooms, laundry rooms or anywhere that might get a little hot & stuffy in the summer heat!
We hope you enjoy this Summer Handbook. May your days full of sun and fun!
As Always, I'm here to support you.
Your Oily Girlfriend
Jennifer
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