Did you know that washing your hair too often can leave hair prone to dryness and breakage? It’s easy to keep your locks looking lustrous and lifted and extend time between washes by applying a dry shampoo! Using ingredients you already have in your cupboards such as corn starch and baking soda, this DIY Dry Shampoo is free of harsh parabens, dyes, and perfumes that can damage hair and cause breakage. Cornstarch absorbs excess oil, while baking soda and Cedarwood, Rosemary, and Tea Tree essential oils make hair smell fresh and support the qualities of a healthy scalp.
You can experiment with your own blend of essential oils to find a scent that works best for you! We love Lavender, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, and Peppermint for their wonderful aromas and various skin-care benefits. If you decide to add cocoa for dark hair, try using oils that complement the scent of chocolate like Orange, Peppermint, or Cinnamon.
DIY Essential Oil-Infused Dry Shampoo
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 2 drops Rosemary essential oil
- 1 drop Tea Tree essential oil
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, for dark hair only
Directions
- Combine all ingredients.
- Put in a container of your choice, such as an empty salt shaker or baby powder bottle.
- Sprinkle on roots of hair and massage into scalp.
- Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils.
- Brush through hair.
It's that time of year! Here in Texas we are definitely coming out of the cold and the tree in my front yard is starting to bud out nicely - even after the historic ice and snow storm we endured last month.
That always puts me in the mood to clean up and clear out. And many people even take the 40 days of Lent to do a "40 days of cleanout" and get their houses back in order.
And while this all makes us feel better - using traditional, off the shelf cleaning products can actually be making you sick. A 10-country study of more than 3,500 individuals who were initially free of asthma found that nine years later, those who used spray cleaners at least once a week to clean their homes had a 30-to-50 percent increased risk of developing asthma during the study period (Zock 2007). Household cleaners can also increase your risk of cancers, hormone/reproductive toxicity and poisonings.
White vinegar makes a great natural cleaner, but let's be honest - it doesn't smell that great!
Thankfully, there's Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living. It's a powerful, super-concentrated plant-based cleaner infused with essential oils. It doesn't contain harsh chemicals and is safe to use all around the house, it's even safe for your children and pets. And if you're a mom like me who wanted to teach their kids early on to do chores - that's super important to know they can grab a bottle and there's no concern about them getting it on their skin while they clean.
Thieves Household Cleaner is so concentrated, you can use it at ratios as little as 60:1, but you may prefer a stronger mix depending on the use. It's generally safe for most surfaces, even fabrics, but always do a spot test in an inconspicuous area before using. I personally generally use 2 capfuls to 2 cups distilled water in a spray bottle for most of my household cleaning.
And it's great for DIY cleaners like a baking soda based scrub for bathtubs and other areas that need scoured:
Mix the following in a small glass container:
- ½ cup baking soda
- 5 tablespoons liquid castile soap
- ½ capful Thieves Household Cleaner
- 3 drops Lemon essential oil
- Apply the mixture with a damp cloth or brush and scrub away.
Glass Cleaner
In a spray bottle, mix the following:
- 3 cups water
- 5 drops Citrus Fresh™ essential oil blend
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
- Spray onto glass and wipe away streaks with a soft cloth.
Wood Floor Cleaner
In a bucket, mix the following:
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons grape seed oil
- 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
- 5 drops Orange essential oil
- Mop your wood floors
These are just a few of the ways to use your Thieves Household cleaner. I hope you'll give it a try - your house will have a fresh, clean smell that won't harm your lungs.
If you aren't a Young Living member yet, I'd love to help you! It's easy to set up your shopping account, then you'll be able to simply log on and order what you need and have it delivered conveniently to your doorstep! Simply email me at sarah@escentiallivingtx.com or text me at 682-400-4555 and let me know you are ready to set up your shopping account!
Health and blessings!
Sarah
Sarah
Ingredients
1 cup organic coconut oil
1 cup organic solid cocoa butter (do not use lotion)
15 drops of your favorite topical/aromatic essential oil (we love Cedarwood, Lavender, and Frankincense essential oils)
Directions
- Warm a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, then add coconut oil and cocoa butter. Melt until completely liquefied, about 4–5 minutes.
- Pour into a glass mixing bowl and place in refrigerator for 30–45 minutes to cool and just set but not harden.
- Stir in essential oils.
- Using an electric hand mixer, whip until firm peaks form, about 10 minutes.
- Gently transfer to a seal-able jar or container. Store at room temperature to avoid melting or solidifying.
- Massage into dry skin!
You've probably heard the reports on antiperspirant not being the best for your body (and if you haven't, Google it!). So a few winters ago I decided to make my own one day when I was iced in at my house. It was so easy and you can really use whichever oils you prefer. Mine changes each time! lol I do generally always have lavender and Frankincense in each batch along with the Thieves and Purification. Just play around and see what works best for you, I have seen a lot of recipes that recommend sage essential oil.
Note: some people are irritated by the baking soda. Try using less if that happens, or none.
I got the recipe off of a Young Living essential oils FB page:
1/4 cup each cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) and baking soda
6 tbs. coconut oil
10 drops each Purification and Thieves oils
6 tbs. coconut oil
10 drops each Purification and Thieves oils
I mixed the powdered ingredients together in a glass bowl, then basically "cut" the coconut oil in like you would cut shortening into a pie dough. Once it was all well mixed, I added in the oils a few drops at a time to get them all distributed. The result was a fairly stiff paste.
I had deliberately saved my empty Tom's container to reuse. I just dialed it all the way to the bottom and started stuffing balls of the mixture into the container.It looked like this when I was done:
These days I use the empty containers I order off of Amazon, or I also just keep it in a small jar and use my fingers to apply it. Pimiento or baby food jars work great!
If you've made your own - which oils do you prefer to use in yours?
And I totally get that not everyone wants to spend the time making your own deodorant. But you can still get a great non-toxic deodorant from Young Living, which is what I take with me when I travel. Click HERE to learn more about some of the personal care items available through Young Living.
Be blessed, and let me know how I can help you find better health!
Sarah :)
