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!
Everyone loves a good guacamole, right? And with all of the health benefits of avocados, you can feel good about eating it.
Avocados have a variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals including Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. They also contains small amounts of magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorous and vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin).
Avocados contain healthy fats and are also low in carbohydrates, but contain no cholesterol or sodium so they can fit a variety of diet plans.
So grab those avocados and get munching! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 2 drops Citrus Fresh™ Vitality
- 1 drop Lime Vitality
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 1–2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- Pinch salt
- Pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the pit from the avocados and scoop the flesh into a bowl, mashing roughly with a fork.
- Add all other ingredients and stir until mixed.
- Garnish with cilantro.
- Enjoy with tortilla chips or with your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes!
I love to cook with my Young Living essential oils and this is a crowd favorite at parties. I only trust the quality and purity of Young Living essential oils for my recipes!
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings
Ingredients
- 16 ounces raw cashews
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves removed
- The peel of 1 lemon, pith removed
- 4 drops Rosemary Vitality
- 2 drops Lemon Vitality
- ¾ teaspoon coarse sea salt
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place the nuts on a baking sheet and roast for about 8–10 minutes, until warm and lightly golden.
- In the meantime, warm the olive oil, fresh rosemary, and lemon zest in a small skillet over medium heat until it begins to sizzle and smells fragrant. Add the roasted cashews and stir to coat completely.
- Remove from heat and stir in the Rosemary Vitality, Lemon Vitality, and salt. Serve warm.
