Magical Aromatherapy

Visualization is a simple and natural way that most of you can perform each day. For example - Imagine waking up, looking at your alarm clock and going back to bed. That's visualization. Or imagine you suddenly find a $20 bill in your wallet. That's visualization.

Visualizing is the art of creating mental images. Mental dialogue such as "I'd like to fall in love with someone who loves me" isn't visualization. The word Visual means pictures, not words.

Peace:
When suffering from the effects of stress, are emotionally upset, see yourself (remember not to say the words describing this in your mind) slipping into a warm, soothing stream or under a gentle waterfall. The water surrounds your body, soothing your spirit and soul, easing tension, relaxing your muscles. See and feel peace flooding through your body. Then inhale the scent (essential oil) that promotes this state for you (Bergamot, Chamomile, Ginger, Lavender, Jasmine, Lemon Balm, Rose, Ylang-Ylang). Continue to visualize as the aroma works.

Money:
When financially depleted, visualize yourself cashing large checks and depositing money into your bank account or stashing it in your home safe - Remember; do not think "Wow I have lots of money now!” Essential oils to help include Basil, Ginger, Lemon Balm, Patchouli, Vetivert.

Allow The Change:
When we allow ourselves to accept these new energies, visualization will manifest the strongest changes. If you visualize and inhale but are stubbornly clinging to your old mindset and ways, you are setting yourself up for defeat.

Indulgent Bathing Using Essential Oils

Enjoy the indulgent, healing powers of essential oils in the bath.

Placing essential oils into the bath enhances to soothe, calm, relax or rejuvenate the body by allowing you to breathe the amazing aromas as well as absorbing the oils through your skin.

Since essential oils and water don't mix it is advisable to dilute the essential oils in an unscented liquid soap for a bubble bath, combine the oils in bath salts or mix with a carrier oil such as Jojoba or Sweet Almond and add as a bath oil - the results are the same no matter how many combinations you try - bathing is a luxury you shouldn't be without!

Water temperature can be used to compliment essential oils - for a refreshing bath use cool water with Rosemary or Peppermint essential oil. For a restful sleep, use warm water with Lavender essential oil. Try to avoid hot baths as the heat will make your skin perspire and therefore less likely to absorb the benefits of the essential oils. Hot water also dehydrates the skin. A warm or cool bath enables the oils to surround your body and will penetrate your skin and diffuse them into the tissues.

Breathe deeply, relax and enjoy this little bit of heaven - indulge!

Here are some essential oils to try:

Calming Bath (evenings): Lavender, Chamomile, Sweet Orange
Stimulating Bath (mornings): Lemon, Rosemary, Peppermint
Muscle Relief: Juniper, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus
Cold and Flu Symptom Relief: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint
PMS Symptom Relief: Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot

Soothing Bath Oil:
8 ounces Jojoba or Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
5 drops Geranium Essential Oil
10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Stimulating Bath Oil:
8 ounces Jojoba or Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
5 drops Juniper Essential Oil
10 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil

Flower Garden Bath Oil:
8 ounces Jojoba or Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
6 drops Rosewood or Geranium Essential Oil
4 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
Optional: Add dried flowers

Beat the Winter Blues Bath Oil:
8 ounces Jojoba or Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
5 drops Geranium Essential Oil
10 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Use the Bath Oil blends within 2 months of preparation.

Make sure to label your blends and include a card if you give them away as a gift. Bath Oils are not only beautiful to look at they may also be used for massages. They make wonderful gifts for someone whose life is very stressful and needs to unwind with a long, luxurious bath.

Enjoy!!

Using Clays for Beautiful Skin

Clays have been used for centuries as a method to help beautify the skin. They are available as a fine powder and are present in almost all traditional beauty regimens. They exfoliate, clean and invigorate the skin while improving blood circulation. Clay has the ability to absorb excess oils, dirt and harmful toxins from the skin. The addition of herbs add even greater benefit.

Cosmetic clays are made up of different mineral contents, and each clay type has a different effect on the skin. The high mineral content of clay rejuvenates the skin while the clay exfoliates and stimulates blood circulation to the skin. Regular use of clay facials will remove dead skin cells, improve circulation to the skin, remove debris from the pores and bring about a smooth healthy glow. Each clay has the ability to absorb toxins from the skin but they differ in their level of absorption.

Clays are commonly used in facials, but they can also be added to body powders and soaps. Cosmetic clays come in beautiful hues including pink, deep red, light sage green, yellow, white, gray and blue. This array of colors makes them a popular choice for use as a natural colorant in soap, lotions, creams and bath salts.

Clays that are suitable for dry, sensitive or normal skin are Pink Kaolin, White Kaolin, Yellow Kaolin, and Rose.

Clays that are suitable for oily skin are Bentonite, French Green, Green Illite, Red Kaolin, Blue Montmorillonite, Red Montmorillonite, Moroccan Red, and Multani Mitti (Indian Fullers Earth).

Clays that are suitable for all skin types are Dead Sea, Rhassoul and Sea clays.

When purchasing clays, be sure to purchase clays that are cosmetic or medicinal grade.

Technical grade clays often have dangerously high content levels of lead and should be avoided.

The following facial mask recipe is easy to make and can be customized to suit your specific skin type and personal preferences.

Choose a cosmetic clay and herbs that are suitable for your skin type. Citrus peel powders add astringency, rose petal powder adds fragrance, yellow sandalwood powder helps dry skin and neem powder helps acne. Other ingredients that can be added are milk powders, honey powder, oatmeal and sea vegetables.

Clay Facial Mask Recipe
· 2-3 oz. Cosmetic Clay
· 1-2 oz. Powdered Herbs
· Water or Hydrosol
· 1-2 drops Essential Oil added at the time of application (optional)

Mix the powdered ingredients to make 4 oz. of dry clay facial and store in a 4 oz. jar. Clay facial masks should not be stored pre-mixed with the wetting agent.

To use, add approximately 1/2 oz. of the dry clay facial herb blend to a small bowl and mix enough warm water or hydrosol to make a paste. Add a drop or 2 of essential oil if desired.

Apply to the skin in a gentle circular motion, and leave it to dry for about 15-20 minutes. Wash off with warm water. If the skin feels tight, a light oil such as camelina can be applied afterwards. Experiment with other wetting agents.

Strawberry puree will act like an alpha-hydroxy.

Cucumber puree cools the skin, yogurt cools and softens the skin, and milk removes dead skin cells and softens the skin.

Using Aromatherapy for glowing, radiant skin

Our skin endures the most damage from overexposure to the sun and the contaminants we put in our bodies like alcohol and junk foods. To keep all your organs healthy, your skin being the largest, practice well-balanced nutrition, rehydrate with eight to 10 glasses of water per day and adding omega-3 fatty acids (found in cold-water fish like salmon, herring and tuna) to your diet promotes healthy skin.

Women notice amazing benefits, not only with their skin, but the shine and strength of their hair and nails as well. Rehydration is the key. Don't overdo it with alcohol and maintain well-balanced eating habits, which includes not skipping meals, stop smoking, exercise regularly, get enough sleep and avoid exposure to extreme temperatures and air and water pollution.

Pregnancy also affects the facial and body skin. During pregnancy, your body changes under the effect of an intense production of hormones. Along with this, your skin also takes on a new appearance.

Facial skin may change during pregnancy and appear as what's sometimes called the "mask of pregnancy." This appears as small brown spots that appear on the forehead, the cheekbones, and the upper lip. They are due to a reaction of skin sensitivity to UV rays.

The mask of pregnancy does not affect all pregnant women. You can reduce your risk by protecting your face on a daily basis with a skin care product or sun care product with a high-protection filter and avoiding going outside in full sunlight. You should also wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

Men, just like women, have to take care of their skin. While some people think a touch of grey around the temples and a few laugh lines around the eyes reflect a certain debonair charm, dull, tired-looking skin have never been known to turn women's heads!

The suggested essential oils are readily available at health food stores. Essential oils are not for consumption and must always be diluted in a carrier (such as Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil, etc. also available at health food stores) before use. Add 2 to 3 drops of essential oil to approximately 1/8 cup of carrier oil. Mix gently. Keep tightly covered and use as required, preferably at bedtime. Keep out of direct light.

Acne: Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Patchouli, Rosemary, Tea Tree

Aging Skin: Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Ylang-Ylang

Dry Skin: Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Ylang-Ylang

Oily Skin: Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Lavender, Patchouli, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Ylang-Ylang

Normal/Combination Skin: Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Ylang-Ylang

If you’re unsure about using essential oils, speak with a certified Aromatherapist who can help you make the right choice.

Beauty Treatments Right in your own Kitchen

4 Masks to Make Yourself

Nature has given us great bounty. In many cases it is not necessary to purchase expensive products, often made from chemicals, from stores in order to enhance the quality of the skin. There are plenty of products right in your own kitchen that can help you enhance the quality of your skin and can even help you feel great. These products are a testament to the great qualities that are inherent in the most ordinary things that can make us beautiful, cleansing the skin and brightening the complexion.

Creating facial masks from common kitchen products has been done for years. Even the most common and ordinary products make great facial masks. While essential oils and special clays can be very effective, there is no need to use them if you do not wish to. Simply head to your kitchen cupboards and refrigerators and create any one of the following face masks, and feel the good effects almost immediately. For best results, it is recommended that you apply a facial mask once a week, rinsing your face first with warm water and then rinsing with cold (to close the pores) after you finish removing the mask.

Egg mask. It seems a little strange to create a face mask using eggs, but it is a tried and true method for toning the skin. The egg actually helps tighten the skin, giving you a firmer face that is less wrinkled and less prone to sagging. Simply beat one egg white until it is stiff. Then you just smooth it over your entire face. After 20 minutes, remove the mask. You can adjust the mask to your skin type by adding lemon juice to the egg white (just a drop) for oily skin or putting in a bit of honey for dry skin. The skin on the inside of the shell can actually work as an acne treatment. Just place the skin over the breakout and leave on for 30 minute or even overnight to help reduce the appearance of the acne.

Honey mask. This is a very easy mask. It is cleansing, and the honey acts in the same way as an antibacterial. You need warm, runny honey. You can run your honey container under warm water or soften it in the microwave to get it to the desired consistency. Be careful with the microwave, however, as you may get the honey too hot. You just want it warm and runny, not scalding. Smear the honey all over your face. Even those with sensitive skin can usually use this treatment. After about two minutes, it will start to feel as though it is pulling. This is when you rinse the mask off with warm water (follow with cold as soon as all of the honey is off of your face).

Acne mask from kitchen items. If you want to help control your acne, a simple mask made from what you keep in your kitchen can assist you in your fight against acne. For a major breakout, form a paste using one half cup strained tomato pulp and powdered milk. When there is enough to make a paste, blend until the mixture is no longer pasty, but is smooth. Then apply and leave for 20 minutes. You should wash this off with warm water. Because Vitamin C and Potassium are found in tomatoes, this will also help your skin heal from the acne.

You can create a variety of nourishing masks if instead of tomato you use carrots, bananas, or cucumbers. Simply mash whatever you are using (you will have to steam the carrots first) and substitute it for the tomato pulp.

Strawberry alpha hydroxy mask. Take four or five large strawberries and mash them up until they become a thick pulp. Then cover the face thickly with the pulp. Lie down quietly for about 20 minutes before washing with warm water followed by cold. It is important to note that this treatment is not a good idea for extra sensitive skin.

These easy to make facial masks are fun and inexpensive to create from items found in the kitchen. They are also quite effective. One more treatment that can help with rough facial skin is to use mayonnaise. This also works on your elbows. Make sure you use only a light layer, and make sure that you only leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off.

Make Your Own Facial Scrubs at home

It's fun to make your own facial scrubs at home and cost effective at the same time. Try these recipes for glowing skin.

Honey-Almond Scrub
Ingredients (Makes enough for 1 scrub)
· 8 whole unblanched almonds
· 2 Tbsp. rolled oats, uncooked
· 1 Tbsp. honey
· 2 tsp. yogurt, sour cream or lightly beaten egg white

To prepare:

Process almonds and rolled oats in a blender until finely ground. In a small bowl, mix ground almonds and oats, honey and yogurt until blended.

To use:

Pat mixture on face and neck; leave on for 5 minutes. For extra softening, leave on for 10 minutes. Wet hands and gently massage to exfoliate. Rinse off with warm water. Gently pat dry face.

Honey Cleansing Scrub
To prepare:
Mix 1 tbsp. honey with 2 tbsp. finely ground almonds and 1/2 tsp. lemon juice.

To use:
Rub gently onto face. Rinse with warm water. Gently pat dry face.

Patience

I have been told that patience is a virtue. Is it really. I wait and wait and still nothing. What is a girl to do. New website, new logo, new packaging and all I do is wait. Is patience making me calmer - no it is not. But I will be patient and will wait. I could say, visit our website, but I will not as it is not ready yet. Soon I hope.

Romantic Essences

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I thought you'd enjoy finding out what types of essential oils to try to add a little spark to your special day.

When looking forward to a romantic occasion, try the following natural essences that have romantic, sensual and aphrodisiac properties and can be used in a variety of ways to pamper and scent the body and to create a romantic atmosphere.

Rose (rosa damascena) - Gorgeous, feminine, intense sweet floral. Blends with all oils especially sandalwood, patchouli, jasmine and geranium. Aphrodisiac.

Clary Sage (salva sclarea) - Sweet, heady. Blends with sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, lavender, geranium and jasmine. Euphoric, intoxicating, relaxant.

Geranium (pelargonium graveolens) - Strong, sweet, slightly floral. Blends with jasmine, lavender, rose, clary sage, patchouli, sandalwood. Balancing and refreshing.

Sandalwood (santalum album) - Warm, woody. Blends with patchouli, ginger, clary sage, rose, geranium, lavender and jasmine. Aphrodisiac.

Jasmine (jasminum officinale) - Exotic, sweet, fruity, floral. Blends with patchouli, sandalwood, clary sage, all floral and citrus oils such as lavender, rose, geranium. Euphoric, warming, aphrodisiac.

Ginger (zingiber officinale) - Warm, spicy, sharp. Blends with sandalwood, patchouli, rose. Warming, stimulating, aphrodisiac.

Lavender (lavandula angustifolia) - Fresh, clean floral. Blends with most oils especially clary sage, sandalwood, geranium and jasmine. Harmonizing.

Patchouli (pogostemon cablin) - Strong, earthy. Blends with sandalwood, clary sage, ginger, rose, geranium, lavender and jasmine. Aphrodisiac.

You can also create an atmosphere of romance by filling your home with mood-enhancing fragrances, using blends of essential oils to freshen the air and slight scent soft furnishings.

Try beautiful fresh cut flowers such as Tuberoses that have a glorious, intoxicating perfume that hits you as soon as you walk into a room (as do Lilac, Freesia and Lilies).

Candles add wonderfully soft warmth to any room. Take an ordinary, unscented candle, light it for a couple of minutes, blow out the flame and add 2 drops of your choice of essential oil to the pool of wax around the base of the wick. Take care not to drop any essential oil on the wick. Relight the candle. The gentle heat of the flame will encourage the essential oil to evaporate and fill the room with its perfume.

Fragrances that have aphrodisiac properties inspire romance, are relaxing and ensure a restful sleep.

Try scenting your lingerie, nightclothes, bed linens with lavender or geranium.

Add 2drops of lavender or geranium to the final rinse when hand-washing lingerie.

Add 2 drops of geranium or lavender to a clean cotton handkerchief and place it in the dryer.

When storing clean lingerie in a drawer, reinforce the scent by dripping a few drops of the same essential oil onto a cotton ball, cotton handkerchief, tissue or paper drawer liner.

Use these same methods for bed linens and towels for the ultimate in romantic luxuriance, to promote relaxation and restful sleep.

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