Testimonials and Recipes:
RECIPES:
Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I give as gifts frequently -Sondra McBride
BATH SALTS
3 parts Epsom Salt
2 parts Baking Soda
1 part Sea Salt
Mix together and add:
Essential Oils as desired (Approx. 10 drops per 1 cup of Epsom Salt)
Coloring as desired (Powdered food grade coloring works well)
LIP BALM
1/4 cup of herb infused oil (almond, sesame, jojoba, etc.)
1/4 oz. of BeesWax
Melt the above using a double-boiler or very low heat.
When beeswax is completely melted, remove from heat and allow to cool a little.
Then add 10-20 drops of essential oil as desired and coloring if desired.
Beet powder and other herbs can be used for coloring.
(Increase the amount of beeswax to approx. oz. if you like your lip balm more solid)
BODY & DUSTING POWDER
3/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup cornstarch
25 drops of essential oil
In a blender or with a mortar and pestle, mix very well. That's it!!!
ANTI-WRINKLE CREAM
2 oz. Jojoba oil
25 drops of essential oils of your choice
The essential oils of lavender, geranium, neroli, rosemary, rose, and frankincense are historic "antiaging" ingredients for mature skin. Jasmine, myrrh, carrot seed, and helichrysum also rejuvenate the skin, encouraging new cell growth.
Since jojoba oil also contains natural wrinkle removing qualities, it is a natural for a base or carrier oil to add the essential oils into. Mixing and matching creates a natural synergy.
Example: Lavender has its own attributes as does helichrysum have its own. However, when they are mixed, instead of 1 and 1 making 2, they magnify each other to the tune of perhaps 5 or 6 or more. This oil may be used day or night or both for a truly enhancing and youthful appearance.
SALT GLOW
1/4 cup Kosher salt
1/4 cup Epsom salt
1/4 cup sea salt
2 oz. Hazelnut or Jojoba oil
Approx. 20 drops of essential oil of your choice (can use a blend of oils)
ALMOND / OATMEAL EXFOLIATING FACE SCRUB
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup ground oatmeal
20-25 drops of essential oil of your choice
Grind almonds to a fine texture in a food processor or grinder
add ground oatmeal and essential oil and mix well.
Wet face.
Add 1 tsp. of the scrub to your palm and moisten with water; apply to face.
Massage in a circular motion over face and neck.
Rinse well with cool water.
Use as a regular face wash or as needed to exfoliate.
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Some great ideas from Abundant Health
EXFOLIATING FOOT & BODY SCRUBS
Exfoliating foot and body scrubs have become very popular. And no wonder-not only do they feel good to apply, but they leave the skin feeling soft and wonderful afterwords! Try experimenting with different essential oils or blends or try combining different exfoliating materials until you find your own personal favorite.
Instructions:
Pour 1/4 cup of either coarse sea-salt, fine sea-salt, or raw sugar in a bowl (Note: while salt works very well as an exfoliating agent, it can sting if it gets into open cuts or sores, so be sure to either warn recipients to only use on unbroken skin, or use sugar as your exfoliator instead).
Add 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil and stir together. If desired, add the contents of two gel-capsules of vitamin E (optional) and stir.
Add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend and stir.
Pour the mixture into either a small wide-mouth glass jar, or in a 4 oz. plastic salve container.
To use the scrub, place a small amount in the palm and scrub over moistened skin. Rinse off in a shower or tub (Note: the oils in this scrub can make the floor of the bathtub or shower rather slippery, so use extreme caution while rinsing off so you don't fall).
Extra Ideas
Use ultramarine powders or other natural powders and oil-soluble colorants to color your scrubs.
Try using different coarsenesses of salt or sugar to create progressively smoother scrubs (ie, a coarse "buffing" scrub, followed by a fine "polishing" scrub) with different essential oils to help relax in each scrub.
Try using brown sugar, table salt, or white sugar as your exfoliating agent instead of sea salt (or try combining two or more exfoliating agents) to get a different feel for your scrub.
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GEL AIR FRESHENERS
These naturally scented gel air-fresheners are great for the home, the car, the office, or anywhere else you desire. They also make great inexpensive gifts that you can share with anyone.
Instructions
Dissolve two envelopes (2 Tbsp.) of unflavored gelatin in 1/2 cup of boiling water (this may take up to 5 minutes).
Add 1/2 cup of ice-cold water to the gelatin mixture.
Add 10-15 drops of the essential oil or blend of your choice.
Add 3-5 drops of food coloring (if desired).
Stir in 1 Tbsp. of salt, or 10-15 drops of a natural grain alcohol if desired (the salt or alcohol helps inhibit mold from growing on the gel).
Pour the gel mixture into 2 oz. salve containers, 1/3 oz. lip gloss containers, or used baby food jars.
Close the containers or jars, and allow to cool overnight (do not place in the fridge, or your food will absorb the scent.
Decorate the containers or jars as desired.
To use these gel air fresheners, open the container, place on a warm stove-top (not the burner) while cooking, or simply place the open container on the counter or a shelf inside your home, or in a cup-holder inside your car.
Extra Ideas
Try creating layered gels by filling a jar 1/2 way with one color of gel, allowing that to cool for a couple of hours, then pouring another color of gel on top of that.
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NATURAL LIP BALM
This creamy lip balm recipe is a lot of fun to make! You can make just one kind, or you can experiment and create several different flavors. Lip balm also makes a great addition to any gift basket!
Ingredients Needed:
Beeswax: This can be found at local health stores, craft stores, or candle-making supply stores. It is available either in its natural golden color, or it is also available in a bleached white color. It can be purchased either in blocks that can be grated with a cheese grater to get smaller pieces that are easier to work with, or it can also be purchased as small pellets. For this recipe you will need one tablespoon.
Cocoa butter: This can be found at many health stores, or any other store that sells soap or lotion making supplies. You will need about one-half tablespoon for this recipe.
Sweet almond oil: This can be found at many grocery stores and health stores. You will need 4 teaspoons for this recipe.
Honey (optional): This gives your lip gloss a sweeter taste and smell. You can use up to one teaspoon for this recipe.
Vitamin E (optional): This can be found either as capsules in most health and grocery stores, or it can also be found as a liquid in many drug stores. You will need either one capsule, or 3-4 drops of liquid for this recipe. Besides being an antioxidant, Vitamin E is also a natural preservative and will help your lip balm last longer.
Essential oils: These not only give your lip balm its own unique scent and flavor, they also add the benefits of the essential oil you use to your lip balm creation. Some favorite essential oils to use are peppermint (with or without honey), or one of the citrus oils (such as orange, lime, lemon, or grapefruit) along with the honey (one caution about the citrus oils-they are photosensitizing and can increase the risk of sunburned lips if this lip balm is worn while out in the sun).
Because lip balm is worn on the lips and might end up in the mouth, make sure the essential oils are Therapeutic Grade such as are produced by Young Living. You will need about 5-10 drops of essential oil for this recipe.
Instructions:
Pack grated beeswax or beeswax pellets into a Tablespoon size measuring spoon until it is packed level with the top, then dump the beeswax into a heat-proof measuring cup (such as a PyrexT brand measuring cup).
Pack cocoa butter into a one-half-tablespoon size measuring spoon until it is packed level with the top, then dump cocoa butter into the measuring cup with the beeswax.
Add 4 teaspoons of sweet almond oil to the beeswax and cocoa butter. If a sweeter lip gloss is desired, add up to 1 teaspoon of honey.
Place the measuring cup in a large frying pan that is filled with 1" of hot water.
Place the frying pan and measuring cup on the stove and turn the burner on low.
Stir the mixture in the measuring cup with a popsicle stick or bamboo skewer every couple of minutes until the wax is completely melted (about 15-20 minutes).
Turn off stove and carefully remove the measuring cup from the frying pan and place the measuring cup on a towel on a counter-top or table.
If desired, stir in the contents of 1 capsule of vitamin E (or 3-4 drops liquid vitamin E). Stir in 5-10 drops of your desired essential oil or blend.
Pour the mixture into lip balm dispensers, lip gloss containers, or any other small jar or container. This recipe will fill 4 or 5 containers. You may find it easier (and cleaner) to either use a small dropper to transfer the mixture into the small containers, or to use a small funnel to help pour the mixture into the small containers without spilling on the side.
Extra Ideas
To make this lip balm into a softer, shinier lip gloss, try adding a teaspoon more sweet almond oil, and a teaspoon less beeswax (or experiment with your own proportions to find something you like). Create fun labels for your lip balm creations using 2" x 4" labels. Set up your labels so that two labels fit side-by-side on each 2" x 4" label, then cut the label in half after printing so you have two labels that each measure 2" x 2". This size fits perfectly on our white lip balm dispensers.
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MASSAGE OILS
Massage oils make fantastic personalized gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, or any other special occasion. Give a single bottle, or create a massage gift-pack with several varieties of oils.
Instructions:
Pour one ounce of pure vegetable oil in a small cup or bowl (one ounce equals 1/8 cup, 2 tablespoons, or approximately 30 milliliters). Some oils that work well for massage are V-6 Mixing Oil (a blend of seven different vegetable oils available from Young Living Essential Oils), grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, or sesame seed oil.
Add 15-30 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend to the vegetable oil and stir together. Some oils that might work well either individually or as part of a blend are listed below.
Calming & Relaxing: Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Myrrh, or Ylang Ylang.
Invigorating or Energizing: Cypress, Fir, Juniper, Lemon, Nutmeg, Orange, Grapefruit or Peppermint.
Romantic: Rose, Jasmine, Clary Sage, Rosewood, or Ylang Ylang.
Pour the combined oils into a one-ounce amber glass bottle, a one-ounce plastic bottle, or into two half-ounce plastic dropper bottles.
Create a label or gift-tag that says what kind of massage oil it is, what the ingredients are, and how to use it (for example, your label or gift-tag might read: "Peaceful Moment Massage Oil: Contains pure grapeseed oil and natural essential oils of Lavender and Chamomile. Apply to desired area and massage oil into the skin.").
This message is courtesy of and compiled by Young Living Independent Distributor, Barbara Rozen of California. Thank you, Barbara!
Have fun making your own wonderful personal care products and gifts that your friends & family will love!