Tag: natural beauty

Wordless Wednesday: 23rd March 2016

Emma6 Comments

imageLone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,
Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing 10
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!—William Wordsworth

Linking in with Wordless Wednesday

(DIY) Yoghurt and Honey Cleanser

Emma4 Comments

I have to admit I love lotions and potions, anything to make me look younger, prettier, brighter (…you get the picture) and can’t resist buying more than I need most times. A few years ago, I started to use organic products when I could and noticed a real difference. They do, however, tend to make my bank balance groan and I have been feeling particularly broke of late. So, following on from my success at making my own bath oil, I decided to try making something else. The only criteria was that it was easy….which is how I came to start using my own yoghurt and honey cleanser.

One of the most difficult things I actually found was finding the right recipes out there – there are so many. A lot also seem quite complicated. As I was new to this I wanted simple. I also wanted to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. In the end, I decided if I couldn’t find the ingredients in my local Sainsburys or Holland & Barrett, it wasn’t for me. The Yoghurt & Honey cleanser was, therefore, a perfect starting point. This recipe is my own but a result messing around with a number I found on Pinterest.

To make your own mix:

Cleanser 2

Use a pin to burst the vitamin e capsule and squeeze into the mixture.

The lavender oil I added as I didn’t like the smell of the cleanser otherwise and is optional.

Store the mixture in an air-tight container in the fridge. I have kept mine for a week. Some sites I have seen say to make larger quantities and to keep it for longer but I wasn’t comfortable with that.

Use about a teaspoon and massage into your face. Wipe off using a muslin cloth and warm water.

Emma

p.s. I have worked out that this costs me about 50p a week or £26 a year…not bad at all!

Linking in with Trish at Love, Laughter, and Insanity for Inspiration on Monday.
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(DIY) Indulgent Bath Oil

Emma4 Comments

Recently, I got a sample set of Balm Balm bath oils for my birthday. I love bath oils (possibly because I’m lazy and it means I don’t have to remember to moisturise separately) and these were great; they smelt amazing and my skin felt really soft afterwards. My three favourites were Relax, Calm, and Indulge. Unfortunately they were tiny – there was really only enough for a couple of baths each.

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Because I’m feeling more than a bit broke at the moment thanks to having recently booked two holidays, I have been doing my best to recreate them at home. So far, I think I have “Indulge” pretty much there. Thankfully, the oils they use are listed on the web and I played with the combination until it was as good as I could get it. I didn’t have the same carrier oils but grapeseed oil works just fine.

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So, if you would like an indulgent bath tonight, you will need:

30ml of grapeseed or other light carrier oil, e.g. sweet almond
6 drops of Clary Sage
5 drops of Ylang Ylang
4 drops of Patchouli

Mix together in a glass bottle, ideally dark, or store in a cool dark place when not in use. You should get about five baths from this.

The oils themselves are all “soothing” but work in provide slightly different benefits:

Clary Sage: Soothes the nerves and aids a deep and restful sleep
Patchouli: Grounding, reviving and therapeutic (in times of shock). It is good for dry skin.
Ylang Ylang: Sensual and floral, it soothes the nerves and relieves emotional stress.

Enjoy!

p.s., although I have taken a course on aromatherapy and use essential oils regularly, I am no expert. If you haven’t used oils before or want to know more about how best to use them safely, I’ve found this site really useful: www.aromaweb.com

Linking in (belatedly) with Trish at Love, Laughter, and Insanity for Inspiration on Monday.
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