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January 27, 2012
We at Healing Lifestyles & Spas are never without our lavender oil. For skin, hair, and overall well-being, not many essential oils can match its usefulness, versatility, and aromatherapy benefits. It also has many uses in the home. Next time you wash your sheets why not make it an organic experience by infusing your mattress, bed linens, and entire bedroom with the sweet and healing smell of lavender.
Interestingly enough, ancient Greeks and Romans used lavender as a disinfectant, antiseptic, and for washing their clothes, and in fact, centuries ago laundresses in England use to be known as “lavenders,” from the Latin meaning of lavender “to wash.” You can bring some of that ancient wisdom to your modern sleeping chamber by removing your bed linens, placing several drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle with water and spraying (or wiping) your mattress down with the mixture. When washing your bed linens, add a few drops of lavender oil to your final rinse cycle, or place a few drops of lavender oil on a cloth and throw it in the dryer with the bed linens. Before going to sleep at night re-spray the lavender spritz on your entire bed. Besides smelling divine, the relaxing and calming properties of lavender will balance your mind, body, and spirit and help you sleep.
The lavender spritz makes a great air freshener as well and is a wonderful alternative to the toxic-laden commercial air fresheners that permeate the market and our lives. I use the lavender spritz on carpets, curtains, upholstered furniture, the car’s interior, my closet, and even the litter box, to instantly perk up and revive tired and stuffy feeling spaces. The uses of the spritz, like lavender oil itself, really are endless.
Depending on your mood and the season, you can make also make a spritz with rosemary, lemon, bergamot, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, myrrh, or just about any essential oil you find pleasing. If someone in the house is coming down with a cold, try adding eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, or tea tree oil to help ease congestion and open up the nasal passages.
Now simply sit (or lay) back and get ready to breathe in the goodness!
HollyK
 Image: www.beautereport.com
January 26, 2012
Last week, we told you in a Daily Retreat & Renew Tip about using an oil moisturizer in the winter to lock in moisture, since many store bought lotion contain waxes, petroleums and synthetic fragrances that not only aren’t that great for you but also don’t actually penetrate the skin.
We told you a few, au naturel ways to try one, such as unrefined coconut oil or pure jojoba oil, which mimics the skin’s natural sebum. Contrary to popular belief, these oils won’t clog your pores.
In addition to great product choices in our Earth Day Beauty Awards, we recently found a line of body oils that fit the bill. That is, if you aren’t sure about how to make your own customized combination or want the most natural moisturizer possible. I have been concocting body oils for myself all winter from a grapeseed oil base, but have never been able to achieve a strong and pleasant fragrance.
That’s why we like the line of essential oil-based moisturizers from Wild Beauty Skincare, which contains family recipes AND has expiration dates, and we like that! With daily use the 2 oz. containers could last two to three months.
We especially like the Cham Loves Neroli oil, which is so fragrant that when applied after showering it stays on your towel for days, and on your body all day! The body oils also leave your skin softer and hydrated for longer. The Cham/Neroli contains grapeseed oil, chamomile, jojoba seed oil, chamomile oil, and neroli oil. The Stress a Wee Bit Less is also fantastically fragrant – a mix of olive oil, lavender flowers, Madagascar vanilla beans, Spanish lavender oil, and vanilla oil.
What a fantastic combination!
-Kayleigh K.
January 24, 2012
As you know, the staff at HL&S are DIY beauty and spa junkies. We experiment with new ingredients and recipes so you don’t have to, and tell you what works and what doesn’t.
I decided to try making an all-natural shampoo with a castile soap base, so I purchased a 32-ounce bottle of castile soap from Dr. Bronner’s, which is a blend of organic coconut, jojoba, olive and hemp oils. I decided to go with the baby mild, unscented, because I wanted to be able to separate the large bottle into smaller containers and add different scented essential oils if I wanted. I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into just one scent. All of the oils are great for replenishing nutrients in skin and hair, so I thought I’d give it a try.
I purchased mild, unscented castile soap to use as a base. I won’t tell you what I did because, well, my attempt failed. The castile soap did not work great with my long, color-treated hair, making it feel greasy and tangly. The castile soap weighed down. That’s not to say it wouldn’t work for someone else (someone with very short hair that is tangle-averse could be a good candidate for a castile soap based shampoo!) More on how to make a GOOD DIY shampoo in a later post.
But what is castile soap anyway? It used to mean an olive oil-based soap that originated in the Castile region of Spain. But now, it mainly means that the soap is vegetable oil-based as opposed to animal fat-based. Pure Castile, which is what Dr. Bronner’s is, also means that it does not contain detergents that could harm the environment.
And while the castile soap didn’t work as shampoo for me, I’m still glad I bought it. I found a few other great uses for it to share:
1. Add a few drops of lavender oil and chamomile tea to a half cup of the soap for a wonderful bath soak, and/or as a body wash
2. Use unscented, mild castile for dog shampoo (it’s natural but cleans the pup just as well as commercial shampoos, which contain chemicals!)
3. Add a squirt to your regular shampoo for a little more moisturizing action
4. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a small batch of castile for antibacterial and moisturizing bathroom hand soap
5. Use 1/3 cup of castile as laundry detergent with a dash of baking soda (it’s sudsy!)
-Kayleigh K.
January 20, 2012
Every so often we come across a fitness outfit that combines elements of durability, cuteness and comfy-ness. All of you fitness fanatics who are looking for your next shopping fix, look no further! We’ve put together a few of our favorite items to get you fired up for fitness in 2012.
We chose the C9 Long and Lean tank because there’s nothing we hate more at the gym than a tank that rides up while cycling or doing 100 jumping jacks in body pump! The C9 line is comfy and yet super affordable ($11.99 right now for this tank at Target), so you won’t feel bad if you to wear it out in a few weeks (good for you!) Just get another!
 C9 by Champion® Womens Long & Lean Running Tank lululemon is the pinnacle of comfy and durable yoga and fitness wear, but it can get pricey. This crop, about $87, is ‘da bomb, though, and with a little pocket on the back for a credit card or ID, it’s super convenient. You won’t get enough of these pants. And everyone loves a crop for cycling, lifting, zumba and pilates – there’s no way your pants will get in the way of your movements.
 lululemon Back on Track Crop Don't forget about your feet. We love this slip-on kigo shoe in its flit style for going to and from yoga and the supermarket, and for your strength training,or zumba classes. That's because they are amply wide, and I find sneakers are too constraining unless I am running or cycling. These make your feet feel free and comfortable. The "barefoot lifestyle" shoe in the Mary Jane style, $87, is made from post-consumer and recycled materials and certified non-toxic dyes, glues and water/stain resistance. They wear four ounces each, so you can kick lift those legs higher during workouts, sista!
 kigo flit in black -Kayleigh K.
January 18, 2012
As if I needed another reason to love coffee! But, because of my insatiable desire to use and reuse everything, I decided to experiment with using many, many ounces of used coffee grounds each week as an exfoliate. When I read that coffee tightens the skin and infuses antioxidant powers into your body, I decided to give a coffee body scrub a whirl.
Naturally, I wanted the oils and other ingredients in the scrub to complement the coffee scent and sound yummy. But they also needed to serve a moisturizing, nutritious purpose, especially since the dead sea salts are a little rough (but they are fantastic for exfoliating). I applied this scrub and rubbed in gentle circular motions before I got in the bath, where I could soak in the oils and salts a little more for some extra TLC.
Here’s what I used:
- 1 cup ground coffee (antioxidants, exfoliate)
- 1 cup dead sea salts (exfoliate, minerals)
- 1.5 tbsp almond oil (vitamins D, E, emollient)
- 1.5 tbsp macadamia nut oil (fatty acids, vitamin B, emollient)
- 1/2 tsp peppermint oil (gives it a little tingly touch
The mixture should be moist and grainy. If you want, feel free to add essential oils like tea tree oil or rosehip seed oil. It’s totally up to you!
Use twice a week or as needed for supple, smooth, java-enriched skin.
-Kayleigh K.
January 16, 2012
Roses, revered for centuries as a symbol of beauty and love, have a delightful fragrance and are extremely therapeutic. The water distilled from roses is rich in flavonoids and Vitamins A, C, D & E, and is found in several medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary concoctions. Rose water is said to help fight bladder infections, heart disease, digestive problems, eye irritations, nervous tension, and periodontal-related issues.
Rose water was highly valued in Ancient Persia, India, and Egypt, and was a favorite beauty product of Cleopatra no less. Cleo’s love of rose water as a beauty aid was more than justified. Rose water purifies, soothes, and hydrates dry and aging skin, and stimulates, nourishes, and strengthens hair follicles as well. Aromatherapy-wise, the sweet smell of rose water is emotionally and psychologically soothing.
While there are other more involved recipes out there, here’s a quick and simple recipe for making homemade rose water that works well for me:
Wash and place one cup of firmly packed fresh rose petals in a ceramic or glass bowl. Pour 2 cups of boiling distilled water (plain water can also be used) over the petals and allow petals to steep until cool. Strain the petals and pour the liquid into a clean bottle. Store in the refrigerator until needed.
You can use your homemade rose water as a toner to tighten your pores and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It can also be used as a gentle facial cleanser and it makes an excellent sunburn and aftershave treatment. Put the rose water in your bath to relieve fatigue and to smooth and firm your skin. Take the rose water in the shower with you and use it as a hair rinse, or put some in your shampoo, to promote hair growth and moisturize your strands.
For a commercially prepared rose water-infused skincare line, try Duchess Marden. Nourishing, hydrating, free of parabens, petrochemicals, and chemical preservatives, and beautifully packaged, you’ll feel more like a princess (or a queen for that matter) than a duchess after using these products. The Damascena Neck & Décolleté Serum, $59.00, in particular, containing damascena rose flower water and mushroom extract, will help smooth, tighten, and lighten those often neglected areas. I was amazed at the results after just one use and personally couldn’t keep my eyes off my décolleté area the entire next day. Cleopatra would certainly approve.
HollyK
January 13, 2012
The fifth annual Winter Feast For The Soul encourages people worldwide to engage in a period of stillness, whether it be in the form of mediation, prayer, yoga, martial arts, journaling, expressive arts, or kindness toward others, for forty minutes a day for forty days, starting January 15, 2012, and continuing to February 23, 2012. Last year over 10,000 people in over 29 different countries participated in this worldwide event. Sponsored by Winter Feast For The Soul, a nonprofit group operating under the auspices of Rising Tide International, the goal of the Feast is to use the power of daily spiritual practice to promote awareness, peace, kindness, and compassion in our everyday lives and in the world.
Why forty minutes for forty days? The 13th century mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi, who is the inspiration for the Feast, wrote:
What nine months does for the embryo
Forty early mornings
Will do for your growing awareness.
Moses, Elijah, Buddha, Jesus and Mohamed also each spent forty days in retreat or contemplation before discovering spiritual enlightenment and consequently changing the world. What better way of honoring and observing the birthday of another great spiritual leader, Martin Luther King Jr.
According to it’s website, Winter Feast For The Soul will provide guided meditations and interviews with spiritual teachers of various traditions to deepen your experience and guide you through your forty-day spiritual journey. You can divide your forty minutes a day into two twenty minute sessions or four ten minute sessions if that works best for your lifestyle and goals.
To learn more about the 2012 Winter Feast For The Soul and obtain a schedule of this year’s events when it’s posted go to http://winterfeastforthesoul.com/
HollyK
 Image: winterfeastforthesoul.com
January 11, 2012
For the most part, I was blessed with good genetics on the skincare front (thanks mom!)
But there is one thing I struggle with – dark circles under my eyes. I get plenty of sleep, and my aesthetician tells me that sometimes this is caused by thinner skin under the eyes, aging, and genetics.
Marine and plant-based products are great for this because they contain natural collagen-boosting properties. The more collagen your skin produces, the more plump, supple and full it will appear. It also helps restore elasticity and gives that thin skin an extra nutritional boost. Here are three products I’ve been using simultaneously and noticing brighter skin!
Origins Plantscription™ Anti-aging eye treatment, $42.50
Plantscription™ Anti-aging eye treatment is formulated with Anogeissus Tree Bark and Kombucha (fermented Black Tea), which offer strong collagen-boosting benefits. This potent combination of ingredients ultimately helps restore elasticity to the eyes for brighter skin. You just dab around eye area with fingertip in the AM and PM, and in between if you can.
Seaflora Potent Seaweed Serum, $56
Just look at all of the amazing ingredients this serum packs: wild organic seaweed, witch hazel, aloe vera leaf juice, rosehip seed oil, emulsifying wax, Vitamins E and C, cranberry, blueberry and and raspberry extracts. Specifically, the Certified Organic Iridaea seaweed firms, tones and boosts skin with antioxidants. The rosehip oil to reduces inflammation and irritation. The Certified Organic Ulva Lactuca seaweed refines pores. With all of those antioxidants and nutrients, there’s no way your skin couldn’t get an instant boost. I’ve been using this for about six weeks and can feel my skin drinking it up. It’s a great replenishment after cleansing at night, and we love that the product is certified organic by this British Columbia company, whose owner handpicks seaweeds from the Pacific Ocean!
Eyedews under eye gel pads, $25 for six pairs
These are one-time eye treatments (sort of like a pair of cucumber slices, but better). I used them after a night of drinking to brighten my eyes and give them a cool boost, but you could also use them before an event or in the bath (ahhhhh). Eyedews are jelly pads of natural marine collagen infused with Hyaluronic Acid, Chitosan and Vitamins C & E to combat free radical imbalance, sun damage, discoloration, and dry skin. Best used in a nice, quiet place while lying down.
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