Natural Body Guru

If you use regular soap to wash your face, you probably know that this kind of soap can irritate your skin. Soap that is not designed specifically for your face can be much too tough on sensitive facial skin. For that reason, facial cleansers are a great way to remove the grime and dirt of the day without damaging or drying out your face.

When you use a moisturizing facial cleanser, remember that you should wash twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Give the facial cleanser time to work. Rub it into the skin in a circular motion, and then let it sit for about half a minute before removing.

When washing and drying your face, be careful not to pull at the skin, especially the skin around your eyes because it is sensitive and can stretch over time when repeatedly pulled. Know the benefits of your specific facial cleanser. If it contains moisturizers, you could be done after the initial face wash. If your skin feels dry, however, apply a basic face specific moisturizer.

Aromatherapy has been around since the beginning of time. It is based off of essential oils, which are volatile liquids that are distilled from plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, bushes, and seeds. Oil distillation is a delicate and precise art. It wasn’t called aromatherapy until the 1900’s.

Ancient Egyptians and Romans would give aromatherapy gifts to Cleopatra to use as perfume. The Egyptians used aromatic plant essences to treat both physical and mental health problems as well. Today we use  in the same way. We give it as gifts and also use it as a form of alternative medicine.

We’re continuing with the discussion of cedarwood essential oil and hair loss. We talked about the medications that are out there that for hair loss. They are often expensive and may or may not work. If you want to go natural, try cedarwood essential oil. You can put a drop or two into your current shampoo and conditioner or try something even more natural and use an unscented shampoo. Below are two cedarwood recipes you can try.

To relieve dandruff:

• Blend 6 drops cedarwood, 6 drops rosemary essential oil and 4 drops cypress oil with 1 ounce sweet almond oil. Massage into the scalp and leave to soak overnight. Shampoo thoroughly the next day.

To combat oily hair:

• Another useful recipe is to blend 4 teaspoons grape seed oil with 5 drops each of cedarwood oil, cyprus oil and peppermint oil. Add to 1/4  cup of fresh lemon juice. Massage into the scalp and leave for at least 2 hours before washing out.

Bonus: Cedarwood Essential Oil is very calming and relaxing making it great for stress and anxiety! It also has a sweet, light, and woodsy scent so while giving yourself a scalp massage, imagine yourself being in a spa as you rid yourself of the tension.

Shared by Amanda Robertson

Do you have baldness, thinning hair or certain types of alopecia? Many people use expensive prescription or over the counter medications to treat these problems but you may do just as well using a natural solution containing cedarwood essential oil. There are many benefits to using cedarwood besides hair loss. The most common benefits include:

• improves focus and wisdom
• promotes hair growth
• has anti-inflammatory agents
• cures toothaches
• strengthens gums
• reduces skin irritations
• relives spasms
• cures fungal infections
• repels bugs
• cures acne
• reduces cough
• stimulates metabolism
• regulates menstruation
• tightens muscles
• cleans out toxins

Cedarwood can be used to stimulate the scalp which can do so much for your hair. Your hair can weaken due to poor blood circulation in the scalp. By using a stimulant and massaging it into your scalp, you can get the blood flowing and wake up the follicles to promote hair growth. Use cedarwood to treat the following:

• Stimulate blood circulation in scalp
• Relieve fungal infections in scalp
• Promote hair growth
• Combat oily hair
• Relieve dandruff
• Make hair look and feel healthier

Shared by Amanda Robertson

Laugh lines are one thing, but wrinkles that start making you feel like your skin looks older than you feel are another thing completely! Here are some ways to take care of those lines.

1.  Sunscreen is the number one way to prevent sun damage and wrinkling.  Apply any time you’ll be spending time outdoors, whether it’s sunny or cloudy, summer or winter.

2.  Vitamin A (Retinoid) Creams.  These creams can increase sun sensitivity, making number one even more important!  Vitamin A stimulates collagen production and stops cells from breaking down further.

3.  Alpha Hydroxy Acids exfoliate and increase collagen.  Just remember to be gentle with your skin! It is also a good idea to consult a trained cosmetologist if you are not sure what concentrations to use.

4.  Antioxidants – in your food and on your skin, these are key to feeling and looking youthful!

5. Hydration – The importance of drinking enough water cannot be overemphasized. What happens when you’re dehydrated? Your skin will get dry and begin to sag; and you’ll begin to lose muscle tone. If you find yourself thirsty, then you’re already behind schedule on keeping yourself hydrated, so carry water with you and drink it often!

Lavender essential oil is one of my favorites. Here are some ways to use lavender to improve your health naturally.

1. Add 3 drops of lavender to your nightly bath water. The lavender and warm water will turn your bathroom into a spa and you will sleep like a baby.
2. Add 15 drops of lavender to a spray bottle of water containing 1 teaspoon of unscented aloe vera gel and 2 tabs of Vitamin E. Keep this spray in the refrigerator and spray on sunburned or windburned skin.
3. Add 3 to 4 drops of lavender to 1 ounce jojoba oil for a 100% organic skin moisturizer.
4. Add 5 drops of lavender and 5 drops of frankincense to an inhaler and sniff when you’re in stressful situations for a calming effect.
5. Add 20 drops of lavender to 4 ounces of bath salts to make aromatic gifts for family and friends.

We are all worried about the current coronavirus pandemic. I hope you’ve been following President Trump’s Coronavirus Guidelines and staying safe from that virus. We certainly have been doing so at my house. Unfortunately, the common cold and the flu are still around. I started sneezing yesterday. It could be allergies but it also might be a cold. I don’t have a fever so I don’t think it’s the flu.

I’m going to use my diffuser to bolster my immune system and stimulate the production of my white blood cells which will increase my body’s ability to fight off the illness. I also had a slight throat ache last night so I sucked on a zinc lozenge and that is gone today. If you would like to try my cold/flu fix, just put 6 drops of lemon essential oil into your diffuser every evening until you feel better.

Natural skin care is the care of the skin with products that contain all natural ingredients. Many people use natural skin care products. Generally, people make their own products at home. Spas and skin care salons now focus on using more naturally-derived skin care products.

There are quite a few natural skin care ingredients including, witch hazel, and shea butter. Jojoba oil helps your face with oil control and can also be used for you hair. Witch hazel can be used for the treatment of acne. Shea butter can be used to help fade scars as well as help with burns and stretch marks. Taking care of your skin is important.

Would you like a delicious substitute for plain black pepper? Would you like it to be something easily made at home?  This is a recipe for lemon pepper that will enhance any recipe that you want to give a little pizazz. I like to give a little lemon pepper spice to fish and salad recipes but it is also good on baked potato and scrambled eggs. You may come up with something else that you want to “lemon pepperize!” If you do, let me know so I can try it too.

Lemon Pepper Recipe

• Put 1 ounce of coarsely ground black pepper in a small bowl
• Add 2 drops of lemon essential oil
• Mix well
• Seal in a glass bottle for at least three days before use

You can double this recipe if you think you will be using the lemon pepper often but it is very easy to make so I think it is better to make a small amount at a time and keep it fresh. You can also make orange pepper by using orange essential oil in place of the lemon.

My great grandmother told me to eat my carrots because they would help me have great eyesight. This may be an old wives tale but it is true that the beta carotene which gives carrots their orange color has been shown in studies to help protect the eye, particularly the cornea, and to be useful in the prevention or slowing down of cataract formation and age-related macular degeneration.

Carrot oil is also an abundant source of carotenoids or antioxidants which  are important for fighting the effects of harmful oxidants, or free radicals in the body. Free radicals can attack and destroy healthy tissue, causing many health problems, one of which is cancer. Because of the antioxidants it contains, carrot oil can reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and it is often used in sun tan oils to prevent over exposure to UV radiation from the sun. Have fun playing in the sun this summer but use a natural antioxidant like carrot oil and stay safe.