Oil moisturizes my face in the morning (when needed). I also use an oil-based foundation during the day. In the evenings, I use oil to remove my makeup, wash my face, and then moisturize my face.

The idea of using oil on your skin, particularly if you have “oily skin” like me, feels counterintuitive–at least that’s what marketing would like us to believe. Trust me, I get it. So let’s talk about this.

First, cleansing the face…

Oil is a practical and natural ingredient to add to a face wash, or even use on its own to remove makeup, because oil dissolves oil (like dissolves like). Applying a natural oil to the skin aids in stripping away dirt (but not in the harmful way some synthetic ingredients strip the skin), and then replenishes the skin with important nutrients.

Next up, using oil as a face and body moisturizer…

For years, I struggled with finding a moisturizer that worked on my face. I tried countless store-bought (toxic) moisturizers, hoping their promises for clear and “perfect” skin would come through. After we made some major lifestyle changes, I finally decided try my hand at making a moisturizer.

I started with coconut oil, which appeared to be the holy grail of natural skincare according to countless online sources. Coconut oil worked well for me for a few months, but then my face had a negative reaction. I decided to ditch coconut oil and try other options. After much trial and error, I found two moisturizers my face loved: an oil and aloe combo, and a shea butter and oil combo.

The rest of my body hasn’t been so temperamental, so finding a good moisturizer was a much easier task. Over the years, I’ve rotated between using a natural store-bought lotion (EveryDay Shea is my favorite), homemade body butter, and body oil.

Through much trial and error, I’ve learned that it’s important to get to know my skin, pay attention to what works for me, and keep products as simple as possible. In fact, the simplest of formulas have provided me with the best results–both in the way my skin looks and feels and the long-term maintenance of making and using the product.

As the temperatures begin to rise, it’s sometimes nice to pull out something that’s a bit lighter than a rich body butter or creamy lotion. That, my friend, is when body oil may come in handy.

Today’s body oil recipe is made with sweet almond oil, which is moisturizing and light, and a few soothing herbal flowers: calendula, lavender, and rose. The body oil can be used just like any moisturizer–simply apply a few drops to the skin and massage it in. If you’d like to go even lighter with the overall feel of this oil, you could even mix it with a bit of aloe (just like this recipe).

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Floral-Infused Soothing Body Oil

A light, floral-infused body oil that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Body Oil

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet almond oil
• 1/4 cup dried calendula petals * or dried chamomile flowers
• 1/4 cup dried rose petals *
• 2 TB lavender flowers/buds *
• 12 drops vitamin E oil

Special Equipment:

• medium bowl
• saucepan
• cheesecloth

Instructions

• Place the herbs into a medium-sized glass bowl, and pour the sweet almond oil over the top.
• Perch the bowl on top of a saucepan filled halfway with water to make a double boiler.
• Over medium heat, allow the oil to infuse with the herbs for 1 hour. Refill the water in the saucepan as needed, and keep an eye on the oil mixture to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. You want it to heat gently, not simmer or burn your herbs.
• Once the oil has infused, carefully remove the glass bowl from the heat and allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature. It doesn’t need to be cold, but you also don’t want to burn yourself.
• Using a cheesecloth or muslin bag, strain the herbs from your oil. You may need to repeat this step 2-3 times to get all of the herbs out.
• Pour your infused body oil into a leak proof glass bottle, and add the vitamin E oil. This will last at least one year when stored away from light and heat, preferably in a dark bottle.

To Use:

• Apply a small amount of oil to the hands or directly to the body, then massage the oil into the skin.  I've enjoyed keeping this body oil in a dark amber spray bottle, and spraying it directly on my body before massaging. 

The post Floral-Infused Soothing Body Oil appeared first on Live Simply.

I replied, “I believe so. That’s a great idea. I’m not sure how much. I wonder if Mountain Rose Herbs might be a good source for information. Let me look at their website.”

That night, I searched online for more information.

The next morning, I called a local health food store in our area to inquire about the herb, “Do you sell white willow bark in the bulk herb/spice section?”  The man on the phone knew exactly what I was talking about and responded, “Yes! We have a ton. Come on down.” I immediately drove to the store after dropping the kids off at school.

Since the white willow bark, sold in the store, was only in bark form (not the powder form my reader friend wanted to use in the mask), I had to figure out how to use it. I decided to try steeping the bark to make a tea (a practice I had read about the night before).

After steeping the bark, I thought about skincare applications for the final product.

Herbal teas make great facial toners (like this chamomile toner), so a willow bark toner was the first thing that came to mind. Just like with the chamomile toner, I combined basic toner ingredients in a bottle: apple cider vinegar, the tea, and a bit of essential oil and glycerin–to help disperse the essential oil in the water-based ingredients and hydrate the skin.

I really enjoyed the toner, so after finishing off my first bottle I decided to make another bottle, and then another. And now, here we are today…

White willow bark naturally contains salicin, which is an anti-inflammatory that’s present (sometimes in a synthetic form) in some acne products (salicylic acid). The herb is also highly regarded for its pain-relieving abilities. Ever wonder about the origins of aspirin? Hello, white willow bark! The use of white willow bark has been traced back as far as 5 B.C.

In order to truly understand why this reader friend’s question intrigued me so much, let me take a minute to share my skin story…

Shortly after my daughter, Londyn, was born, my skin decided to throw a major fit. I had dealt with the occasional breakout here and there over the years (from my period or new products), but never like this.

It’s taken me years of “getting to know my body” to understand that what was happening on my face was a reflection of what was happening inside my body.

After back-to-back babies, too many sleepless months/years, too much self-inflicted stress, and putting myself last (it’s what so many of us moms do when we have very young kiddos), my hormones needed help.

After a blood test with a naturopathic doctor revealed what I already knew about my hormone imbalance, I decided to finally start taking care of myself (beyond just eating good food).

It’s taken me years of learning to care for myself–sleeping, exercising, reducing stress, eating breakfast and other nourishing meals throughout the day, including good fat in my diet, juicing, taking a couple of healing herbs, and switching over to cleaner beauty products–to finally see a breakthrough with my skin. In fact, I’m incredibly happy with my skin these days. That’s something I didn’t think I’d ever say again.

I’m still working through the healing process of what acne (and imbalanced hormones) did to my skin, and so a natural herb like white willow bark intrigues me.

For me, a huge part of healing my acne has been balancing my hormones, but another important factor has been learning to naturally care for my skin using simple ingredients. It’s amazing what a bottle of apple cider vinegar, clay, honey, aloe, shea butter, herbs, nourishing oil, and switching over to cleaner makeup products has done to help heal my skin. I’m excited to now add white willow bark to this healing journey. Thank you, sweet reader friend, for asking about it.

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White Willow and Apple Cider Acne Facial Toner

An herb-infused facial toner made with white willow bark and apple cider vinegar. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Acne Facial Toner

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 6 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 TB white willow bark (4g)*
• 1/3 cup hot water
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 4-6 drops geranium essential oil alternatives: lavender, jasmine, or tea tree
• 2 TB apple cider vinegar

Special Equipment:

• small bowl
• cheesecloth
• cotton pads

Instructions

• Combine the hot water and white willow bark in a small bowl. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes. (I've let my mixture rest overnight before, too.)  
• Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the white willow bark from the infused tea. 
• Add the glycerin and essential oil to a bottle with a lid (I use an amber glass bottle with a spray nozzle). Place the lid on the bottle and give it a good shake. Add the the apple cider vinegar and infused tea. Place the lid back on the bottle, and shake to combine the ingredients. 

To Use:

• After washing the face with a cleanser, apply a small amount of toner to a cotton pad/ball and wipe the face. I personally like to spray the toner on my face and let it rest before applying a moisturizer. Store the toner in a cool, dark place (like a medicine cabinet) in between uses. I use toner at night before bed, and simply wash my face with water in the morning (just a personal preference). 

The post White Willow and Apple Cider Acne Facial Toner appeared first on Live Simply.

Today, I’m excited to chat about one more natural and simple bodycare product: cleansing grains.

A while back, one of my favorite green beauty Instagrammers, Gurl Gone Green, shared a picture on Instagram of cleansing grains. The idea of a cleansing grain intrigued me, which then led me on an exciting journey of learning about another option for natural skin cleansing.

What are face cleansing grains?

Cleansing grains are a powdered face cleanser/wash and gentle exfoliator. The grains are typically made from a few simple ingredients, such as: herbs, oats, nuts, and clay. The ingredients of choice are blended together to create a grainy powder. This powder may be combined with milk, water, aloe, or even a liquid face wash to cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin.

Sounds a lot like a facial scrub, right?!

Well, the beauty of this scrub-like product is that it’s gentle enough to use daily, and it may even be used as a daily facial cleanser/wash after removing makeup.

As a young woman, I was taught, via commercials and beauty magazines, that I needed a soapy face wash to properly clean my face. Over the past few years, as I look for “more natural” cleaning and bodycare options, I’ve learned that a soapy face wash isn’t the only option for facial cleansing.

Yes, you can make a simple face wash with gentle and natural ingredients, but there are also other options which aren’t talked about very much in the modern-age of industrial beauty products, like: honey and aloe vera, and cleansing grains.

PS: While cleansing grains may not be talked about as much as a bottle of face wash, there are a number of expensive beauty brands that sell cleansing grains (try $44 for a .99oz bottle–yikes!). See, cleansing grains are 100% real ;).

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Homemade Lavender Cleansing Grains: Facial Cleanser, Mask, or Scrub

Cleansing grains are made with two main ingredients: clay and oats. The grains are used to both cleanse and exfoliate the face. To cleanse the face, a portion of the grains are mixed with a liquid to form a paste. If you’d like to customize the grains, add a drop of essential oil the paste before cleansing. Storage: Up to 6 months Makes: 4 ounces 

Course How To

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Lavender Cleansing Grains

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12 -16 applications

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

Lavender Cleansing Grains:

• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats Don’t use steel cut oats.
• 1 TB dried lavender
• 1 TB kaolin clay

To make a mask, cleanser, or scrub:

• 1-2 tsp full-fat unsweetened coconut milk or another gentle liquid (see “Ingredient Notes”)
• 1 drop lavender essential oil or geranium, frankincense, or tea tree essential oil, optional

Instructions

• Combine the oats, lavender, and clay in a spice/coffee grinder and blend for 45 seconds, in 15 second intervals. When you’re done, leave the lid on your spice/coffee grinder for a minute to allow the dust to settle. Empty the grains into a clean jar for long-term storage.

To use the grains as a face mask:

• Combine 1-2 teaspoons of the grains with 1-2 teaspoons of canned coconut milk, and (optional) essential oil. Apply the mask to the face, and leave it on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

To use the grains as a daily cleanser or a scrub:

• Combine 1 teaspoon of the grains with 1 teaspoon of canned coconut milk. Add (optional) the essential oil. Massage the face with upward, circular motions, then rinse the grains off with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with a toner and/or moisturizer. 

Notes

Kaolin clay is a very common clay used in cleansing grains. It’s considered a versatile cosmetic clay that is suitable for all skin types. If you don’t want to use Kaolin clay, you may also try: bentonite clay (very detoxifying–so it may be too much as a daily cleanser), French green clay, or rhassoul clay.

I keep a small mason jar of coconut milk in my fridge for culinary use–using it within a couple of weeks, although the can says about a week. I’ve been using a small amount of the coconut milk to mix with the grains. If you don’t have any coconut milk available, try water, aloe vera gel or juice, or even mix it with a gentle cleaner (like my honey and aloe cleanser). The goal is to create a soft paste that’s easy to spread on the skin.

You can definitely double or triple the amounts called for to make the cleansing grains. The grains are a shelf-stable product.

More Natural Face Cleansers

SEE ALL CLEANSERS

DIY Homemade Honey Face Wash

Best Non-Toxic Face Cleansers and Face Wash

How to Wash Your Face with Honey

Basic Natural Face Wash + Four Ways to Customize Homemade Face Wash

Homemade Honey and Aloe Facial Cleanser

DIY Homemade Reusable Facial Cleansing Wipes

The post Homemade Lavender Cleansing Grains: Facial Cleanser, Mask, or Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.

If you’ve been around here for long, then you probably know that I have this constant love/hate relationship for my home state and current residence: Florida.

I regularly tell folks in other states that Florida is an amazing vacation spot. We have gorgeous beaches and sunsets. But I’m not sure anyone was ever supposed to permanently live in Florida, which of course, in 2016, thousands of us call Florida home. To live here means…

1. You get used to seeing roaches and giant bugs, everywhere.
2. You develop a deep and almost fearful respect for thunderstorms and the lightening they can produce.
3. You completely give up on trying to do your hair, or attempt a makeup routine, between the months of May and November. #humidity
4. You know that hanging out on the beach or at a park for longer than a couple of hours during the summer months (100°+ temperatures + extreme humidity) will result in buckets of sweat, a sunburn, frizzy hair (frizzy might be an understatement), and dehydration.

Maybe Florida isn’t that extreme, and maybe I’m over-exaggerating just a bit. But one thing is true: Once you’ve lived in Florida, you certainly develop an understanding of what the words hot, humidity, thunderstorm, roach, and too much sun truly mean. Of course, living in Florida (at least on the West Coast of Florida) also has major perks, like being minutes from the water and gorgeous beaches.

The sad fact is that we don’t make it to the beach as often as we’d like, just because life is busy with school, work, and just surviving the daily tasks of parenthood ;). So when it comes time for a family vacation, there are two options that always top our list for Florida vacation spots: the beach and Disney World. One is completely relaxing and the other, well, I’ll just let you imagine what Disney World is like in the summer.

For several years now, we’ve spent a week on Anna Maria Island for our family vacation. Anna Maria is very quaint (think: not touristy) and the beaches are absolutely gorgeous (think: white sand and clear water).

As we prepared for our beach vacation last month, I purposed to be extra prepared this year with sun protection, so I packed long sleeve bathing suits for the kids, hats, a large beach umbrella, and sunscreen (I purchased BeautyCounter’s sunscreen this year). I knew, even with the extra sun protection, that our skin was sure to get lots of intense sun exposure. With this in mind, I whisked together a few soothing ingredients from my DIY cabinet to create a soothing sunburn relief spray: green tea, chamomile tea, aloe, apple cider vinegar, and lavender essential oil.

Within two days of our vacation my sunburn relief spray was already being used. Because sometimes life happens and you don’t realize that you should have applied more sunscreen 30 minutes ago, or I missed a major spot of skin when I applied the sunscreen. #Yikes!

We kept the all-natural sunburn spray in the fridge the entire week of our vacation and brought it out each night after showers. The cool mist helped soothe our sun-parched skin and, I believe, also helped keep our skin from any crazy peeling that usually results from getting too much sun. I was so happy with the spray that I posted my recipe creation over on Instagram, and now I’m sharing this simple spray here on the blog.

Let’s take a look at the soothing ingredients…

Green Tea: Green and black tea contains tannic acid that may help to soothe a sunburn and reduce redness. Green tea also contains antioxidants. I’ve also read about people using straight-up (cooled) black or green tea directly on sunburns.

Chamomile Tea: I didn’t actually use chamomile tea bags, but rather, loose chamomile flowers. You’re welcome to use either one. Thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile may help to relieve inflammation, and helps soothe the skin.

Aloe Vera: There is no end to my love for aloe vera in skincare products.  The American Academy of Dermatology recommends aloe for treating sunburns, and there’s a good reason why. Aloe is incredibly soothing and healing, so it’s ideal to use for skin that’s been exposed to a bit too much sun. Aloe vera is also moisturizing, which helps keep skin from drying out and then peeling. When purchasing aloe vera gel avoid the bright green variety with added artificial green coloring. Real aloe vera gel should be completely clear.

You could also use fresh aloe vera gel in this recipe. I prefer to use Real Aloe, which is the brand I keep on hand to make my homemade facial cleanser.

Apple Cider Vinegar: I decided to add this ingredient to my spray after reading that apple cider vinegar may help neutralize a sunburn. Since I didn’t want to bring a bottle of apple cider vinegar on vacation, I added a tablespoon of vinegar to this sunburn relief spray. I recommend skipping this ingredient if you don’t like the smell of vinegar.

Lavender Essential Oil: I added lavender essential oil to this spray to help heal our sunburns. The scent of the oil is canceled out in this spray by the overpowering scent of apple cider vinegar, so the oil is added for its soothing properties versus fragrance.

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All-Natural Soothing Sunburn Relief Spray

The cool mist helped soothe our sun-parched skin and, I believe, also helped keep our skin from any crazy peeling that usually results from getting too much sun. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Sunburn Relief Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 TB dried chamomile or 2 pure chamomile tea bags
• 1 green tea bag
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel I like Real Aloe brand. I purchase it from our local health food store.
• 1 TB apple cider vinegar
• 10 drops lavender essential oil I like Plant Therapy or Aura Cacia.

Instructions

• Add the chamomile tea bags, or loose flowers, and green tea bag to the hot water, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the tea bag(s) (and loose flowers, if using) away from the tea water. I use a cheesecloth when working with the loose flowers. If you're just using tea bags, simply remove the bags from the infused tea.
• Whisk together the tea, aloe vera gel, apple cider vinegar, and essential oil. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a spay bottle. Store the spray in the fridge for 1 week. Discard after 1 week.

Notes

To Use: Shake the bottle, then spray the mixture directly on the sunburn area(s). Massage the spray on the skin. Repeat as needed.

Ingredient Notes

If you don’t plan to use the spray within a week then I recommend either freezing the extra, or reducing this recipe in half.

If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, which this product definitely has, then I recommend skipping the apple cider vinegar. You could also replace the vinegar with alcohol-free witch hazel. The vinegar scent won’t remain on your skin.

You’re welcome to use fresh aloe vera in this recipe since it will be tossed within a week, and it’s refrigerated. I prefer to use my bottled aloe vera from Real Aloe. If you don’t have any aloe vera gel on hand, you may also be able to use 100% aloe vera juice.

Orginally, I also added 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to my spray, but since I know many readers may be using this spray on younger children, I decided to leave it out of my posted recipe just to be extra safe.

The post All-Natural Soothing Sunburn Relief Spray appeared first on Live Simply.

Let me preface today’s recipe by saying that I feel like I haven’t been doing a very good job as a blogger. Right now, I’m supposed to be posting endless recipes for hot cocoa, cranberry orange bread, and cut-out cookies; instead, we’ve spent the last two weeks sipping coffee (and homemade coffee creamer) and cleaning toilets. And today, we’re going to discuss diaper rash cream. My timing may be way off (hello, December 8th), but even toilets and diaper problems need attention in December, right?!

PS: I’m so excited to share my recipe for homemade sugar cookies later this week. Cookies and diapers….what a week!

I’ve received many requests over the last year to share a homemade diaper rash cream recipe. Despite the requests, I haven’t had the the opportunity to experiment with making a homemade diaper rash cream. Let me explain…

Piper, my five year-old, was an easy child to toilet “train.” I never “trained” him to use the potty. Shortly after his third birthday, Piper decided that diapers weren’t really the best place to, well, you know. The moment he discovered the big toilet, he never looked back.

Fast forward two and a half years. Londyn, my second born, turned three over the summer. I’ve patiently waited each day since her third birthday, hoping the “potty switch” will magically turn on in her little body. In the months since her third birthday, she’s received a lot of encouragement via stickers and organic candies, high-fives, and lots of stories and potty talk.

Those two experiences sum up my potty training experience so far in this season of parenting little ones. I’ve decided that children truly are unique (something I’ve always said, but now I’m living my words), and what works with one child is probably totally different with the next child, and that’s okay!

All of that to say, I didn’t expect to need a diaper rash cream this year, and since I didn’t think I would have a kiddo to test the cream on, I dismissed the idea of sharing a recipe on Live Simply.

Well, fellow mama, two weeks ago an unexpected need arose for diaper rash cream, which meant it was time for me to develop a written recipe. I’ve actually had the recipe ingredients floating around in my head for a while now, based on the main ingredient used to make store-bought diaper cream (zinc oxide) and the soothing skin ingredients used to make lotions and lip balms. Let’s take a look at the ingredients:

Chamomile: Yep, this is the same stuff I drink at night before reading my favorite book. Chamomile contains flavonoids which help to protect the skin. The soothing herb is sometimes used to help conditions such as: rashes and acne.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is gentle on the skin. The coconut oil in this recipe is added to provide both moisturizing qualities and anti-fungal properties. I recommend sourcing a trusted coconut oil (like Nutiva) for both cooking and skin-care.

Shea Butter: Shea butter is an amazing moisturizer thanks to its naturally-occurring fatty acids and vitamins (E, C, and A).

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide: Zinc, a mineral, adds a protective barrier to this cream (you’ll notice when you make this recipe that you’ll need to wash your pot well to remove the cream). Zinc is commonly used to treat chapped lips, minor itching, and rashes. It’s important to use non-nano zinc oxide in this recipe! Non-nano zinc oxide will not absorb into the bloodstream.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera provides soothing and moisturizing relief.

Lavender Essential Oil: This essential oil may help soothe and calm the skin. This ingredient is optional in this recipe, since chamomile is also added.

These ingredients may seem like an investment if this is your first do-it-yourself project. The good news is that the ingredients used to make this diaper rash cream can be used to make multiple other homemade products: hand sanitizer/facial cleanser (aloe vera gel), sunscreen (zinc oxide), lotion bars/lotion/lip balm/shower gel/deodorant (shea butter), a cup of tea/facial astringent or toner (chamomile), cooking/moisturizer/deodorant (coconut oil).

Now that we’ve conquered toilet issues, let’s move on to some Christmas goodies next time we meet!

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Homemade Diaper Rash Cream

Diaper rash cream that works!

Course Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Diaper Rash Cream

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 2 ounce jar

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 TB dried chamomile Found in bulk spice sections at health food stores or you can use 1-2 pure chamomile tea bags.
• 1/4 cup shea butter
• 1/4 cup zinc powder
• 1 TB aloe vera gel Look for a gel that doesn't require refrigeration
• 5 drops lavender essential oil optional

Instructions

• In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a large glass or metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water. Once melted, add the chamomile flowers. Place a lid over the top of the double boiler. Over medium heat, infuse the chamomile in the oil for 30 minutes.
• Separate the chamomile from the oil by straining the oil through a fine mesh sieve and a light-weight towel or cheesecloth (to catch any little herb pieces). Discard the chamomile (or compost in a garden). Wipe the double boiler to remove any leftover herbs. Then return the oil to the double boiler. Bring the heat back to medium-high (enough to get the water underneath boiling). Add the shea butter to the infused oil, and stir until melted.
• Once melted, remove the double boiler from the heat and stir the zinc into the oil and shea butter mixture. Once combined, stir in the aloe vera gel and lavender essential oil (if using). Pour the cream into a jar with an air-tight container. Store at room temperature, if your aloe doesn't require refrigeration.

Notes

To Use: Apply the cream, as needed, to a mild rash. Always spot test first before applying any cream (whether store-bought or homemade). Don't apply this cream to broken skin. For more information on preventing diaper rashes, check out Dr. Sears' article. This cream is not a substitute for medical advice.

 

 

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love.

Multiple Uses:

My mom recently returned from a tropical vacation. She used this diaper rash cream on her lips and found it very soothing.

More DIYs You May Like:

DIY Soothing Lotion Bars

How to Make DIY Healing Boo-Boo Cream

Homemade Vapor Rub

The post Homemade Diaper Rash Cream appeared first on Live Simply.

“This is perfect! Yes!”

That was my reaction last weekend after discovering an army of aggressive ants attacking my right leg while exiting the soccer field. Dustin and the kids turned around, everyone was ready to go home after a hot morning at soccer practice, but my reaction couldn’t be ignored. I quickly brushed off the remaining ants coming in for a full-skin invasion, and immediately looked up at Dustin, “I can’t believe it! This is perfect timing.”

“You really have to watch where you’re walking. Are you okay?” Dustin replied.

I could tell by his reaction that he thought I was upset, “Yes, I’m good. Actually, I’m semi-allergic to ants, red ones I believe. These are black ants. The good news is I can finally work on developing a homemade anti-itch cream. You know, a calamine-like lotion without a million nasty ingredients.”

Dustin looked at me with a “you’re crazy” glare in his eyes, but responded with the least likely to end up on the couch response, “Great, so you’re okay?”

PS: I don’t make him sleep on the couch. Totally joking about that one. We have a chicken coop…

Immediately upon arriving home, the work of creating an effective homemade anti-itch cream began. I tried several formulas, all while fervently itching my battle wounds (it’s a good things I keep DIY recipes simple). I began mixing bentonite clay (to draw out any nasties from the bites and heal my skin), baking soda (to neutralize acid and soothe itching), witch hazel (to reduce pain and itching), and coconut oil (hey, I was making some raw brownies, so…).

My first two creations were anything but desirable. The coconut melted on my warm skin, and soon bentonite clay was being tracked throughout our house. Good thing we’re in the middle of a giant construction zone/kitchen remodel.  The second creation wasn’t much better. Reducing the coconut oil created an unpleasant dry powder.

The third attempt resulted in sweet success. The addition of shea butter, one of my favorite DIY ingredients, helped the anti-itch solution stick to my warm skin and, working with the other key ingredients, reduced my painful itching.  Not only did the third cream-based solution reduce my itching, it also appeared to help clear my bites and reduce their size. My discovery was so exciting, I made multiple batches to share with family and friends–“Oh, okay. Thank you for another mason jar.” They’ll get me someday.

Homemade anti-itch cream takes just a few minutes to make and only requires simple, natural ingredients you can actually pronounce. Because each ingredient is shelf-stable, the cream can be made in advance, so it’s ready to be used the moment a bug or plant attacks.

Before we part ways today, I think it’s only appropriate to give credit where credit and inspiration are due. Thank you flesh-eating ant colony, I owe this DIY to you!

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Homemade Anti-Itch Cream

Homemade anti-itch cream takes just a few minutes to make and only requires simple, natural ingredients you can actually pronounce. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Anti-Itch Cream

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 1 -4 ounce jar

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 3 TB shea butter
• 1 TB coconut oil A different nourishing skin oil (olive oil, jojoba, etc.) may be used, if needed.
• 1 TB dried calendula Calendula is often sold in the bulk spice section at many health food stores.
• 1 TB beeswax pellets
• 2 TB baking soda
• 2 TB bentonite clay
• 2 tsp witch hazel
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions

• In a double broiler (or a pot filled a quarter of the way full with water and a heat-safe bowl over the top), melt the coconut oil. Add the dried calendula. Place a lid over the top of the double broiler. Over medium heat, infuse the herbs in the oil for 30 minutes.
• Separate the herbs from the oil by straining the oil through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the calendula (or compost in a garden). Wipe the double broiler to remove any leftover herbs. Return the infused oil to the double broiler. Bring the heat back to medium-high (enough to get the water underneath boiling). Add the shea butter and beeswax to the infused oil, and stir until melted.
• Remove the pan bowl from the heat. Add the baking soda and benonite clay to the liquid, and stir until the mixture resemble mud (really, mud!). Add the witch hazel and essential oils, stirring to combine.
• Pour the cream into a jar (this recipe will make enough to fill a 4-ounce jar). Within minutes the cream will solidify into a spreadable lotion.

*Dried calendula is optional in this recipe. Calendula is infused into the oil for a healing addition; however, a perfectly good anti-itch cream may be created without this herb.

PS: If you’re wondering what’s up with the yellow dye on my left hand, I juiced turmeric the morning of this photoshoot.

The post Homemade Anti-Itch Cream appeared first on Live Simply.

Can you really take something that’s already amazing (near perfection) and make it even better?

Hint hint: The answer is “yes!” as evidenced in today’s post.

Around this time last year, I made the brave decision to stop the buying expensive green bottles of astringent I used to help clean and freshen my skin (at least that’s what the astringent claimed to accomplish).  The $45 bottle of lab-formulated, skin-perfecting facial toner didn’t seem to help my skin at all.  It only took a good 12 months (that’s nearly $540–yikes!!) of monthly visits to the mall to realize I may want to rethink the toner game.

It was at this time (and with a lot of research on natural skin solutions) that I discovered an amazing remedy already available in my pantry: apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar, in its raw form, is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic solution, which in non-fancy terms simply means this simple ingredient can help fight bacteria, germs, and even mold! And it only costs $4 for a large bottle!

Since smelling like a freshly tossed salad wasn’t an option, I decided to create a simple homemade astringent using water and raw apple cider vinegar, along with a favorite skin-friendly essential oil. Within a few weeks, the benefits of daily homemade astringent application were quite evident. My skin felt clean and looked radiant. And the best part? My troublesome break-outs started to disappear. Plus, I was actually saving money!

Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs for creating skin-calming recipes. That’s right! The chamomile tea bags purchased at the store are good for so much more than just a good night’s sleep.

Chamomile contains flavonoids which help to protect the skin from free radicals and damage from the sun or other environmental influences. The soothing herb may be used to help heal frustrating skin conditions, such as: rashes and acne, making it the perfect ingredient for sprucing up my already beloved astringent recipe.

DIY Calming Chamomile Facial Astringent sounds complicated, but it’s really a simple creation made with only two main ingredients: chamomile tea and apple cider vinegar. The only hard work involved in making this low-cost, highly-effective recipe is steeping and filtering the tea. If you can make tea, you can make this skin-calming homemade facial astringent. Trust me, your skin will be ever so grateful!

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DIY Calming Chamomile Facial Astringent

Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs for creating skin-calming recipes. That’s right! The chamomile tea bags purchased at the store are good for so much more than just a good night’s sleep.

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Facial Astringent

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water Distilled water is best for do-it-yourself projects.
• 1 1/2 TB dried chamomile or pure chamomile tea bag
• 1 TB apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin optional
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil optional, or essential oil of choice
• 3 drops carrot seed essential oil optional, or essential oil of choice

Instructions

• Warm the water. Remove the water from heat source. Add the chamomile flowers (or tea bag) directly to the warm water. Let the tea steep for 5-10 minutes until it's a rich gold color.
• Using a fine mesh sieve (I use this one), strain the chamomile flowers from the liquid tea. Discard or compost.
• In a glass bottle with a lid, combine the glycerin (if using--it helps to disperse the essential oils in the water and hydrate the skin) and essential oils(if using). Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Add the apple cider vinegar and chamomile tea. Shake the bottle again. 

To Use:

• I recommend storing this toner/astringent in the fridge and using it quickly. After washing the face with a cleanser, apply a small amount of toner to a cotton pad/ball and wipe the face. I also like to follow-up with a moisturizer. Store the toner in a cool, dark place (like a medicine cabinet) in between uses. I use toner at night before bed, and simply wash my face with water in the morning. 

Notes

 

The essential oils in this recipe help reduce the vinegar scent and may improve the skin:

Frankincense: This oil may help to lessen the appearance of scars, and improve the overall condition of the skin. I also love the scent of frankincense, so it’s a nice cover for the vinegar.

Carrot Seed: This oil is high in antioxidants and helps to encourage the growth of new skin cells. I also use carrot seed oil in my homemade lotion recipe, so if you plan to follow this astringent recipe with my lotion please feel free to skip this ingredient.

Toner vs. Astringent: Technically (AKA: chemically) speaking this recipe is a toner due to the addition of a gentle herb; however, I personally believe this recipe is a great mix between a toner and an astringent: cleansing pores and balancing pH.

The post DIY Calming Chamomile Facial Astringent appeared first on Live Simply.

This may sound silly coming from a girl that’s been living in what’s considered spring weather, for 90% of you, for over 6 months now (Florida… what can I say?), but I’m going to say it…

The warmer months have finally arrived. Woohoo!

Even this Florida gal is feeling the change in the seasons. In Florida this means tourists are visiting the beaches, my garden is starting to flourish, and the kids are requesting to spend hours outside each day.

No matter where you live, or what the entrance of spring may look like, I think most of us are finally feeling the need to break out the shorts and flip-flops and bask in the sun. And that’s exactly why I’m here today, to help you enjoy the sun during these warmer months.

This sudden urge to break-free from our houses and spend hours upon hours outside is not always welcomed by our skin, at least not mine.

My fair skin doesn’t enjoy the same enthusiasm for long hours in the sun as much as I’d like, so precautions must be taken. This usually means a good sun hat, a nice layer of protective clothing, some homemade sunscreen, and plenty of H20. I’m quite the bathing beauty at the beach. “Um lady, it’s summer time, not winter!” My children have also inherited my shade-lovin’ skin, so they get to enjoy the same extra precautionary measures.

Despite even the best precautionary measures, there are times when our skin gets a bit too much sun and some TLC is needed. My go-to natural remedy is usually aloe vera since its cooling properties soothe and comfort. This year I decided to think ahead and plan for the warmer months of beaches and parks and create a soothing lotion that won’t leave my skin all slimy (yea, I’m talking about you Mrs. Aloe Vera), but will still provide a soothing relief for those times when the skin needs some TLC.

Let me introduce you to my new little spring/summer friends: DIY Soothing Lotion Bars. Say “hi” little guys.

DIY Soothing Lotion Bars are super easy to make, requiring just a few natural ingredients which you probably already own if you’re into making homemade products. Each ingredient is specifically blended together to provide the skin with ultimate soothing comfort. Even if your skin never gets to the point of needing TLC because you tan rather than fry, these bars can be used anytime you’d like. They don’t need to be reserved just for those times of TLC skincare. These bars are easy to carry in a purse and make lovely “I hope you have a soothing summer” gifts.

Let’s take a look at a just three of the many soothing ingredients in these lotion bars:

• Calendula: This well-respected healing herb works to reduce the damage from extra sun exposure and soothe irritated skin with its anti-inflammatory properties. I also use this herb to make homemade boo-boo cream.
• Chamomile: Yep, this is the same stuff I drink at night before reading my favorite book. Chamomile contains flavonoids which help to protect the skin from free radicals and damage from the sun. The soothing herb is sometimes used to help conditions such as: rashes and acne.
• Lavender Essential Oil: This healing essential oil helps soothe the skin and speed up the healing process with its anti-inflammatory properties.

To get you started with this simple spring/summer project, I’ve teamed up with Plant Therapy to show you exactly how to make your own DIY Soothing Lotion Bars.

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DIY Soothing Lotion Bars

DIY Soothing Lotion Bars are super easy to make, requiring just a few natural ingredients which you probably already own if you’re into making homemade products.

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Lotion Bars

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 10 Bars

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut oil regular ol' virgin coconut oil used for cooking
• 2 TB Plant Therapy's Jojoba Oil
• 1 TB dried calendula
• 1 TB dried chamomile or 1-2 pure chamomile tea bags
• 1/4 cup shea butter
• 1/2 cup beeswax pellets
• 25 drops Plant Therapy's Lavender Essential Oil
• 1 silicone mold or silicone muffin cups

Instructions

• In a double boiler (or a pot filled a quarter of the way full with water and a heat-safe bowl over the top), melt the coconut oil and jojoba oil (already in liquid form) together. Once melted, add the dried herbs: calendula and chamomile. Place a lid over the top of the double boiler. Over medium heat, infuse the herbs in the oils for 30 minutes. By the end of this time the oil should change color from a light yellow to a dark yellow/orange.
• Separate the herbs from the oil by straining the oil through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the herbs (or compost in a garden). Wipe the double boiler to remove any leftover herbs. Then return the oil to the double boiler. Bring the heat back to medium-high (enough to get the water underneath boiling). Add the shea butter and beeswax to the infused oil, and stir until melted.
• You'll need to work quickly during this next step:
• Turn off the heat and remove the liquid lotion from the heat. Add the lavender oil. Immediately pour the liquid lotion into the mold(s). There's no need to grease the mold(s) before adding the lotion. The lotion bars will require 10-30 minutes to fully set, depending on the temperature in your workspace. Remove the bars from the mold and store in an air-tight container until needed.

Video

Don’t forget to make extra lotion bars for family and friends, or your child’s teacher. These bars are the perfect warm weather gift! DIY Soothing Lotion Bars are safe to use on children.

Disclosure: This post was written as a collaboration with Plant Therapy.  As a blogger, I’m privileged to partner with companies making a difference in the natural and real food world.  I only partner with companies and products I 100% love and believe in. I’m not an affiliate for Plant Therapy; I simply enjoy their oils

 More DIYs You May Like:

How to Make DIY Healing Boo-Boo Cream

DIY Milk and Honey Body Wash

Essential Oils 101: 22 Important Questions and Answers

The post DIY Soothing Lotion Bars appeared first on Live Simply.

Rest assured. The person behind this blog, writing this very post, is not four years-old.

I’m a grown adult, and yes, I still use the word, “boo-boo.” This isn’t healing cream for cuts, scrapes, and burns (well technically it is). This is healing “boo-boo” cream. Maybe the use of the word “boo- boo”  is a reflection of my current season of life. “Mom…Mom…Mom…”

Have you noticed how when you become a parent your entire vocabulary changes? Subconsciously the hours of Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood start invading your dreams, in the very best way, and soon you’re singing, “Grown ups come back…” Then there are the times when you kiss your husband good-night and lovingly whisper, “Ugga Mugga!” And the crazy thing is that he just smiles and replies, “I love you too!” That, my friend, is the ever-changing and vast vocabulary of a parent.

PS: If you’re totally lost in our conversation right now, please YouTube “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”. I promise it will be the best three minutes of your day! A rich vocabulary lesson awaits.

Now, back to boo-boos. After all, that’s the reason we’re here today–boo-boos.

Last year I shared a DIY recipe for my homemade boo-boo cream here at Live Simply (you can find it here, but I’ll provide the full recipe below), a replacement in my home for Neosporin that’s made with simple healing ingredients. I’ve received many questions about the recipe over the past year, inquiring about the technique and ingredients. While the techinique and ingredients are simple (the way we like to keep things around Live Simply), a list of words can often feel a bit complicated.

I’m a visual learner and although I love to read, watching a video or studying pictures helps clarify directions in my mind. So today, I’d like to help you visualize and simplify homemade boo-boo cream. And yes, you must channel your inner four year-old and call it “boo-boo cream.”

Trust me, making your own healing boo-boo cream (AKA: a homemade Neosporin-like alternative) is a very simple process with the final result of a long-lasting cream made for the ouchiest of boo-boos. Hey, no judging. I’m expanding your vocabulary!

Let’s get started…

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DIY Homemade Healing Boo Boo Cream

Last year I shared a DIY recipe for my homemade boo-boo cream here at Live Simply (you can find it here, but I’ll provide the full recipe below), a replacement in my home for Neosporin that’s made with simple healing ingredients.

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Boo-Boo Cream

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Cooling Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 13 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup dried lavender
• 1/3 cup dried calendula
• 4 TB beeswax pellets
• 1 TB honey
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

• In a large pot or double broiler (pictured in the video), combine the coconut oil and olive oil. Melt the oils over low heat. Once melted, add the dried lavender and calendula. Over low heat, infuse the herbs for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, use a fine mesh strainer and cheesecloth to filter the herbs from the oil.
• Return the infused oil to the pot (be sure to clean out any remaining dried herbs before returning the oil to the pot). Over low heat, add the beeswax and honey. Stir for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and add the essential oils (tea tree and lavender).
• Pour the mixture into glass jars (I used Weck Jars in the video tutorial). The mixture will begin to solidify. Stir every 1-2 minutes so the honey doesn’t sink to the bottom of the jar. The mixture takes 5-10 minutes to fully set. Once set it’s ready to use and will keep for 1 year.

Video

Notes

I purchase a bulk-size bag of beeswax from Mountain Rose Herb. I’ve also purchased beeswax pellets on Amazon (smaller bags), and enjoyed the product. A local beekeeper in our area just started selling beeswax bars, so if you have connections with a beekeeper in your area, ask about purchasing beeswax.

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love. Find my favorite DIY ingredients and tools, here.

The post DIY Homemade Healing Boo-Boo Cream: Video Tutorial appeared first on Live Simply.

Photo Note: If you’re coming from Google or Pinterest and you notice the photos look different in this post from what you clicked on, it’s because I recently updated the photos. The boo-boo cream recipe hasn’t been changed. Enjoy! 

I’m a disaster in the kitchen.

I know, right, not exactly what you want to hear from the mouth of a food blogger.

I can cook up a mean batch of brownies, a to-die-for meatloaf, or the best collard greens the south has ever tasted. But,  the moment fire, heat, and pots are involved, I’m a pure mess. Burns, bruises, and cuts have been well-earned on my petite hands and arms. They are battle-wounds from creating delicious dishes day in and out. Battle wounds I proudly wear and probably a good hint I need to invest in a better pair of oven gloves.

Boo-boo’s are my specialty, served with a side of meatballs.

I take a laid-back approach in life when it comes to ouchies. After all,  birthing two natural babies, one weighing over ten pounds, can definitely give you a “I got this” approach to any pain life may throw my way. A burn? A cut? Who’s got time to care for such minor afflictions?

Last year, after burning my wrists one too many times pulling out delicious crusty bread (so worth it), I noticed the scars looked pretty bad. I have sixty, seventy years still to live in this little body of mine, so having scars covering half my wrists all from baking glorious bread, just didn’t seem like the best idea.

Treatments like neosporin®, which are filled with synthetic toxins, just don’t fly in our home anymore. Nothing like rubbing mystery ingredients on an exposed wound. No, thanks. I tried coconut oil, my go-to wonder product, and while it helped, I needed something more powerful. Something that soothed the burns and helped with the healing process.

My best thoughts often come while blow drying my hair, on the rare occasion that happens, which means I actually had a shower for the day. Anyway, the point being, one day while drying my hair, the thought occurred, why not make my own neosporin®? A neosporin®-like cream used to help heal and soothe my “boo-boos”.  A salve I can feel good about.

This homemade neosporin®-like cream (all thanks to my blow dryer) is my go-to salve. Made with the herbs calendula and lavender, along with coconut and olive oil. With a few soothing drops of tea tree and lavender essential oil. Raw honey is also added to this salve.  A salve that’s easy to make and free from toxins found in store-bought tubes.

This salve sits on my counter and makes a debut regularly. I use it on my boo-boos, my kiddos ouchies, or just to help moisturize extra dry hands (dishes are my specialty along with meatballs).  It will last a year, however, our salve is always gone within months.

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Homemade Healing Boo-Boo Cream

This homemade neosporin®-like cream (all thanks to my blow dryer) is my go-to salve. Made with the herbs calendula and lavender, along with coconut and olive oil. With a few soothing drops of tea tree and lavender essential oil. Raw honey is also added to this salve. A salve that’s easy to make and free from toxins found in store-bought tubes.

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Boo-Boo Cream

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 16 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup dried lavender
• 1/3 cup dried calendula
• 4 TB beeswax pellets
• 1 TB honey optional
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

• In a double boiler, combine the coconut oil, olive oil. Allow the coconut oil to melt over low heat. Once melted, add in the dried lavender and calendula. Keeping the heat on low, allow the herbs to infuse for 30 minutes. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use a large glass or metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water
• After 30 minutes, prepare a small bowl with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Pour the mixture through the filter, filtering out the herbs. With the infused oil in the bowl below.
• Return the infused oil to the double boiler (be sure to clean out any remaining dried herbs). Over low heat, add the beeswax, stirring until melted. Add the honey, stirring for about a minute. Turn off the heat and add the essential oils (tea tree and lavender).
• Pour the mixture into one large jar or two small jars (2-4oz. jars work well for me). The mixture will begin to solidify. If you're using honey, stir every minute or two. The mixture takes about 5-10 minutes to fully set. Once set, it's ready to use and will keep for 12 months at room temperature.

Video

As always, please consult a medical professional about serious injuries.

More Resources:

Essential Oils 101

A randomized, controlled trial of tea tree topical preparations versus a standard topical regimen for the clearance of MRSA colonization.

The post Homemade Healing Boo-Boo Cream: Like Homemade Neosporin® appeared first on Live Simply.

“Bedtime.”

“No.”

“No, bedtime. Me not tired.”

I’m a stay-at-home, now work-at-home, mom. By the time the sun starts to reside, I am so ready for that nightly ritual called “bedtime”. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids. I love spending time with them. But, I really look forward to a couple hours to sit down over a warm cup of my favorite tea, chit-chat with Dustin, fold laundry, read a good book, and blog.

Those couple hours rejuvenate me!

My children have never been the best sleepers. They have lots of energy and a zeal for life and exploring. Bedtime has not been an easy practice. We have a set bedtime schedule: bath, a little play with daddy while putting on jammies, books, and bed. It’s a beautiful routine, until we hit the last b word–bed.

Every night we lay down with our children until they are asleep. I love these quiet moments laying next to them, stroking their hairs, and whispering prayers in their ear. Recently our beautiful moments of quiet bedtime have turned into an hour, two hours– oh dear, will they ever go to sleep?  I start drifting in my mind to the millions of dishes downstairs, the warm tea I want to sip, the laundry I’d love to fold, and the husband I want to talk to.

Help!

A couple months ago, I heard Katie from Wellness Mama give a presentation. Her talk was about keeping a family healthy mainly with real food, but she touched on Epsom Salt and magnesium. She discussed their importance for children and promoting sleep. I’ve used magnesium lotion for a couple years now for everything from sore muscles to headaches, but the idea of magnesium for children intrigued me.

This mother got to work and here’s what I found:

1. Epsom Salt helps kids (& Adults) sleep:

Through the stresses of life, magnesium is drained from the body. The average person is already deficient in magnesium, so this draining removes even the small amount a person has in store. Magnesium helps to produce that calming effect we get from seretonian. The result of bathing in Epsom Salt and absorbing the magnesium are: improved sleep, concentration, and relaxed muscles. A recipe for peaceful sleep!

2. Espom salt boosts the immune system:

‘Tis the season for coughs, colds, and the flu. Besides Cod Liver Oil, a healthy diet, and homemade elderberry syrup, Epsom Salt help boost the immune system. To get technical again, bathing in Epsom Salt helps to stimulate the lymph system and circulate oxygen throughout the body. The salt bath helps keep toxins at bay in the body which can naturally drain the body and decrease immunity.

Pretty awesome, right?

Of course, I immediately bought a bag of this special (inexpensive) salt. I mixed up a special, simple formula I now call the “Sleepy Time Bath Salts” and each night have been putting a 1/3 cup in the kids’ bath.

I was skeptical, as I tend to be, but I have been amazed at the improvement in their sleep. Suddenly, bedtime isn’t taking hours, just a few minutes. The kids are now relaxed, peaceful, and ready to sleep.

I’ve also started rubbing some of this calming homemade moisturizer on the bottom of their feet after the relaxing bath.

So, here it is. The “Sleepy Time Bath Salts” formula. It’s not complicated, just simple ingredients that come together to create the ultimate calming, immune-boosting bath. I love this bath formula so much, I’ve even made a few jars to give away to family members.

What you will need:

• 1 cup Epsom Salt (where to buy)
• 1/2 cup Real Salt or a high-quality mineral-rich salt (where to buy)
• 5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 1/4 cup crushed lavender (where to buy), optional (helps give the calming lavender smell and effect)
• 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil (where to buy), this is not mixed in the salt formula, but added at time of bath

How To:

If using dried lavender, simply crush it. I use the same mortar and pestle I use for crushing spices.

In a storage container (I use these), add the Epsom Salt, Real Salt, and crushed dried lavender. Mix the ingredients together. I simply shake the container once sealed.

Once combined, add the lavender essential oil. Mix the oil throughout the salts.

Seal the container and use 1/2 cup per bath. While the warm water is drawn, I also add 1 Tablespoon coconut oil. You can also add apple cider vinegar to help with immune-boosting, particularly while fighting a cold.

The post Sleepy Time Bath Salts appeared first on Live Simply.