It is just as important to use organic ingredients on the body as it is to eat organic foods.

The body absorbs each and every product we place on our body (shampoos, sunscreens, bug sprays, cosmetics, shaving creams and even eye contact solution), which eventually ends up in our detoxification system, more specifically the liver. This is why it is so crucial to make sure you are using quality, non-toxic products in your daily routine. Read my post titled, “Love your Liver…you only have one!” for why the liver is so important and ways to keep it functioning optimally. Now, you may say, “Organic products are too expensive and hard to find.” What I say to that is…it can be very easy and inexpensive if you make them yourself! Once you invest in a few essential oils, you will be set for years.

I first began making my own mixtures and potions while living in Paris. I was inspired to create Thieves Oil (a legendary immune support combination) for my fellow teachers and friends, since everyone was falling ill during the cold winter season. I will explain the benefits and how to make the oh-so amazing Thieves Oil in a future post–it’s a must-have during cold and flu season.

IMG_1214[1] — Where the DIY magic started – Paris

Living in Paris it was quite simple to gather organic ingredients for cosmetic making at AromaZone. If you get a chance to visit there and happen to be in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area–don’t miss a chance to stop in AromaZone to stock up on essential oils, cosmetic grade ingredients and aromatherapy essentials. The staff is super helpful (they even have a chemist on staff) and will assist you in whatever beauty concoction you want to make. And if you don’t have a store like AromaZone in your area, you most certainly can find all the below ingredients online. Just make sure to buy from a quality producer like: Aura Cacia, Rocky Mountain Oils, Native American Nutritionals, Young Living or doTerra. Your local natural foods store or Whole Foods is also sure to have these products as well. A few good starter oils to buy include: lavender, rosemary, tea tree, frankincense, peppermint, cinnamon, eucalyptus, myrrh, lemon and clove.

Yes, I used to be a sucker for eco-friendly, non-toxic beauty products. If you had put me in a natural beauty store or organic spa two years ago, I would have dropped big money. However, after learning how affordable and fun making your own skin care and beauty cosmetics can be, I decided my money is best spent elsewhere. Even more, homemade lotions, soaps and perfumes make the greatest gifts. But, the very best part about your DIY products is…you know exactly what’s in them!

The recipe below, was one of the first mixtures I made, as it is so simple and requires only a few oils. I hope you enjoy!

DIY Face Moisturizer

Ingredients

4 drops of carrier oil such as organic extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, hemp oil or coconut oil. *I use this local product from my home town that is already infused with lavender, but you can use any of the above oils and simply add 1 drop of lavender essential oil. Lavender has anti-inflammatory and calming effects, so it is a wonderful essential oil to include in skincare products.
1 drop of Tea Tree Oil (great for acne)
1-2 drops of Frankincense Oil (heals the skin and smoothes wrinkles; anti-aging)
1 drop of Lavender Oil (anti-inflammatory and calming)

Directions

Use a dropper tool, starting with the drops of the carrier oil first, then the essential oils and drop all the ingredients into the palm of your hand. Simply, rub your palms together to mix the ingredients and then apply to face. *I usually apply a bit of aloe vera to my skin right before this application as the wet surface of the skin helps to absorb the oil quicker and deeper into the skin layers as it dries.

Of course, you can always fill an empty travel-size bottle with your moisturizer so you don’t have to mix it everyday. A good rule of thumb when seeking to make a dilution is to add 12 drops of essential oil to each fl. ounce (30 ml) of cold pressed carrier oil, lotion, vegetable butter or other natural lipid/moisturizer. For example, add 24 drops of each essential oil to a 60 ml (2 ounce) carrier oil. You may also experiment with the different carrier oils to find the one that is best suited to your individual skin type–everyone is different! I find olive oil doesn’t clog my pores and creates a beautiful glow.