We use epsom salt (affiliate) a lot at our house. It is a good source of magnesium (here’s why we love magnesium) and has dozens of household uses. Here are our favorites:
As a relaxing Magnesium Bath Soak – Add at least 1 cup of epsom salt to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes.
Splinter Removal- Soak in concentrated epsom salt water to pull out a splinter.
Magnesium Foot Scrub- Make a homemade magnesium scrub (recipe here) for a boost of magnesium and super soft skin.
Better Vegetables- Add a tablespoon of epsom salt to the soil below a tomato plant to boost growth.
Facial Wash- Add a pinch of epsom salt to your usual face cleaner (or to your oil cleansing routine) for a skin exfoliating magnesium boost.
Tile/Grout Cleaner- Mix equal parts of liquid dish soap and epsom salts and use to scrub tile and grout. Rinse well for a streak free shine.
Body Aches- Add 2 cups of epsom salt to a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes to help relieve muscle sprains and for a transdermal magnesium boost.
Homemade Sea Salt Spray- Make your own sea salt spray to add texture and volume to hair- recipe here.
Water House Plants- Help house plants grow by adding a couple tablespoons of epsom salt to the water when you water them.
Volumizing Hair Mask- Combine equal parts of conditioner and epsom salt and leave on hair for 20 minutes. Rinse well and let air dry for thicker hair.
Foot Soak- For a concentrated magnesium boost, add 1 cup of epsom salt to a hot foot soak and soak for 20 minutes.
Get rid of slugs- Have slugs in your garden or on your patio? Sprinkle epsom salt to deter them.
Making Magnesium Lotion- Using magnesium flakes is a better option, but in a pinch, you can use epsom salt to make homemade magnesium oil (recipe here).
Laxative- For occasional constipation, a teaspoon of epsom salt dissolved in water can help. Check with a doctor first.
Beautiful Roses- Add a tablespoon a week to the soil around rose bushes before watering for faster growth.
Soil Prep- Before planting, we add a few bags of epsom salt to the soil in the garden and water in to help replenish soil magnesium levels.
Headache relief- There is evidence that soaking in a soothing epsom salt bath may help relieve headache.
Smooth skin- Mix 1/2 cup epsom salt with 1/4 cup olive oil and scrub skin in the shower for healthy and smooth skin.
Itchy Skin or Bug Bites- Dissolve a tablespoon of epsom salt in to 1/2 cup of water and cool. Spritz on itchy skin or apply a wet compress to help relieve itching.
Minor Sunburn Relief- Use the same ratio in the itchy skin relief above and spritz on to minor sunburns to help soothe them.
Help Kids Sleep Better- Add a cup to kids’ bath water before bed to help them sleep peacefully.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Vaniila Latte Sugar Scrub
I love the smell of coffee and but do not like drinking coffee turns out, coffee can have benefits when used externally!
Coffee scrubs can be beneficial in reducing cellulite as well. The massage and exfoliation benefits skin by stimulating blood/lymph flow and the caffeine in the coffee has a tightening effect. Pinterest is speckled with accounts of coffee scrubs and wraps working for reducing cellulite and loose skin.
This sugar scrub combines some of my favorite natural beauty ingredients:
Coconut Oil – For naturally nourishing skin
Castor Oil – A naturally astringent oil that is great for skin tone (I also use it in my facial cleansing regimen… and by regimen, I mean super-simple one-step process that leaves skin feeling amazing)
Coffee- The caffeine has a tightening and stimulating affect on skin and it is often used in anti-aging products
Sugar- Bad inside the body but great on the outside as it naturally exfoliates
Vanilla – Because it smells good
This simple scrub smells like a vanilla latte (thus the name) and leaves skin silky. It smells and looks sophisticated, but is incredibly simple and inexpensive to make.
A simple sugar scrub recipe with coffee,coconut oil, castor oil and sugar. It leaves skin soft, healthy and energized.
Ingredients
½ cup finely ground coffee
½ cup organic sugar
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Castor Oil
½ teaspoons natural Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Place the coffee and sugar in a medium size bowl.
Add the vanilla and mix well.
Add the oils and stir with a fork or the back of a spoon until well mixed and moistened.
Store in an air-tight container and use as desired for soft skin. Especially good on legs for helping with cellulite.
Enjoy!
Coffee scrubs can be beneficial in reducing cellulite as well. The massage and exfoliation benefits skin by stimulating blood/lymph flow and the caffeine in the coffee has a tightening effect. Pinterest is speckled with accounts of coffee scrubs and wraps working for reducing cellulite and loose skin.
This sugar scrub combines some of my favorite natural beauty ingredients:
Coconut Oil – For naturally nourishing skin
Castor Oil – A naturally astringent oil that is great for skin tone (I also use it in my facial cleansing regimen… and by regimen, I mean super-simple one-step process that leaves skin feeling amazing)
Coffee- The caffeine has a tightening and stimulating affect on skin and it is often used in anti-aging products
Sugar- Bad inside the body but great on the outside as it naturally exfoliates
Vanilla – Because it smells good
This simple scrub smells like a vanilla latte (thus the name) and leaves skin silky. It smells and looks sophisticated, but is incredibly simple and inexpensive to make.
A simple sugar scrub recipe with coffee,coconut oil, castor oil and sugar. It leaves skin soft, healthy and energized.
Ingredients
½ cup finely ground coffee
½ cup organic sugar
2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Castor Oil
½ teaspoons natural Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Place the coffee and sugar in a medium size bowl.
Add the vanilla and mix well.
Add the oils and stir with a fork or the back of a spoon until well mixed and moistened.
Store in an air-tight container and use as desired for soft skin. Especially good on legs for helping with cellulite.
Enjoy!
Hair Detangling Spray
To make this detangling spray, I use distilled water, marshmallow root, conditioner and essential oils with optional other herbs. Any conditioner will work, but I prefer a natural one, especially for kids. Natural conditioner are more expensive, but with as little as you need for this recipe, one bottle lasts over a year for all three of my daughters.
The top natural brands that I’ve tried that smell good, work well and don’t have harmful ingredients are:
Shea Moisture Organic Restorative Conditioner (I love all of their products and we use this cream all the time too)
Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Conditioner (more earthy/tea tree scent but organic and works really well)
EO Sulfate Free Coconut and Hibiscus Conditioner (least expensive and smells excellent)
Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner (light and fresh scent)
In the picture, I used a glass spray bottle I got during a Zulily sale, but I’ve also used this spray bottle from amazon and the sprayer actually works better for this.
Here’s what to do:
Hair Detangling Spray
Natural Hair Detangling Spray Natural Inexpensive and Easy to Make DIY Hair Detangling Spray
Print
Simple homemade herb-infused detangling spray that saves money and works wonderfully.
Author: Wellness Mama
Recipe type: Beauty
Ingredients
12 ounce or larger spray bottle
1.5 cups distilled water
3 tablespoons marshmallow root
2 tablespoons conditioner of choice (see above)
10+ drops of essential oil of choice (completely optional)
Instructions
Boil water and marshmallow root in a small pan.
Reduce heat and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Let cool slightly and strain through a cheesecloth or very thin wire strainer.
While still warm, pour in to bottle add conditioner and essential oils (if using) and shake until mixed.
Store for up to 2 months (this is as long as I’ve tested).
The top natural brands that I’ve tried that smell good, work well and don’t have harmful ingredients are:
Shea Moisture Organic Restorative Conditioner (I love all of their products and we use this cream all the time too)
Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Conditioner (more earthy/tea tree scent but organic and works really well)
EO Sulfate Free Coconut and Hibiscus Conditioner (least expensive and smells excellent)
Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner (light and fresh scent)
In the picture, I used a glass spray bottle I got during a Zulily sale, but I’ve also used this spray bottle from amazon and the sprayer actually works better for this.
Here’s what to do:
Hair Detangling Spray
Natural Hair Detangling Spray Natural Inexpensive and Easy to Make DIY Hair Detangling Spray
Simple homemade herb-infused detangling spray that saves money and works wonderfully.
Author: Wellness Mama
Recipe type: Beauty
Ingredients
12 ounce or larger spray bottle
1.5 cups distilled water
3 tablespoons marshmallow root
2 tablespoons conditioner of choice (see above)
10+ drops of essential oil of choice (completely optional)
Instructions
Boil water and marshmallow root in a small pan.
Reduce heat and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Let cool slightly and strain through a cheesecloth or very thin wire strainer.
While still warm, pour in to bottle add conditioner and essential oils (if using) and shake until mixed.
Store for up to 2 months (this is as long as I’ve tested).
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