What It IsThis moisturizer is one of my absolute FAVORITE creations. I kid you not. Personally, I use it as a facial moisturizer every day...BUT I recently discovered that it is FANTASTIC for helping to soothe sunburn, especially on the face, neck, and chest! It uses a blend of Aloe Vera, Oils, and healing essential oils. This moisturizer works on three levels: the coconut oil helps to moisturize the skin and prevent peeling, the aloe vera soothes the irritation and tends to the burn, and the essential oils (Lavender for healing, Peppermint for cooling) have incredible healing abilities that will combat sunburn on contact. As if all of that isn't good enough, the coconut oil in this helps to screen out 20% of UV's, so you can use it in the morning to both heal your burn AND protect against a new one! This moisturizer is super easy to make and it doesn't require any 'cooking'! IngredientsHere's what you need: 2 TBS Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel (either straight from the leaf or store-bought. If you buy it, make sure it's 100% aloe vera gel) 1 tsp Carrier oil of choice (I like to use almond or jojoba) 1 tsp Vitamin E Oil (This will help to repair and heal the skin) 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil 3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil Directions1. Combine coconut oil, carrier oil, and aloe vera.
2. Add essential oils. 3. Let sit for a few mins (I usually leave it on the counter for 10-15 mins). 4. Place in the fridge (believe me, you'll thank me later for this step. Nothing like a little chill to cool sunburn!). This should last 5-7 months in the fridge. That being said, I haven't had any issues with mine past that time frame...and I keep it in the bathroom! I told you, super easy! It doesn't break the bank, either! Give it a try and let me know how you like it in the comments!
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Suffering from a nosebleed? Don't worry! Take a tissue and add one drop of Lavender EO and one drop of Lemon EO. Use this tissue to clamp the nose and stop the bleeding. With the added essential oils, the bleeding will cease quicker than if you had used just a plain tissue.
Summer is a Fickle FriendYou're sitting in a lawn chair. You're playing corn hole or beach volleyball. You're sunbathing out by the pool. You're cooking out with your family and friends. Whatever you're doing this summer, chances are, you're going to get burned. BUT, fear not! There are a few handy ways to naturally treat sunburn. Here are just a few ways for you to treat the burn so that you can enjoy every possible minute of your summer! 1. Aloe Vera 2. Honey 3. Potatoes 4. Green Tea 5. Vinegar *Bonus: Drink LOTS of water. The more hydrated your body is, the faster it can heal. Aloe VeraI know. This one is a no-brainer. If you want to go really natural, you can grow your own Aloe Vera plant. All you do is take one of the matured Aloe leaves and cut it open. There will be a gel-like substance on the inside -- Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you PURE Aloe Vera gel! Slather the heavenly relief onto your burn and it'll heal in no time! Are you wanting to moisturize and heal at the same time? It may help to use a lotion that contains Aloe Vera. Beware, though. You want to check the ingredients and make sure that these are NOT in it: petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. The petroleum will trap the heat in your skin (not really desirable if you want to get rid of the burn) and the benzocaine and lidocaine can irritate burned skin. Here are some examples of what you might be looking for: HoneyNo, I'm not crazy. I swear. Honey is such a versatile substance. The list of uses goes on and on! In this instance, honey works great as a topical salve for sunburn. That's right, squeeze it out and rub it on. The amazing healing and anti-bacterial properties of honey will treat your skin and ease the burn. Don't believe me? Try it out. As always, I recommend using 100% organic raw unfiltered honey. If it's local honey, even better! Any kind of natural honey will do, but if you want the serious stuff you'll need to get Manuka honey. It's pricey but worth it. PotatoesMaybe I should have saved the I'm not crazy exclamation for this section. But, it's true. Potatoes contain a starch-based compound that soothes sunburn. All you have to do is slice a raw, uncooked potato and either rub or pat the slice on your burn. If it's a bit more serious, you can always grate the raw potato and apply it as a poultice. The juice on the inside is what you want, so make sure you're rubbing the inside of the potato, not the skin, on your burn. Green TeaGreen tea is incredible. Not only does it have a ton of health benefits when you drink it, it likes to go above and beyond and be useful topically as well! Green tea contains two super helpful components, catechin and tannic acid, which help to relieve the pain caused by sunburn. All you need to do is soak a couple of tea bags in hot water, cool it off in the fridge (you want it to feel cool to the touch), and apply to the skin. If you want to, you can also just cool off the tea bags and use them as compresses for the burned areas. It's that simple! VinegarThere are a couple of awesome benefits to going this route for sunburn relief. First, the acetic acid in vinegar reduces itching, pain, and inflammation. That means you can add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath and soak away the pain. Second, vinegar acts as a natural pain reliever. Pat some apple cider vinegar onto your skin and feel the pain seep away for about 20-30 minutes. Have you tried anything that seems completely crazy to treat your sunburn...and it worked? Tell me in the comments below! You Want to Treat Your Bites Naturally, But What Do You Use?There are a variety of different ways to treat bug bites. Some people choose to treat the itch and infection with Benadryl. This isn't a bad option. Benadryl is super useful. However, there is also the option of treating your bite naturally. Believe it or not, there are a couple of different options here as well. Here are just a few to get you started: 1. Essential Oils 2. Apple Cider Vinegar 3. Raw Organic Honey 4. Baking Soda and Witch Hazel Paste Essential OilsI know, I know. Everyone and their mother are using essential oils, and some people don't like to follow the crowd. However, essential oils are VERY useful when used correctly and safely. It isn't just hype, there are actual results to be seen with the use of essential oils. Check out the Essential Oils tab for safety information. If it isn't up yet, it will be soon! The Oils That I Use: These two oils are EXTREMELY useful to have around the house. Personally, I prefer to use Lavender EO for my own bug bites. It's my go-to oil. Melaleuca, or Tea Tree, EO is super useful, though. This oil is anti-bacterial and is great to use on bug bites as well. To Use: When using essential oils, it is strongly recommended that you use them with a 2% dilution. This means that the essential oils should be mixed with a carrier oil (almond oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, etc.) in order to dilute it and make it less potent. The essential oils should make up a whopping 2% of the entire mixture. Dilute your choice of oil and apply topically to the bite. It's that simple! I keep a roller bottle with Lavender EO and fractionated coconut oil mixed and ready in my medicine cabinet. *Note* Sometimes, I do cheat and apply Lavender EO neat (without dilution) to a bug bite if it's super itchy. That is just a personal choice, though. Make sure you do what is safe for you and your family. Apple Cider VinegarYou know that maddening itch you experience after being eaten alive by mosquitoes or ants? Yeah, me too. That's where this gem comes in handy. Aside from the other numerous attributes and uses of apple cider vinegar, this stuff cures the itching. The acid in the vinegar reacts with the bite and helps to cool the itch. Whenever using apple cider vinegar, I always recommend using a raw unfiltered one. You want the "Mother" strand that is in it. It helps with healing. Here's what you do: When you have been bitten on almost every available surface on your body (yay, summer!), mix 2-3 cups of apple cider vinegar into your bath and SOAK. Enjoy the feeling of the itch leaving your body. Raw Organic HoneyHoney isn't just a delicious addition to your tea. This stuff is super anti-bacterial and can help to take away the itch and heal the bite. In addition, honey also stimulates the production of a certain type of cell that can repair tissue damaged by infection. Oh, and it's anti-inflammatory properties can help to seriously reduce swelling. Whenever using honey for healing purposes, I always recommend using Manuka Honey. It is more expensive, but well worth it. It is one of the most potent types of honey that you can buy. To Use: Simply apply the honey to the bite and let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off. Baking Soda and Witch Hazel PasteWhen you mix witch hazel into baking soda, it creates a more potent mix to reduce the swelling. So, by creating a paste with the two, you are combating the itch and the swelling at the same time with two household ingredients. I'd say that this is one of the more thrifty options! How To: Take your baking soda (mix as much as you'd like, a teaspoon would be plenty for just a couple of bites) and mix in enough witch hazel to make a paste. Apply to the bite and let sit until dry and then rinse it off. So, there you have it! These are just a few natural options of many to help healing bug bites and relieving the itch. Do you have any recommendations? Post in the comments below!
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Kate MurphyI love all things natural. I love finding alternative methods. I love to write. Put it all together and you get this blog. Categories
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