Energy Body Shampoo

So it’s the afternoon of hump day Wednesday and how do you feel? Are you excited for the weekend or are you in the, “I don’t even have the energy to think that far ahead?”

Well, for some of us, it’s the day where we can almost taste the weekend and be energized for it!

But if your not feeling like that and are feeling a little tired, I’ve got a great ‘pick me up’ recipe to get you through the afternoon and even the next morning!

Rosemary, cinnamon and peppermint are great essential oils for that mid afternoon pick me up. Just put one drop each in a handkerchief and inhale slowly. The invigorating aroma will help give you that second boost you need to get through the afternoon. You can also use it in an all over body scrub to get your blood circulating and energy levels up by adding our Energy Body Shampoo to your scrub.

Try it out. Let us know!

Enjoy!

It’s Monday and many of us are at our offices. While sitting at your desk, take a good look at it. Are you noticing that it maybe a bit dirty with a coffee or food stain here and there or maybe even a “What is that?”

Well instead of using water to clean up that mess, you can sanitize your office area with some cleansing essential oils and this natural recipe below.

The essential oils which will be used in our recipe are not only excellent for cleaning your environment but also brightening your Monday mood! Lemon, tea tree and grapefruit or orange as well as any of the citrus oils are excellent cleansers.

So here’s what you’ll need:

1. One empty 3oz spritz bottle
2. Essential oils listed above of your choice
3. Water
4. Rubbing alcohol

Open the spray bottle and pour in 2 oz of water. Then pour in 1/2 oz of rubbing alcohol. We’re leaving room for the essential oils and to shake the bottle.

Now pour in several drops of the essential oils you’ve chosen to a max of 7 drops. ie lemon, orange and tea tree with the ratio of 3-3-1 respectively. Close the bottle and shake.

Start by spraying your desk and doorknobs then wipe off with a clean paper towel. Be very careful with your computer equipment and phone as to not spray them directly with the solution. Try spraying a paper towel first then wiping.

You can also use this same solution on your hands as a hand sanitizer!

Happy cleaning!

Q: I want to switch to a sheer nail polish for summer, but my nails are yellow. What’s going on, and what can I do?

A: While they’re not attractive, yellow nails are most often harmless. Here are some common causes and solutions:

Dark nail polishes, such as red, deep purple, and the ever-popular black, can stain your natural nails, leaving them a dingy yellow color even after you’ve removed the polish itself. The longer you leave your polish on, the greater the risk of staining, even if you use a base coat. Lighter polishes can also stain your nails after a few weeks, so it’s a good idea to change your polish every week or two (don’t just add more polish on top), and always apply a base coat first to protect your nails. If the staining is severe, a manicurist can gently buff off the stain, although doing this too frequently can make your nails thin and weak. The good news is that if the staining is caused by polish, the discoloration will eventually grow out with the nail.

Fungus infections can also turn nails yellow. However, often only a few nails are affected, at least at first, and they’re usually thick and crumbly. A dermatologist can do a simple, painless fungal culture to test for infection.

Psoriasis can cause yellow-brown discolored nails, although the discoloration is often accompanied by other nail changes, like lifting of the nail plate, as well as psoriasis rashes on the skin itself.

Yellow nails can also be associated with chronic lung disease — an uncommon condition called yellow nail syndrome, which produces thick, slow-growing, yellow nails on the fingers and toes. The discoloration usually resolves if the lung disease is successfully treated.

Today is my sister Tina’s birthday, and as a busy mom of two, she doesn’t have much time to herself, so I’m going to treat her to a day of beauty, including hair, nail, and massage services. This got me thinking about the subject of tipping. For help on figuring out what’s customary and fair, I asked some salon and spa owners for their advice. Here’s the scoop:

How much? Of course, this depends on how happy you are with the service. Just remember that many stylists and beauty technicians depend on tips to make a decent wage. So if you are happy, a tip of 15 to 20 percent (before sales tax) is appropriate. You may add a little more if the stylist was especially attentive or if your service was really time-consuming (for example if your toenails hadn’t been clipped in weeks).

Who to tip? The gratuity goes to the person who provides the main service, whether it’s a haircut, color, mani/pedi, massage, or facial. If an assistant washes your hair, an additional tip of $2 (or even $5 in larger cities) is appreciated, although once I didn’t tip an assistant who splashed soapy water in my eyes and ears. If the owner of the salon performs your service, tipping is optional, although many customers do tip as a courtesy.

When to tip? It’s usually best to tip after the service is done. However, if you don’t want to smudge your manicure, you may want to pay and tip in advance — especially if you’re a regular and are familiar with the service. Otherwise, keep the tip money (or your credit card) in a spot that’s easy to get to with freshly painted nails. Some salons don’t allow you to add the tip to the credit card bill, so if this is the case be sure to take some cash.

After the crazy week I’m sure some of us like myself have had, I feel like we all deserve a nice warm, relaxing, bath.   And I can’t think of a better way to relax our body, overcome mental fatigue and ease our emotional stress. That’s why we created two wonderful bath salts for you. Have a look.

Or, mix 5 drops Lavender, 3 drops Sandalwood, with 2 drops German Chamomile or 2 drops Mandarin    

Enjoy!

By Dr. Jessica Wu

I’m on an airplane once or twice a month, and all that flying can really dehydrate my skin, so I’ve made a conscious effort to drink more water. However, as I’ve written before, I don’t like the taste of water (or lack thereof). In fact, my staff used to call me the desert rat because I could go all day without a sip. This year, I made a resolution to drink more water, and so far I think I’m doing a pretty good job (and my skin looks better). If you fly frequently, live in a dry climate, or just want plumper skin, remember to stay hydrated. Here are some of my tricks to making water more tasty:

Add fruit. Slice some lemons or cucumbers into a pitcher of water so you’ll always have a tasty cold drink. If you don’t have a fridge at work, or you’re always on the go, put half a lemon or orange in a Ziploc bag, and squeeze a few drops of fresh juice into your water bottle now and then.

Have a “cocktail.” Sweet, candy-colored cocktails go down easily, but alcohol can end up dehydrating you. When I’m out with friends, I try to have just one real cocktail — then I switch to cranberry and club soda. I love the bubbles, and it’s more fun to drink than just plain water. (This is also a great option if you’re the designated driver for the night.)

Make tea. Many teas contain caffeine, which is a diuretic, meaning it flushes water from your body. While this can be helpful when you’re bloated, too much caffeine can dehydrate you, making your cheeks look drawn and your wrinkles more prominent. Instead, drink caffeine-free or herbal teas, such as chamomile and mint. At Starbucks, choose iced herbal tea instead of Frappuccinos.

Stressed out a home, work or with life? Use these oils to bring back the balance:

	Geranium: emotionally balancing.
	Rose: aside from its lovely intoxicating, floral aroma, rose oil is known for its balancing effect on female hormones and its ability to calm the mind.
	Clary Sage: used to help as an antidepressant

Put one drop of each oil on one facial tissue, cup between your hands and inhale deeply. This should help you regain your balance.

Enjoy!

Great suggestion from Kristen for natural simple skin care. Read about her natural skin care tip.

What simple tips do you use? Please share in comments below.

Did you know that marjoram is great for headaches.

Marjoram essential oil is anti-spasmodic which can relieve muscle pain, cramps, headaches, migraines and stiffness.

Just put 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil like Sweet Almond with a few drops of Majoram essential oil then rub onto the back of your neck and shoulders.

Do not use if pregnant and avoid use while driving or drinking due to its sedating properties.