The Natural Beauty Workshop

Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap

A classic ingredient in provincial cooking, Lavender makes a perfect aroma for the kitchen.  This gentle kitchen soap is made with all natural Liquid Castile and a blend of fragrant Lavender Essential Oil and antiseptic Naiouli Essential Oil.  This gentle hand soap can help to disinfect and refresh your hands after cooking or cleaning.

Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
4 ounces Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base
1 teaspooon Lavender Bulgaria Essential Oil
1/8  teaspoon Naiouli Essential Oil

Directions & Packaging
In a small mixing bowl or cup combine Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base and Essential Oils. Stir the mixture well before pouring it into a bottle with a Pump or Disc Cap. Brushed Almunimum Bottles are a my recommended choice for this soap, but it would also look nice in a PET Plastic Bottle. Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap makes a great gift when accompanied by Lavender Lover's Body Polish.

Natural Sachets and Home Fresheners

While Reed Diffusers and Spray Air Fresheners can be a lot of fun, many people prefer using only natural products to scent their homes.  Herbs and Essential Oils can be used in a number of ways to create all natural Home Fresheners.  Potpourri, Sachets, Aroma Crystals, and even Air Freshener Sprays can be created using either all or mostly natural ingredients.  Remember to choose your Essential Oils carefully, and do plenty of research, as these potent oils can cause serious health hazards if used incorrectly.

Herbal Potpourri and Sachets
Dried Herbs and Botanicals can be charged up with additional Essential Oils to boost their natural aroma.  These super charged herbs can then be added to muslin bags to make sachets or they can be displayed in containers throughout the home as dry potpourri.  To create an herbal sachet or potpourri simply combine your favorite dried herbs with a few drops of a complimentary Essential Oil.  Below, I've listed some of my favorite Herbs and Essential Oils for use in herbal potpourri and sachets:

Herbs
Chamomile Flowers
Lavender Buds, Super Blue
Jasmine Flowers
Lemongrass
Peppermint Leaf
Rose Buds
Rose Petals
Spearmint Leaf

Essential Oils
Basil
Bay
Bergamot
Chamomile
Cypress
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Geranium
Ginger
Grapefruit
Juniper Berry
Lavender
Lemon
Lime
Mandarin
Orange
Patchouli
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Rose
Rosewood
Sage
Spearmint
Star Anise
Tangerine
Vanilla

Aroma Crystals
The Essential Oils listed above can also be added to Coarse Sea Salt to make Aroma Crystals.  Add about 2 - 5% Essential Oil to Coarse Sea Salt to give it a strong, natural fragrance.  The Aroma Crystals can be kept in a container and treated similarly to potpourri.  The salt can be recharged with more Essential Oil when they begin to lose their aroma.  Aroma Crystals can be left their natural color or they can be dyed using FD&C Liquid Dyes, Micas, or Oxides.  You can also mix a little Potpourri in with the crystals to enhance their appearance.

Air Fresheners
You can create an incredibly simple Air Freshener by putting your favorite Hydrosol into a spray bottle. Neroli, Lemon Balm, Lavender, and Rose Hydrosols make wonderful Home Fragrance Sprays when used alone or blended together.  These are the most simple and natural Air Fresheners that you can make.

If you would like something a little more involved you can use Polysorbate 20 to make your Essential Oils water dispersible.  Add an equal amount of Polysorbate 20 to your favorite blend of Essential Oils to make them water dispersible.  The water dispersible Essential Oil Blend can then be added to Hydrosol or Distilled Water to create an Air Freshening Spray.  1/8 to 1/4 ounce of Water Dispersible Essential Oil should be enough to scent 4 ounces of water.  When making Air Freshener Sprays that include Essential Oils it is important to keep in mind that many Essential Oils can rapidly degrade plastic. The most notorious culprits are spice and citrus oils, but many other Essential Oils can cause similar problems.  This is especially problematic when making Air Freshening Sprays as the Essential Oils can damage the sprayer tops, leaving them useless.  When making Essential Oil Air Fresheners it is always best to test a small batch to see how it behaves in your chosen packaging before making multiple bottles.   

Spring Cleaning - Naturally!

I don't know if there is anything that can compare to the feeling I get when I throw open the windows for the first time after a long, stuffy Winter.  Feeling the cool, fresh air breeze through the house invigorates me, and fills me with the urge to clean everything in sight.  Cleaning the house is a special challenge for me since I am sensitive to most commercial cleaning products.  The strong chemicals contained in most cleaners will have me coughing, itching, and generally miserable in a matter of minutes.  Luckily, making natural cleaning products for the home is simple, easy, and usually inexpensive!  I'd like to share some of my favorite natural cleaning tips with you - just in time for the big Spring clean!

Vinegar
Vinegar is the magic potion of natural house cleaning.  Vinegar can be used to wash the windows, the tub, and most household surfaces. It can help destroy bacteria and odors, and remove build up from appliances, plumbing, and more.  While most varieties of vinegar will work for these recipes, I prefer to use White Vinegar for cleaning purposes.  If you prefer using all Organic products, you can use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar along with Organic Essential Oils and Organic Castille Soap Base.

How to Refresh Fabric or Paper Using Vinegar
Use this simple method to help remove foul odors from porous objects like fabric or paper.

Ingredients
-  A small bowl of vinegar
- 1 slice of bread
- 1 cardboard box (big enough to fit your smelly object and the bowl)

Instructions
Find a place in your home where the box will not be disturbed, tipped over, or kicked accidentally.  Place the smelly object and the bowl of vinegar into the cardboard box.  Place the slice of bread into the bowl of vinegar.  Close the box and seal it tightly using tape.  In 24 hours open the box and remove the contents, discarding the vinegar and bread.  Allow your smelly object to air out for an hour or so.  The foul odor should have been completely eliminated, or at least greatly diminished.

Vinegar Window Wash
This natural solution can be used to clean windows, screens, mirrors, and glass shower doors.

Ingredients
- 1 cup Vinegar
- 3 cups Warm Water
- 3 drops Citrus Essential Oil (Lemon, Lime, or Grapefruit work quite well.)

Instructions
Use this solution with a lint free cloth such as a microfiber towel to ensure clean, clear, streak free windows.

Vinegar Soap Scum Buster
As any natural soap user can tell you, soap scum can be a fierce opponent.  Use this natural solution to power through it like a pro.

Ingredients
- 1 cup Vinegar
- 1/2 cup Warm Water
- 1 tsp. Castille Soap or Natural Dish Washing Liquid
- 1/2 tsp. Grapefruit Seed Extract
- 1/4 tsp. Lavender Essential Oil

Instructions
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.  Spray your tub, shower, or anywhere else that soap scum has built up.  Leave the solution on the surfaces for at least 15 minutes before wiping away.

More Uses for Vinegar
The household uses for vinegar don't stop there!  Here are some other simple ways to clean house naturally using vinegar:

- Remove spots and enhance the shine of glassware by rinsing them in a vinegar and water solution.

- Remove buildup inside your shower head by soaking it in a bowl of vinegar.  If removing your shower head is not an option, simply fill a plastic bag with vinegar and hang it from the shower head.  Allow the shower head to soak for several hours, ideally overnight, before rinsing it out.  The vinegar will eat away build up and allow your shower to work like new again.

- Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your wash to help power away odors in your laundry. You can also pre-treat laundry that has been soiled with extra smelly stains.  This is especially helpful for those with babies or pets.

- Microwave a small bowl of vinegar and water for 1 - 2 minutes.  The steam from the vinegar solution will release grime from the walls of your microwave, allowing you to easily wipe it away.

- Clean out your washing machine by running an empty load on the hottest setting and adding 2 - 3 cups of vinegar.  This will help to disinfect the washing machine while removing buildup and residue.

Citrus
Citrus Essential Oils and Extracts are powerful allies in the war against dirt and grime.  Citrus Essential Oils and Extracts contain antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.  On top of that, they are very effective at cutting through grease, oils, and adhesives, making them natural choices for cleaning products.  Their pleasant, fresh aromas are icing on the cake.

Citrus Blast Dish Washing Soap
This all natural dish soap is a cinch to make.  Castille Soap does not produce as rich a lather as commercial dish soaps, but don't let that fool you.  It is still an effective cleaner, despite the smaller amount of bubbles.

Ingredients
- 16 oz. Liquid Castille Soap Base
- 5 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract
- 10 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
- 5 drops Lime Essential Oil
- 5 drops Mandarin Essential Oil

Instructions
Mix the ingredients well and pour them into a 16 ounce Bottle with a Snap or Disc cap.  Do not use a pump, as the Citrus Essential Oil may destroy it.  Add the soap directly to the dish water or apply it to a sponge.

Orange Lavender Floor Cleaner
Orange and Lavender Essential Oils make this floor cleaner extra effective, and a pleasure to use.  However, if you live with cats, you may not want to use a cleaner like this.  Cats can not metabolize Essential Oils the way that humans can.  In fact, many Essential Oils can be toxic to them.  Since kitties spend a lot of time on the floor, you should avoid cleaning it with Essential Oils. 

Ingredients
- 1 gallon hot water
- 1 oz. Liquid Castille Soap
- 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 15 drops Orange Essential Oil

Instructions
In a small bowl, combine Liquid Castille Soap and Essential Oils.  Fill a gallon sized bucket with hot water and gently stir in the Castille Soap and Essential Oil mixture.  Use this solution to mop the floor as usual.

Baking Soda
The simple chemical reaction that occurs between Baking Soda and an acid such as Lemon Juice, or Hydrogen Peroxide can be very helpful when it comes to house keeping.  Additionally, Baking Soda makes a gentle, but effective scrubber.  When something needs a little extra scrubbing, reach for Baking Soda before the steel wool.  You may be surprised at how effective it can be!

Oxygen Stain Remover
Soaking fabrics in this simple solution can help remove many stains even after they have been "set".  Fabrics can appear brighter, and fresher after this intensive soak.

Ingredients
- 1 cup Baking Soda
- 1 cup Hydrogen Peroxide
- 2 cups Hot Water

Instructions
Combine ingredients in a clean bucket.  Add stained or dingy fabrics to the solution and allow them to soak for 4 - 24 hours.  Depending on the type of fabric, you may want to allow the mixture to cool first.  Please note, this solution is probably not safe for all fabrics.  Choose the fabrics that you use this solution on wisely.

Baking Soda Scouring Powder
You can use this natural cleanser in place of traditional scouring cleansers like Comet to clean sinks, and other non-porous, dingy surfaces.

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Borax
- 1/4 cup White Kaolin Clay

Instructions
Mix the ingredients well and package the powder in a Sifter Container.  Sprinkle the powder on the surface that you want to clean and wet it with a wet sponge or a little vinegar.

More Natural Cleaning Information
- To learn more about natural house keeping you may want to pick up a copy of The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier.  This book contains over 100 safe and easy herbal formulas for nontoxic cleansers.   

- Check out this article on Natural Cleaning Alternatives from The New Homemaker or this article on Non-Toxic Home Care from  EarthEasy.com.

The Seasonal Spa

Most people will agree that fresh is best when it comes to the nutrition of our food.  This reason, among others, has inspired a growing number of people to begin eating locally.  This means that they are purchasing as much produce as possible from local farms and growers.  Not only are farm fresh fruits and vegetables tasty and nutritious, when you purchase these things locally you are often supporting farmers in your own community.  Many people also believe that buying locally may help reduce your personal carbon footprint.  While the environmental pros and cons of buying locally are a topic of debate, I have a personal fondness for local farm stands and markets.  Meeting the people who grow the food you are eating brings a sense of community, and for me, a burst of inspiration.  After all, if fresh food is good for you on the inside, imagine what it can do for your fresh spa treatments!

Here in New England, Spring has come into full bloom.  By the time that Spring gives way to Summer several of my favorite home spa produce items will come into season:

Strawberries
Packed with antioxidants and fruit acids, strawberries are excellent at brightening complexions.  Mash fresh strawberries into your next face mask to take advantage of their sweet benefits.

Spinach
Rich in vitamins A, K, and C, as well as folic acid, calcium, and antioxidants, spinach is a nutritious addition to your skin care diet.  Raw, or gently steamed spinach can be pureed and added to fresh facial and body masks. Fresh spinach also makes an excellent ingredient in spa cuisine.  Baby spinach leaves can be added to salads or sandwiches in place of lettuce for an extra boost of nutritional value.

Rhubarb
Rhubarb is often dried and powdered for use in hair treatments.  Hair teas, oils, and masks are made with Rhubarb to lighten or brighten light brown to blond hair.

Cucumber
A classic spa ingredient, fresh cucumbers will be remembered for eternity as edible eye masks.  The reason they are so often used in place of sleeping masks is that fresh cucumbers have a slight de-puffing effect on the eye area.  Cucumbers can also be quite soothing, and are known to help soften skin by gently removing dead skin cells.

Carrots
These beta-carotene rich roots can be minced in a food processor and added directly to fresh masks and treatments.  Fresh carrot juice also makes a wonderfully nutritive wetting agent for clay masks and facials.

A very handy website, The Sustainable Table, features seasonal food guides for over 25 states including California, Alaska, and New York.  These guides can help you keep an eye out for the locally grown foods that will be available soon. 

Green Spring Projects

If your childhood was anything like mine, you were probably stuffed silly with Marshmallow Peeps and Chocolate Cream Eggs every Easter.  The memories of neon colored plastic grass, multi colored eggs, and outdoor treasure hunts will always be near and dear to my heart.  While I am a woman who  cherishes memories, I am also a big fan of reinvention.  Besides, Spring and Easter are all about renewal.  In that spirit, I've collected some links to projects that can help you reinvent your Easter Sunday or Spring celebration.

Naturally Dyed Eggs
The folks at Curbly.com have put together a great video tutorial on dying your own eggs with all natural materials.

Natural Wheat Grass Easter Baskets
If shredded plastic doesn't thrill you, why not plant your basket with some live grass?  In this article, Ecobites.com shows you how to create a living Easter Basket that will have you singing "Spring!"

Egg Carton Garden
Kids will love this eco-friendly activity.  Re-use paper egg cartons to create biodegradable nurseries for a variety of seedlings. 

What a Difference a Diet Made

No matter your size or shape, there is nothing more striking than the natural glow of health.  It can be found in the gleaming halo of youth, the soft glow of a mother-to-be, and the shine in a truly beautiful person.  We often refer to the whole body approach when it comes to health and medicine, but when it comes to beauty and skin care we tend to forget the rest of the body.  Fixated on one small piece of our selves, we reach for potions and serums, when we could be reaching for fruits and vegetables.

My skin has always been a challenge for me.  As a child I burnt.  As a teen I battled with acne.  As an adult my skin entered yet another stage - a dry, flaky, sensitive stage.  I developed customized cleansers, moisturizers, and treatments to deal with my problematic skin, but I never felt like I was really winning the fight.  My skin would have good days, and it would have bad days.  Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, my skin would often revert to being red, uneven, and dull.

It wasn't until I changed my diet that my skin really and truly changed for the better.  With whole body health in mind (never thinking of my skin or hair) I began to incorporate whole grains, vegetables, and  raw food into my diet.  I also began eliminating things like starch, junk food, corn syrup, and alcohol.  As my body adjusted to the changes I found myself feeling better, and to my surprise, looking better!  My skin was clear, bright, and calm for the first time in my life. 

The change was as welcome as it was striking.  Nowadays, my face is clear aside from the occasional stray pimple.  It is hardly ever red or inflamed, (unless I am in direct contact with an allergen) and the chronic dryness that I used to experience can now be tamed with a little Shea Butter or Rosehip Oil.  I've continued my skin care routine, and I wish that I could assign full responsibility for the change to my personalized formulas.  However, I know that the true hero in this story was the change in my lifestyle.

Sometimes I miss things like cola, white bread, and coconut flavored rum, but I don't think any of those things can compare with the feeling of finally being comfortable in my own skin.

My experience is unique, and while the diet I chose was the best one for me, it may not be the best one for you.  If you are interested in changing your diet, I recommend consulting a professional dietitian or nutritionist.  These experts can help you target your dietary needs and sensitivities, evaluate your goals, and help you avoid creating nutritional gaps.  Making this change with the aid of an expert can greatly increase your success. 

For some wonderful recipes and healthful cooking inspirations I'd like to invite you to check out some of my favorite "foodie" blogs.

Vegan Yum Yum - Lolo shares delicious and unique recipes and advice on vegan cooking.
What the Hell Does a Vegan Eat Anyway? - A cheeky title to a mouth-watering, recipe-packed food blog.
The Whole Gourmet Natural Cooking Blog - Healthful recipes for the meat eater and vegan alike.
A Veggie Venture - Vegetable inspiration from asparagus to zucchini.

Water Works

You might be surprised to know that one of the world's greatest beauty potions may be pouring from your kitchen faucet. Although some studies have shown that the skin's moisture is not directly affected by the amount of water a person drinks, it may affect your skin in another way. Your kidneys and liver screen toxins from the body, but they function most effectively when you keep yourself properly hydrated. As many beauty enthusiasts know, toxins are your skin's number one enemy. Toxic chemicals, allergens, and free radicals enter your body through the air, the skin, and through ingestion. In this day and age they can be found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and ironically, even in the water we drink. If they are not flushed from the body, they can show themselves in some pretty inconvenient ways. Acne, over-sized moles, dry itchy patches, hives, and even cellulite are just some of the skin problems that can be related to contact with everyday toxins.

Other than drinking plenty of water, there are many other things you can do to try and eliminate toxins in your body. Thalassotherapy and body wraps are popular steps in detox and weight loss treatments. They work by drawing toxins out of the body through the skin. These kinds of treatments can be very expensive at spas and salons. Luckily, they can also be prepared at home with a small amount of research, some key ingredients, and a little peace and quiet. Raw food diets, specialty herbal teas, steam baths, and plain old exercise are other methods of detoxification. While researching any of these methods you will find one piece of advice consistently given: drink plenty of water.

The amount of water that we should be drinking each day has been in debate for some time. The classic advice is to drink eight glasses per day. Some doctors think this is too much, other studies claim it is too little. Some medical conditions, such as Diabetes, can actually be negatively affected by drinking too much water. Since every human being has a body that is as unique as their personality, there is probably no "golden rule" that will be perfect advice for everyone. If you want to know how much water is healthy for you, the best thing you can do is talk to your doctor, nutritionalist, or dietitian. Someone who knows your medical history and constitution will be able to give the best advice. Otherwise, you can do what most of us do: drink when you are thirsty!