Rose Hydrating Eye Gel

Hello, friends!

It has been FAR too long, and although I haven't written, I have been very busy!

I've been on a mission for the past year to make my own skin-care products, and things started off really well!  My skin was loving all of the coconut oil and shea butter I was using...but then spring and summer hit, and my skin went haywire!  I stuck with my products, because I believe in them.  But still, how long am I willing to suffer with acne like I'm still a teenager? Not terribly long.  I'm pushing 40, for crying out loud!  So, for the time being, I'm on a commercial acne regimen, with commercial moisturizer until my skin clear up.  Then, I'll slowly go back to my 100% natural, home made products.

I have, however, just made an AMAZING moisturizing eye gel!

I was inspired by a sample I received from Sephora in a recent order, but refuse to pay the ridiculous prices for something I'm positive I can make myself.  I even had nearly all of the ingredients already, so with Amazon at my beck and call, I ordered the Goldenseal and Rosehip seed oil, and waited an excruciating two days for delivery.  Haha!

Today was the day, and here are the instructions:

• 1/4 cup Aloe gel - divided
• 20 drops Rose-Jojoba oil blend (optional, but it adds amazing scent and jojoba is great for your skin)
• 10 drops Rose hip seed oil
• 10 drops Goldenseal
• 1/2 tsp Evening Primrose Oil (optional, but if you leave this out, be sure to add a couple more vitamin E capsules)
• 1/2 tsp Rose water
• 2 Vitamin E capsules
• 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa butter  (you could substitute shea butter or coconut oil

1. In a double-boiler, heat 3 Tbsp aloe gel, and all other ingredients until the cocoa butter is melted, stirring frequently.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
3. Add the last table spoon of aloe gel, and mix with an electric hand mixer until smooth and lotion-like.
4. The mixure will be light yellow in color, due to the goldenroot liquid. I added a single, small drop of red food coloring to turn mine pink (don't worry, it doesn't turn your skin pink!).

That's it!  It's been four hours since I applied it to the skin around my eyes, and I was very impressed with the immediate reduction in "baggage," and even now can feel that the skin is soft and smooth.

I'm hoping to write more often now that fall is just around the corner.  I've been perfecting a skin soothing, clarifying facial mask, and will soon be working on Tiger Balm for sore joints and muscles.  And with winter coming, I'd like to get started on some home remodeling...helloooo cabinets and floors!!  :)

Until next time...

Fresh Peppermint Mouthwash - DIY-Style!

As a continuation of this ongoing journey to green-up little areas in my life I've braved the unknown and -- quite frankly, scary -- waters of...(dun dun dunnnnn)...MOUTHWASH!!  

That label probably speaks for itself... Peppermint mouth wash...DIY style!

Oral hygiene is very important to me, so things like toothpaste, tooth powder, and mouthwashes just HAVE to work, and work well. I happened upon this blog, via my beloved Pinterest, several months ago, and thought, "huh, that looks interesting...I'll save that one for later."  Well, now it's later, and I've given it a try.

Results?  Let's rate it on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), shall we?

• Tastiness:  4 - but only after adding a packet of stevia sweetener; before the stevia, it was a 3...not bad, but not great.  When you think about it, what mouthwash does taste good?  None that I've ever tried, so this was an improvement, even before the stevia. :)
• Mintiness:  5  - It's awesome!  Love this part of it!
• Long-lasting effects:  4  - Lasts nearly as long as Listerine, but without burning my mouth.

Now, you may be asking WHY I would do such a thing when there is a myriad of different mouthwashes available at the local grocery store or pharmacy.  Well, many of them contain more alcohol than can legally be sold outside of a liquor store, and you don't have to produce a driver's license or be of legal drinking age to buy it.  Whoa!  AND, did you know that extended use of mouthwash containing alcohol will alter the pH balance in your mouth, and has been linked to mouth and throat cancer?  Seriously scary stuff, folks!  (Source)

Research the alcohol content in this...yikes!!

There are also a number of other unknown chemicals and dyes in traditional mouthwash.  I've become increasingly skeptical of products that contain ingredients that I can't identify or pronounce.  Some of the ingredients might well be natural stuff that the manufacturer has chosen to hide by using it's scientific name. Why? If it's natural, just call it what it is!

Overall, I think it's an industry who wants us entirely-too-vain Americans to spend more money on stuff that can't possibly do all it promises to do without having serious, negative side effects.  

Okay, enough of my soap box!  :)  This is the first of a couple of different mouthwash recipes I plan to try, so you can count on another article or two when I've tried the next ones.

Ready for the INGREDIENTS??  

• 1 cup aloe vera juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp witch hazel
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp, or packet, stevia
• 40 drops peppermint essential oil

Put it all in a cute bottle (I found mine at the local craft store for about $2), and shake, shake, shake!  Then, take a swig and swish around your entire mouth for about 30-60 seconds before...well, you know what to do next.  :)  Your mouth is going to feel sooooo clean, and minty fresh!

(Tempted as I was, I will refrain from including yet another photo of my teeth...I'll just let your imagination go to work seeing stars and sparkles around my super-clean mouth!  Haha!)

Here are a couple other recipes I plan to try next... If you get to them first, be sure to come back and post a comment to tell me what you think?!

• Honey peppermint mouthwash (yummmmm!)
• Peppermint, clove, rosemary mouthwash (whoa, sounds refreshing!)

I'd love to hear your experiences with green living, and how it can be done in REAL LIFE!!

Till next time, friends...