DIY Geranium Essence for lotions: Day, Night skin and face cream, and sore muscle lotion.

I had just too much fun playing... and saving $

DIY Geranium Essence Master Mix recipe , Day and Eve creams, and Sore muscle lotion recipes below. 

I was making various lotions; trying different mixtures and I wanted to add Geranium as the main ingredient. I made eleven new jars of products; all at a reduction of the cost! I was spending $25-$35 a jar, so I'm counting the savings, not to mention the absence of chemicals!

                    ..................................................................................................................................The far right stack's top two are sore muscle creams, the bottom one is a simpler version of a calming Shea Butter mixture. The Middle pile is my new Evening cream; every night, before bed I lather it on my face, neck and decollete area. The stack on the far left is face cream. Each day, as I head out, I make sure to rub this wonderful stuff onto my face, neck and decollete area. My skin thanks me the rest of the day! Since I have activities that may get me dirty (painting, gardening, and sweating in general) I also add it throughout the day too. For makeup, I simply add a bit of color to it, making it into a tinted moisturizer! Currently, I now have three Day Creams, three Night Creams, and two sore muscle creams in my refrigerator, while I keep four out for my daily use: One Daytime, One nitetime, One sore muscle lotion, and one Shea Soothe.Besides Geranium's wonderful effect on mood, as well as being a natural repellent to insects, it is great for skin and hair care! Not only is it good for oily and combination skin, but it tones and tightens mature skin tissue as well! It can help treat injured skin, healing facial wounds, as it will help regenerate healthy cells, not to mention the damage of the sun (I'm on the lake a lot). Geranium offers soothing, calming effect to skin as well as mood! Lol, a win, win. 

I have tried using my "master mix," a recycled spaghetti sauce jar full of Geranium Essence on my hair. I simply made a hair mask by applying it straight out of the finished jar onto my hair, finger-combing it through. I additionally made a mudd mask for my entire body's skin by simply rubbing it all over me. --Sorry, I didn't take a picture. Lol, I didn't think you all would want to see that!-- After waiting for 15 minutes in the bathroom, I simply stepped into the shower to shower it all off. My hair was fuller and younger looking (how I'd describe it). A hair commercial would say it was, "vibrant with a healthy glow." ;-) 

Something like this, my hair isn't this long, nor am I that gorgeous! Tee hee...

Geranium Essence Master Mix Recipe: 

I didn’t have any geranium oil and I wanted to do something different, that included more of nature's natural bountiful gifts, so I made some. I grow primarily red and white geraniums, which needed pruning, so I took the cut flowers, 

all the scraps (stems and leaves) and made a geranium mixture loaded with geranium’s goodness for    ~my various DIY recipes! 

Once they were slow simmered in solid coconut oil, over low heat for an entire day. (*Note: Cook with a lid to aid in the steaming; additionally, the leaves and flowers were washed by putting into a strainer within a bowl of water to soak and rinse well. Then I did not dry the material, so the water also helped in the steaming process.)  I put the mixture into my powerful juicer, which separated the steamed oil, coconut oil and juices from the dry scrap material (that went out to the compost). 

The next step was picking out skin nourishing ingredients that improve the appearance of skin. The ingredient list needed to include restorative and rejuvenating properties to the skin, anti-aging benefits that reduce the appearance of imperfections, like the reduction of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars; an anti-inflammatory, skin soothing softness, a glowing, youthful complexion, while hydrating, creating a moisture holding barrier, while promoting circulation and aiding in a healthy cellular function. 

Note: Not all the ingredients listed are needed to make a great lotion! The list are the items, based on their results, I have used, loved and am ready to recommend. 

Day Face

Cream and Night Face Cream:

Pick one or two carrier oils, five Essential oils, two seed or vitamin oils, one tea, and one more addition of something new, which you haven't tried yet! Fresh ingredients like real geranium's and oatmeal will need refrigeration (although, I use one jar at a time, keeping it in my air-conditioned home bathroom and it seems to last around two weeks; I can't say past that because I use it up). Also note, using distilled water in any recipe will extend it's shelf life. 

Ingredients:

• Lavender Essential Oil
• Frankincense Essential Oil
• MyrrhEssential Oil
• Geranium Essence (the above recipe) or Essential Oil
• Cypress Essential Oil
• Cedarwood Essential Oil
• Amurense Bark extract
• Melaleuca Essential Oil
• Hordeum distichon (Barley) Extract
• Immortelle  https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?FuseAction=CategoryShop&CategoryID=970
• Rose-water
• Rosehip Seed Oil
• Carrot Seed essential oil
• Meadowfoam Seed Oil
• Vitamin E Oil
• Vitamin C Powder
• Cucumber Gel
• Oatmeal (I grind up finely in a food processor to get "colloidal oatmeal")
• Chamomile
• Shea Butter
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Honey
• Green Tea
• Bentonite Clay
• Rosemary Antioxidant CO2 Extract
• Evening Primrose Oil
• Beeswax Pastilles
• Beeswax
• Sandalwood essential oil (I'm only recommending this oil that is farmed in the U.S., as it  is near extinction in it's native land.  Hawaiian is a good choice). https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?FuseAction=CategoryShop&CategoryID=875

Carrier oils: 

• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Coconut Oil (organic solid and/or fractionated). 
• Almond Oil
• Argan Oil
• Macadamia Nut Oil
• Vegetable Glycerine  Although, due to Palm oil production destroying our rain forests. If you want to try it, just make sure it is made from coconut oil and not palm ;-). 

Recipe that I did:

1/2 Cup each of Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, 

1 Cup of whipped Shea Butter, 

1/4 Cup Aloe Vera, 

1 Cup Geranium Essence, 

2 Tbl's Rosemary Extract, 

1/3 Cup Vitamin E and C oil, 

14 drops of each: lavender, frankincense, myrrh, Immortelle, 

6 drops of melaleuca, 

3 capsules of Green Tea (or loose green tea, strained) in the Day Face Cream, 

2 bags or loose Chamomile Tea or 3 drops of chamomile essential oil, in the Night Face Cream 

3 capsules of Evening Primrose oil in the Night Face Cream.  

Mix with a hand mixer the base creams: like Shea Butter and /or carrier oils like solid coconut oil to whip them into a creamy lotion first.  

Then add in your homemade Geranium Essence; see my master mix of Essence? I simply keep it in the refrigerator, until I need it:

 (No worries if you're not wanting to make the essence, you can use geranium essential oil too. I just wanted to try something that contained more of  "nature's gifts." 

To the Evening cream I added evening Primrose capsules, opening them to let their oil out and chamomile tea. Chamomile comes in an essential oil, but I didn't have any, so I improvised: I cooked a small amount of almond oil in a measuring cup to boil, added loose tea (two tea bag equivalence, just tear them open), then I strained the oily mixture; catching the loose tea in the strainer. Note in the next picture: the green chamomile mixture is in top picture, while the orange powder on the bottom of the picture is the green tea. 

To the Day cream I added 3 Green Tea capsules, opening them to release their powders from a capsule (I used Pharmanex, but you can make green tea like I did with the Chamomile). Link:  https://www.nuskin.com/content/nuskin/en_US/products/shop/px_categories/cell_protection/01003529.html

Whip with your hand mixer. I like to use a portable one: 

Upon request, I'm adding the Shea Soothe recipe: 

Using a hand mixer, whip 1/2 Cup Shea Butter. 

Add 1 Tbl of Vitamin E, 1 Tbl aloe vera, and 7 drops each of 

lavender, frankincense, and myrrh. Simply stir it in. 

I keep this on hand because it is calming for a quick-fix for most skin irritations. 

Sore Muscle Remedy, or Deep Blue Alternative

I was on a roll with my lotion making, so I also made two sore muscle jars by adding Deep Blue, Eucalyptus, and Aroma Touch to a base lotion of whipped Shea Butter. Now, every night before bed I message my feet, knees, wrists, hands, and anything else that is sore from the Long Day...

Recipe: 

In a bowl, whip 1/2 Cup Shea Butter with a hand mixer. Add 7 drops each of Deep Blue and Eucalyptus, Add 4 drops of aroma Touch. Stir to mix well. 
Fill 2 recycled clean or new jars with Shea Butter mixture. Use as needed on sore, tired 
muscles. Ahh... 

HoMe ReMeDies’ to treat WiNtEr HaiR: homemaker

HoMe ReMeDies’  to treat WiNtEr HaiR

I had my hair done at a new place, and asked for the summer blonde to be taken out. The result is a color I do not care for and hair in need of a good conditioning; so I have been researching in the hair care "on the cheap." My budget and husband are thanking me. Give these a try, they are all fabulous!

Why does the winter seem to dry out our hair?

The winter brings dry hair with its presence. Dry heat pumped into our homes equals’ dry hair. Hair hydrating conditioner treatments can become costly. Try these homemade conditioners straight out of you kitchen cabinets!

The HoNey HuMectanT:

Honey and molasses are both natural humectants, meaning they attract and hold on to moisture. They are also excellent ingredients to use in creating your own conditioning hair pack to help combat dry winter hair. (Yield: 4.5 ounces)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey or molasses

1 tablespoon almond oil

4 drops of essential oil of lavender

Directions:

Stir the honey and oil together until well mixed. Then apply the entire mixture to clean, damp hair and massage into your strands and scalp. Put on a shower cap or cover your hair with plastic wrap and leave the treatment on for 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition as usual.

Luster YOGURT isn’t Just for Eating:   

This is a great conditioning hair mask for repairing dry, damaged hair especially during the winter months. It will help revive lackluster hair, from your scalp to the ends of your hair. (Yield: 5 ounces)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoon light olive oil

2 to 4 drops essential oil of peppermint

1 to 2 drops essential oil of rosemary

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix until you have a smooth paste. Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair and massage into your hair and scalp. Put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in an old towel and leave the mixture on for 15 minutes, then rinse well with warm water and style as usual.

AvOcAdos Anyone?

Avocados are rich in oil, protein, B vitamins and vitamin A, and they are super-hydrating to dry, damaged hair. They contain more protein than any other fruit, and their abundant natural oil will coat your hair and form a protective barrier, keeping your locks well hydrated, soft and flexible. (Yield: 2 ounces)

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado, mashed

2 tablespoons sour cream

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 drops of essential oil of lemon

Directions:

Stir all of the ingredients together until you have a smooth paste, using a fork or blender. Apply the entire mixture to your head and massage it into your hair and scalp. Wrap hair in a warm towel or put on a shower cap and leave the treatment on for 20 minutes. Rinse well with warm water, then shampoo as usual. 

The UltiMaTe RoYaL TreAtMenT:Use this conditioner once a week during the winter to keep your hair soft, radiant and flexible. It contains three natural oils that are effective in treating dry hair and easily found at your local grocery or natural food store. (Yield: 2 ounces) 

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon almond oil

1 teaspoon avocado oil

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 drops of essential oil of lemon

                                  
Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together and stir thoroughly. Massage into your hair and scalp. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or use a shower cap and leave the conditioner on for 15 minutes. Shampoo your hair as usual and rinse well.

EggS Ain’t Just for Breakfast!

Using fresh eggs to nourish and condition your hair is a classic beauty treatment -- you may remember your grandmother doing this, it is a classic! The protein and lecithin contained in eggs keep your hair soft and smooth. (Yield: 3 ounces)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup water

1 egg

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 drops of essential oil of lemon

Directions:

Mix together all of the ingredients and stir well. Shampoo your hair as usual and massage the conditioner into your hair. Leave on for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water -- but not too hot or you could end up with bits of cooked egg in your hair! Follow with a cool rinse and style as usual.

Give these remedies a try and see if it adds some luster to your hair. Your budget is better used on a new pair of shoes anyway. ;-D