DIY Essential Oils: Inspired, Creative Pampering!

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Good morning folks - have you been keeping up with my August Art Challenge? Sign up at amyoes.com to join in the fun - I'll be sending you some tips every week. It's never too late, too hard, too much, or too HOT to start creating! There's nothing very challenging about it - except the challenge to see things differently :)

You can see last week's newsletter here.  Next week's has the official lowdown :)

But you might not feel like creating a doodle or drawing to hang on the fridge today. How about some DIY pampering instead?

 Admittedly, this is not my area of expertise - although I'll take a nice foot rub any day. But I would like to introduce you to an expert on the subject - Breanna over at Brea Getting Fit! I've lent her some of my own ideas which you can check out on her blog...

Make Your Own Inchies!

Find Your Creative Side :)

So I'll hand the "mic" over to Brea now - take it away, crazy oil lady! :)

As Amy and I were talking, she let it slip that she’d never really dabbled in essential oils. Which prompted some indignation on my part. How on earth has someone I consider a friend not heard of essential oils?

How does this happen? My husband refers to me as the “crazy oil lady”. I like to think that it’s with fondness...though I’m not entirely convinced. The thing is, he’s right! Essential oils are a slight obsession of mine.

Perhaps because I’ve seen and felt what they can do for myself, my family, and my friends, and mostly because they actually save me money. You read that right. Using essential oils (which can seem like a hefty investment) has actually saved me money in the 2 years that I’ve been using them.

Wait. How is that possible? I don’t use the oils that you see on the shelf at Whole Foods (and I sincerely hope you don’t either-those scare me!), because there really isn’t a regulating body for essential oils. In fact, in order to label an oil “100% pure”, it only has to contain 5% actual oil. FIVE.PERCENT.

This is why I like knowing where my oils come from, how they’re processed, and that they come with a guarantee.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. You’re probably wondering why (and how) these oils can possibly save my money. Well, for starters, I make my own face wash. I also use them to make my own laundry soap, dish soap, and more.

I also no longer have to buy candles (which my husband usually ended up being allergic to...so they were a huge waste of money!), air fresheners, or bug repellant. I make my own. I even made my own sunscreen.

Before you write me off as totally crazy, hear me out: most of the products that you use already rely on essential oils as one of their ingredients. But you can’t possibly know where these oils are sourced, or if they’re pure. This is why I make my own stuff, y’all.

So today, in the spirit of sharing my oily craziness, I’m going to share one of my favorite things to make in the summertime: a foot scrub. Because, let’s face it: we wear a lot of sandals (or no shoes at all) when it’s hot.

Peppermint Lemon Foot Scrub

• 1 cup epsom salts
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 2 Tablespoons raw honey
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil

Grab a glass mason jar to mix your foot scrub.

Gently melting your coconut oil. You don’t want it super hot. Once it’s melted, stir in your honey until combined, then add in your essential oils.

Because we’re using a citrus oil, make sure that your coconut oil/honey combo is not hot, as this will negate the properties of the lemon oil.

Finally, add in your epsom salts and stir to combine. Seal your jar, and let it sit for a few hours to make sure everything is well combined.

When you’re ready to use your scrub, grab a small scoop and, while sitting apply to your feet, paying close attention to any rough spots. Rinse with warm water, and pat dry.

Store your scrub in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.  

Be warned: your feet may tingle a bit-that’s part of the fun. The peppermint is very invigorating, and the lemon helps to stave off odor.

Enjoy!

Thanks Brea!

Well, I've got a new project to start and honey to pick up at the store - I think I might have found a new hobby!  Do you have an essential oil recipe or recommendation?  Send it along!

And be sure to visit Brea over at her blog for some more great tips :)

Brea Gunn is the beauty and the brains behind BreaGettingFit. She is a hard-working, fun-loving mom, wife, and entrepreneur, who writes about the things that interest her: parenting, family, natural living, healthy habits, and more. Brea is currently working on her personal trainer certification, and is taking nutrition classes so she can help herself and her fans. She loves to sing and dance, though not in public. You can catch up with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Before I Go...

amyoes.com

“Do your thing and don't care if they like it.” 
― Tina Fey, Bossypants