All Natural, Moisturizing Hand & Bath Soap

So, I recently downloaded the ThinkDirty app and realizing how many of our personal care products were a 9-10 rating on the toxin scale, mainly for carcinogenicity and developmental & reproductive toxicity, I was thoroughly horrified. My baby's soap that I have been using on her for her entire, little, sensitive, rapidly growing, and impressionable two years of life is a 9 on the toxicity scale for developmental & reproductive toxicity and a 4 on the carcinogenicity scale. How? Well, the mysterious label "fragrance" is legally allowed to be used in every personal care product to mask dangerous, toxic chemicals and is rated as a 9. And three other ingredients - Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Peg 150 Distearate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate  - are a 4 on the carcinogenicity scale. Our hand soap was only worse on the toxicity scale - a full on 10 for Carcinogenicity with Dmdm Hydantoin (a chemical like this is pretty common in hand soaps), and a 9 for "fragrance" on the developmental & reproductive toxicity. I'm sure the amounts are small, but when it's in almost all of our personal care and cleaning products that we use on a repetitive, daily basis, we are surely overloading our bodies with toxins whose effects may take years to be completely known.

I know it's easy to feel jaded and complacent with the rationalization that "everything is toxic and causes cancer," but I will no longer let that stop me from trying to make healthier choices for me and my family. With my precious little girl, the stakes are just too high. I wish I could afford to completely eliminate our toxic, chemical products and replace them with far healthier alternatives, but for now I can't. I also can not afford the health consequences of not at least starting to try, little by little, to live healthier. It is possible if you're willing to make your health a priority in your life.

Young Living creates effective, natural and essential oil empowered alternatives to nearly every chemical, toxic product on the market. Unfortunately, I can't always afford them yet, so whenever possible or if something is out of stock, I try to make my own alternative. Plus, it's rather fun to experiment and create a product uniquely designed to meet your own individual and family needs.

This hand & bath soap recipe is still being experimented with and perfected, nor is it my own original creation. I got it from @ashleymartinessentials on Instagram because I was looking for a functional essential oil soap recipe that would be soft on mine and my daughter's sensitive skin. We live in a dry area, and during the winter soaps really dry out our skin. I modified the original recipe a bit to fit our own needs and so far I really like it.

Large glass or stainless steel soap dispenser (for storing essential oils safely)

1/2 cup full fat Coconut Milk (the kind that comes in a can)

3/4 cup Unscented, Baby Mild Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap

2 tbsp. Vitamin E oil (this is perhaps the most expensive part and can be substituted with vitamin e oil diluted with coconut oil or extra aloe vera gel).

1/4 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil (or your favorite carrier oil).

1 tbsp. Vegetable Glycerine (I omitted this in mine since it's really just for texture and extra bubbles).

1-2 tbsp. Aloe Vera Gel

10 drops Lavender essential oil

10 drops Geranium essential oil

10 drops Copaiba essential oil

I chose these specific essential oils because I love their smell and how nourishing they are for the skin. You can always experiment with the amount and type of essential oils for your individual needs. Some other great combinations would be Melaleuca, Lavender, and Frankincense; Thieves, Lavender, and Copaiba; Stress Away and Geranium; Gentle Baby and Copaiba for younger children and pregnant women. The oils I chose and others like Melaleuca, Gentle Baby, and Frankincense are particularly gentle on even sensitive skin types and can always be diluted or eliminated if sensitivity occurs.

Even after learning how toxic our personal care product were, it took me a few weeks to scrape up enough time, energy, and materials to make this soap. It's never too late to start and it is so worth any inconvenience and extra expense to have that extra peace of mind. Why not starting using products that help our bodies do what they were meant to do, rather than potentially damage them in the long run? Worth it.

Email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about how essential oils can benefit you and your family. I would love to hear from you!

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) and statements have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Miracle Grout Cleaner

The townhouse we live in is only a couple of years old, but I don't think the grout had been scrubbed since it was built! Rather than the pale beige it started out as, much of it had become a dark, grimy gray. It was not attractive. You never realize how much of a difference the color of the grout can make in a room until you finally clean it. But the difference is huge!

So, I took my beloved all natural All Purpose Cleaner to it with a scrub brush. I also used a bowl of soapy water, white distilled vinegar, and lemon juice to rinse the brush in. The result was astounding! The grout actually became its original color again and it's SO refreshing.

I love being able to clean effectively without any harsh, toxic, or cancer causing chemicals. Especially when you're cleaning around little kids or pets who inevitably lick everything, it can bring a lot of peace of mind. Plus, my all natural cleaners smell about a million times better. Sure, I felt a bit like Cinderella, down on my hands and knees, scrubbing the grout. But I also felt empowered and excited to be doing it on my own terms without having to depend on bleach or the like.

If you would like to learn more about how essential oils can benefit you and your family email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com! It's such a fun and exciting process leading a healthier, more non-toxic, chemical free lifestyle with essential oils that I love to mentor others in. You'll be surprised just how indispensable they become in your home.

Facial Cleanse & Moisturizer

I have wondered how people get flawless skin. I always assumed that they must just be more diligent or have better skin genetics. The truth is I just do not have the energy to actually wash my face every night and morning. Hey, I count it as a win if I brush my teeth. But my skin could use some extra love sometimes, so I knew I needed to incorporate some cleansing, skin rejuvenating oils into my routine. These oils are excellent for cleansing the skin and supporting its natural appearance. Plus, it smells so nice and refreshing. It's relaxing at night and fresh in the morning. The best part is that since it's a spray all I have to do it spray it onto a wipe and wipe my face down each morning and night, rather than somehow managing to splash the whole bathroom in a face washing routine.

The recipe is as follows and can always be modified to fit your individual needs and skin type:

1 2oz. amber glass spray bottle

5 drops Lavender

5 drops Frankincense

3 drops Melaleuca Alternifolia

2 drops Purification

3 drops Geranium

10 drops Vitamin E oil

1/2 tsp. Young Living V-6 oil OR Grapeseed or Jojoba oil (coconut oil can cause light breakouts on some skin types. So the carrier oil included should be experimented with until you find the right fit for your skin.)

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Fill the rest of the way with Aloe Vera Witch Hazel

NOTE: I never spray this directly on my face because I do not want to risk getting it in the eyes. Essential oils will irritate eyes and must be diluted with a carrier oil, not water. I always spray it on a towel or wipe first to apply.

You can always add more carrier oil and less witch hazel. I just have a skin type that breaks out when a solution is too oily. Witch Hazel is a great toner and cleanser for the skin that has more of a water like consistency so I love to use it in my sprays to help them spray easier.

Frankincense and Lavender are especially gentle oils that in addition to being uplifting, relaxing, and soothing, are excellent for skin care. Melaleuca or Tea Tree helps cleanse the skin of impurities - toxins, makeup, oily residue, etc. Purification is Young Living's proprietary cleansing blend. It contains Melaleuca and Lavandin (similar too but a bit sharper than Lavender) as well as other freshening oils. And Geranium is a gentle skin tonic, cleanser, and moisturizer that is also calming and uplifting. It's similar to both Lavender and Rose, but at a much more affordable price than Rose. If I had Rose, I would certainly add it to this spray, but Geranium is an excellent substitute.

Email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com if you're interested in learning more about how essential oils can benefit you and your family! I love to answer questions and mentor other in their essential oil journeys. There is no better time to take charge of your health and wellness. Plus, four out of five of these oils (all but Geranium) are included in my favorite Premium Starter Kit! It doesn't get better than that.

 *Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to do what it was meant to do, like nutritional supplements. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Hair Serum - Anti-Frizz Detangler Spray

So, like most women I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. The truth is I've never really cared enough to learn how to tame it so it's almost always just been allowed to do its own thing. I love it because it's naturally wavy, long, and a pretty auburn color in the right lighting. But it also likes to frizz A LOT. Ever since becoming a mother I've just been throwing it up in ponytails and by the end of the day it's a frizzy mess that only vaguely resembles a ponytail. The frizz has gotten especially bad these past few months to the point where it became an embarrassing nuisance even for a stay at home, too tired to care most of the time mom like me. I suspected it may even be damaged it was so bad. Plus, now that my daughter's hair is getting longer and harder to tame I knew a gentle detangler would be invaluable.

Once again, essential oils to the rescue! Here is the recipe for a quick, easy and incredibly healthy, gentle, and beneficial hair serum:

1 2oz. amber glass spray bottle

5 drops Stress Away

5 drops Lavender

3 drops Geranium

2 drops Cedarwood

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. fractionated coconut oil

10 drops Vitamin E Oil

Fill the rest of the way with Aloe Vera Witch Hazel

It feels and smells wonderful! Of course, Stress Away is the best smelling oil blend known to man. I also used it because it contains both Lavender and Cedarwood, which are excellent for hair health and growth. Thicker, longer hair in a yummy smelling bottle! Geranium, Lavender, and Cedarwood are nourishing for both skin and hair. I use them for anything and everything. Plus, they are all generally regarded as safe for children because they are so gentle. 

Both Lavender and Stress Away are included in Young Living's incredibly valued Premium Starter Kit. If you're interested in learning more about how essential oils can benefit you and your family email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com! I love to answer questions and mentor others in their essential oil journeys! It is the best way to start living a more chemical free, healthier life.

 *Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to heal itself, like nutritional supplements. Any conditions mentioned above are things that myself and other people have experienced alleviation of when using essential oils and everyone can react differently. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Testimonial Tuesday: Odor Neutralizers

t's that day every parent dreads and never wants to think about, but deep down we all know it's inevitable. The day you walk into your toddler's room to find that they have been happily playing with the contents of their own explosive diaper. Much gagging and cringing and baths and laundry ensue while you try to remind yourself why you ever wanted children (or pets) in the first place. The ironic twist is that if it's explosive it's almost certainly the worst smelling kind.

I was horrified to find that my daughter had in fact slicked her hair back with it. And let me tell you, that smell does NOT come out of hair easily. I made sure to wash her hair thoroughly in the bath, but it wasn't enough. After her hair had dried I noticed a tenacious oily residue and gag inducing smell remained. Back to the bath we went and this time I added a couple drops of Lemon, Purification, and Lavender to her shampoo and it totally did the trick! Not only did her hair smell much better, but it came out especially clean and silky soft. It was much easier to comb and any residue was completely gone. I also added a few drops of Purification to the laundry load I did immediately and everything came out clean and fresh smelling. Thank goodness.

Purification is Young Living's proprietary blend especially formulated to deodorize, freshen, and clean. Lemon is also very cleansing and cuts through grease and stains. And Lavender is good for hair and skin and smells heavenly. All three of these indispensable household oils are included in the Young Living Premium Starter Kit, which I honestly don't how I lived without. If you're tired of living a life full of chemicals gross smells - basically a typical life with children or pets - without these secret weapons then email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com to learn more!

 *Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to do what it was meant to do, like nutritional supplements. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.

Why Young Living?

When I first got seriously interested in taking control of mine and my family's health with essential oils, I was very confused and conflicted about which essential oil company to buy from. My primary concerns were that they be both effective and safe to use for myself and my baby. So far, I had heard about Young Living, but not much. So, I decided to do some research. The two companies I was really split between were DoTerra and Young Living. Truth be told, I had heard WAY more about DoTerra and their marketing and design is pretty on point. But I learned in my research that DoTerra was actually formed by executives that left Young Living, meaning they learned what they know from there. And the founder of Young Living, Gary Young, learned from and trained with experts in the field of essential oils in France and Germany where the oils are in fact used for medicinal purposes. Gary Young and the company he established with his very own farms and distillation are truly world leaders in essential oils considering how he pioneered their use in the US. They are marketed as "Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade" but that is only a trademark, not regulated, and those claims are made by every essential oil producer.

But what really convinced me to jump in with Young Living was the fact that they are committed to top notch quality and purity. And it isn't just some marketing ploy when they claim 100% pure, therapeutic grade. They are the ONLY essential oil company to own their own farms and make sure that all weed control is done by hand and all pest control is done using their own essential oils. How amazing is that?! This was one of the main selling points for me. They are beyond organic and they test each batch of oil with state of the art in house testing called Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and 3rd party testing.

Now you might be thinking, is it really so significant if other companies adulterate their oils with synthetics and use lower quality distillations? YES, it is. One of the primary reasons that people turn to essential oils is because they are tired of the serious side effects, risks, and expense of being dependent on chemical and synthetic products. Adulterated or lower quality essential oils do not have the healing power and complex therapeutic chemical structure of true therapeutic grade essential oils. "Adulteration of essential oils will become more and more common as the supply of top-quality essential oils dwindles and demand continues to increase ... Adulterated oils that are mixed with synthetic extenders can be very detrimental, causing rashes, burns, and skin irritations" (Essential Oils Pocket Reference, 25). Certain pure, "hot" oils such as Oregano and Peppermint may also cause skin irritation if not diluted properly in a carrier oil, but their health benefits when pure are undeniable.

I was determined to only use the best on my baby and my family. So, Young Living was the natural choice. They have the most experience - 20+ years - and the largest selection of essential oils and blends on the market! I also love the pricing and design of their Premium Starter Kits. The 5ml bottles are perfect for discovering what you love, like, and maybe aren't all that crazy about (though they're all so useful you can not help but love them) at an affordable price.

The reason I started sharing essential oils is because I saw amazing results that can't be beat. I would never recommend something I didn't wholeheartedly believe in or anything but the very best, especially for children. This whole journey with essential oils has been so eye opening and empowering and I love helping others discover the miraculous benefits of these oils for everyday healthy living and wellness. So email me at rach.dorian@gmail.com to learn more! 

*Disclaimer: This post is NOT intended as medical advice of any kind because I am not a doctor. These product(s) have not been tested or evaluated by the FDA and so they are not intended to cure, treat, or prevent disease. They only help your body to heal itself. Any conditions mentioned above are things that myself and other people have experienced alleviation of when using essential oils and everyone can react differently. Caution should be exercised with first time oil use - skin patch tests prior to use and dilution with carrier oil - especially in children. Children, especially under the age of 6, should never ingest essential oils without advice of a healthcare professional since they are concentrated and potent. If you are under the care of a physician, nursing, taking prescription medication, or pregnant please consult your doctor prior to use. Keep essential oils out of reach of children.