Essential Oils and FREE Diffuser Necklace for Christmas

If you're like me, you definitely don't have your Christmas shopping done, you are desperately trying to get any discount, coupon and offer out there, but you also don't ever compromise on quality when it comes to health and wellness.

It's with you in mind that I am offering this gift when you grab your Young Living starter kit of awesomeness and give yourself and your family a gift you will NEVER regret.

I always recommend getting started with the premium starter kit for $160 because it is the best deal and comes with 11 bottles of oil and a diffuser. The diffuser retails at almost $100 - so it's a fabulous deal! BONUS - this month, you also get the Christmas Spirit blend for FREE with the kit!

Not a day has gone by since I got my kit years ago that I haven't been over-the-moon thankful for my oils. Just a few of my favorites from the kit:

• Thieves - we use Thieves daily for boosting our immune system and I love that I can use it topically OR in my diffuser. The diffuser is really helpful to have because I can fight airborne germies that way too! Love it! 
• Lavender - we use Lavender for calming, supporting skin, in our owie roller, and in our Sweet Dreams bedtime spray - it's my most reached for oil! 
• Peppermint -  we love this one for when your head starts pounding, your tummy starts feeling funky, and as a great energy boost in the diffuser. 

I use my oils from the starter kit each and every day, and you can see more in this graphic from my December newsletter below.

When you buy your kit before December 31st, I will also send you a diffuser necklace for you to enjoy with your oils.

Whether you are brand new to oils or have been learning little bits at a time, I am here to help you learn (because you know I can't turn the teacher-in-me off) and walk with you on your journey toward health and wellness. Here we go!

 You can order here. 

Hurry - my offer ends Dec. 31st!

Check out these other posts to get more ideas on how you will be using your oils:

•  Orange Essential oil recipes
• 4 Essential Oil Must-Haves for your home 
• The Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils
• Essential Oil Q + A: How and Why to Use Them

5 Things I Love about PureHaven Essentials

You know I am obsessed with products that are safe, clean, made from ingredients I trust, and work great. When I was introduced to PureHaven Essentials, there were a few things that made me take a second look.

1. They use high quality ingredients that are hand-crafted in small batches, well-tested, and made to be a safe addition to your home. I mean - even the water that goes into their products passes through a state of the art system comprised of both Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultra Violet (UV) filters. Pretty cool!

2. They offer some of my favorite products. I have no interest in a company that doesn't supply what I need. Whether I am looking to stock up on shower gel, deodorant, moisturizing hand soap or jojoba oil, they have me covered.

3. They are affordable. While I do appreciate the best quality products, I don't have $30 to spend on hand soap. However, I do have $13.95 to spend on a 16 oz bottle of safe, moisturizing hand soap. By the way, the products smell amazing, since they are using organic essential oils to scent them. The shower gel makes me feel like I am back in Costa Rica on vacation.

4. I love that I am supporting a company that cares that what they are giving consumers is safe, and I am supporting an independent consultant who is trying to support herself and/or her family. I love knowing who my dollars are supporting. Julie from PureHaven Essentials has been great to work with and very generous with her great products...which leads me to #5.

5. I love that we are able to share with you! We are giving away a bottle of shower gel (yes, the amazing tropical smelling one) to one of you! Awesome, right?

GIVEAWAY!! (1) lucky winner will receive (1) bottle of PureHaven Essentials Shower Gel. Enter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Julie for sending products for review. No other compensation was given.  

4 Essential Oil Must-Haves For Your Home

Let's talk more about essential oils today. If you missed Part 1 - How To Use Essential Oils, make sure to check it out first. Before I tell you about some of my favorite oils and their uses, let me just say that it is important to make sure you are using high quality, therapeutic-grade oils that are in a dark glass container to keep the light from affecting them. Also, as I said in Part 1, use caution when applying oils.

Alrighty, with that said, here are some of my favorites:

Lavender - Lavender is so versatile and so very gentle that it can be used by almost anyone. It is especially great for supporting healing skin irritations or cuts. I really love the smell too. It has a sweet and calming scent, and I love it to put a little on my neck as a natural fragrance. Here are some more uses:

• rub a drop on your palms, bottoms of feet, or smooth on your pillow to support sleep

• add a few drops to a dryer ball to make clean clothes smell amazing

• rub on dry or chapped skin

• use 2-4 drops as deodorant

• put a few drops on a wet cloth and throw it into the dryer to scent clothes, deodorize and freshen the laundry

• apply 2-3 drops to a rash to support healthy skin 

• diffuse in a room or put a drop on a diffuser necklace to support calmness in stressful situations

Lemon - Lemon is so fresh and energizing. I love even just opening my bottle and taking a deep breath of it for a pick me up! The one thing you do have to be careful about with lemon is that you don't want to put it on any skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight within 72 hours. Here are my fave uses:

• Add 1 drop to your glass of water to give it a nice zing

• Rub a drop on a cutting board to cleanse bacteria

• Add 2-3 drops to water and spray counters to disinfect

• Diffuse it to give you a great mood boost

• add to a drop of honey to soothe a cough or sore throat

• apply directly to cold sores for relief

• remove gum, label stickers, and greasy messes from fabric

Peppermint - Peppermint is well known for soothing digestive problems. It has also been studied for it's ability to improve concentration and trigger your sense of fullness after meals. We like the sound of that, right? Here are more uses:

• Rub a drop on temples, forehead or back of neck for headache relief (this is my favorite remedy for headaches)

• Place a drop on the tongue and inhale into the nose and sinuses to relieve congestion from a cold

• Place a couple drops in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee

• Mix in footbath to relieve sore feet  

• Rub on your stomach or feet to calm upset stomach

• Diffuse during a meal to help you feel full

• Add to shampoo or conditioner for a stimulating hair and scalp massage

Tea Tree - This is another favorite of mine, which we use a lot in my household. Tea Tree is another good one for skin conditions. Here's more:

• put a couple drops in your shampoo to help with dandruff

• put a little on a cut, burn, or insect bites to support healthy skin

• add 2 drops to a bit of carrier oil and spread on eczema

• dab a drop on skin blemishes to support healthy skin 

• combine a few drops with a carrier oil and use to support healthy skin for athlete's foot and eczema

• use combined with salt to scrub your bath or bathroom tiles

These are just four of my favorite essential oils. There are many more out there, and they are a great way to clean, disinfect, and help heal our body naturally, while being safe for our families and the environment! I would love to hear how you use essential oils and which are your favorite. Share, share, share!!

Also, check out:

Essential Oil Q+A: How and Why to Use Them

What is Aromatherapy

The Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils

Let me know if I can answer more of your questions or guide you in your essential oil journey. I am here to help! If you would like to be added to a free, educational resource full of people sharing how they use oils, ask to join the Apothecary Society. It is one of my favorite places to go to get ideas about how others are using their oils and what they love about them. Everyone is so positive and helpful. I just love it! (And no, nobody will be trying to sell you anything!) You can tell them that I (Cara Nitz) sent you over.

The Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils

I am a huge fan of using essential oils. They have been used for centuries, not just for their beautiful natural scent, but because they promote wellness so well. I love using them to support my wellness - from occasional neck and head tension to supporting my digestive track - they can even be used around the home as an air freshener or even a hand sanitizer.

Lavendar essential oil is one of my absolute favorites, because it is one of the safest oils and has a lovely light scent. Lavendar oil is one of the first essential oils I ever used, and I have been hooked since. I call it the "Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils" because I can use this little treasure in so many ways and with everyone in my family - from my 1 year old to my hubby. In fact, I use lavender every day in my homemade facial moisturizer. I also love to use it diluted with coconut oil on my children's feet for calming.

 Lavender and Frankincense are two of my favorite skin oils!

First, let me just say that it is important to make sure you are using high quality, therapeutic-grade oils that are in a dark glass container to keep the light from affecting them. Since it is a huge priority to me to only put the highest quality products in and on my body, I get my oils from Young Living.

Did you know almost every oil is a fragrant/cosmetic/perfume grade essential oil, which means they are filled with chemicals/toxins/synthetics/fillers - they can actually do more harm than good. BUT the average consumer doesn't know this and companies can write "pure, 100%, natural" on the bottle if 3-5% of the bottle is pure. This is why I prefer Young Living oils - I can trust them. When I use Young Living, I know I am getting the purest essential oil in that bottle, nothing more. No additives, no synthetics, just pure, essential oil goodness. In fact, they have a Seed to Seal Guarantee that is unmatched by any competitor. That is why they work so well.

 Here are two pictures from the Young Living St. Marie farm in ID. You can even go visit YL farms yourself and check out how your oils are made!

Lavender is so versatile and so very gentle that it can be used by almost anyone. Although it is very gentle on most people, make sure you use caution when applying oils. I always dilute them with a carrier oil like coconut oil or sweet almond oil.

Lavender has a sweet and calming scent, and I love to put a little on my neck as a natural fragrance (bonus: it helps me with occasional stress and tension).

Here are some other uses:

• rub a drop on your palms and smooth on your pillow to support your sleep

• mix a drop with coconut oil on dry or chapped skin

• use 2-4 drops as deodorant

• put a few drops on a wet cloth or wool dryer ball and throw it into the dryer to scent clothes, deodorize and freshen the laundry

• mix with coconut oil to help soothe occasional skin irritations due to weather or activity

• add a few drops to Epsom salts to relax and unwind

Lavendar EO is a great place to start if you are new to essential oils. If you are an old pro, this oil is probably one of your favorites. If you are curious about oils or have any questions, comment below and I will do my best to help you! Also check out my Essential Oil Q + A: How and Why to Use Them.

If you have any other great ways you use essential oils, please share them!

Have You Tried Argan Oil?

I received products to try out. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are my own.

Argan oil? Sounds familiar...I will give you a hint - you can eat it, but most people use it for a very high quality product on their skin or hair. It is a plant oil made from the kernels of the argan tree from Morocco. People have used it not only as a personal care product, but as a heart-healthy oil to eat with bread or drizzle on dinner for many years.

As with most things, quality is key. I have been using the Somaluxe argan oil from Lady Soma, because I love their high standards! Lady Soma selects every raw ingredient that goes into their products. They require organic certification for their products which contain organic ingredients and never use genetically modified produce/grains. I love that their ingredients are grown bio-dynamically and organically, or ethically wild-harvested. Lady Soma products do not include any chemical ingredients as identified by the Green Guide or chemicals listed as hazardous by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics or the European Union Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC).

I love using argan oil for both my hair and my skin. For hair, it adds moisture, shine and frizz control. I use just a tiny bit, like I have shown below. I rub it into my hands a bit and spread through the ends of my damp hair. It is a non-greasy, alcohol free formula that quickly absorbs and nourishes. I love how soft and manageable it makes my hair. I noticed a difference right away. This is the only conditioner I use for my hair, and I only need to apply it every couple days or so. 

Oh, and did I mention it smells amazing?! With several essential oils added into the formula, it is both calming and energizing. You will love it!

You can also try it on your skin. When applying to areas of the face, focus on target areas such as under and around the eyes and neck. It has great anti-aging benefits, and it definitely makes your skin feel soft and moisturized.

If you love their argan oil, you may also want to check out some of the other Lady Soma products, such as their Somaluxe Redness Repair, a calming treatment for sensitive skin that enhances complexion and adds gentle moisture. Not only can you use it for rosacea, sunburn, and skin treatments, but you can also use this for allergies.

Everything You Want to Know About Coconut: Recipes, Uses, Benefits

It is World Coconut Day!

Whether you have never heard about the awesome health benefits of coconut products, are a newbie to trying them out or have been in love for years, I want to celebrate with you!

I am sharing some of my favorite posts, which help you learn about why coconut oil, flour, milk and more is sooooooo good for you! I am also sharing more information about oil pulling, and all my favorite recipes that use coconut!

It is all right at your fingertips below. Check it out, have fun, enjoy some coconut today, and let me know if you have any questions!

35 AWESOME ways to use coconut oil - smoothies, in your coffee, shaving lotion, and so many more!!

Everything you want to know about oil pulling - get the why and how and start doing this healthy habit today!

Top 5 Reasons to LOVE coconut oil - if you have not discovered all the awesome powers of this oil, this is a must read!!

Keeping Skin Supple Naturally - you will find some helpful recipes and tips for your skin, some with and some without coconut oil

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies - gluten free, dairy free, and paleo

Gingered Carrot and Coconut Soup - also check out the 200 Coconut recipe book mentioned

Award-winning Chocolate Melt-In-Your-Mouth No-Bake Cookies - to die for, and dare I say, a bit healthy??? :-)

Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Carrot/Sweet Potato Ginger Soup - one of our family favorites, perfect for a fall or winter day

Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream - creamiest ice cream ever!

Crockpot Italian Chicken Soup - one of our most popular recipes ever!! A Pinterest fave with over 15,000 pins.

Now, tell me, how do you use coconut? What is your favorite recipe? Favorite use? Favorite benefit?

Citrus Clear Review and Giveaway

I received product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are mine.

Fresh. Energizing. Effective. Clean. Those are a few words that I would use to describe Citrus Clear and their products. Their focus with their skincare line is to be naturally-based, eco-friendly, and sustainable. They hit that nail right on the head with all the products that I tried out.

My two favorite products are the Grapefruit Spot Treatment and Sensitive Moisturizer. The spot treatment is very effective without being too harsh on your skin. With ingredients like organic herbs, aloe vera, witch hazel and vitamin C, your skin will love this treatment.

The Sensitive Moisturizer is also a very gentle product. With ingredients such as organic aloe vera, shea butter, organic jojoba oil, you will love how it feels on your face. I especially liked the refreshing smell of the grapefruit, lemon, orange and other citrus essential oils it contains. It left my skin feeling soft, not oily.

Both of these products are also very affordable, each priced under $15. You can afford to give your skin gentle nourishment with Citrus Clear!

We want to share with you! Check out the giveaway below.

(1) Reader will win (1) bottle of Grapefruit Spot Treatment to try out for yourself!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best One Ingredient Moisturizer Ever!

*I was provided product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own.

You have heard me tout the benefits of coconut oil for a long time. One of the ways we use it is as a full body moisturizer. It is simply amazing! That is why you are going to find this hard to believe...but I believe that I have found a moisturizer that I love maybe a smidge more than coconut oil.

It is called moringa oil. 

I hadn't hear of moringa oil until fairly recently, but I wish I had known about it longer. What is it? It is an amazing anti-aging product, commonly found in high end beauty creams. Moringa is one of the most nutrient dense plants ever tested. It has a ton of vitamins, minerals, proteins, anti-oxidants, and amino acids packed into it. 

Check out all you can do with this awesome oil: treat cold-sores, rashes, sunburns, bug bites and even minor skin infections. The fact that it has a five-year shelf life is awesome, compared to the usual natural and organic products I use on my skin.

So what makes this better than coconut oil, in my opinion?

Well, first of all, I think it absorbs better. It completely absorbs, and it absorbs much quicker than coconut oil seems to - no greasy feeling.

It also contains nutrients like vitamin A, which helps build collagen in the skin, vitamin C to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and the healing and anti-inflammatory benefits of vitamin E.  Antioxidants and nutrients help fight free radical damage that can cause skin tissue damage and lead to the formation of wrinkles. I think my skin looks and feels better when I use moringa oil over coconut oil.

Next, I am going to try Moringa oil in my hair. It is supposed to be highly effective in cleansing and purifying the hair and protects it from environmental damage, including ultra violet radiation. It serves as a valuable conditioner for the scalp, strengthens the roots, and stimulates hair growth. I am hoping to be able to use it as a shampoo and conditioner.

Like most products, you need to make sure you are getting the highest quality Moringa Oil. Green Virgin Products Moringa Oil is 100% pure, certified organic oil, and it is packaged carefully with light blocking and oxygen free packaging to last you forever. It is my favorite brand of Moringa.

Check it out and let me know what you think. Are there any other favorite natural products you like to use in your hair or on your skin?

Luxury For Your Skin

I received products to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

It can be so easy to take our skin for granted. However, without eating the right foods, drinking enough pure water, and moisturizing and protecting with great products, your skin takes a beating!
So, how do you achieve glowing skin your whole life long? Take care of your body and only ingest and and apply to your skin the most pure, nutritional ingredients possible!
One of my favorite new products can help you feed your skin the right way. In fact, Ellovi has created a wonderful raw butter that is only made with six, ethically sourced and wildly harvested ingredients. 

 

Simply put, it is dreamy. This is luxury for your skin!

It is silky to the touch, feels amazing on your skin, and a little goes a long way. Better yet, it is so pure, without any synthetic chemicals, water, or preservatives, that you can eat it! Yes, go ahead and have a lick.

Right now, I am 35 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby, so I have really beefed up the moisturizing of my growing belly. I use Ellovi every day right after I get out of the shower. Not only does it make my skin feel silky smooth, it has helped me prevent stretch marks and the itchy skin most pregnant women suffer with.

 

They have now taken all of the best things about Ellovi Butter, and made the perfect portable variation for your lips. Like Ellovi Butter, their Lip Butter is made with just six ingredients so pure you can eat them. That is a good thing, since what you put on your lips will almost certainly go into your mouth.

These six heavenly ingredients are Hawaiian coconut, sunflower, hemp, macadamia, Ghanaian marula, and shea.

Check out more about their story, their ingredients and find these great products on their website.

Be Beautiful - Inside and Out

I was provided product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

I have a new favorite skin product, and I love it so much I knew I had to share it with you (look for the giveaway at the end of this review). I am so excited about how effective, pure, and overall awesome it is, so let me get right to it. 

First off, I love the name! The product line is called Beautiful, and when you order your own bottle, you get it shipped to you as Beautiful [Your Name]. Check out my bottles for AM Moisturizer and PM Revitalizer below.

What girl wouldn't want to be reminded they are beautiful every day? I know I love it! Seriously, though, I love this because how often are we getting down on ourselves, picking ourselves apart, being overly critical, and not feeling very beautiful? This is a great reminder!

Now, that is not even the best part. The 7 ingredients that are inside these small bottles are the real magic. Pure. Simple. Powerful. Those are the best three words to describe them.

Here is the breakdown of the 7 pure botanical oils found in Beautiful AM Moisturizer and PM Revitalizer along with their benefits:

1. Almond - Moisturizes, soothes and softens skin, relieves itching from dry skin and gives complexion appearance of improvement and glow.
2. Orange - Cleanses the skin through natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help fight acne and restore smooth appearance to skin.
3. Lemon - Natural cleanser, preventative for wrinkling and aging. Significantly increases the anti-oxidative potential of the skin bio surface (to help stop damage to the skin).
4. Olive - Cleanser and moisturizer. Has shown preventative effects for formation of skin cancer and tumors.
5. Avocado - Significantly increases the soluble collagen content in the skin to enrich dry, damaged, chapped or wounded skin. Loaded with vitamins A, D and E.
6. Evening Primose - The nutrients in Evening Primrose Oil are essential for cell structure and improve the elasticity of the skin. There is evidence that it can help reduce wrinkles and even help repair stretch marks. It is also rich omega 6 fatty acids.
7. Apricot - light and gently moisturizes the skin.  Containing vitamins A and E, it soothes the skin and slows signs of aging as well as firming and toning.

So when you combine the benefits of these pure ingredients together you will:

• moisturize, soothe and soften skin
• help relieve itching from dry skin
• give complexion the appearance of improvement and glow
• cleanse the skin
• help fight acne
• help restore smooth appearance to skin
• increase collagen
• enrich dry, damaged, chapped or wounded skin
• improve skin's elasticity
• slow signs of aging

I love how well the Beautiful skin care system works. I drop 2-3 drops onto my middle fingers and quickly spread them across my face. It takes probably 20 seconds, and my skin feels awesome all day and night long. Plus, the natural smell that these oils give off is so energizing!  

You can buy the Beautiful products online. Guess what? They also have a men's line - You're the Man! That would make a great Christmas gift. Also, don't forget to stay up to date on all their great products with their Natural Health Blog and Newsletter.

Now, on to that giveaway I promised...

Three (3) lucky ducks will win (1) bottle of AM Beautiful Moisturizer!

Open to the U.S., Canada, England and Australia. You – or anyone in your household - may win one bottle of Beautiful one time only. Previous winners please do not apply.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
 “For a limited time, the manufacturer is willing to offer my readers one FREE bottle. They said they would love to have our readers try out Beautiful A.M. Moisturizer (for women) or You’re the Man A.M. Moisturizer (for men) and agreed to send one bottle FREE if our readers would pay a minimal shipping and handling charge. This is a one-time only offer!  They also agreed to include 2 eye-opening reports – The Poisons You Put On Your Face Everyday and Why Your Skin Care Products Have Never Worked: The Truth Revealed .”  That’s a total value of over $40.00. Click here to get your FREE Bottle and FREE reports now!”
 

(PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO SHIPPING/HANDLING CHARGE TO GIVEAWAY WINNERS OR PRODUCT REVIEWERS!

THIS OFFER IS FOR ANY PRODUCT REVIEW READER THAT WOULD LIKE TO TRY THE PRODUCT! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GIVEAWAY OFFER – WHERE WE WILL SHIP THE WINNERS A FREE BOTTLE AFTER YOU PROVIDE US WITH THEIR MAILING ADDRESS!)

Make Healthy Changes In Your Home

I was provided products to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

I know I have raved many times about the awesomeness of soap nuts. If you haven't heard about them or tried them yet, now is the time! They are one of the easiest, natural switches you can make in your household.

Green Virgin Products makes soap nuts and soap nuts liquid concentrate, which is super easy to use with your laundry. It is less than half the cost of Tide, 100% non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and even has a net negative carbon footprint! It matters what you put on your laundry, because that in turn goes on your skin and gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Why use chemicals when you can use something as natural as soap nuts?

Plus, soap nuts and their liquid concentrate can be used for even more than laundry! I bet you didn't know that you can use them for washing your car, washing your pet, as an all-purpose cleaner, washing fruits and veggies,  and more. 

I have personally been using soap nuts for years, and I have never been disappointed with the results. You can use the Soap Nuts Liquid just as you would regular detergent. I give it about 4 squirts and throw my laundry in. All done. 

Besides their awesome soap nuts' products, Green Virgin Products also carries other natural products that will help you switch to safer, healthier products in your home. A new one that I just tried is their Deodorant Stone. What is a deodorant stone?

It is just like a stick of deodorant, except it is made of mineral salts. This stuff is genius. Just genius. Not only does it eliminate odors naturally without crazy chemicals or aluminum, it cannot stain your clothes and you can't even tell you have it on. If that isn't great enough, get a load of how much money this deodorant can save you. The normal stick lasts around 2-3 years!! Years, not weeks, like a normal deodorant stick. It is incredible!

Try out these products, and I just know you will love them as much as I do!