Soothing Calendula Body Lotion Bars

CONFESSION: I used to hate my skin. Okay, I think that feeling was mutual because I'm pretty sure it hated me too! All that hate and anger was manifesting as blemishes, redness, and unattractive bumps and dry spots all over my body. I was tried to make it happy by buying $100 creams and $150 spa treatments, but nothing worked! Soooooo frustrating!!!!!

But then something amazing happened: I went all natural (aka chemical free), my skin cleared up and became soooooo happy! Sure, it still acts up every now and then (um, winter skin anyone?) but I've learned that sometimes my sensitive skin just needs to be pampered a bit more than other people's skin especially when it's dry. And that's 100% okay because I like being pampered.

Homemade Calendula Oil for Sensitive Skin

I know that I talk about essential oils a lot, but herbs are another one of my passions. Earlier this year I took a course about how to use herbs and Calendula was something that really stood out to me as something I NEEDED for my sensitive skin. The more I learned about it the more I felt like it could really take some of my DIY recipes to the next level.

What Is Calendula? 

Calendula officinalis is a really fancy name for regular ole Marigold. You can grow your own (dry it completely before use) or you can buy a good quality organic variety (like this one). 

If you haven't dried your own herbs before, then I recommend that you read this really detailed guide about harvesting and drying. It's a science and if it's not done correctly your mix won't turn out the way you want it and could even mold. {sad face}

Rest and Relax with Bedtime Balm

I am the type of person who lays in bed and thinks about her to-do list instead of counting sheep or snuggling up with a good book. Needless to say--- I have had trouble falling asleep.

When I started using essential oils I was naturally drawn to many of the calming scents. I found that when I used them before bed I was actually sleeping soundly and falling asleep quickly for the first time in YEARS!!  {mind blown}

It really is so amazing what just a few drops of essential oil can do! If I don't use them before bed, I can really tell a difference in my quality of sleep. AKA: I wake up 5-10 times a night and that suuuuuuuucks. 

Homemade Magnesium Oil for Relaxation

During my studies to get my masters degree in holistic health I learned that almost all people are at least mildly deficient in magnesium! In research studies 70-80% of participants were deficient! Eck!

Sadly, due to modern day farming practices our soils are becoming more and more depleted so even if we eat a healthy diet we often are eating food that are not as nutrient dense as they could be which results in us being deficient as well. “Magnesium is farmed out of the soil much more than calcium,” Dr. Carolyn Dean explains.  ”A hundred years ago, we would get maybe 500 milligrams of magnesium in an ordinary diet. Now we’re lucky to get 200 milligrams. People do need to supplement with magnesium.”

Did you read that?! The modern day diets have LESS THAN HALF the amount of magnesium than it did for our ancestor!!! {mind blown} Isn't that so sad and scary!?