Rosemary Lavender Serenity Salve

• ½ cup rosemary essential oil
• ¼ cup lavender essential oil
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 4 tablespoons beeswax

Combine the rosemary essential oils and the coconut oil. Heat the oil and wax together until the wax melts completely. Pour into a clean, dry jar. When the mixture has cooled a little but has not yet set, add the lavender essential oil, which is also an antiseptic, and stir gently. Seal the jar and store in a cabinet to use anytime you scratch yourself working in the garden or want to renew and soften your hands and feet after a lot of house or yard work. Another note, use it on the outside of your skin and it will work wonders, but if a cut is deep, don’t get it inside the wound. Let your physician handle that. Rosemary is a miracle plant for healing; in combination with the lavender, this power duo will restore your spirit along with your skin.

Shea Soother: Light as Air Lotion

Here is a real treat: a light creamy body lotion that glides on and does not feel heavy. Best of all? The delectable scents of almond and grapefruit. Anyone on your gift list will delight in this, as will your household. A mixer is ideal, otherwise use a hand whisk and wooden spoon, a lidded jar, and the following ingredients:

• ½ cup room temperature virgin coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons room temperature raw shea butter
• 2 cups almond oil
• 2 tablespoons red grapefruit zest
• 2 teaspoons tapioca flour

Place the shea butter, coconut oil, almond oil, and red grapefruit zest in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium for half a minute. Now, turn to high and whip the lotion for about four minutes, until it is light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Add in the tapioca flour and mix for one more minute. Transfer to a jar with a lid and store at room temperature for up to a month.

Once known as “the forbidden fruit of Barbados,” grapefruit awakens the mind and body and speaks to “the soul. Like many other citrus fruits, it is cheering and renowned for what it does for the skin, even reducing cellulite. Almond is beloved for bringing luck in love and is prized as an erotic massage oil. Coconut protects and purifies and enhances confidence. Coconut brings forth your real allure and beauty, so use it carefully!

DIY Herbal Salves, Lotions, Potions, and Skin Soothers

Taking good care of your skin is truly good common sense. Staying hydrated by drinking enough water and light herbal teas is a good start, as is moisturizing with natural and organic lotions and salves, Gentle abrasives in the form of body scrubs are an excellent way to stimulate your skin, the largest organ of the human body. Massaging yourself with these is also good for the lymphatic system. It is extremely affordable and oh so easy to use what you already have on hand, such as brown sugar, baking soda, or coffee grounds, along with binding substances which keep the abrasives sticking together while you scrub. Binding substances can be oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or my personal favorite, sesame oil. You can use honey, too, if you don’t mind a bit of stickiness. Let your imagination run wild with extras such as fragrance or appearance enhancers—spices, essential oils, or even flower petals.