What is the first ingredient listed in your skin cleanser or moisturizer?  If you said water, you are not alone.  Many others using commercial skincare products are in the same boat.  Ingredients in products are listed by most to least.  So if your product is mostly water, you may be doing more harm than good to your skin. 

YES we need water INSIDE the body to hydrate us, but when water is put on our skin's surface with products it actually pulls out moisture from your skin's barrier.  Why does this happen? Water molecules attract other water molecules, so your skin doesn't get to absorb the water in your skincare product.  Isn't this the opposite result you want to achieve?

When I first learned this, it made me rethink my skincare routine.  I love trying brands that support what is best for the natural health of the skin like BAMBUEARTH!  Keeping it simple.  No skin harming chemicals, no harsh detergents needed to clean.  Just pure, effective ingredients that love your skin.  The Rosemary Toner helps restore your skin's PH level and the Cleansing Oil that requires NO WATER stimulates the growth of new skin tissue.   Take care of your largest organ.  Love up your skin and feel beautiful!

Have you ever wanted to make your own luxurious body butter?  Here's a simple recipe I use when in the mood to be creative and pamper myself.  No synthetic ingredients, just natural, and beneficial nourishment for the skin!
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Gather the following ingredients:

• 1 cup Raw Cocoa Butter
• 1 cup Raw Shea Butter
• 2 Tsp Pure Organic Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• 2 TSP Corn Starch (optional to make less greasy)
• 15 drops Young Living Orange Essential Oil
• 10 drops Young Living Lemon Essential Oil (optional)​​

​Combine raw cocoa butter and raw shea butter with coconut oil and melt on medium to low heat over a double boiler, using a pot and bowl.  
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​This will be the result once fully melted.  Next step is to place in the refrigerator to set for about 30 minutes.
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​Once it has set in the refrigerator it will look like this and is ready to whip!
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​Whip it up in your favorite mixer on medium to high speed until it gets fluffy.

​Now it's time to add your drops of essential oils and corn starch if you are using it.  Then whip some more!

For extra fluffy texture, let it set in refrigerator again for about 15 minutes, then return to mixer to whip a bit more.  

​When it's just the way you want it, place it in a clean mason jar and store in a cool, dark place.  Now you're ready to pamper your skin and feel luxurious.

Bambu Earth is a brand I came across when looking for clean simple skin loving ingredients.  They are made in the USA, and source quality ingredients that are not only effective, but safe and healthy.   Bambu Earth's Petitgrain moisturizer is as close as possible to me making it homemade.  It's only 4 ingredients - Shea Butter, Almond oil, Jojoba oil, and Petitgrain oil.  One reason why I love it is because it is waterless.....water is often the first ingredient in skincare products and actually pulls OUT moisture in the deep layers of our skin.  (did you know that?)  Think about when you go swimming for a long period of time, or soak in a long bath......our fingers get pruny because of the loss of hydration.  Drinking water helps to hydrate us, but applying it topically thru skincare does the opposite.  Another amazing benefit is that the Petitgrain oil is special in that while balancing your skin, it also fights bacteria naturally.

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