Apr 28, 2014 | Uncategorized
Mother’s Day is a day to honor mom, but often, the thought of getting the ‘perfect gift’ can be downright overwhelming! It’s ok, many people get that ‘stuck’ feeling, which is why I thought it would be helpful to share with you some natural, healthy gift ideas for Mother’s Day.
Going natural is quite a trend these days and that’s something we are really happy about. It’s not just a passing trend either, it’s a lifestyle that’s being born out of self education, a desire for sustainability and wanting to both look and feel good. Why NOT jump into a lifestyle where everyone wins? But to be honest, even knowing how to live a more natural and healthy lifestyle can be overwhelming, especially for mom, who wants it most but has so much on her plate already.
Allow me to share with you both lifestyle AND gift ideas that will make both you, mom and the people around you feel good and increase life quality.
Women tend to be very sense oriented. Certain smells, touches, tastes and experiences can tense up and make a woman feel anxious and others will help her unwind and feel total joy and relaxation. Because of this, my suggestions will be very based on essential oils and their benefits.
Enjoy.
- Oil Burner/Infuser – With the burner, it simply tends to look like a ceramic stand where you place a tea light candle underneath. Place a few drops of oil in the dish above and the flame will slowly heat the oil, releasing it’s aroma into the room. Good staple oils are Lavender, Jasmine, Sweet Orange and Lemon Verbena. The infusers release the fragrance and health benefits into the air without heating oil.
- Lavender Eye Pillow – These are great but be sure to get a quality one. The cheaper ones tend to push into the eyes too much and feel uncomfortable. Great for travel, these foster darkness when you need to sleep, while filled with lavender flowers to help you relax. Great for women who have a hard time settling into sleep.
- Acupressure Mat – This one is interesting but has been incredibly beneficial for both body health and relaxation. Also known as a ‘bed of nails’, this 4×2 mat is lined with roughly 100 plastic looking lotuses that you gently lay on. Your body will balance carefully on the mat while the petals/nails apply pressure to multiple acupressure points. It takes a little getting used to, but achieves incredible mind and body relaxation!
- Eucalyptus Shower Spray – This is great because when you buy it on amazon you get a good size bottle for a moderate price! Use the multi functional spray from a room aroma and germ killer to the shower for bronchial cleansing!
As you can see, once you get started, the ideas can begin to flow. One of the best things a mom can use are natural gifts to promote relaxation, as they have one of the most honorable and stressful jobs around. At Eurospa, we believe they should be honored in the most special ways possible. Share the love and show mom what she means to you!
Apr 23, 2014 | Uncategorized
Nobody likes it when they take a look in the mirror and notice the surprise of a breakout. It’s always untimely and pretty embarrassing! Now, while I can’t promise you they’ll go away immediately, I can share with you some ways to speed along the process and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future!
First of all, our skin is our largest organ. It breathes. It takes in and it releases. It’s a filtration system for both the external and internal. When we break out, our bodies are telling us that something on the outside or inside in NOT happy and it’s time we do something about it.
So you’re thinking, topical medication right? No. Because that doesn’t fix the problem and ultimately you’re just going to teach your body to be quiet when there’s a problem in the future and we just don’t want that.
Preventative? Be clean inside and out. Ladies, if you go to bed with your makeup on you’re just asking for trouble. Our bodies go through so much when we sleep. Our hormones shift, we sweat, our pores open and all the makeup and skin oils mix together in the folds and pores of our skin, basically suffocating it and causing it to get stuck (for now) and expelled later. It’s the expelling part that we irritated about! Back to being clean? Be clean on the inside – and the best way to do this daily is getting a good water intake- at least 60 ounces a day. Water flushes out the garbage we store inside with refined foods, sugar, alcohol, excess salt and preservatives. So hey – make it easier and DON’T consume so much garbage. You’re skin will thank you.
Solution to the NOW problem?
1. Go SANS makeup. I know, hard. If you’re feeling to attached, then go with some eyeliner and mascara with some gloss. But leave your skin ALONE.
2. Sweat it out. Get to a sauna or make a steam shower/bath and sweat that nasty stuff out. Enhance the sweat by spraying Eucalyptus Oil Shower Mist into the steam. It’s anti-microbial and will cleanse your body (inside and out) even deeper!
3. Gently Exfoliate. I love to use baking soda because it’s natural and cheap. Just shake a few sprinkles of it into your hands and massage in small, gentle circles around your face, being careful to avoid the area and be extra nice to those open blemishes.
4. Tone it up. Top choice for me is witch hazel. It’s anti-inflammatory and regulates your skin’s ph. Add anti-microbial tea tree oil to the mix as well to further your cleanse.
5. Moisturize. My top two choices are (in order) Jojoba Oil and Coconut Oil. Jojoba is the oil that’s closest to our skin’s ph and is readily absorbed. Coconut is similar, but heavier. So if your skin tends toward oily, go with jojoba.
So there you have it! No miracle cures here, but stick to the ‘clean inside and out’ routine and I promise you will begin to see the difference! Eurospa is committed to your health and would love to hear from you. Stop by and let us know how we can make your life a healthier one!
Apr 23, 2014 | Uncategorized
You may think it takes too much time and effort to make your own natural cleaning supplies at home, but it’s easier than you realize and studies show us that toxic, conventional cleaning supplies are bad or your health, your child’s health and the health of the planet.
The truth is, these recipes are simple and you will feel great peace of mind knowing that you are bettering the overall health of your home. We’ve gathered the ingredients needed for you to make the most basic, natural multi-purpose cleaning supplies, quickly and convenient for your busy schedule.
Ready for it?
Here’s what you’re going to need:
- baking soda
- white vinegar
- lemons
- castille soap
- essential oils (lemon, tea tree, lavender, thyme, eucalyptus & orange are all options)
- spray bottles
For the Windows: For those that love vinegar, you’re going to love this one. You just mix 3 tablespoons of vinegar with 2 cups of water into a spray bottle (bigger jobs – 1/2 cup V to 1 gal of H2O) and spray right on to your windows. Is this effective? Yes. Does it smell good? No. If you can’t handle the smell, a mix of lemon juice and club soda will do the trick just as well. Do make sure that if you use lemon juice, you use lint free cloth like newspaper to wipe them down with. (you can also add a little lemon juice to the vinegar solution as well, just avoid pulp)
All Purpose Germ Killer: This one is easy. Mix 2 cups of water with a few drops of castille soap and about 15 drops of your chosen essential oils. You can spray this on all kinds of surfaces in your home from changing tables and fixtures to counter tops and walls. Just don’t use it on glass, because the soap will make it streak. Additionally, you can use our own Eucalyptus Shower Spray, not only to enrich your shower experience but also to cleanse the air by spraying it into the air and on to surfaces.
For the Toilets: Everyone’s favorite place to clean right? This one is simple. You can take some of the window cleaner you made (preferably with the lemon juice) and spray generously around and inside the toilet. Then sprinkle some baking soda on top of it and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Come back, scrub and watch it shine!
Prevent Mold: Mold is incredibly dangerous for you and your family and once it starts, it’s extremely hard to get rid of! So start with prevention. Take a spray bottle with 2 cups of water and add about 5 drops of tea tree and thyme oil to the bottle. Spray on walls, in closets, in bathrooms and behind furniture and then wipe down. The anti-septic and anti-mircrobial nature of tea tree and eucalyptus oil will combat the mold before it really has a chance to take over.
At Eurospa, your health is our priority. We want you healthy on the inside and out. We hope you enjoyed this list and would like to invite you to experience our Eucalyptus Shower Mist & Menthol Crystals for an even more enhanced, natural health experience!
Apr 17, 2014 | Uncategorized
Why have sugar and cream filled bunnies be the focus your Easter holiday? Not every holiday needs to be flooded with sugar highs and lows. Let’s take a walk on the wild side and explore a few healthier more thoughtful basket fillers for a change! These ideas for healthy & creative Easter basket treats and gifts are great for adults and kids alike. Enjoy!
1. Lost your marbles?
Marbles are a cute and classic toy that will bring color and fun to your kid’s Easter basket! Have fun explaining the game, share childhood stories and watch them reclaim the magic of simple play!
2. Dark chocolate, anyone?
It’s a rare person that can turn down chocolate. But, as someone who’s caring for their health, you’ll also want to pass on all the chemicals and foreign names in your candy. The less complicated the food label, the better. Besides, chocolate is full of antioxidants, so it is not a total waste, when it comes to health benefits.
3. Yoga.
Yoga supplies like a mat, blocks, ball, straps, DVDs… These are great if your receiver is one that enjoys body strength and flexibility! It’s also a great gift for a person who’s wanting to make changes to their fitness routine but should necessarily be offended by the ‘generosity’ of a gym membership. (Yoga is a gentle push)
4. Chalk it up.
Nothing says ‘spring’ like sidewalk chalk, as the weather warms up and we want to decorate it with beautiful and colorful art! Both you and your children will be outdoors more often now, enjoying the fresh air. You might as well decorate the driveway with some pastel side walk chalk and show your spring fever.
6. Gift cards.
Gift cards are great for people of all ages because you can always get something you would like from the shore the card is for. And this is great because you can use this at a later time. An added bonus? Gift cards for 4 yoga classes (to complete the package) and maybe a massage after? …just a thought
7. Aromatherapy.
Celebrate spring in bloom with the fragrances of life. Floral aromas like jasmine, lavender and geranium are both good on the body and help rejuvenate and relax us! Added bonus, can we suggest? Our amazing Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray is an affordable way relax and enjoy better health!
Now that you have some great ideas on how you can make a healthier Easter basket, you can shop with confidence in the decisions you make. Your health matters to us, which is why we at Eurospa are committed to making your life better and a more enjoyable experience.
This year, make your baskets matter. Show your loved ones and friends you care but putting care into the gifts you give them.
Happy Easter!
Apr 16, 2014 | Uncategorized
Mothers are beyond deserving of honor and every year, we stress about just what to get these incredible women. After all, thy know what they want and shop perfectly well for themselves. But you don’t want to be that person that repeated presents gift cards, do you? Nothing wrong with gift cards, but the personal thought that goes into a personalized gift speaks volumes of gratitude to these nurturing givers.
What if you were able to impact their life every single morning in a way that would change their attitude about the day right at the start? What if I were to tell you that there was a gift you could give that would not only start a lady’s day right, but give her a healthier body and even more beautiful skin?
My suggestion? Give her her own personal sized Eucalyptus Shower Spray. This may seem over simplified, but once you know the benefits (and how much women love multi-beneficial gifts) I promise, you will see what a treasure it is and how wonderful of a gift it is to give.
- Applying eucalyptus oil to your forehead can be incredibly soothing for stress headaches in the same manner as peppermint oil. (see below) Like peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil can soothe, relax muscles and clear nasal passages. It’s great to inhale as well, because it has anti microbial properties that can help attack germs and viruses that may be causing the headache. Either put a few drops of eucalyptus oil into a bowl of steaming water and inhale deeply or take advantage of our Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray, while enjoy a nice shower or bath!
- If she enjoys working out, she’ll likely want to avoid sore muscles after the work out. For topical help, spray onto muscles followed by another oil base, like almond or jojoba and you’ll quickly have a muscle recovery rub! The oil penetrates deep into the tissue (more so in the heat of the sauna) for an anti-inflammatory effect. When using the spray, simply spritz into the shower steam or the sauna/steam room. The oil in the air will then enter your lungs and be carried off to nurture the needier parts of your well-worked muscles.
- Most women love to look their best. One simple way is to steam and cleanse the skin. Go traditional and simply add our eucalyptus shower spray to one pint of steaming water in a large bowl or pot. Lean over the container, covering your head with a towel and allow your face to take in the steam for 5-10 minutes. (Alternatively, while your in the bath, add it to the bath water) This supports the skin’s natural self cleansing functions, opening pores and reducing buildup and eruptions.
Mother’s Day is a wonderful time to celebrate the beautiful women in our lives. Whether sister, friend, grandparent or your own mother, be sure to honor these nurturers that give themselves to love year after year. Tell her she’s beautiful. Treat her to pampering. Give her the gift that loves back.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Apr 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
Grabbed your attention with that one, didn’t I? That’s because you deserve to look incredible at any age, for any occasion. When you have a big event or are going somewhere, being told that your skin can be glowing in less than an hour can seem far fetched but it’s entirely possible and true!
It’s so easy to be discouraged when we know we need to (or want to) look our best but see an image far from youthful or glowing in the mirror. From our diets and stressors to locations and energy levels, life can really take a toll on your skin.
We can all agree to that when we first wake up and take a look in the mirror with the drooping skin reminding us of both gravity and the progression of time.
But can we beat this natural progression…..naturally?
I am happy to say that while we may not be able to beat it entirely, we can slow it down with these simple and easy to implement tools and habits. Choose them all or the ones that feel right and watch your metamorphosis take place!
Ready? Let’s do this.
1. Water : I can’t stress this aspect enough. You know that feeling that overcomes you around 3 or 4pm when you just feel like a wilted flower? Well, logic tells us that when a flower wilts, there is a need for some serious hydration. You can have all the sun you want, but in the end, it’s the water that provides the supple life vibrancy in plants, animals and humans. Try to get 60 to 80 ounces a day for best results. Pound down some H2O and watch the dark circles get lighter and skin get tighter. Drink to your health.
2. Baking Soda Scrub: It’s crunch time and the day has taken it’s toll on your skin. If you’ve worn makeup, massage a little olive oil to remove it, and then sprinkle some baking soda onto your finger tips. Massage *gently* in small circular motions, avoiding the more sensitive eye areas. Rinse with warm water and then splash your face a few times with the cold stuff. Your circulation will thank you and your skin will be silky soft!
3. Egg White Mask: This tip is one of my favorites. What you will need: a little bowl or dish a fork, 1 egg white and a lemon wedge. Put the white in the bowl and add the lemon wedge juice, whipping it gently with a fork until the vitamin C creates little foam bubbles. With your fingers or a paint brush, gently spread the mix along the tops of your cheeks, chin, nose, jaw and across your forehead, avoiding the eyes entirely, as lemon juice is not a friend to our eyes! It may begin to itch or feel tight. It could run a little. I suggest laying down in a hot bath as it sets and dries. After about 10-15 minutes, take a wet cloth and wipe off the mask, starting at the top and working your way down. Add your favorite moisturizer and presto! You look incredible.
5. Steam: Go traditional and simply add our eucalyptus shower spray to one pint of steaming water in a large bowl or pot. Lean over the container, covering your head with a towel and allow your face to take in the steam for 5-10 minutes. (Alternatively, while your in the bath, add it to the bath water) This supports the skin’s natural self cleansing functions, opening pores and reducing buildup and eruptions.
You are now fully equipped with some natural remedies to revive that youthful glow that loves to shine through you! To enhance your experience further, please visit us at Eurospa to find out more about our menthol crystals and eucalyptus products for home and spa! We look forward to serving you!
