May Promo MVPs: Ravintsara & Valor

Every month, we like to give extra insight on any unusual and exciting promo freebies, and today we’re doing just that with Ravintsara and Valor. If you’ve already earned them, (woo hoo!) we hope this quick look helps you enjoy your new oils, and, if you’re still planning your May purchase, here are a few reasons why you’ll love what you earn.

Ravintsara & Valor aren't just May Promo MVPs, they are daily MVPs. 

Ravintsara & Valor aren't just May Promo MVPs, they are daily MVPs. 

Ravintsara (earned at the 250 PV level)

Ravintsara is a little like Lavender. If you know and love the “Swiss Army knife” of essential oils, this is exciting news. This gentle oil has many applications.

A quick glance:

Source: Ravintsara is steam distilled from leaves and branches of Cinnamomum camphora in Madagascar.

Supports: As we alluded to, Ravinstara is an oily MVP. It helps support the respiratory system, immune system, skin, adrenal glands and helps provide spiritual grounding.

Use It:

  • Aromatically: Diffuse for 30 minutes at a time for up to three hours daily. Great for respiratory support and focus during meditation.  
  • Topically: Apply directly to area of concern, you can dilute with your favorite carrier oil.

Valor (earned at a new level, 340 PV!)

Valor is an all-time fave Young Living blend...and it was out of stock for over a year. So, we’re all pretty excited about the May promo over here.

A quick glance:

Components:

Let’s look at the oils that make Valor a Young Living bestseller.

  • Black Spruce offers emotional support.
  • Camphor (a member of the rosewood family) provides skin support and creates a feeling of peace.
  • Blue Tansy supports the liver and lymphatic system.
  • Frankincense may help promote a positive attitude.
  • Geranium comforts with its aroma and pampers skin.

Supports: With a name like Valor, it’s no wonder this blend is beloved for its empowering, confidence-supporting aroma. On the other hand, it’s also a calming blend, like another all-time fave, Peace & Calming. Beyond mood, Valor can also support the spine, muscles, bones, skin, and the nervous system.

Application:

  • Aromatically:
    • Diffuse in the morning to kickstart your day
    • Wear as a perfume for a midday pick-me-up
  •  Topically: Apply to bottom of feet (6 drops per foot)

What’s your favorite oil blend? Let us know in the comments!



 

Oils for Mom

I have two boys. 1 and 3. Whenever I tell someone my kids’ ages, they say “You’re busy!” Then I get the smile ... that smile somewhere between “you can do it!” and lots of empathy, especially from mamas who are no longer in the toddler trenches with me.

And they’re right. Having two kids two years apart is no joke. I mean, we laugh a lot. But each day carries it’s own challenges. And that’s why I’m thankful for the help I get from wonderful little Young Living bottles.

So today, as a mom, I’m sharing which oils are on my and my fellow Tree of Life mom bloggers most-used lists. Use it as an inspiration for how to use Essential Oils in your family or as a shopping list for a special mom in your life.  

Joy, Rose, DiGize, Thieves, just a few of faves for moms! The best of the best #BecauseYouDeserveIt. Happy Mother's Day! 

Joy, Rose, DiGize, Thieves, just a few of faves for moms! The best of the best #BecauseYouDeserveIt. Happy Mother's Day! 

Mood Support:

Full-time moms, working-moms, work-from-home moms: we all work a lot. And I hope I’m not the only one with a few racing thoughts now and then. (Have your recently cooked while your toddler gets out every pan you own and places them right where you need to stand? Bananas.) Anyway, mood support makes me think of a cheesy, but nonetheless true cliche: If mama ain’t happy, nobody's happy.

  • Joy: I rub a little Joy over anyone’s heart in my family when a grumpy mood hits. That includes me down to my one year old. Want to learn more about Joy? We’ve written about it a lot. I especially love this mom’s perspective from Michelle McKool.
  • Lavender: I love lavender for minor head tension. It’s also a great way to prepare for a sweet night’s sleep. As an oily MVP, it’s also great for DIY beauty creams and dryer balls for fresh laundry.
  • Progessence Plus Serum: Hormone support often goes hand-in-hand with mood support. I love mom and grandma’s Cynthia Lengefeld’s post on how Progessence Plus Serum changed her life.  

Home Cleaning:

It’s not glamorous (and hopefully you have plenty of helping hands), but home cleaning is often part of the mom job description. I’ve been working toward a Chemical-Free house cleaning routine, and of course, essential oils and essential oil-infused products have helped a ton on that journey.

  • Purification: Here’s a “Quick: guests are coming, let’s freshen up” tip. Just diffuse Purification. It (duh alert) purifies the air with a refreshing, welcoming scent.

  • Thieves Household Cleaner: Love this stuff! I use it everywhere. The bathroom, kitchen, floors. Plus, it’s a great value. I’ve been using it for nearly two years and I’m still on my first bottle!

  • Lemon: I add lemon and vinegar to my Thieves Cleaner all-purpose recipe for fresh, streak-free clean everywhere! Lemon is also a go-to any stubborn stickiness. As a bonus to teen moms: Lemon helps students concentrate while studying.

Wellness Faves:

As mamas, we also work hard to keep our kids (and husbands) healthy. In my family, this involves a lot of hand washing and a few of these bottles.

  • Thieves: While some mornings get away from me, I try to put a couple drops of Thieves blend on everyone’s feet before they head out the door. This includes me! When I slack, I can tell. It’s truly an essential part of my daily routine.
  • Peace & Calming or Peace & Calming II: My 3 year old loves (and requests) Peace & Calming before bed. A couple drops helps him settle down for a peaceful night’s sleep.
  • Digize: We also write about Digize a lot. It’s great for pregnant mamas and little ones.

Pro Tip: Low on energy? Suzanne Rodolfich gives a great energy boosting suggestion  in her Postpartum Oils post.

Beauty Faves:

And what mama-must have list is complete without a little treat yo’self section? Using Essential Oils for DIY beauty serums is actually a way I have bonded with my own mom over Essential Oils.

  • Ylang Ylang: We both have curly hair and have found adding a drop of Ylang Ylang to wet hair once or twice a week has really nourished our locks and encouraged our curls. Plus, it smells amazing.
  • Rose: This is the treat yourself of all treat yourself oils. A valuable and highly-prized oil, this floral delight can be applied topically for healthy, youthful looking skin.  
  • Myrrh: This oil is a great night time moisturizer. I was inspired to add it to my regular routine by Jaynelle, she included it to her top 5 oils!

Happy Mother’s Day from Tree of Life! Which oil would you share with a mom in your life?

Newborn & Baby Oils

Welcome to our Family + Essential Oils series. We plan to cover every age and stage: Oils for Toddlers, Moms, Dads, Grandparents and Family Vacation. Someone we left out? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add them to our plan!

This is actually our second week, so if you missed our Postpartum post, take the time to catch up (we’ll wait:). Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the Top 10 Oils for Pregnancy – it happens to be one of our all-time top 10 posts.

Ok, now that we’ve talked mamas-to-be and new mamas, we’re ready to share some general guidelines and tips for using oils with your baby.

Essential Tips for Your Oily Baby

Ready for baby's first oil? Try out these oily newborn tips. 

Ready for baby's first oil? Try out these oily newborn tips. 

Ingestion Tips

Gotcha! No tips here. Young Living suggests waiting until after babyhood to try any of our vitality line with your child. We agree! The oils are powerful and highly concentrated for such little bodies.

Topical Tips

Young Living’s official recommendation for littles 0-1 is a 1:8 oil to carrier ratio. We say that’s a good starting point, but remember that every baby is different. Test dilution with your little one.

And if you are going to try a new oil on your child it’s a good idea to use just a drop or two on a small patch first, like the forearm. After a successful patch test (a few minutes with no reaction), you can apply as needed!

Pro Tip: Apply the essential oils first, followed by your favorite dilution oil.  

Aromatic Tips

Again, think “start gently” when it comes to aromatically sharing oils with your baby. You can create a bond with baby by simply wearing an oil while skin to skin. And, just like the topical patch test, you will want to diffuse an oil for a short time at first to ensure your child has no sensitivity.

First Oily Days

In their Oils for the Nursery post, Young Living lists a few oils to use with caution with your baby.

  • Idaho Tansy
  • Clary Sage
  • Hyssop
  • Wintergreen
  • Eucalyptus
  • Peppermint

While watching for these oils is a good idea, it’s an even better idea to try out some of our favorites to support your little one’s health.

  • Ear Support: Melrose & Roman Chamomile, apply 1-2 drops behind and around ears
  • Diapering Support:
  •  Respiratory Support: Lavender or Peace & Calming, apply to chest, bottom of feet and diffuse intermittently during nap. Also, try diffusing Lavender & SniffleEase during the night or nap.
  • Sleep support: Lavender & Cedarwood,1-2 drops on chest and bottom of feet.
  • Mood Support: Frankincense & Joy, 1-2 drops over the heart
  • Digestive Support: DiGize/TummyGize, apply over the chest and belly 15 - 20 minutes before feedings. You can also apply after feeding, if needed.
  • Gut Health: Fennel, apply 1-2 drops over the colon area, rub clockwise

And that’s it, baby! Again, let us know if there are any ages or family members you’d like to see included in our series and we’ll get a writer on it!

 

April Promo Focus: Oola Grow & Dragon Time

April’s promo features some of our all-time spring faves: cleansing Tea Tree, fresh (and flavorful) Tangerine Vitality and, of course, Thieves Household Cleaner. Tackling spring cleaning with this trio is almost a treat.

But this promo doesn’t stop with oils that will help you clean your house. Nope, it takes spring cleaning to the next level by including two blends formulated to help you clear some inner clutter and help lift your mood. Oola Grow and Dragon Time are perfect for this season of renewal.

Let’s learn more about these blends!

Spring flowers make wonderful oils! Jasmine, the white flower, helps uplift and inspire mood in Oola Grow and the purpleish flower, clary sage, helps support hormones in Dragon Time.

Spring flowers make wonderful oils! Jasmine, the white flower, helps uplift and inspire mood in Oola Grow and the purpleish flower, clary sage, helps support hormones in Dragon Time.

Oola Grow

The best way to learn about a blend is to take a look at the single oils included. Check out all the goodness in Oola Grow! If you think you’re starting to notice a pattern of benefits, it’s because you are. Most of the oils help with emotional support, and that’s what Oola Grow is all about.

  • Ylang Ylang: encourages self-love, joy and peace.
  • White Fir: helps stimulate the mind.
  • Blue Tansy: helps support the nervous system.
  • Cedarwood: calms and uplifts.
  • Blue Cypress: helps support the endocrine system.
  • Jasmine: uplifts and inspires, especially in relationships.
  • Galbanum: supports mood and emotions.
  • Frankincense: grounds the mind during meditation.
  • Sandalwood: supports mood.
  • Lavender: helps promote love, peace, and a general sense of well-being.
  • Cinnamon Bark: warms and stimulates.
  • Rose: helps calms and soothes the mind, creating a sense of well-being.
  • Geranium: supports the emotions and lifts the spirit.
  • Coriander: calms and relaxes, even in times of stress.
  • Bergamot: radiates love.
  • Neroli: encourages confidence, courage, joy, peace, and sensuality.
  • Roman Chamomile: soothes and clears the mind.
  • Spruce: grounds the body, encourages generosity.
  • Rosewood: helps promote peace and gentleness.
  • Clary Sage: soothes.
  • Juniper: elevates spiritual awareness.
  • Idaho Tansy: encourages a general feeling of wellbeing.
  • Orange: uplifts.

Application Tips:

  • Aromatically: Diffuse or inhale this blend in the morning for a “bring it on” kind of energy. Not a bad way to start the day.
  • Topically: Dilute with favorite carrier oil, and apply 1–2 drops on location.

Safety Notes:

  • Pregnant and New Mamas: Avoid during pregnancy and nursing until you talk to your doctor.
  • Everyone: Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for up to 12 hours after use.

Dragon Time™

If you take a closer look at the oils that make up Dragon Time, you’ll notice this blend is all about hormone support. And maintained hormones help (you guessed it) support mood and emotions, no matter the circumstances. This blend can work well for both men and women, but was formulated with women's “Dragon Time” in mind.

  • Clary Sage: helps support hormones, cut down on cycle discomfort and support circulation.
  • Fennel: supports the liver, digestive system and hormone maintenance.
  • Lavender: helps reduce minor discomfort and soothe mood.
  • Marjoram: helps reduce head tension.
  • Yarrow: helps support the prostate and hormones.
  • Jasmine: supports mood while reducing minor discomfort.

Application Options:

  • Aromatically: Diffuse or put a few drops on a cotton ball and place it in an air vent in your home, office or car for mood and hormone support all day.
  • Topically: Apply around the ankles during the month while not on your cycle for support all month long. For extra soothing power, apply as a hot compress on the abdomen or lower back on an as needed basis.

Safety Notes:

Pregnant Mamas: Use caution during pregnancy.

Don’t miss out!

Find out how to earn the April Promo here. And how to earn points toward more of your Young Living favorites with the Essential Rewards program.

Storing Essential Oils: Tree of Life Tackles a FAQ

You love your oils. Now, learn how to treat them with a little love. Get the most out of each bottle with our tips on the do’s and don’ts of Essential Oils storage.

A few quick tips to help you get the most out of your oils! 

A few quick tips to help you get the most out of your oils! 

The Don’ts

Heat & UV Light

Heat and especially UV light can break down the integrity of your essential oils. Don’t store your oils in cars, near windows or anywhere they’d be exposed to extreme heat or direct sunlight. If an oil does get too hot, here’s a trick: wait until the oil has cooled to room temperature before opening the bottle. This can help save your oil and its effectiveness.

Plastics

Plastics + Essential Oils = Big No-No. Many oils may break down plastic storage containers, which could pollute your oils or waste them.

The Dos

Room Temperature and Even

Cool temperatures with little fluctuation will protect your oils from the breakdown of even the most delicate constituents. Although not ideal, extreme cold will not freeze or destroy the efficacy of your oils.

Dark and Dry

To protect your oils from heat and UV light, store them in a dark, dry place. Cabinets in the bathroom or kitchen work well for everyday oils, but we recommend you buy an oil storage box for your growing collection. If you make your own blends, make sure to protect them from light with an amber glass or a stainless steel container.

Upright and Tightly Sealed

This might seem like a no-brainer, but keeping your oils upright and tightly sealed will ensure you won’t spill a single drop. Keeping your oils tightly sealed will also cut down on any evaporation. You may even want to transfer oils that are running low to a smaller bottle to cut down on oxidation.  

A Couple More FAQs

Thick Oils

Sometimes you do have to apply heat to oils. These thick oils, like Rose or Myrrh, can be gently heated by placing your bottle in bowl of warm water. Lids can also get sticky or oxidize with thicker oils. If this happens just put some coconut around the rim so it doesn't get stuck again. You'll be glad you did!

Citrus Oils

Once you open your citrus oils (lemon, grapefruit etc.), they are best if used within a year of opening for maximum effectiveness.

Expiration?

Young Living Essential Oils don't ever really expire. Woo Hoo! Just follow our tips for good oil storage and you'll get to enjoy them to the very last drop. Have more questions? Leave us a comment or contact us!

Essential Oil DIY Recipe: Love Your Feet Again Foot Powder

Spring is all about fresh flowers, beautiful weather and … wearing sneakers without socks. Just us? Ok. Even if you’re not on the sneakers-without-socks train, warming temperatures mean (among many wonderful things) smellier feet.

But we’ve got one more DIY essential oil-infused recipe for you, and this one will help you love your feet again, no matter the weather. And as with all our DIY recipes, it’s quick, easy and takes just a couple household staples and your favorite oils.

Let’s get started!

Say goodbye to smelly feet with our DIY Foot Powder. 

Say goodbye to smelly feet with our DIY Foot Powder. 

Supplies & Ingredients

Supplies

  • Measuring Spoon
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Small Mason Jar

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons Arrowroot powder
  • 3 tablespoons Baking Soda
  • 15 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil  
  • 15 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
  • 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

OR mix things up and go with 25 drops Purification Essential Oil. The amount of essential oil is a personal preference. Add less or more - it's up to you!

How It’s Done

Just mix up ingredients in your mason jar. #YesReally

Use Today

This part is easy, too. You can either sprinkle the powder in your shoes or rub some on the bottom of your feet before putting on shoes. Experiment with the method, either way, your feet should be lovable again soon! And please, don’t hesitate trying this on your kiddos’ (cute but stinky) feet as well.

Confession time: On a scale from 1-10, how much do you need this powder in your life?

Essential Oil DIY Recipe: Baby Powder

Ready for another naturally great DIY Essential Oil recipe? This one is mom-approved, baby-approved and cloth diapering safe! This week we give you essential oil-infused Baby Powder! As always, you can throw our recipes together with household staples and your favorite essential oils.

Keep baby's skin soft AND your peace of mind? That's a win-win with this DIY Baby Powder. 

Keep baby's skin soft AND your peace of mind? That's a win-win with this DIY Baby Powder. 

Supplies & Ingredients

Supplies

  • Glass Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Cups
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Storage Container (Mason Jar or glass shaker)*

*Store in a dark, dry place.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Arrowroot powder**
  • 5-10 drops of (pick one):
  • Lavender
  • Roman Chamomile
  • Ylang Ylang
  • Melrose
  • Gentle Baby

**You can also use ¼ cup cornstarch and ¼ cup Arrowroot, but again, we prefer Arrowroot. It’s best for sensitive skin and does not promote yeast growth like cornstarch can.

How It’s Done

Another “why haven’t I tried this before” two-step process!

  1. Combine all ingredients in your glass mixing bowl.
  2. Store in your chosen container.

Use Today

Baby powder helps absorb extra moisture to keep your baby’s skin soft and smooth. Add your favorite soothing oil to keep your baby smelling fresh and a smile on your face, even during diaper changes. Plus, giving your baby a signature scent will give you an instant connection to sweet baby days whenever you happen to smell the oil you use in your powder recipe, even years later!

For baby,

  1. Shake powder out onto your hand (avoiding baby’s face).
  2. Apply with every diaper change and after every bath.

For You,

Don’t let baby have all the fun! This recipe is also great for parents (and non-parents). Apply in the morning and throughout the day to keep your skin sweat-free and soft.

Do you DIY? What’s your can’t-live-without-it homemade beauty product?

Switch & Ditch Quick Fix: Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray

In honor of our 2017 Switch & Ditch resolution, we wanted to highlight one of the goodies from the March promo: Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray. Learn how to banish herbicides from your life with just a few spritzes.

Why?

Small but mighty, Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray is one of our favorite Switch & Ditch solutions! Easy, quick and effective (woo hoo!). 

Small but mighty, Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray is one of our favorite Switch & Ditch solutions! Easy, quick and effective (woo hoo!). 

You make sure your family eats fruits and veggies (check).

You even buy organic when it makes sense (check again).

But … (you knew a ‘but’ was coming, right?) ...

Did you know that even organic produce still has herbicides you don’t want in your bodies?

Enter Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray.  

How Does it Work?

Powered by Thieves and Lime essential oil, this spray safely and effectively cleanses produce.

How-To:

  1. Spray to cover produce.
  2. Rub for 30 seconds.
  3. Rinse under running water.

Where?

Here’s one of our favorite parts! The 2-oz. bottle is perfect for on-the-go, which means you can have clean produce wherever your day takes you–across town or around the globe.  

More Ideas:

Here are a few ways Tree of Life team members have used the Fruit & Veggie spray beyond cleaning their favorite fruits and veggies:

  • Cleaning coolers
  • Cleansing pacifiers (just like with produce, make sure to rinse with water before handing back to baby)
  • Taking grease stains out of clothes
  • Repelling picnic pests

We may have to award it a MVP for most versatile product!

One More Spotlight

We loved taking the time to highlight one of our favorite Ditch and Switch items today. We hope it inspired you to continue ditching harmful chemicals in your family’s daily life. What’s even better? You can earn the Thieves Fruit & Veggie spray for free this month! Check out this post to find out how. And check out our Essential Rewards 101 page to learn everything you need to know about how to earn more of your favorite Young Living products for free.

What’s your favorite Switch and Ditch you’ve made in 2017?

Essential DIY Recipes: Deodorant Powder

We’re back with another essential oil-infused DIY recipe: Deodorant Powder. While ditching commercial hand soaps or toothpastes is often no sweat (hello there, Thieves line), finding a natural deodorant you love can be tough.

We get it. We don’t like to mess with BO or skin sensitivity, either. But we also don’t like to mess with applying harsh chemicals on our bodies, especially so close to lymph nodes and breast tissue. Making your own deodorant helps you ditch no-no ingredients like aluminum and Fragrance and switch to essential oil-powered freshness you can feel great about.

Simple instructions, common supplies, power to personalize...what are you waiting for? This DIY deodorant power is amazing! 

Simple instructions, common supplies, power to personalize...what are you waiting for? This DIY deodorant power is amazing! 

Supplies & Ingredients

Supplies

  • Glass Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons and Cups
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Storage Container (like a salt shaker or baby powder bottle)

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch*
  • 10 drops of your favorite Essential Oil

Tree of Life Fresh Favorites: Our team loves adding Purification, Stress Away, Lavender, Cedarwood and Shutran to this natural deodorant recipe. Mix, match and experiment to find your signature scent.

*Pro Tip: We usually prefer arrowroot over cornstarch. Cornstarch can cause skin sensitivity and yeast growth. Test both and find what works for you!

How It’s Done

  1. Combine all ingredients in your glass mixing bowl.
  2. Store in your chosen container.

Use Today

Apply under arms as needed.

Need Extra Protection? You’ve Got it!

If you feel like you need even more BO warding power, you have a few options:

  1. Layer: Apply a few more drops of your favorite scent on top of powder.
  2. Spray:  Or, make a water and purification spray in a glass spray bottle to spray on top. This method is another Tree of Life favorite!

Share!

Are you planning to make your own Deodorant Powder? Share which signature Essential Oil scent you’ll add to your DIY recipe in the comments!

 

Essential Oil DIY Recipes: Dry Shampoo

How is your ditching and switching going? To support your quest to banish parabens, dyes and fragrances from your personal care routine, we are kicking off a new series: Essential Oil DIY.

We’ve rounded up several recipes that you can whip up with common household ingredients and your favorite essential oils. Tune in each week to make Ditch and Switch even easier.

Today, we are inspired by the Young Living blog and we’re sharing their Dry Shampoo recipe with a few tips of our own.

Essential Oil-Infused DIY Dry Shampoo

Keep your locks luscious by only shampooing once or twice a week … yes, really. If your hair starts to get greasy between shampoos, then it’s dry shampoo to the rescue! It will absorb oil and leave your hair smelling great!

We love this recipe because it’s fast, easy and full of things you already have around your house.

Getting Started: Supplies & Ingredients

Supplies

Quick - Gather a few supplies around your house and let’s get started!

  • Glass Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons and Cups
  • Mixing Spoon
  • Storage Container (like a salt shaker or baby powder bottle)
  • Old Blush Brush

Ingredients

Delicious Detail: If you have dark hair, add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. Consider adding scents that go well with chocolate like a drop or two of Peppermint essential oil, yum!

Play with Personalization: Here are a few more oils that are great for hair and scalp support: Lavender, Patchouli, Clary Sage. Swap out an oil above for one of these for a new way to love your locks.  

How It’s Done

See? Quick and easy!

Use Today!

  1. Sprinkle on roots of hair, start with your natural part and continue to re-part your hair for full coverage.
  2. Blend shampoo into hair with your makeup brush and massage into scalp for a deep clean.
  3. Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils.
  4. Brush through your hair.

There’s More

Tune in next week for another quick and easy DIY recipe! If you’re interested in growing your scalp-supporting oil collection, consider joining the Essential Rewards program. You can order new oils each month, while earning free stuff and points toward even more oils. It’s pretty amazing and we encourage all fellow oil-lovers to give it a try!

Top 3 Reasons to LOVE Palo Santo (Holy Wood)

Have you checked out the February Promo? There’s a lot to love about each of these awesome freebies. And while you might already adore Lemongrass for its digestive support or swoon for PanAway’s head-soothing power, you might not be familiar with Palo Santo.

The Tree of Life team is already head-over-heels for this versatile oil, so today we share our top 3 ways to use Palo Santo.  

It’s time to get acquainted with Palo Santo … or Holy Wood … or the Frankincense of South America … or your new favorite uplifting aroma.

It’s time to get acquainted with Palo Santo … or Holy Wood … or the Frankincense of South America … or your new favorite uplifting aroma.

1. Meditation Muse

Palo Santo earns the nickname Holy Wood because its woodsy aroma is perfect for grounding during meditation. Try diffusing while practicing mindfulness or applying a few drops directly to the forehead. Much like Frankincense it should inspire spiritual connectedness.

2. Mmmmmmh … Calming

Whether you are cleansing the air of ‘Eau de trashcan’ or your mind from stress, diffusing Santa Palo helps create a calming environment for your mood and a refreshing aroma for your nose.

3. Massage Must-Have  

Treat tired muscles to a post-workout massage with Palo Santo. A 1:1 dilution with your favorite carrier oil applied directed to desired area should deliver the pampering you crave (and deserve!).

This oil takes a lot of work! It is only distilled from Palo Santo trees after they have been dead and lying on the ground for 5 (yes, really) years.

This oil takes a lot of work! It is only distilled from Palo Santo trees after they have been dead and lying on the ground for 5 (yes, really) years.

Must Have!

Don’t miss out! This month you can earn Palo Santo for free, plus other goodies through Young Living’s monthly promo. We suggest checking out the Essential Rewards program to get the best bang out of your buck (like earning more freebies and points toward your favorite oils).

Young Living February Promo: Fun Freebies for Someone Special (You!)

While you're showering others with love this month, Young Living's thoughtful February promo focuses on Y-O-U. Discover a new signature scent (Lemongrass) or an invigorating midday pick-me-up (Eucalyptus Radiata) in this month's promo that's all about giving yourself some love. With favorites like PanAway and Palo Santo up for grabs (more on these versatile oils next week), what's not to love? 

Read on for all the goodies you can treat yo'self to this month with your qualifying order. 

Check out the Fun February Freebies. Treat yo'self! 

Check out the Fun February Freebies. Treat yo'self! 

300 PV (Retail Value: $187.59) 

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 

250 PV (Retail Value: $121.31)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 

190 PV (Retail Value: $55.92)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 

100 PV (Retail Value: $8.22)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 5-ml Lemongrass

Share the Love!

Excited about this promo? Shout it from the rooftops (or your favorite social media outlet:) with our super-convenient share button below. 

Switch & Ditch: Personal Care Edition

Did anyone already switch to all-natural cleaning products (like this one!) and ditch your chemical-heavy cleaning cohorts? Let us know! A clean sweep never felt or smelled so good.

This week, we are continuing our switch and ditch theme, but now: it’s getting personal. Personal care products, that is.

As far as personal wellness goals go, treating your skin to natural products should be right there on your resolution list along with healthy diet and exercise. And Young Living has plenty of all-natural, essential-oil infused goodies. Ready for some switch and ditch tips? We thought so.  

Switch & Ditch: Personal Care Edition

Make your 2017 resolution a reality with a few of our favorites like the ART skincare system, Young Living's super popular face cream, foaming face wash and toner. 

Make your 2017 resolution a reality with a few of our favorites like the ART skincare system, Young Living's super popular face cream, foaming face wash and toner. 

Oral Care

Let’s start with something you do everyday: brush your teeth. Time to ditch toothpaste with artificial sweeteners and toxic chemicals and switch to natural toothpaste that will freshen your breath and gently wash away staining.

The Thieves lines makes this easy. Try one of three Thieves lines toothpastes along with Thieves Dental Floss and Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash.

Hand Care

Make sure washing or cleaning your hands actually washes and cleanses without artificial fragrances or toxins.

I’m in love with the Thieves Foaming hand soap. It smells wonderful and is a great way to introduce guests to Thieves goodness. For on-the-go cleansing, Thieves Waterless Hand Cleanser is on my must-travel list.

Face Care

Whether you are focusing on cleansing, restoring, moisturizing or refining, Young Living has products and oils to try. Some of my favorite anti-aging oils include:

  • Rose - high-frequency oil great for moisturizing and refining skin
  • Patchouli - favorite oil for daily moisturizing
  • Lavender - skin MVP, a must for cleansing, moisturizing and refining
  • Frankincense - sacred oil that restores and moisturizes skin  
  • Myrrh - another must-have for moisturizing  

Start slow and experiment. We suggest adding a beauty oil to your order each month. Everyone is different, so everyone will have different favorites. Once you find your favorites, here are a few tips to get the most out of your beauty regime (and save some money).

Make a Homemade Cream

Make your own body and face cream and infuse with your favorite essential oils. That way you get a daily dose of oils, while stretching your supply.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup shea butter
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup liquid oil (like almond, grapeseed, jojoba or avocado oil)
  • 5-10 drops of essential oils of choice

Directions:

  1. Melt shea butter and coconut oil on stovetop
  2. Let cool completely
  3. Add liquid oil and essential oils for choice
  4. Whip to decadent texture

Homemade Serums

Another way to stretch your beauty oils and save time in your routine: create your own serums. Add your favorite oils and apply after your cream morning and night. To make, you will need to gather a few supplies like 1-oz glass bottles, roller ball fitments and funnels.

Ingredients:

  • 1-oz. favorite carrier oil (again: think liquid food oils like almond, grapeseed or avocado)
  • 1-2 drops each of your favorite anti-aging oils

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a small, amber glass bottle. Yup, it’s that easy!

Hair Care

Tame your locks with natural care products. This one is especially important, considering when you rinse off shampoo it flows down the rest of your body. Young Living has some great daily shampoos (like yummy Lavender Mint) to nourish and cleanse hair.

You can also add oils to your hair care routine. When styling, I add a drop of Ylang Ylang to my hair for a gorgeous floral scent and curl-boosting moisture. Other great hair oils include:

  • Geranium - rehydrates hair, try adding to your conditioner
  • Lavender - nourishes and may thicken hair
  • Rosemary - allows nutrients to penetrate hair and scalp
  • Tea Tree - soothes your scalp

Body Care

Body Wash

Like hair care products, body wash is exposed to large parts of your body. Making your own body wash was never easier with Young Living’s bath and shower gel base. Just add 5-10 drops of your favorite oil. Any of our favorite hair and skin oils would work, or you can try an uplifting blend like Joy.

Deodorants

And finally, we’ll end with another daily personal care product: Deodorant. Young Living offers great aluminum-free options that smell great! (Like this one). You can also experiment using an oil as a deodorant. Purification is a great, cleansing and aromatically fresh option to try!

Switch, Ditch & Save

Ready to ditch commercially produced personal care products? Easy. Switch to buying your natural shampoo, hand soap and floss with Young Living’s autoship program, Essential Rewards. We love it because we get to buy the products we love while earning freebies and points toward even more products we love. We think you will, too!

Any questions? Ask away in the comments.

Switch & Ditch in 2017: Clean House Edition

It’s resolution season, so we’ll take the last two weeks of January to give you tips on a couple of naturally awesome goals. Week 1 Objective: Clean House in your Cleaning Closet.

That’s right. Make 2017 the year you ditch chemical-laden, toxic cleaners and switch to the good stuff. By good stuff we mean cleaners that you don’t have to worry about coming in contact with you or your family’s skin or lungs. And – bonus – cleaners that do just as good a job (or better!) cleaning every surface of your house.

Read on for practical tips, quick fixes and tried-and-true recipes. Happy Switching and Ditching!

Ditch toxic cleaning products and switch to all-natural, essential oil-powered clean. 

Ditch toxic cleaning products and switch to all-natural, essential oil-powered clean. 

The All-Important All-Purpose Cleaner

Ditching your old cleaners has another bonus: you can replace all those bottles with just one. Yup. I bought a 14.4 oz. bottle of Thieves Household cleaner 3+ years ago and I am still using it one capful at a time.

I spray this versatile mix on kitchen and bathroom countertops, glass and mirrors. Basically everywhere.*

All-Purpose/Glass Cleaner Recipe

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 capful (approx. 1 tsp) Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 3-5 drops your choice oil (I usually use Lemon, but Citrus Fresh or Tea Tree, would be other fresh ideas)

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in your favorite glass spray bottle, spray, wipe away, SMILE.

*When in doubt, try the all-purpose cleaner in a conspicuous spot first. Especially on surfaces like granite or sandstone, where a higher dilution may be in order.     

Kitchen

Thieves Line Quick Fixes*: Thieves Dish Soap, Thieves Automatic Dishwasher Powder

*If you love Thieves Household cleaner, check out the whole line! We’ve included links to some of our favorite products by room to make things (you guessed it) EASY.

Recipe for Clean Tile Floors:

  • ⅛ Cup Thieves Dish Soap
  • ⅛ Cup White Vinegar
  • 1 Gallon Warm Water

Instructions:

Mix and Mop!

Trashcan Tip:

Keep your trash can fresher in two steps!

  1. Put 2-3 drops Citrus Fresh (or preferred Essential Oil, Purification would be a great choice) on a cotton ball.
  2. Place cotton ball in trash can before you insert liner.

Laundry

Thieves Line Quick Fixes: Thieves Laundry Soap

Laundry Soap Tip: Like the household cleaner, this soap is super concentrated. 32-oz. should give you at least 64 loads of clean clothes!

Dryer Sheet Replacement

You know you’re an adult when you get dryer balls for Christmas. But I did this year, and I embraced my adulthood by being totally excited. The wool dryer balls not only help laundry dry faster with less static and wrinkles, they also provide the perfect opportunity to ditch toxic dryer sheets in favor of therapeutic grade essential oils.

I have 4 balls and I add a couple drops of oil to each for a refreshing scent. My favorites are Lavender and Citrus Fresh. Others to try: Stress Away and Joy

Bathrooms

Thieves Line Quick Fixes: Thieves Wipes

Toilet Tips:

I’ve gotten natural toilet cleaning down to 4 steps:

  1. Spray toilet bowl with all-purpose Thieves cleaner (recipe above).
  2. Sprinkle bowl with about ¼ cup baking soda.
  3. Let mixture sit while you wipe down the rest of the toilet with a rag and all-purpose cleaner.
  4. Scrub bowl.

Tub Tips:

Most cleaning sessions, I simply wipe tubs and showers with my all-purpose cleaner, but if deeper cleaning is in order I have a couple of options:

  1. Sprinkle half a lemon with baking soda to tackle stubborn stains.
  2. Create a paste with 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner and 2-3 TB baking soda.
  3. For a refreshing clean, spray tub with vinegar. Adding a few drops of Lavender or Tea Tree oil will help amp up cleaning power and tune out the intense vinegar aroma.

Last Sweep: Miscellaneous Tips

Carpet

Ditch musty carpet smell with this carpet freshener recipe we shared in our Oil of the Week series:  

Recipe:

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 5 drops of Thieves Essential Oil Blend

Instructions:

  1. Combine ingredients in shaker, mix well and let sit overnight.
  2. Sprinkle over carpets and vacuum.

General Stain Remover

Reach for Lemon for any weird, sticky, stubborn stains. It’s a natural at getting gunk out of your life.

Wood Cleaner

This recipe works wonders on wooden cabinets and furniture:

  • 1 capful Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 1 cup Olive Oil
  • 2-3 Drops Lemon  

Making the Switch Made Easy

If you’re ready to make the switch, the Young Living Essential Rewards program makes it super easy (and affordable). You just:

  1. Ditch the toxic cleaners in your home.
  2. Ditch the toxic cleaners on your shopping list.
  3. Switch to Essential Rewards for all your natural cleaning needs.

Your grocery list will get shorter and your house will become naturally clean. Just add a cleaning product to your order each month to help you keep this 2017 resolution! You’ll even earn points toward free products while you’re at it.

Have a cleaning quandary? Ask us in the comments!

Hello, Helichrysum: Rejuvenating Essential Oil, You

Today, we spotlight Helichrysum. This rare flower is a vital ingredient in 16 Young Living products. Before we share a few quick tips and facts, here’s a spoiler of some amazing benefits: Dried Helichrysum flowers keep their fragrance, shape and color for years, earning the nickname Everlasting Flower.

If your curiosity is piqued, keep reading, because this month … drumroll … you can earn Helichrysum for free! (Find out how here!). Ok, time to introduce the wheres, whys and hows of Helichrysum. Hello, new friend.  

Fast Fact: Helichrysum has a high frequency making it perfect to diffuse for grounding during study or mediation.

Fast Fact: Helichrysum has a high frequency making it perfect to diffuse for grounding during study or mediation.

Where?

Young Living grows its Helichrysum in Croatia. This hearty plant prefers rocky soil to keep it warm day and night. Instead of harvesting the entire plant, Young Living takes just the top 10-12 inches. The stalk will grow back within a week!

Why?

As you can see, Helichrysum has wonderful rejuvenating and restorative properties. We love it for:

  • Improving appearance of tender skin
  • Supporting mood, even during conflict
  • Easing minor muscle tension or bone discomfort
  • Maintaining healthy circulation
  • Supporting the respiratory system
  • General cleansing properties  

How?  

1. Diffuse:

The uplifting aroma can help soothe moods and stimulate focus. You can diffuse up to 1 hour 3 times a day.  

2. Apply Topically

Try applying 2-4 drops to the feet or directly to area of choice. Dilution is not typically required.

Now What?

We hope you enjoyed getting to know a rare oil today. If you want more information, leave us a question in the comments. We’d also love to hear how you plan to use it first.

And again, find out how you can add its grounding, restorative properties to your oily tool kit for free this month.

Young Living January Promo: New Year, Fresh Favorites

There's something inspiring about a New Year, and we feel that this month's promo captures that feeling perfectly with 6 (yes, 6!) amazing oils: Citrus Fresh Vitality, Eucalyptus Globulus, Basil Vitality, Joy, Helichrysum and Peace and Calming. Each one can help you tackle a resolution with natural zest.

Want to drink more water? Add some Citrus Fresh Vitality for a tasty treat. Trying to work in more work outs? Motivate yourself with the promise of a Eucalyptus-infused massage. Moving up your bedtime? Introduce Peace & Calming into your nighttime routine. 

Ready to find out more? Read on for details. 

Happy New Year to you! Earn these 6 oils with your qualifying purchase. Bonus Resolution Tip: Try cooking more at home with Basil Vitality! 

Happy New Year to you! Earn these 6 oils with your qualifying purchase. 

Bonus Resolution Tip: Try cooking more at home with Basil Vitality! 

300 PV (Retail Value $255.25)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives:

250 PV (Retail Value $97.69)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives:

190 PV (Retail Value $42.76)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives:

  100 PV (Retail Value $9.54)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive:

5-ml Citrus Fresh Vitality™

One More Resolution

Resolve to never miss free oils in 2017 with Young Living's awesome autoship program, Essential Rewards. Find out everything you need to know on our Essential Rewards 101 page. 

Young Living December Promotion: Rewards to Celebrate!

We hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving! We're back this week to unveil some free holiday goodies. The December promotion includes yummy seasonal favorites like nutmeg, orange vitality and NingXia Nitro as well as a new blend, Excite. Excited? We are, too. We totally won't tell if you crack these gifts open before December 25. 

The Ho-Ho-Holiday Promotion

It's not hard to get in the spirit with rewards like these! 

It's not hard to get in the spirit with rewards like these! 

300 PV (Retail Value: $207.89)

  • 5-ml Excite: This promo-exclusive blend of Ocotea, Nutmeg, and more was created by D. Gary Young to encourage both energy for the holidays and inspiration for the new year. 
  • 15-ml Abundance™: In ancient cultures, Orange, Frankincense, Patchouli, and Ginger essential oils were used to bring an abundance of prosperity, joy and peace. 
  • NingXia Nitro®: NingXia Nitro is a Tree of Life holiday favorite. It supports alertness, as well as cognitive and physical fitness. Each box contains 14 20-ml tubes. 
  • 5-ml Orange Vitality™: Orange Vitality + Baked Goods. Enough said, right? 

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives:

  • 5-ml Nutmeg: We love to diffuse this spice as we welcome guests. Try it with Orange for a zesty twist.  
  • 5-ml Tea Tree: Tea Tree is a must-have in your winter skin tool box. Its cleansing properties keep your skin smooth, no matter the weather.  

250 PV (Retail Value: $90.79)

  • NingXia Nitro, 14-count box 
  • 5-ml Orange Vitality 

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives: 

  • 5-ml Nutmeg
  • 5-ml Tea Tree

190 PV (Retail Value: $39.80)

  • 5-ml Orange Vitality 

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives: 

  • 5-ml Nutmeg
  • 5-ml Tea Tree 

100 PV (Retail Value: $14.80)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusives: 

  • 5-ml Tea Tree 

See you Soon!

Next week, we'll continue to share our Young Living seasonal favorites, stay tuned! As always, if you have any questions about our post our how to join our Young Living community, don't hesitate to leave a comment or get in touch! 

Young Living 2016 Christmas Catalog: Season for Sharing

We will return to our regularly scheduled Fall Favs series next week, but we just couldn’t help sharing a bit about the Young Living Christmas catalog today. Why? Well, we happen to have two great reasons:

  1. We’re excited. There are some great kits, oils and products to give (and receive) from this year’s catalog.

  2. If we wait any longer to share, you may not get your chance to shop!

Pro Tip: Holiday exclusives go fast!

So without further ado, we broke down the catalog by some major (fun) themes. Shop right from our post, or browse through the online version here. Either way, a warm beverage*,  festive tree scent and some jolly tunes may be in order.  

*speaking of warm beverages, get cozy with this Thermos + Peppermint set

Young Living 2016 Holiday Catalog: Season for Sharing

Sharing

The Holiday Season is all about sharing: laughs, moments, food. And, of course, if you’ve fallen in love with Essential Oils, your Young Living favorites. We love how Young Living makes sharing must-have oils easy with kits like these, complete with helpful booklets. Perfect for the oily beginner in your life!  

Eating & Drinking

Vitality oils make spicing up seasonal favorites easier than ever before, and Young Living released 15 new dietary blends just in time for your Holiday feasts. The Ningxia Red holiday set, a must for keeping those wellness goals this time of year, includes 5 greeting cards and a $5 donation to the D. Gary Young, Young Living Foundation!

Pampering

The New ART Care System is designed to cleanse, tone and moisturize your face naturally. Order before December 31 to bring that spa-life to your home with a Young Living spa headband. And, it’s ok to pamper the men in your life too with Shutran Aftershave Lotion and Shutran Bar Soap. The woodsy scent meets a plant-based formula for a good-for-you clean.  

Stocking Stuffing

Skip candy in favor of Wolfberry Crisp Bars this year in their stocking for healthy snacking at it’s finest. And the 2016 Lipbalm set of 4 (including Holiday-Exclusive Vanillamint) is a little treat that always brings (and protects) big smiles.  

Nurturing

We love these two sets for the kids and grandkids in your life. Give the gift of natural cleansing and wellness support with Kidscents.

Maintaining  

The holidays are much more enjoyable if you and your family are staying well and fit. Check out these sets for a little proactive (and priceless) peace of mind. 

Stay Tuned

We’ll be back next week to reveal another Young Living product we can’t live without this time of year. See you soon!

 

Young Living November Promotion: Bountiful Reasons to be Thankful

We are in the middle of a Fall Favorites series. Last week, we covered Christmas Spirit and this week we're excited to share ... (drumroll) ... that you can earn this diffuser-friendly oil for free with your qualifying November order!

And, of course, that's not all. Other seasonal (and year-round) favorites are available: Sacred Frankincense, Myrrh, Frankincense, 20 Essential Rewards Points and Peppermint Vitality. This promo is a wonderful way to prep for the coming Holiday season and New Year! 

Lots of reasons to be thankful for a wonderful November promo: 5-ml Sacred Frankincense, 5-ml Myrrh, 15-ml Frankincense, and 5-ml Christmas Spirit™; Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 20 Essential Rewards points and Peppermint Vitality to be ex…

Lots of reasons to be thankful for a wonderful November promo: 5-ml Sacred Frankincense, 5-ml Myrrh, 15-ml Frankincense, and 5-ml Christmas Spirit™; Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 20 Essential Rewards points and Peppermint Vitality to be exact. 

300 PV (Retail Value: $233.16)

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

  • 20 Essential Rewards points
  • Peppermint Vitality™ 

250 PV (Retail Value: $143.36)

  • 15-ml Frankincense
  • 5-ml Christmas Spirit

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

  • 20 Essential Rewards points 
  • Peppermint Vitality™ 

190 PV (Retail Value: $46.65)

  • 5-ml Christmas Spirit

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

  • 20 Essential Rewards points 
  • Peppermint Vitality™ 


NEW 100 PV (Retail Value: $13.16)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: Peppermint Vitality

Don't Miss Out!

I bet you noticed the phrase "Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive" quite a few times in this post. Don't miss out on the new reward tier or other exclusive offers. Learn more about Young Living's Essential Rewards autoship program. And as always, if you have questions, ask! We are ready to help! 

It's Fall Y'all: New Series Kickoff!

We rounded out our series on each oil in the Premium Starter kit last week. If you missed it (or ever want to review), we collected all the posts on a brand new page. Check it out. You’re welcome.

Today, we’re giving you a sneak-peek to our new series: Fall Favorites.

FallYallSeries

It’s hard to pick our favorite thing about fall: Cooler weather. Beautiful leaves. Better coffee treats. The Holidays. But there are a few things about Fall that don’t make the “few of our favorite things” category. The kind of things that make immune support and mood boosting more important than ever.

That’s why we’ll spend the rest of the year sharing our favorite oils and Young Living products to help you take on everything Fall, from colder weather to hosting Thanksgiving dinner. 

We’ve got posts planned on oils, blends and supplements we’ve never covered before on the blog like Christmas Spirit, up next week. Other planned topics include Inner Defense, Eucalyptus, Raven, Breathe Again, RC and Ningxia.

What are your #YLFallFavs? Here are a few of ours! Inner Defense, Eucalyptus, Raven, Breathe Again, RC & Ningxia.

What are your #YLFallFavs? Here are a few of ours! Inner Defense, Eucalyptus, Raven, Breathe Again, RC & Ningxia.

It's Fall Y'all! Be excited and stay tuned!