A "Burst" of Aromatherapy

A Sad Tale

I used to LOVE the bath - that was before I had children and before I linked baths to frequent UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections).  Anyway, my VERY favorite thing was bath salts and bath milk from Bath & Body Works.  Even though my muscles were relaxed and my skin silky smooth - I would get a UTI within days.  So I stopped taking baths, and thus was bummed that I no longer had that option for relaxation.

I did use epsom salt and scented candles on occasion, but once I was diagnosed with hypertension I had to stop the epsom salt bath.  So where could I turn?

A Happy Ending

For Christmas, my sister in law gave me a little bag with two Shower Burst Aromatherapy pills.  I was a bit skeptical, but I was immediately transformed in just 5 minutes.  You must understand, reader, I have about 20 minutes from shower start to dressed and ready finish.  I could not have been happier with these little wonders.  I was fantasizing earlier about have a secret stash of these lovelies.  I honestly would have used two or three and locked the bathroom door for added privacy.  It's just been that kind of day over here.

For more information:

Product Description

When taking a bath isn't an option -- these 100% natural shower bursts transform your ordinary shower into a shower aromatherapy experience better than the spa!

Place one burst on the floor in the shower and let the indirect spray activate the aromatherapy experience. Made of 100% essential oils, nothing artificial. Choose from four individual scents or pamper a friend with a gift box set of all four blends:

• Clear your breathing and get clarity with eucalyptus + peppermint essential oils 
• Reflect and relax with lavender + bergamot (bergamot is small fruit-bearing citrus tree) 
• Get healing with the anti-inflammatory properties of lavender + soothing tea tree oils 
• Refresh your senses with the citrus oils of grapefruit + lavender 

Bursts are 2" in diameter by 1" tall. Good for one shower use. Handmade in California.

My Favorite Witch

Witch Hazel

With all the pricey face products on the market, I was curious what most contained.  Today I will focus on toners, sometimes called: cleansers.

I spent countless hours reading the ingredients of the popular toners on the market.  I knew there would be many with names that I could not pronounce, but I was surprised that some even contain acid!  When I have used toners in the past, I have been pretty unimpressed with the additional services they provide.  I used to be of the mindset: what ever happened to good 'ol soap and water with a washcloth?

I have come leaps and bounds from using soap and a washcloth, but I still wonder what makes expensive products better than Dove bar soap.  Upon research, I was disgusted with what goes into a toning product.  Did you know some of the big brand name companies put coloring in their products?  Yeah, who doesn't need a little Blue #1 and some Red #33 or maybe a bit of Yellow #5? Ugh. Gross.

My research changed, and I began searching for something that would remove the excess dirt and grime, but not leave my face completely crusty and dry.  I was always impressed with the amount of dirt alcohol pulled off my skin - even after washing.  However, it was too harsh and most often caused my skin to get very dry.  Of course I never thought the wintergreen version of rubbing alcohol was a smart choice in a household with children. I also wanted a product that was inexpensive AND without ingredients that were impossible to pronounce.

So I decided to purchase a bottle of witch hazel.  You would think I was looking for uranium when I asked the store clerk at Kroger for a bottle.  She said, "I guess it would be by the rubbing alcohol.  But I don't think we have any."  I also had to search behind a few bottles of alcohol to finally find the witch hazel bottle at CVS.  You'd think I was looking for something gone the way of the dinosaurs.  And then I thought, well maybe people like buying astringents with food coloring and ingredients they cannot pronounce - just because the bottle is pretty and/or because it is from a company with great marketing.

So now, each evening I use witch hazel to clean the dirt from my pores, and I am very happy with its astringent characteristics.  I apply it with cotton balls to my dirty face, rather than washing with soap and water.  I apply it again to tighten my skin.  Of course I always moisturize afterward.

But I definitely feel that for a small price: $4.69 for a 16oz bottle, one cannot beat witch hazel for its benefits as a toner.  It is definitely Stuff That Really Works.

Coffee Face Mask

I am a beauty product junkie.  Not really a make-up junkie, but find me a cream or mask or special product to eliminate large pours and well...I'm there!

I have been searching for high quality products that are inexpensive as well as homemade products that can take the place of buying factory made items with unhealthy ingredients.  Because of this rather unhealthy obsession, I have decided to devote a weekly (or every-other-week) blog on STUFF THAT REALLY WORKS!

My first blog is about a fantastic face mask that really provided results.  I have been unimpressed with many homemade face masks and scrubs, mostly because they leave my face feeling too dry or too oily or too blah.  I have been trying to organize my home this week - which has pretty much left a lot of stuff out (hence this lovely image):

So I noticed that I had not tried a gift from a piano student yet - Starbucks Tribute Blend beans.  My Keurig can brew your OWN blend, and I just happen to have the little device.  However, I am too lazy in the morning to grind the beans.  So I ground a bit on Monday and noticed that my whole mood changed.  I became much happier.  I had this brilliant thought - what if I made a coffee mask?  Then I had another brilliant thought - I can google recipes that other people already concocted!

I ran across a few recipes, but was smitten with a certain Crunchy gal who seemed to have her act together on homemade products.  I was certainly surprised at how my face felt while the mask was on - cool and refreshed and how I felt after the facial - ready for my day.  This is a big deal, because I woke with laryngitis and a migraine.  Even a day later my skin feels fantastic!  So I have to say this is STUFF THAT REALLY WORKS!

Here is a link to the original recipe on Crunchy Betty's blog: Mocha-Frappuccino Mask

Here is the recipe I used yesterday morning:

Coffee Mask

• 2 Tbsp freshly ground coffee
• 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 3 Tbsp. plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp. honey

Incorporate all ingredients well.  Use fingertips to cover entire face.  Relax for 15 minutes.  Get in hot shower.  Use water to loosen mask with fingertips.  Move fingertips in circular motions to get the scrub benefits of the coffee grounds.  Continue until mask is completely removed.  This could take a little while - the coffee grounds are messy.  However, this is why I removed the mask in the shower.