Some of the most sacred and valued scents over the centuries are those deeper aromatics—Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin and others—whose use predates the millennia-old religious texts in which they’re noted. These scents are “heavier” because the chemicals they’re made of are heavier than those in “lighter” oils such as lemon or bergamot. Another way to look at it is that the scents
An “infused oil” is a vegetable oil in which herbs, spices, or plant resins have been infused. They’re fun to make and immensely useful. First, let’s look at uses, then how to make an oil, and finally, I’ll share some of my favorite oils.
With plenty of naysayers and believers, what is the truth about the benefits or harm of the ubiquitous talcum powder we so love to use?
“What’s in a name,” Shakespeare said. And call a rose whatever you want, it will still smell as sweet and be as healthy. So here’s to making your own rose water, and using it for beauty and health…
The sun is undoubtedly good for us: sunshine on our skin helps to create vitamin D, responsible for building strong bones and preventing issues like hair loss, bone loss, and fatigue, and diseases like multiple sclerosis, depression, and prostate cancer. Beyond all of this, sunshine feels good.
Scrubbing your skin is part and parcel of a good and basic skincare routine. But do we really need those store-bought tubes to do a job that homemade ingredients do just as well, if not better?
I am making my way through my mid-40s and live in a dry, intensely sunny mountain town. This has been a wakeup call to start caring more for my face. I wasn’t bad before. After a couple of awkward teenage years, I’ve generally not used unhealthy cosmetics, harsh cleansers, or even soap on my face. But at a certain point, it may be good to put in a bit more effort. Not just for those of us of a certain age who’ve suddenly become vainer, but also to prevent cancer-promoting changes in the skin.
Cleaning your face doesn’t mean you have to bombard your skin with a hodge-podge of chemicals. To put your best face forward, go all natural instead with these DIY recipes of face wash and facial cleansers.
Even though I live in California, where winters don’t always merit the name, I’ve been piling on the cozy sweaters and donning the sturdy boots that make winter wardrobes the best part of the season. But what’s out of sight is out of mind, and I recently realized that my long-hidden skin could use some serious love. Parched and pasty, my legs especially showed signs of neglect, so I decided to bring my dry brush out of its winter retirement.
We all rely on store-bought beauty products. This New Year, do yourself and the environment a favor—start replacing one beauty product every month. Let’s start with January by replacing face masks.