May Promo: Celebrate Mom (and Awesome Freebies)

May's promo makes celebrating the special women in your life easy. Have a yoga-loving mother-in-law? She will love the grounding Ravintsara provides during her practice. Does your mom love to find new natural skincare solutions? Introduce her to ManukaThe "tea tree of New Zealand," this beautifying oil can reduce the appearance of blemishes.

And this month, Young Living has added another reward tier! Spend 340PV to earn Valor®, an empowering blend for all the strong women in your life.  

Also included in this month's freebies: AgilEase for joint health support, sweet signature scent Jade Lemon, fresh Citronella and delectable Orange Vitality. 

Also included in this month's freebies: AgilEase for joint health support, sweet signature scent Jade Lemon, fresh Citronella and delectable Orange Vitality. 

340 PV

Retail Value: $243.74

300 PV

Retail Value $191.44

250 PV

Retail Value $84.20

190 PV

Retail Value $47.59

100 PV

Retail Value $7.89

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 5-ml Orange Vitality™ 

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!

 

Postpartum Oils

As a mom to FOUR littles 5 and under (5, 3, 2, and 6 months), I have had the opportunity to have two non-oily pregnancies and two oily pregnancies, and WOW at the difference! Actually, one of my favorite ways to use oils is post-pregnancy – because I need ALL the help I can get.

Essential Oils for those super sweet (and intense) newborn days. 

Essential Oils for those super sweet (and intense) newborn days. 

Emotional Support

Hormone support is more important than ever postpartum. Young Living offers many essential oils that can help you maintain a healthy endocrine system.

Frankincense Vitality is my personal favorite. I take it daily as a dietary supplement. On days that I forget, I can definitely see a difference in my mood. Its aroma is calming to me, and when I feel overwhelmed or things get chaotic, it helps keep me grounded.

White Angelica is the other essential oil I use for emotional support after delivery. I apply it to my wrists and wear it as a perfume. It has so many amazing oils in it that support the endocrine system such as bergamot and geranium.

Self-Care

It is so important to take care of yourselves, mamas. I know how easy it is to take care of everyone else first, but try to make a little time for yourselves—even if it’s just five minutes after you (finally) get all the kids in bed.

ClaraDerm Spray: I can’t say enough about it. I tell every pregnant woman I meet about it. Really, don’t have a baby without it. It’s a spray of fractionated coconut oil and lots of oils for skin support: lavender, myrrh, frankincense, tea tree, Roman chamomile, and helichrysum. I used it to prep my skin prior to birth, but I also used it to soothe my skin after I delivered. What’s so great is that mamas who have C-sections AND vaginal births can use it to sooth their skin postpartum.

Super B Tablets: Did you know Super B contains all 8 B vitamins and nutmeg essential oil? And did you know how important those vitamins are for energy? My upline actually shared the awesomeness of Super B with me after my last pregnancy when I mentioned that I needed some help maintaining energy levels. Even better—it also helps with mood support!

Bonding

We hear so much about the importance of skin-to-skin contact after our babies are born. I love to diffuse oils during skin-to-skin and to apply them topically to my chest.

Joy: During those first nursing sessions, I like to apply Joy topically to my chest. This blend includes citrus oils like lemon and tangerine that have such bright, happy smells, but it also has flowery oils like Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, and Rose. It is just such an uplifting aroma and can invite feelings of togetherness, which makes it a perfect addition to those first few bonding sessions. My husband even uses Joy during his skin-to-skin time with the babies.

Gentle Baby: Momfession time—Gentle Baby is not my favorite smell. Blasphemous, I know. However, it can be really soothing and calming to both moms and babies, so I choose to diffuse this one during skin-to-skin time.

Newborn Care

First, let me say that newborn skin is so…new. I would always suggest diluting oils with a carrier oil (my favorite is YL’s V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil because I find it light and not as greasy as other carrier oils) if you choose to use essential oils on your babies topically. A general guideline for dilution in newborns is 1-2 drops per 10ml of carrier oil.

I used Frankincense and Valor on both my oily babies: drop of frankincense to the top of their heads for grounding and a drop of Valor on their spine to promote and support healthy proper spinal alignment.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the oils that have helped me navigate life postpartum.  What oils or oily products are on you must-have list?

Join Our Team

Connect with us on FB on our Tree of Life page! You'll never miss a blog or update. Also, find me on FB and I’ll add you to my personal group, Oily Educators. If you have questions, you can drop me a note at oilyeducatorsyl@gmail.com. I’d love to have you as part of my YL family where we learn and grow together in wellness, purpose, and abundance!

Young Living Spring Products

We try to make our blog a place where you can stay in-the-know about all things Young Living. And, guys, you need to know about their limited-edition Spring Product line. These charming bundles are nothing short of sunny. Add a ray of natural goodness to your spring with these fun kits.

We love the Spring Basics Set for any Essential Oil newbie in your life! With Thieves, Peppermint and Lavender, it’s impossible to go wrong! Also pictured: Thieves Household Cleaner, Citrus Fresh & Water Bottle set & Citrus Vitality Set. &nb…

We love the Spring Basics Set for any Essential Oil newbie in your life! With Thieves, Peppermint and Lavender, it’s impossible to go wrong! Also pictured: Thieves Household Cleaner, Citrus Fresh & Water Bottle set & Citrus Vitality Set.  

Spring Sets for Every Sunny Scenario

We love how they’ve thought of everything – whether you’re ready to tackle Spring Cleaning or dabble in DIY Beauty techniques. If you’re still searching for your set, check out our (totally scientific) quiz below.  

Refresh your collection or plant a seed for a new one with the Spring Product line!

Which one are you dying to order?

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.

April Promo: Fresh Favorites for Free!

We've declared 2017 the year of switching from harsh household chemicals to natural solutions, and we love how April's promo makes it easy. This month you can earn fresh cleaning favorites like Tangerine Vitality, Tea Tree and Thieves Household cleaner, along with a no-more-excuses glass spray bottle. And stay tuned next week as we give you more info on Oola Grow and Dragon Time, two awesome Young Living blends. 

Earn these fresh spring favorites this month! 

Earn these fresh spring favorites this month! 

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 youacross 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?

Young Living March Promo: Fresh & Free!

What's not to love about Fresh and Free? This promo is full of refreshing freebies for spring, including one of our most beloved essential oils: Frankincense. Seriously, we use it for everything from skin support to mediation focus. Love. It. Other goodies include lovely Lavender, Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray, woodsy Blue Cypress and zesty Lime Vitality. Check out the full details below!

Order your favorite products to earn your favorite products? Sounds like a good way to kick off spring. 

Order your favorite products to earn your favorite products? Sounds like a good way to kick off spring. 

300 PV (Retail Value: $184.22)

Essential Rewards exclusive:

250 PV (Retail Value: $87.51)

Essential Rewards exclusive:

190 PV (Retail Value: $56.59)

Essential Rewards exclusive:

100 PV (Retail Value: $7.57)

Essential Rewards exclusive:

Essential Rewards 101

Don't miss out on exclusive essential rewards freebies! Find out everything you need to enroll here.

Poll Time: What's your favorite oil to diffuse for Spring? 

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).

ER-Normous News!

Happy Friday! After all the Fun February Freebies, we hope you can handle even more good news: Young Living has streamlined it's Essential Rewards enrollment for new members! New members can now customize their first ER order woo hoo! 

Need more details? Check out (and share!) our breakdown of this exciting announcement below. 

Awesome Update: New Members can order their Premium Starter Kit AND enroll in ER with a custom order. AND earn points toward that month's promo. AND save on shipping. Hello, streamlined process. 

Awesome Update: New Members can order their Premium Starter Kit AND enroll in ER with a custom order. AND earn points toward that month's promo. AND save on shipping. Hello, streamlined process. 

Join Now! 

Not a member? Find out how to join the Tree of Life Team today. If you have questions, please leave them in the comments or contact us

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.

Peace & Calming Freebie Alert!

Beloved blog readers, listen up. If you are on the fence about starting your essential oil journey this year, here's a little extra incentive: order the Premium Starter Kit before January 31, 2017 and earn Peace & Calming for free. 

Haven't met this little bottle of wonderful? You need to. A Young Living favorite, Peace & Calming is great for diffusing before bed (especially if you have a restless kiddo or 2!). And, due to popularity, it's usually out of stock.

A $34.75 value for free with your purchase!

A $34.75 value for free with your purchase!

Members, you know what to do. Share and don't let friends and family miss this deal! 

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!