The seasonal transition between spring and summer is the ideal time for outdoor activities. The weather’s rarely too hot or too cold, providing the perfect conditions for a run, lawn and garden work or just extended time walking the dog or playing in the park with the kids. But, if you don’t carefully transition into the bright sunshine, concrete surfaces and windswept condition outdoors, you might pay a price with your comfort and well-being. Here are a few essential oil applications that facilitate a comfortable switch to outdoor activities and may help you deal with any overexposure after you come inside.

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Lip Shield Salve

Protect delicate lip tissue with a wholesome homemade salve.

1 tablespoon grated beeswax
3 tablespoons sesame seed oil
8 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops sweet orange or tangerine essential oil

Melt beeswax in a glass measuring cup placed in simmering water just until it melts. Add sesame oil and continue heating until well combined. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Stir in essential oils and pour into a small lidded jar or tin. Place in refrigerator until salve sets up. Dab onto lips before and after exposure to the outside elements.

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Soothing & Purifying Body Powder

Keep your feet purified and fresh with an all-natural powder. Sprinkle on feet and toes or in shoes during and after running, walking, hiking and cycling. This powder can also work as a deodorant all-over body powder.

½ cup cornstarch
½ cup baking soda
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops sweet orange essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil

Sift or whisk together cornstarch and baking powder. Sprinkle with essential oils and whisk/sift again. Store in a jar with a perforated sifter top.

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Protecting Body Oil

Here’s a recipe for a lightly textured oil to smooth over your exposed skin while you're outside. The woody, lemony aroma is a fresher, more interesting version of a typical citronella-based product but every bit as effective.

4 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
4 drops geranium essential oil
4 drops sandalwood or cedarwood essential oil
1 ounce grapeseed oil

Combine essential oils with grapeseed oil and smooth overexposed skin.

Enjoy a safe and healthy outdoor season from all of your friends at Aura Cacia!

MAY FREE GIVEAWAY

Aura Cacia Lavender Body Wash FREE with every online order (while supply lasts)! Click here for details.

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ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE MONTH

GERANIUM

The extra-gentle properties of herbal-rosy scented geranium essential oil are most suitable for incorporating into your fine facial care routine. The oil is distilled from the leaves, stems and small pink blossoms of Perlagonium graveolens, an herb native to the African continent but now widely grown throughout the world. The benefits of geranium are diverse. It's soothing and calming like lavender but has a delightful, non-cloying, rose-like aroma. It's cooling like peppermint but without the minty-menthol medicinal nuance of that oil. More than anything, geranium is balancing and toning — mentally, emotionally and physically — in personal care applications. Incorporate its soothing effects into your skincare regime with these easy recipes:

Geranium and Rosehip Facial Serum
3 drops geranium essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop patchouli essential oil
1 oz. bottle of organic rosehip oil

Add essential oils to rosehip oil, and shake well to incorporate. Dot onto face and gently smooth into skin with fingertips after cleansing.

Geranium, Rose and Witch Hazel Facial Toning Mist
This blend of oils will help foster a balanced complexion regardless of skin type.

2 ounces purified water
1 ounce witch hazel extract
1 ounce rosewater or hydrosol
12 drops geranium essential oil
9 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
Bottle with spray-mist cap attachment

Mix all ingredients in the bottle. Shake well and apply 2 to 3 spritzes as a finishing treatment at the end of your skincare regime or anytime during the day as a complexion refresher.

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ESSENTIAL OIL WEBINAR

Get ready for summer with Aura Cacia's "Essential Oils for the Summer Season" webinar on May 17th at 8:00 pm CDT. Aromatherapist Tim Blakley will cover essential oils that can be used for travel and everyday outdoor activities: oils that bugs don't like; oils to help keep you cool in summer; and blends for after-sun and outdoor skin care, dryness, high humidity and more. Key oils discussed will include peppermint, lemon eucalyptus, citronella, vetiver, lavender, and helichrysum. Blending and formulating information will be provided, with recipes. Learn more and sign up.

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