Essentials of Practicing Outside in Pitta Season – Summertime Skin Care
/As we get into the stride of summer, the weather is beautiful and entices us outside to breathe fresh air and enjoy nature firsthand -- trees, beaches, ocean, rivers, lakes, hills, mountains... There is something inspirational about becoming one with nature as we take our yoga practice outdoors. We also want to be mindful of our skin during the sunny summertime season; use the recipes below for natural skin-care ideas to enhance your enjoyment of this pitta season. As you play with summertime essential oil recipes, remember to avoid using citrus oils topically on the skin as they can increase skin photosensitivity for about 12 hours after use. Join us in July for Essential Yoga Sangha to learn more about incorporating essential oils into your yoga practice: https://essentialyogasanghajuly17.eventbrite.com
All-Natural Skin Refresher and Makeup Remover Wipes:
2 ½ T witch hazel
5 drops Lavender essential oil
2-3 drops your choice of Melaleuca, Cardamom or Geranium essential oil
Quartered paper towel or fabric pieces
Combine witch hazel and essential oil in a bowl. Soak mixture into fabric or paper towel pieces. Store in an airtight ziplock baggie or plastic container.
Soothing After Sun Spray:
1 c Aloe Vera Gel
¼ c Fractionated Coconut Oil
15 drops Frankincense essential oil
10 drops Sandalwood essential oil
4 drops Lavender essential oil
Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle. Shake well before use.
Refreshing Lip Balm with SPF
2 T olive oil
½ t honey
¾ t beeswax, grated
½ t cocoa butter
4 drops vitamin E oil
½ t zinc oxide powder
peppermint essential oil
lemongrass essential oil
(optional, ultramarine or oxide pigment powders for color tint)
Yields approx. ½ oz.
Combine olive oil, honey, wax and cocoa butter in a double boiler. Heat over low heat until just melted, remove and let cool. Add zinc, vitamin E and essential oils, pour into container. Store in a cool place.
Decadent Body Butter:
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup raw shea butter
2 oz. sweet almond oil or jojoba oil
Essential oils of choice (see below for suggestions)
Using a saucepan over low heat, melt coconut oil, shea butter and almond oils until liquified. Pour into a stainless steel bowl and put in fridge. When oils are lukewarm (and still liquified), add essential oils and stir. Put back in fridge. When mixture has hardened enough that you can see your fingerprint in it (this could take a few hours or several hours), whip it up for a few minutes with an electric mixer until it looks light and fluffy like frosting. Yields 1-2 cups.
Fun essential oil combos for Body Butter:
Invigorating foot cream: 8 drops peppermint, 8 drops spearmint
Moisturizing cream: 10 drops lavender, 4 drops geranium
Soothing cream: 5 drops lemongrass, 8 drops frankincense, 4 drops marjoram