Essential Oils & Hand Care

This week I want to talk about essential oils and hand care, and I can’t believe it took me soooo long to do this...  I’m gonna give ya’ll some amazing recipes that will really up your hand care routine…and a small education on fractionated coconut oil.   

When you buy coconut oil at the grocery store, it is semi-solid at room temperature and, while perfect for cooking, can be hard to use on skin unless melted or whipped first. Enter Fractionated Coconut Oil, a form which stays liquid at room temperature. To achieve this, coconut oil goes through a chemical-free process to take out the long-chain fatty acids (triglycerides) that give coconut oil its solidity. Taking out these fatty acids also extends the oil’s shelf life indefinitely.

Fractionated Coconut Oil can be used on its own as a moisturizer, but it is also useful in this DIY coconut oil lotion for both your body and face.

Ingredients:

½ cup distilled water

½ cup pure aloe vera gel

½ cup beeswax

½ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 teaspoon vitamin E

10–15 drops essential oils

Instructions:

1. Combine water and aloe vera gel in heat-proof bowl that fits over the top of your double boiler pan and traps the steam. Set aside.
2. Place beeswax and Fractionated Coconut Oil in double boiler over medium heat until beeswax is melted. 
3. Remove top boiler insert and pour beeswax mixture into blender.
4. Place the water and aloe mixture on the already-boiling base of double boiler, bringing the mixture to around the same temperature as beeswax mixture. Note: This is will need to be done quickly to prevent the beeswax mixture from hardening in the blender. You can also microwave the water and aloe mixture while the beeswax and coconut oil melt to speed up the heating process. The two liquids need to be a similar temperature to help the ingredients emulsify. 
5. Turn on blender to medium speed. Very slowly pour water and aloe mixture into blender, continuing to slowly pour as mixture starts to emulsify or come together. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of blender.
6. Continue blending and pouring for up to 15 minutes until you are happy with the consistency of your lotion.
7. Add vitamin E oil and essential oils and mix well.
8. Place finished lotion in your container of choice (12 ounces or less) and use within three months.

Tip: If you don’t have a double boiler, use a taller sauce pan and find two heat-proof bowls that will fit snugly over the sauce pan

Made with beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and essential oils, these natural moisturizing lotion bars will nourish and soothe dry skin. Massage the bar on your skin and let your body's natural heat melt the lotion. After one use, you won't know how you lived without it!! 

Ingredients:

⅔ cup beeswax

½ cup coconut oil

½ cup cocoa butter

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

15 drops of doTERRA essential oil(s) 

Instructions:

1. Measure all ingredients, except for essential oils, in large glass jar.
2. Place jar in saucepan with one to one and a half inches of boiling water.
3. Stir ingredients until combined.
4. Once melted, remove from heat. Let rest three minutes. 
5. Add essential oils and stir.
6. Pour mixture into silicone mold.Tip: For an exfoliating lotion bar, add oatmeal to the bottom of the mold.
7. Let mixture harden two to three hours. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in container until ready to use.
8. Massage lotion bar on skin for moisture.

Making a homemade cuticle cream is a great way to bring moisture and health back to nails. This essential oil cuticle cream can also be used on hands, lips, or anywhere with dry spots.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons shea butter

1 teaspoon beeswax

1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut oil

7 drops Lavender or Myrrh oil

Instructions:

1. In small glass container, combine shea butter, beeswax, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.
2. Place in saucepan with 1–1 ½ inches of boiling water.
3. Stir ingredients for 5–10 minutes until combined.Tip: Use a popsicle stick for easy cleanup. 
4. Once melted, remove from heat and let rest for three minutes.
5. Add essential oils and stir.
6. Pour into container and let harden for 2–3 hours.
7. To use, just apply a small amount to cuticles and rub until absorbed.

I hope y’all will try one or both of these recipes and be able to incorporate them into your hand care routine.I would love to hear your thoughts on them in the comments below.  

Blessings

XOXO—Alisha