We all know that calcium is a mineral essential to good health. Calcium makes bones and teeth stronger, helps blood to clot, aids in nerve and muscle function, helps fight food cravings and can even relieve symptoms of PMS.

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	Nestle Good Start 2 Powder-For babies 6 months and older
	Swiss Natural Sources Cal-Mag 2:1–Lowering blood pressure&Keeping your heart healthy
	Jamieson Super Calcium With Vitamin D Bonus Pack

Now calcium is also gaining a reputation as an aid in beauty. Calcium has always been known to strengthen nails and today it is gaining popularity for its skin-enhancing benefits too! Calcium can help clear acne and it will also revitalize tired-looking skin by increasing cell turnover, and create a protective barrier that shields the skin from the elements. It is now being used topically in some skin care lines to hydrate aging skin. Combined with magnesium, calcium is used to encourage a good night’s sleep and helps us wake feeling refreshed. There is also evidence that calcium reduces fat intake and increases fat metabolism, making it useful in weight loss programs.

So how do we get more of this great stuff we’ve been told from childhood will make our bones strong?

99% of the calcium in our bodies is stored in our bones and teeth. However, every day we lose calcium through our urine, sweat, nails and hair. We need to constantly replenish our calcium or it will be taken out from our bones for our body to use. Here’s a rough guide of how much to get:

Recommended daily dose:

• Girls: 9-15-1300mg
• Women: 1000mg
• Women over 50: 1200mg

Good Sources of Calcium include non-fat dairy, tofu, dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, dried legumes, peanuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts, sea kelp, salmon and sardines. Of course, there’s also the supplement form.

When being conscious to take in more of that healthy element, keep in mind that you also need Vitamin D, which helps your body absorb the calcium. Vitamin D can be found in fortified milk, salmon, tuna and exposure to sunlight – so get out there and enjoy the outdoors!

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	john masters organics Linden Blossom Face Creme Cleanser
	Organic Very Precious Regenerating Concentrate
	John Masters Lavender, Rose Geranium & Ylang Ylang Soap
	John Masters Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil

While we may use many creams and lotions in themselves to treat our faces, essential oils are also an ancient tradition that can help our various skin types.  However, it’s hard to know which essential oils to use for what, and how to apply them.  Straight from the bottle?  Mixed or diluted with something else?  The answer is actually quite simple.  Essential oils are very strong, so the easiest ways to start reaping their when it comes to your face are:

1. By simply adding a few drops to your current moisturizer and applying as usual (makes a great scent too!)
2. Adding facial steams to your weekly beauty care routine.  This involves hovering your head over a bowl of steaming water in which you have diluted a few drops of essential oil.  You’ll need a towel for this method as well to hang over your head so that it can trap in the steam, which you want to get in to your pores to open them up and start soaking up the healing properties of the oils.  Remember, be careful not to burn yourself!

The following are ten essential oils that will reduce the signs of aging, help fight acne and leave your face glowing with beautiful skin.

1. Lavender: well known as a first aid remedy for burns and wounds, this oil will also help acne and scarring.  Lavender oil can be applied directly to a wound, in this case acne, to promote it’s healing and prevent it from scarring by not letting it get over dry.
2. Lemon: this astringent and antiseptic make it great for treating oily skin and acne.  Fresh lemons can also help get rid of acne spots by lightening the skin.
3. Rosewood: This essential oil has soothing properties, is anti-inflammatory and is ideal for relieving hot, dry, irritated skin. Because of its regenerative properties it can be used to heal scars and treat wrinkles.
4. Neroli: this provides healing for dry, mature skin and wrinkles and may prevent stretch marks.
5. Lemongrass: a cleansing and slightly astringent substance, use in the treatment of acne and to help unblock pores.
6. Frankincense: an important rejuvenating oil that will help aging skin and wrinkles, improve skin tone and reduce scar tissue.
7. Myrrh: this Mediterranean resin from desert trees has been used in ancient times by Egyptians in many healing compounds and acts as a natural astringent.  For your face, it will delay wrinkles and other visible signs of aging, which happens when our body cells start to break down.
8. Palmarosa: by stimulating cell regeneration this essential oil will improve the look of tired, aging skin because of its balancing action and can be used for both dry and oily skin types.
9. Patchouli: this is healing and will improve the look of scars and stretch marks while also reducing wrinkles.
10. Rose: known for being a romantic flower, in essential oil form it is also rejuvenating and anti-inflammatory. This essential oil will help dry, irritated skin.

The bonus to using these oils as part of your beauty routine is that they also improve other areas of your general well being. By bringing essential oils into your life you are not only healing your skin but also helping your bodily functions, which includes peace of mind!

Important! Please be careful when deciding to use essential oils!  If you have existing health problems, or are pregnant, you should always consult your doctor before trying anything herbal.  Don’t use these treatments on children!

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	Relaxing Bath & Massage Oil
	G.M. COLLIN – Body Treating Oil
	Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Body Oil, Soothing Heat

Distilling the leaves, stems, flowers, roots or bark of plants produces essential oils. Essential oils have been used in many cultures for centuries to aid in both health and beauty. There are dozens of oils available that may be used to treat anything from aging skin to bad breath to coughs and colds. It is believed that the oil will move throughout the body by way of the circulatory and lymphatic systems once it has been absorbed through the skin or inhaled. This encourages the growth of new cells and a quicker elimination of old cells resulting in delays of the aging process and strengthening the body’s various systems. By incorporating essential oils into your life you will quickly notice benefits to your mood, energy level, and overall well-being.

Base oils are used to dilute essential oils before you apply them to your skin.

Some common base oils are:

Almond Oil – light and odourless, contains vitamins A B1, B2 and B6

Grapeseed Oil – light and odourless, contains vitamin E

Hazelnut Oil – has a nutty smell, contains vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E

Sunflower Oil – a light oil that is easy to find, contains vitamins A, B, D, E

Three simple ways to start adding essential oils into your daily routine are by adding them to your bath water, using them in a massage or doing a steam inhalation.

In the Bath:

Simply mix 3 tsp of base oil with 12 drops of essential oil.  Start your bath and right before you hop in add your oil mixture, give the water a swirl, then get in. The warm water helps you relax and also opens your pores to allow the essential oils to penetrate your skin

*Be sure any oil you add to your bath is completely non-irritant

Here are some suggested essential oil recipes to add to your bath:

Sleepy time bath: when you need to get a good night sleep, mix 5 drops neroli, 4 drops lavender, and 3 drops chamomile

Warming bath: great after a cold winter day, mix 3 drops orange, 3 drops cedarwood, 3 drops eucalyptus, and 3 drops juniper

Stress-buster bath: After a long stressful day relax in this bath with 3 drops rosewood, 3 drops frankincense, 4 drops mandarin, and 2 drops clary sage

With a Massage:

This is one of the most popular ways to use essential oils. Warm approximately 2 tsp of base oil and add 6 drops total of essential oils. You may pick one essential oil or a combination of 2 or 3 to suit your mood.

Here are some suggestions:

Sensual massage for her: 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops rose, and 2 drops sandalwood

Sensual massage for him: 2 drops frankincense, 2 drops sandalwood, and 2 drops patchouli

PMS massage: 2 drops marjoram, 2 drops rose and 2 drops geranium (massage this over your tummy to relieve the symptoms of PMS)

For Steam Inhalation:

Boil some water, place in a large bowl and add 6 drops of essential oil. Next lean over the bowl and drape a towel over your head to hold in the steam and breath in the vapours.

Here are the combinations you might find helpful:

Wake up inhalation: 2 drops orange, 2 drops bergamot and 2 drops lemon

Cough and cold inhalation: 2 drops eucalyptus, 2 drops tea tree, and 2 drops peppermint

Facial inhalation: 2 drops rosewood, 2 drops neroli and 2 drops palmarosa

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	Aura Cacia 100% Pure Essential Oil, Ylang Ylang III
	Emerald Laboratories Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Softgels
	Aura Cacia 100% Pure Essential Oil, Rosemary
	Emerald Laboratories Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
	Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Precious Essential Oils, Jasmine Absolute
	Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil

As I run my evening bath I vigorously go over my body with a natural hard bristle brush.  Starting at my feet I work my way up brushing my dry skin in a circular motion. Once the bath is ready I add a blend of essential oils to fit my mood. I light some candles, turn out the light, get in and relax. As I finish I get out of the tub without drying off and massage homemade body lotion into my skin. Finally I put on my robe and wait to put on other clothing until the lotion is completely absorbed into my skin.

Here’s my secret homemade recipe to my bath ritual:

This lotion can be made in the kitchen in less than 10 minutes.

Start with a 454 g jar of organic coconut oil that can be picked up at the health food store. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so take off the lid and melt the jar in the microwave. It will take approximately 5-7 minutes to melt a jar of this size. Next add 80-120 drops of essential oils (combinations explained below), give it a stir and place it next to your bath.

Adapting to the seasons with your soft skin moisturizing routine:

Each jar will last for an entire season so be sure to adapt the essential oils to the time of year. Here’s a guide to follow for each season:

Spring

Light, fresh, clean smells are perfect for spring. To create an essential oils blend for spring use 25 drops of lemon, 25 drops of orange, 15 drops of cypress, and 15 drops of grapefruit

Summer

Floral scents from essential oils make a carefree, romantic blend for summer. Begin with 30 drops of jasmine; add 30 drops of rose, 10 drops of ylang ylang and 10 drops of lavender.

Autumn (Fall)

During autumn a blend of essential oils that strengthens the immune system will help keep colds and the flu away. Blend 30 drops of lemon, 25 drops of tea tree oil, 15 drops of pine and 10 drops of thyme.

Winter

For winter I like a blend that is warming and stimulates the digestive system. To your coconut oil add 20 of drops mandarin, 20 drops of eucalyptus, 10 drops of cinnamon, 10 drops of clove, 10 drops of black pepper, and 10 drops of rosemary.

Depending on the time of year and the condition of my skin I will do this every night or every other night. Rarely do I use coconut oil on my face, most of the time I find it too oily for the face but it is just right to create incredibly soft skin all over your body.