Thursday, November 25, 2010

"Hands Reach" Face Wash for the Holiday Traveler


It dawned on me a few days ago, that in the midst of moving and renovating a new house, then abruptly jumping on a plane to the east coast, that I forgot to pack face wash.
Instead of cruising to Whole Foods or Blue Mercury and dropping some dough on something overpriced and toxic, I decided to turn to my boyfriend's father's kitchen.
Here's what I created in less than 10 minutes with what I found without digging too deep:

-honey (not organic, but one must make due when you are in a mini crisis)
-coffee grounds (left over in their coffee grinder from earlier)
-almonds (you could sub oats, or another grain here)
-jasmine tea
-apple cider vinegar
-olive oil

Here's what I did:
I put a few tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar in a pot and placed it on the stove. I used more than usual because my diet has consisted of cheese and sugar as of late, so I could use the extra astringent properties that ACV has. I then dumped in a combo of leftover coffee grounds (which stimulate blood flow....hence waking the skin up), almonds (a natural emollient) and jasmine tea from the contents of a tea bag and ground them together in a coffee grinder. I mixed this in with the ACV and added a decent amount of honey. The honey will help hold the mixture together, so you can add more as needed. I am also really dry from the new winter weather, so I threw in a teaspoon of olive oil. I then heated the mixture on low until well blended and poured it in to my glass jar. Chances are with all the cooking going down this time of year that you can find a glass jar in the recycling or an almost empty, old jam in the fridge that is ready to go.

Happy Holidays and as always, Peace + Love to your Skin!
Kelsey

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Anti- Steam


Depending on where you live, it's about that time of year when the windows will remain shut for a bit. This means alot less fresh air!
If this is the case for you and your home, then it's a great time to do an herbal steam with some really great anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-microbial herbs.

It's super simple and really healthy, especially for the lungs!

Add equal parts of the following to a big pot of water:

-eucalyptus
-tulsi (holy basil)
-lemongrass
-lavender

You could swap out any of these for another favorite.
Be sure to bring the herbs to a boil with a lid on, then remove the lid and stand over the steam, taking slow, intentional deep breaths that fill your lungs up.
Steam as long as you would like and then let the steam move into the air, so your house gets some!
You could even walk around your house with the pot to help disperse the steam.

I do this often and love it. It's a sweet, simple way to nurture yourself and the combination of herbs are endless. You could always do a google search for what herbs have these properties to see if you already have a few at home!

Enjoy,
Kelsey

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

SImple Green Clay Cleanser

Simple Green Clay Cleanser

After lots and lots of transition in my life, I am finally back to a 'religious' workout schedule. I get up every morning and go to the gym and low and behold.....I feel much better! There is one catch however, my skin is breaking out from sweating.
So, instead of using my Whole Grain Cleanser, which is part of the line and perfect for all skin types, I am targeting my breakouts with this really simple, effective cleanser:

Ingredients:
5 parts Green Clay (found in the body care section of most grocery stores)
1 part Aloe Vera Juice
3 parts ground Oats (Oatmeal ...that is)
4 drops of either Rose Geranium, Roman Chamomile or Lavender Essentail Oil...or a combo if you would like!

Mix in to a paste, adjusting amounts as needed. Splash water on your face and begin to massage the cleanser, then rinse.
If your skin feels dry afterwards, you may not need something this dry OR you can follow with a moisturizing face oil.

Enjoy,
Peace + Love,
Kelsey

Friday, September 10, 2010

Vitamin C + E Boost


Vitamin C + E Boost

This is a great boost for the skin if it's feeling sluggish and could use a little pick-me-up......or if you have been slacking on your citrus intake.

1/2 cup beeswax
5000 units vitamin E (capsules)
1 Tbsp Apricot Kernel Oil
2 oz orange hydrosol
5 drops sweet orange essential oil

Directions:
Using a double boiler (or create one by placing water in a large pot and putting a glass bowl on top)
melt beeswax. reduce heat and blend in apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E. Remove from heat and add hydrosol and sweet orange oil.

Pour into a glass jar immediately and let cool.


Apply to dull areas of the skin, including under eyes.

Peace + Love,
Kelsey

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Natural Bug Spray + Healing Bug Bite Blend

BugBug Busters that don't harm you, the earth or bugs! Busters

I was out laying on a blanket last night with my loved one, drinking in the moonshine of a full moon and woke to some itchy bug bites!
So, I thought i would share a few simple, yet highly effective recipes to ward off bugs without spraying toxins on your skin.

1.)Natural Bug Spray
-4 oz distilled water
-2 Tbsp grain alchohol
-4 drops thyme oil
-8 drops lemongrass oil
-4 lavender oil
-4 drops peppermint oil


Mix all ingredients and put in a spray bottle or you can use this blend to clean window sills or anywhere bugs might come in to your house if you are getting bit at night. If you don't want to wipe anything down, you can simply leave a cotton ball of the bug spray out on a counter top, table, ect. enjoy!


2.) Healing Bug Bite Blend
-Lavender Oil
-Thyme Oil
-Eucalyptus Oil

This is a general blend for all types of bites. There are specific blends for specific types of bug bites as well! If you have sensitive skin, then you will want to blend a few drops of each oil in a carrier oil like jojoba, shea or almond.

Peace + Love,
Kelsey






Monday, August 16, 2010

Pigment Balancing Oil


I try not to drench myself in the sun like i use to years ago......while living in Hawaii and caking on the coconut oil to see how dark i could get. So now that i am 'in my 30's', i have a new approach.
This recipe is one of my favorites. It is great for the lungs and incredibly cleansing, but most importantly it helps even out skin tone, so if you have any of those lovely brown hypo-pigment spots, sometimes called 'liver spots'....this will be a hit!

Pigment Balancing Oil:

-2 oz Organic, Unrefined Almond Oil
-5 drops Organic Lemon Essential Oil
-10 drops Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil
-5 drops Organic Helichrysum Essential Oil

mix in essential oils to almond oil and apply directly to brown spots, being sure to massage oil in to skin and blotting off any extra.

* PLEASE NOTE THAT LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL IS ACTIVATED BY THE SUN AND CAN CAUSE SUN BURN, SO USE BEFORE BED OR UNDER CLOTHING.

Peace + Love,
Kelsey Lynn Riley
www.nayaorganics.com

Friday, July 23, 2010

Edible RAW Chocolate Mask Recipe


Here's a delicious, simple way to make a healthy, antioxidant rich mask + snack!!!

If you want to get fancy, you could use half as a mask and pour the other half in chocolate molds and give them as gifts.

Recipe:

1 cup coconut oil
1 cup cocoa butter (essential living foods brand)
1/2 cup coconut butter
3 tbsp raw agave
1/2 cup raw cacao powder (essential living foods)

* feel free to add maca, spirulina or any other greens/superfood powder for an added boost *

Melt over very low heat, stirring with whisk rigorously until the mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and pour in to class jar and molds. Let sit on counter for an hour or so, then move to refrigerator.

Apply mask evenly to face and let sit til dry, then wash off.
enjoy!