Wellness to Thrive : Deanna McMahon

DIYs with Lavender

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Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils and a great beginner oil, making it a favorite for DIYs and roller blends. From skin care products to relaxing routines, this oil can infuse and enhance many areas of your life!

Lavender is The Grandmother of essential oils - soft and huggable, gentle, smells like flowers, calming, and the one you want around if you are sad, tired, or need comforting. And these DIYs and roller blends will bring the calm, soothing feelings of lavender into your everyday life.

image Lavender Detangler Spray Whip up this simple, clean, non-toxic detangler in minutes and see your hair shine. This simple DIY is perfect for children as well - no more bath time tears!

  • 1 tsp Lavender Volume or Lavender Mint Conditioner
  • 1 dropperful Mirah Hair Oil (or liquid carrier oil of choice)
  • 10 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops Geranium essential oil
  • Distilled water
  • Add all ingredients to a 2oz glass spray bottle, fill almost to the top with distilled or filtered water, and shake well to combine. Spray onto wet hair as needed and gently comb through to release tangles.

Mermaid Waves Hair Spritz We all want long, beautiful locks that wave and flow. Let these oils do their fairy tale magic - minus the fin for legs.

  • 10 drops each Cedarwood, Rosemary, Lavender essential oils
  • 10 drops Joy or Geranium essential oil
  • Pinch Himalayan sea salt
  • Alcohol-free witch hazel
  • Add essential oils and salt to a 4oz glass spray bottle and fill with alcohol-free witch hazel. Spritz onto damp hair or dry hair and scrunch for mermaid waves.

DIY Lavender-infused Dry Shampoo There's nothing worse than the feeling of dirty, greasy hair, but did you know that washing your hair too often can leave hair prone to dryness and breakage? It's easy to keep your locks looking lustrous and lifted and extend time between washes by applying a dry shampoo!

  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
  • 2 drops Rosemary essential oil
  • 1 drop Tea Tree essential oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, for dark hair only (add 1T at a time until desired color is achieved)
  • Combine all ingredients. Put in a container of your choice, such as an empty salt shaker or baby powder bottle. Sprinkle on roots of hair and massage into scalp. Or apply with a makeup brush. Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair's natural oils. Brush through hair and style as desired.

DIY Leave-In Conditioner Love on your locks: Get extra moisture with DIY leave-in conditioner

  • 1 cup aloe vera juice
  • 2 tablespoons Lavender Volume or Lavender Mint Conditioner
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 5 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 5 drops Cedarwood essential oil
  • Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake gently to combine. Spray onto wet or dry hair that needs extra moisture.

DIY Renewal Face Serum Rub this fountain of youth serum on your face and watch the glow!

  • 8-12oz glass dropper bottle
  • 10 drops each: Lavender, Manuka, Frankincense, Geranium, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oil
  • Fill with carrier oil of choice: chia seed oil, rosehip oil, Emu oil or jojoba oil
  • Apply to face morning and evening!

DIY Lavender Makeup Remover Pads Instead of harsh makeup removers, opt for these gentle DIY makeup remover pads infused with Lavender essential oil. You'll know exactly what goes into this formula, plus you'll get the benefits of Lavender's relaxing aroma!

Lavender Oatmeal Bath Soak This Lavender-Oatmeal Bath Soak is simple, inexpensive, and packed with amazing skin benefits. Oats help soothe and repair dry, itchy, and irritated skin, making them a staple in many all-natural beauty products. Epsom salt helps relieve tension in muscles and Tea Tree offers all-natural, gentle cleansing. Lavender and Frankincense create a relaxing and spiritually uplifting atmosphere and help enhance the look of healthy skin!

  • 1 cup epsom salt )
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 5 drops Frankincense essential oil
  • 10 drops Tea Tree essential oil
  • 15 drops Lavender essential oil
  • Grind oats in a food processor or coffee grinder into a fine flour-like texture, then mix all ingredients in a bowl until oils are evenly distributed. Store in a glass jar and use about 1 cup of mixture per bath. Create a pouch for your mixture using a sock or pantyhose to reduce floating oatmeal flakes in your bath.

Relaxing Lavender Eye Pillows These eye pillows can be enjoyable just as they are, without warming or cooling. Place them over your eyes and breathe in to relax, relieve stress and help encourage restful sleep. Or you can use them hot or cold. To use cold, place in the freezer for about 20 minutes before use, or keep in the freezer between each use. To use warm, carefully heat in the microwave in 10 second intervals. Be careful to not let it get too hot.

  • 1/4 Yard of fabric (you will have extra)
  • Note: Make sure your fabric is washed and dried before you begin.
  • 1 1/4 cup flax seed
  • 3/4 cup dried lavender buds
  • 20-30 drops Lavender essential oil
  • For each pillow, cut 2 layers of fabric measuring 4.5 inches x 10.5 inches. You'll want right sides facing out for frayed edges or right sides in for no frays. Begin by sewing alongside a long edge, making your way all around, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Be sure you leave one short edge open to fill the pillow.
  • Mix the lavender buds, flax seed and a few drops of lavender essential oil in a bowl, then fill the pillow bag until it is mostly full. The measurements above should give you the perfect amount. Finally, sew the open edge closed containing the insides

DIY Lavender Lotion Bar Give your skin some much-deserved love! This DIY lotion bar uses the warmth of your body to melt natural emollients and essential oils into the skin to smooth, moisturize and hydrate dry hands, heels, elbows, and more.

  • ½ cup extra-virgin coconut oil
  • ½ cup beeswax
  • ¼ cup shea butter
  • ¼ cup cocoa butter
  • 10 drops each Lavender, Lemon essential oils OR 20-25 drops oil(s) of choice
  • Optional: dried lavender buds and lemon zest for exfoliation
  • Materials: 16-ounce measuring cup, Medium-sized saucepan, Silicone molds or muffin tin
  • Combine coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a 16-ounce glass measuring cup. Place in a pot with water that rises halfway up the measuring cup. Bring water to a boil, stirring frequently until ingredients are completely melted, then remove measuring cup from the pot.
  • Add dried lavender and lemon zest, if desired. Add essential oils and stir until completely combined. Immediately pour into molds and let sit overnight. Once cooled, remove the lotion from the molds. Store in a cool, dry place.

DIY Lavender Shave Cream We love this substitute for traditional shaving cream that's all natural, light, and super silky. The best part is it moisturizes your skin while you shave—and you can create it yourself!

  • 1 cup virgin coconut oil
  • 1 cup shea butter
  • 20–30 drops Lavender or desired oil(s)
  • In a small pot, combine coconut oil and shea butter on medium heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add essential oils. Mix well. Let cool in fridge for 30–45 minutes or until mixture is no longer clear. It should have a soft texture. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip product for about 2–3 minutes or until it looks like foam and forms peaks. Store in a glass jar at room temperature.
  • Tips: To keep your razor from clogging, rinse it under warm or hot water after 2–3 strokes for a clean shave. Run water above 76 degrees for 30–60 seconds so your drain doesn't clog.

image Mattress & Upholstery Spray Keep your mattresses, rugs, and upholstered surfaces clean and smelling fresh with this simple spray! Use whenever you change the sheets or anytime you need a cleansing pick me up!

  • 8 oz glass spray bottle
  • 1 tsp Thieves Household Cleaner
  • 10 drops each Lavender, Eucalyptus Radiata, Tea Tree essential oils
  • Filtered or distilled water
  • Add essential oils and Thieves Household Cleaner to the spray bottle, then gently fill with water, leaving room to add the spray top. Spray as desired!

Carpet Purifying Powder Give your carpets and rugs a daily refresh before vacuuming with this simple DIY!

  • 4 oz glass jar
  • 1 cup baking sodabaking soda
  • ½ cup fine sea salt
  • 10 drops each Lavender, Purification essential oils
  • Add baking soda and salt to a jar, and mix well. Add essential oils, stir, then place the top on the jar and shake well. Optional: use a small knife or drill to make small holes in the top of the jar. Sprinkle onto carpets and let sit 10-15 minutes before vacuuming!

Lavender Makeup Brush Cleaner

  • 1 cup alcohol-free witch hazel
  • castile soap
  • 5 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil
  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Store in a glass bottle.
  • To use: Pour half of the makeup brush cleaner into a cup. Wet the bristles of the makeup brush by holding the brush vertically, bristles down, under running water. Once the bristles are wet, dip them in the cleaning solution. Using a textured surface (a dish cloth will work), scrub the brush in a circular motion. Repeat steps 3-5 three or four times or until makeup is completely out of the brush. Rinse the brush until there are no more bubbles or soap in the bristles. Gently squeeze excess water out of the brush and lay it flat to dry. Discard used cleaner and use the other half of the unused cleaner next week!

DIY Commode Spray Stop bathroom odors before they get embarrassing with this DIY Commode Spray. Whether you're home alone, sharing a hotel room, or hosting a dinner party, spritz this toilet spray before you go to block those bowl-bouncing odors.

  • 8 ounce glass spray bottle
  • 4 teaspoons vegetable glycerin
  • 6 teaspoons rubbing alcohol
  • Approximately 6 ounces distilled water
  • 2 teaspoons Thieves® Household Cleaner
  • 30-40 drops each Lavender, Eucalyptus Radiata essential oils OR oil(s) of choice
  • Combine essential oils and vegetable glycerin in spray bottle. Add rubbing alcohol and Thieves Household Cleaner; mix well. Fill to the top with distilled water. Shake well until thoroughly combined. Store on the back of the commode for easy use!
  • To use: Shake well, then spray 3-6 times into the toilet bowl before you go. Do your business and flush as usual.

DIY Scented Sachets In the rush of our daily routines, we often pass by mundane spaces like our lingerie drawer or linen closet without a second thought. Making something sweet-smelling for these nooks and crannies will produce a simple pleasure to greet you each time you open a drawer or cupboard in your home.

  • ½ cup uncooked rice
  • ¼ cup Epsom salt
  • 1 cup dried lavender buds
  • Muslin cotton drawstring pouches, approximately 5 inches long by 4 inches wide (or go green and use an old sock, fabric scraps, etc.)
  • 40 drops Lavender essential oil
  • In a medium bowl, mix rice, Epsom salt, flower buds, and essential oil to thoroughly scent the mixture. Spoon mixture into your pouch. Place anywhere you want to add a fresh lavender scent. Refresh your pouch every 2-3 weeks by opening it up and adding more drops of essential oil.

image Homemade Calming Play Dough Here is an activity for the kids that is free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and their little hands smelling AMAZING - plus it has calming properties. You can make this together, super easy, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!

  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup Kidscents lotion
  • 10 drops Lavender essential oil
  • Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!

DIY Moon Sand

  • 2½ cups fine sand
  • 1½ cups cornstarch
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • Natural food coloring (optional)
  • 10-15 drops Lavender essential oil or oil(s) of choice
  • Add sand and cornstarch to a bowl and sift thoroughly until combined. Add food coloring drops and mix until color is incorporated. Add in oil gradually, stirring until the mixture forms a dense sand. No coconut oil lying around? Sub in baby oil or vegetable oil instead. Get your hands in the mixture and start to knead and mold. Add drops of essential oil and mix until combined. Play away!
  • Storage: To keep your DIY sand fresh, store it in an airtight container or reusable storage bag. Keep it in a cool, dry place for up to a month.
  • Tips: Use any fine sand you can find at a craft store. Customize plain sand with food coloring or try pre-dyed sand. If the scent fades, add 5–10 drops of Lavender to bring your moon sand back to life.