natural - Arsenic & Old Place

Fall Scented Natural Skin Care

I love the smell of everything Fall. Cedar, pine, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, and cardamom are all fragrances that I can’t get enough of when the seasons start to change. I usually stock up on some essential oils and make my own skin care products inspired by all things Fall. But isn’t it so appealing when you can just buy exactly what you’re looking for without the fuss. Enter Pantry Products, an all-natural, small-batch apothecary based in Brooklyn, NY and Reno, NV. No doubt aromatherapy is good for the soul, and when Fall rolls around, Pantry Products’ Fall Essential Goodies really serves up some warm fragrances to protect us against that crisp, drying air. Here are some of my favorites!

Autumn Spice Sugar Scrub is a 100% natural blend of organic coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil, raw sugar, vitamin e, ground orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and cardamom.

Spiced Chai Lip Balm ingredients include organic coconut oil, raw shea butter, pure beeswax, therapeutic-grade essential oils, castor oil for shine, and carrot seed oil for sun protection. These Lip Balms come in other yummy Fall flavors like orange-vanilla and earl grey.

Lemon + Vanilla and Coconut +Chai Hand Lotions are a blend of organic lotion, aloe gel, vitamin e, and pure essential oils.

Vanilla + Spice and Cardamom + Clove Air & Linen Sprays will round out your spa days at home by adding a lovely blend of essential oils to the air, or even your bath towels!

Pumpkin Seed Rosewater Face Mask

We all know how incredibly detoxifying a good clay mask can be. They pull out toxins, reduce oil, help get out blackheads, and even minimize the appearance of pores. With so many types of clay to choose from, I’ve even taken up the art of multi-masking to reap the variety of benefits in one application. The only drawback of clay-based face masks is that they can be incredibly drying. Not so bueno for cold weather skin care.

Autumn is in the air, and with it comes that familiar wind chill that sucks the moisture right out of our faces. Don’t despair. Imagine a clay mask that is as hydrating as it is detoxifying. This pumpkin seed rosewater face mask delivers just that. It has all the detox power of your favorite clay mask, but will leave your skin feeling moisturized. Honey is a natural humectant, while pumpkin seeds are chock full of skin friendly vitamins and minerals like zinc, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.

Pumpkin Seed Rosewater Face Mask

Ingredients

1/4 c pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup rosewater
1 tablespoon clay
1 tablespoon honey

Directions

Combine the pumpkin seeds and rosewater in a lidded container and place in the fridge to soak overnight.
The next morning, add the soaked pumpkin seeds and rosewater to a high speed blender along with the honey. Blend until smooth.
Transfer to a non-metal dish and stir in the clay using a non-metal utensil.
To use, simply smooth the mask over your face in a generous layer, avoiding your eye area.
Allow the mask to dry (this mask takes a little bit longer to dry out than others- about 30 minutes)
Wash off with warm water and enjoy your new glow!

***this mask must be stored in the fridge and will last over a week there in an airtight container.

Source: Catching Seeds

All Natural Medicine Cabinet Essentials

I was taking stock of my medicine cabinet in preparation for my annual flu season overhaul. Every year, in fact, twice a year I replace the products in my medicine cabinet to keep them as fresh and effective as possible. I try my best to stick to natural, organic products that contain at least one or two of my five favorite essential oils: peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, and orange. Fortunately, Mother Nature has us covered. Swap out your OTC medicines for these all natural, plant-based medicine cabinet essentials.

Instead of Pain / Headache medication try Past Tense
Instead of Nasal Decongestant, cold and flu medication or allergy relief medication try Breathe
Instead of cough suppressant try Rosemary
Instead of anti-itch lotion, sleeping aids, burn cream or cuts and scrapes disinfectant try Lavender
Instead of mouthwash, add Peppermint to your homemade mouthwash recipe
Instead of Immune system boost or sore throat medicine, try On Guard Blend. The Throat Drops are very handy for on the go
Instead of upset stomach medication or heartburn medication try Digest Zen
Instead of a sterilizing agent, try Purify. It also works great as a room freshener.
Instead of whitening flouride toothpaste try On Guard toothpaste
Instead of wart removal cream try Oregano
Instead of athlete’s foot cream try Tea Tree Oil

Natural Tonic for Improved Mental Health

This brain-boosting tonic with adaptogenic herbs will aid in improving your overall mental health by balancing your neurotransmitters to keep you happy, stress-free, focused, and energized.

Mental Health Natural Tonic Ingredient Breakdown

Lemon

Citrus fruits are high in vitamins, and a healthy dose of vitamin C can fight infection, reduce kidney stones, relieve indigestion, decrease headache pain, and help detoxify the body.

Cucumber

Cucumbers help maintain water balance in the body.

Fresh Turmeric Root

Turmeric is known to improve mood and feelings of depression.

Fresh Ginger Root

Ginger fights inflammation and is great for healing and protecting the gut.

Beets

Beets support heart health and liver function by helping our bodies maintain healthy blood sugar levels. While the antioxidant power of beets improves nerve function.

Pears

Pears are a low-sugar fruit. They are excellent for anxiety as they soothe the nervous system with vitamin C, which triggers the production of norepinephrine and serotonin, the happy neurotransmitters. They are also a great source of potassium, an essential electrolyte for the proper function of nerves, muscles, joints, and the heart.

Adaptogens

During cold and flu season, the addition of adaptogens like goldenseal and elderberry extract have both been shown to support a health immune system and are available as herbal tinctures (liqud form) that you can easily add to your tonic just before drinking it. To help alleviate stress, add ashwagandha and astralagus, which are both adaptogens known for their calming effects on our bodies.