Uplifting Quartz-Charged Rose Spray

Life has been tumultuous lately. The combination of yet another high summer in sweaty Philadelphia (although it's been blissfully cooler the past couple of days) and being elbow-deep in a job search has left my mind reeling with all the options that are suddenly at my fingertips while simultaneously wiping sweat from my brow... and I've needed some grounding. Ok, a lot of grounding. Be forewarned if you ever find yourself unlucky enough to be caught in a conversation with me, don't ask me how I'm doing. Anyway. This is where this spray comes in. I typically burn incense and PF Candle Co. candles throughout the year to add a little fragrance to my apartment, but lately it's been too humid for smokey incense and too hot to think about lighting a candle. Plus, a spray like the one here can be used to scent towels, sheets, and even yourself if you feel like it. It's simple to whip up and relatively cheap. The added quartz crystals are, of course, optional - but I need all the good vibes I can get right now so it's CRYSTALS IN EVERYTHING, all hands on deck.

What's in it:

Rose essential oil: Rose oil works similarly, helping to boost mood, ease stress and anxiety, and lift your mood.

Geranium essential oil: Geranium oil is thought to help the adrenal glands and balance hormones, fight stress, and help with feelings of depression.

Cedarwood essential oil: Thought to improve focus and mental function.

Quartz crystals: Thought to improve mood and energy, clears negativity. Can be added to baths, water, kept close to other crystals to amplify their energy, or kept in your pocket as a touchstone.

You'll need:
2-4 oz. glass spray bottle
Rose water
Witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or vodka (really)
Rose essential oil
Geranium essential oil
Cedarwood essential oil
Optional: Small quartz crystals, washed and charged

To make:

1. Fill glass spray bottle 3/4 to the top with rose water. The bottle I reused is a recycled glass B12 vitamin spray bottle, but they are also easy to find via Etsy and Whole Foods. Dark glass is best to protect the oils.

2. Add a splash of witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or plain old vodka. This will help preserve the scent and make it linger just a little longer after you spray it.

3. Add essential oils. I used 2 drops of cedarwood, 4 drops of geranium, and 5 drops of rose.

4. Drop in charged quartz crystals before adding the cap. Shake well before using.

How to Make Your Own All-Natural Deodorant

Over the past few years, one product after the next, my beauty cabinet has been slowly transforming from store-bought to all-natural, (almost) all handmade. But there's one product on my shelf that I've been resistant to switching up: antiperspirant/deodorant. 

I've dabbled in all-natural deodorant here and there in the past, but I'll admit that more recently I've relied mainly on store-bought antiperspirant. Yes, the kind that's loaded with harmful chemicals and heavy metals. I know it's bad for me -- I'm of the belief that pretty much anything that prevents your body from performing a natural function is -- but I could never find a natural, store-bought deodorant that didn't leave me feeling, well... smelling like a nightmare. But lately I've noticed something, even my trusty antiperspirant hasn't been working that great, and even made me sweat more at times, maybe it's a sign? Determined to find a solution, I decided it was time to just make my own, but a lot of the recipes I found simply weren't that portable and many used coconut oil, a product that I certainly love, but don't want to risk staining my clothes with. 

My solution? The recipe below. These bars are all-natural, easily customizable, highly portable, and most importantly leave my underarms feeling great. Plus they're full of healthy ingredients, such as bacteria-fighting tea tree oil, moisturizing shea butter, toxin-zapping bentonite clay, and odor-fighting baking soda. Whip up a bar or two for yourself, and be sure to let me know what you think! I've been 

All-Natural Deodorant Bars 

Materials: 

4 tbsp shea butter

1.5 tbsp beeswax

1 tbsp cocoa butter

2 tbsp bentonite clay

1 tbsp baking soda

10-20 drops tea tree oil

10 drops lavender essential oil (or other favorite oil)

Soap mold

Glass bowl or jar (microwave/heat safe)

Combine the shea butter, beeswax, and cocoa butter in the glass bowl or jar. To melt it down, you can either place it in the microwave for 1-3 minutes or, if using a jar, create a double boiler on the stove top by nesting the jar in a pot that has been partially filled with water. Heat until oils are melted and fully dissolved. Add the tea tree oil and your essential oil of choice and mix.

In a separate dish, mix together the baking soda and bentonite clay, then pour into the oil mixture and stir until combined.

Pour the liquid into the soap mold. You can use any shape you like - I chose a rectangle so I could easily store the bar in a travel soap box and toss it in my gym bag. Allow to cool completely before popping it out of the mold.

Store in a cool, dark place. This shouldn't melt too easily, but it does get soft in higher temperatures. For now it's fine in my medicine cabinet, but when the summer heat strikes, I'll be sticking this in the fridge. I wrapped my bars in brown paper to create a little sleeve to hold them with.

Recipe notes:
+ Bentonite clay can irritate sensitive skin. If you've never used it before, do a patch test on the inside of your arm by mixing a dab of clay with a few drops of water and applying. If it doesn't irritate your skin, you should be good to go!

+ If you're sensitive to bentonite clay, try substituting arrowroot powder.

+ You can also pour this into a recycled deodorant container. Simply allow the oil and clay mixture to cool until it's soft, but not completely liquefied, then pour into a clean, dry plastic deodorant container and allow to cool completely.

This post was previously published on BLDG 25 as part of my full time work. See all my writing here.

A couple of notes because people have asked:

* No, there's no dye in these. The brand of bentonite clay I used is what turned the bars slightly green.

* There is no alternative to the beeswax, it's what binds the bars and keeps them in their form. If you're vegan and don't want to use the beeswax, you can still make these though! Just omit the wax and pour the mixture into a sealable, portable jar. Apply a light layer with fingertips.

* These will not make you stop sweating, but they will kill the bacteria that causes the stank smell of sweat. Antiperspirant is the only thing that will make you stop sweating, and there is no natural alternative the the aluminum and heavy metals in antiperspirant.

How To: Have Soft Winter Skin

Hey! A new post topic! I plan on introducing some simple how-to's and DIY's once a week to Orchid Grey (including hair)! Let me know what you guys think, and if there are any specific topics you'd like to see!

Pictured: Eucerin Calming Oil Wash, Ayurvedic Dry Brush, Jojoba Oil, Alba Body Lotion

The other day, my Mother informed the that it was -17 degrees at her house in Maine. That's 17 below zero, people! While I tend to think 20 degrees is chilly, nothing compares to when the weather dips below zero. Whether your winter weather hovers in the negatives or doesn't drop below thirty, there's no denying that dry winter skin can be truly miserable. This year, I feel like I finally cracked the code for relief of winter skin, and I figured I would share it with you today:

In the shower, pair a natural bristle body brush (available at Whole Foods or a natural health store) with Eucerin's Calming Shower Oil. It may seem counter-intuitive to use oil in the shower, but it works wonders. Buff all over and, once out of the shower, pat dry with a towel.

Post-shower, use a body lotion that contains alpha-hydroxy acids (which help support cellular renewal) and an SPF. I recommend Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion (Also available at Whole Foods- one big bottle should last you a year).

If you're feeling really dry, add a couple drops of jojoba oil to the body lotion before applying. I like The Jojoba Company- they're based in Maine (and yes...also available at Whole Foods)!

Do you have any products that you swear by?