Soothe Your Skin with Aromatherapy

It's amazing what aromatherapy can do. It's even effective when it comes to cleaning, toning, and moisturizing your skin. These aromatic recipes from my good friend Jade Shutes, who is the director of education at East-West School for Herbal and Aromatic Studies (www.theida.com) in Raleigh, North Carolina, will make your skin look and feel your best!

Jade’s Aromatic Cleanser

2 ounces castile cleansing base (like Dr. Bronner’s baby soap)

7 drops tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

5 drops lemon oil (Citrus limon)

5 drops lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

Wash 2x a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Jade’s Aromatic Toner

4 ounces witch hazel hydrosol or extract

4 drops tea tree oil

2 drops lemon oil

Jade’s Aromatic Moisturizer

Often acne skin types are prone to dehydrated skin due to overuse of alcohol-based toners and/or cleansers. So it’s best to apply a soothing hydrating cream after cleansing and toning. 

To make it yourself, buy an unscented, water-based cream. Put two ounces in a small jar with a lid. Next, mix in the following essential oils: 2 drops German chamomile, 4 drops lavender, and 5 drops frankincense. Your skin will thank you!

You'll find over two dozen aromatherapy cures in my new book SCENT to KILL: A Natural Remedies Mystery. Here's the scoop: 

“Scent to Kill is a well-crafted mystery…Devotees of natural medicine and aromatherapy will enjoy the tips that appear at the beginning of each chapter and scattered throughout the text.” Publisher’s Weekly   

Willow McQuade, naturopathic doctor, along with her hunky ex-cop boyfriend Jackson Spade, attend a party for a psychic TV show that is filming on Long Island’s idyllic East End. However, Willow is much more interested in visiting the estate’s lavender farm, seeking inspiration for the new aromatherapy workshops she'll be holding at her store, Nature’s Way Market & Café.   

Before the party is over, Roger Bixby one of the producers is dead and the police suspect murder. Roger was working on the show, MJ’s Mind, with Carly Bixby, his ex-wife and the new girlfriend of Willow's ex from L.A., TV writer/producer Simon Lewis.   

After Willow leaves the party, she gets a frantic text from Simon asking for her help. Since Simon had a fight with Roger earlier in the evening, and because of his death is now the primary shareholder in Galaxy films, Willow's ex becomes the prime suspect. Simon begs her to crack the case and clear him of the murder. MJ McClellan, the psychic and star of the show also asks Willow for help. She hires Willow to provide natural remedies, including aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and yoga to soothe the agitated crew of her show. 

To find the killer, Willow has to deal with ghosts in a haunted mansion, a truly dysfunctional family, death threats and “accidents,” while trying to untangle a homicide identical to one committed during prohibition. Thankfully, Jackson has been hired to provide security and is there to watch her back and help Willow solve this spooky mystery.

For more information please visit: www.chrystlefiedler.com