You guys, a bunch of us are doing a Lymphatic Challenge starting May 15! I just joined the group and am so impressed with how well done this is! It’s an incredible group led by an RN who specializes in all things lymphatic system! Seriously amazing.
There’s still room if you want to join! Let me know and I’ll get you in!
There will be videos and posts with exactly what to do. There’s a specific list of a few essential oils, massage oils, and skin brush that makes this the most effective.
I’ll send you the link for the fb group if you want to join in!
There are so many testimonies with incredible results and after seeing people posting about it, I decided to go for it too!


Why should you join me in this???
There are several tell tale signs that lymphatic fluid is not moving effectively and that toxins are building up in your body:
• Cellulite
• Bloating
• Swelling in your fingers/rings fitting more tightly
• Brain fog
• Digestive issues
• Parasites
• Depression
• Sinus infections
• Skin problems/dry and or itchy skin
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Chronic fatigue
• Feeling sore or stiff when you wake up in the morning
• Unexplained injuries
• Excess weight
• Cold hands and feet
• Constipation
• Worsened allergies
• Food sensitivities
• Increased colds and flu

See why it is important?! Message me for the link to join in!

#LYMPHCHALLENGE2022
*This challenge group is now closed, as of May 14, 2022. Please fill out our contact form below to join the next challenge!

You guys! The 2020 holiday product launch from Young Living this year is ridiculously GOOD! From the Vanilla Essential Oil, Olive Wood Trees, the Laundry Collection, Snowy Owl Diffuser, the oils, lotions and soaps.... and that CBD Beauty Boost?! In my opinion, this is literally THE best holiday product launch they have done!
Check it out, friends... and remember, they DO sell out fast. I'm just gonna say, I am sorry if the thing you are dying to get sells out before you get it.., But really, order it right when it launches. I am setting my alarm for this one!
​Check out the slideshow and make your list for launch week... the week of November 9th we will be able to order these products. As usual, "Shop" only, not on Essential Rewards until later. We will keep you updated as more info drops from Young Living! 

What's Going On?  Baby products should be safe, not Toxic!* 
So you've heard all this hype about chemicals in your bath and beauty products, it's caught your attention... but seriously, could it really be that bad?  Yes my friends, it is...

What am I talking about here?  People, this is serious! Did you know that only 11 percent of the ingredients in personal care products are tested for safety?  How many products do you use in a day, a week, a year?  How about your children?  Toxic chemicals are hiding in your products, and accumulating in your body with each and every use!  Sometimes these chemicals are not disclosed on product labels because they're contaminants, not ingredients, and therefore are exempt from labeling laws!
We're talking about carcinogens (proven cancer causing chemicals) in our babies shampoo, lead in our lipstick (they've taken it out of paint and put it in lipstick!?  Hello??), and neurotoxins (chemicals that are toxic to the brain) in our fragrances... chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems... and that's just scraping the surface!*  (Read more about "Why This Matters" at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/research/whythismatters.php)

This is not my opinion.  The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics "is a coalition effort launched in 2004 to protect the health of consumers and workers by securing the corporate, regulatory and legislative reforms necessary to eliminate dangerous chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products".* 


So, you're concerned, you want to rid yourself of these products, but you don't know where to start?  Well, let me tell you that it takes a lot of time and effort to educate yourself on these issues.  I have researched claims, products, companies, ingredients, and so on.  I have spent hours upon hours deciding what absolutely needs to be avoided, what is safe, and what is hyped up.  I have been able to find trustworthy companies with exceptional products to fit every budget.  I would love to share what I know with you!

What to keep, what not to keep...

Look at the ingredients, my number one red flag is a list of things I cant pronounce.   Take label warnings seriously, they indicate hazardous chemicals.  

Top 10 Ingredients to Avoid (via Organic Consumers Association, Thanks OCA!) 
  
1. Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea — These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals have a good antifungal, and must be combined with other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10°. These chemicals are toxic. 
2. Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben — Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals. Highly toxic. 
3. Petrolatum — I see this on lip products from time to time, which is humorous to me because they're usually advertised as protecting the lips from sunburn, chapping and so forth. Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil causes a lot of problems when used on the skin photosensitivity (i.e., promotes sun damage), and it tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. You are being sold a product that creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap. 
4. Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions. 
5. PVP/VA Copolymer — A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, wavesets and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since particles may contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive persons. 
6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation "comes from coconut." 
7. Stearalkonium Chloride — A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic. 
8. Synthetic Colors — The synthetic colors used to supposedly make a cosmetic "pretty" should be avoided at all costs, along with hair dyes. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents. If a cosmetic contains them, don't use it. 
9. Synthetic Fragrances — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "Fragrance." Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation by a cosmetic that has the word "Fragrance" on the ingredients label. 
10. Triethanolamine — Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

What?  You cant pronounce those words?  So, the easiest way to know whether or not a product is worthy enough to spend money on AND safely use is #1 Avoid scary chemicals, like "mercury" for example  #2  If you cant pronounce it or dont know what the heck it is, there's a good chance you should avoid it!  You may find some of your allergy issues will suddenly disappear if you discontinue using cosmetics formulated with petrochemicals and other synthetics. 

So, that's not too hard to remember, right?  Just avoid the above ingredients.  Write them down or print them out.  Look through all of your products, check the ingredient lists.  When you go shopping bring your list (there really is a printable list at Skin Deep's website!) and read every label... I know, crazy right?!  Well, that's just what I did.

When I started turning over products and reading labels, I ended up with an empty makeup bag, a bare bathroom, and a garbage bag full of products.  Then I thought, shoot I have nothing left, and not enough money to buy more stuff.  Well, most of the stores I buy from guarantee their products, so seeing as how I was not satisfied, I returned what I could.  With a little help from "The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics", I included a letter to each of the companies, stating my dissatisfaction with their products.  I also asked them to commit to manufacturing safer cosmetics.  Let me just say that Victoria's Secret is the one of the number one companies and brands of concern on the Cosmetics Safety Database.  They were my first stop.  
(Want to check your favorite products or brands?  Check out www.cosmeticsdatabase.com)

Just tell me what to buy...

Seriously, who has time to read labels?  I really don't either!  However, when something grabs my attention like this does, I simply cannot ignore it!  I HAVE to find out more information, more FACTS!  Then, I either dismiss it (if it's just a bunch of hype), or address it.  I just have this "thing" (OCD maybe?)... I get passionate about something and it utterly consumes me!  But hey, now all of you can benefit from my hours of research!  You just want to grab it and go, right?!  I've got oodles of recommendations for you, but let's just start with a few reputable companies (I know my list is not complete, I'll be adding more as they come to mind).  I have tried or currently use products from the following companies.  Want a recommendation for a particular item?  Post a comment or send me a message!
    - Lori

Update: Many of the companies we used to recommend are selling out to large corporations, who are then reformulating the products... so you think you're getting your trusted chemical free product because the label looks the same & you had NO idea they were now owned by a different company and the product is NOT what you think it is! Ahhhh, so frustrating! So, we are updating our list & sadly, it is getting pretty short. If you've got any recommendations, let us know by filling out our "contact us" form!

Honestly, since we started researching Young Living, nothing else measures up to the quality & integrity! Essential oils are amazing! We love everything we have tried so far... toothpaste, supplements, Thieves products, essential oils, Ningxia Red...) More about them HERE! 
                                       
Avalon Organics
California Baby
Dr. Bronner's
Jane Iredale  (Love her mascara!)
Shea Terra Organics   (Such YUMMY shea butter products! LOVE them!)  
Skin by Ann Webb (Love this skincare, I get mine on Amazon or Vitacost for less!)
Spry Dental  (Tooth care products with xylitol)
Weleda  (I have used their baby products for years, so gentle and smell yummy!)

So, now you're enlightened...

I know, I know, you're overwhelmed, right?!  I was too at first, and the quote "ignorance is bliss"... no, no, don't think like that!  You want to be informed, you want safe products, you and your precious family deserve the best!  Don't waste your money on cheaply made products, full of toxic cancer causing chemicals!  Hey, I'm going to make it easy for you to clean out your closet, er makeup bag!  Your skin will feel better, look better, and you will BE healthier once you rid yourself of these toxins!  Now go on, toss it out!

*This information is provided by the following: 
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics  www.safecosmetics.org
Skin Deep's Cosmetics Safety Database  www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
The Breast Cancer Fund  www.breastcancerfund.org 
Think Before You Pink (A project of Breast Cancer Action)  http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/
Environmental Working Group  www.ewg.org
Organic Consumers Association  http://www.organicconsumers.org/

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Why do I say essential oils "saved my life"?  Well, I was being robbed of truly LIVING... 

I was almost 21 years old when I became afflicted with a skin condition...  doctors couldn't identify it.  Most of the time it was invisible.  Sometimes I would break out in small blisters all over my body, sometimes purple splotches, sometimes pink prickly spots, or a bumpy rash.  It became much worse over time... debilitating.  Itching and pain are communicated in the brain the same.  So, for me, I would itch intensely and alleviate that by scratching.. which made me feel pain... but pain was better than the itching.  I felt crazy.  I couldn't get dressed because many of my clothes irritated my skin.  I couldn't exercise because it made me so uncomfortably itchy.  Friends thought I just didn't like to get out, I was a considered a "homebody", I would agree with that because it was easier than explaining my affliction... really, I just couldn't go out much because every day was the same... debilitating.  I used to be very outgoing.  I was so embarrassed that I couldn't make this go away, I simply kept it a secret from most people... but my family knew.  I couldn't let my kids sit on my lap for very long because the heat from their bodies made my skin crawl.  I couldn't go swimming with my family, so I would sit on the side.  I couldn't sit in the sun because my skin would burn and itch.  One drink of wine would seemingly send out a heat wave and cause my skin to burn and itch.  Chocolate, tomatoes, and some other foods would do the same.  I couldn't go 5 minutes without thinking about how much pain I was feeling.  I tried to distract myself, tried to talk myself into thinking it was all in my head.  Even in my sleep, I dreamt of itching, pain, fiery sensations in my skin.  I never slept well at night, if I even could sleep at all.  Sometimes I would take pain medicine or benedryl, just to alleviate some of the itching and pain, so that I could sleep.  I would wake up most nights and realize I had scratched til I bled.  Many nights my husband would wake me up telling me to stop scratching.  Sounds like a nightmare... it was.  I felt like I had a plague.  I felt so lonely, frequently depressed... like I was involved in an internal war with myself.  It sometimes made me feel like I could truly go insane... I felt like the leper in the Bible.  I had been to the dermatologist, doctor, and naturopath.  I had tests for allergies to food and other things.  I was told I had eczema and dermatitis... they prescribed topical medicines, I tried them all.  They made my skin feel worse.  I had to stop nursing my 3rd child before we were ready so that I could try another medicine.  The only thing that helped alleviate the rash was Prednisone.  I would go on that for 8 days... my skin would clear... and then it would all start over.  I stopped using all of the prescriptions years ago because it is so bad for your body, and what was the point, they didn't help.  I tried natural remedies... nothing worked... nothing.  I  prayed and suffered... for 13 years.

Before we left for family camp in August (summer 2012), I had googled eczema and dermatitis cures once again, as I had many times before.  I came across a blog about an essential oil cure... lemon, lavender, melaleuca (tea tree), and peppermint.  I was super skeptical... like I said, nothing worked for me.  I had tried essential oils a bit in the past with no improvement.  It kept coming to remembrance though, and I wondered, what if?  We left for family camp... one of my girls got sick while we were there.  My good friend brought over a few essential oils from Young Living and rubbed my daughters feet.  She left me with lemon and lavender essential oil to continue applying to my daughter to help her with her symptoms.  Later that night, as I was once again in agony, I recalled that blog I had read... lemon and lavender... I had those.  I applied them and felt an immediate relief... but just slightly... but it was enough to resist scratching.  I continued applying them, along with a bit of organic olive oil.  Within 3 days, I had been able to make it through an entire day without scratching.  That was a huge improvement!  My friend brought over peppermint and I added that to my regimen.  I ordered some more oils, adding peppermint and melaleuca.  I made it one week without scratching... it just kept getting better!

So what is the difference with Young Living Essential Oils?  Well, I learned that they are therapeutic grade oils.  The oils I had used previously were not pure, and were doing me more harm than good (if any at all).  So, I am a true believer in Young Living Essential Oils... because for me, they were my lifesaver. (You can read more about why we chose Young Living HERE.)

If you or someone you love are suffering from a skin condition, you may also find relief with the regimen I am using.  Here is exactly what I do...  

Remember to start with clean skin, no lotions or creams or anything on your skin before applying the oils! Avoid lotions with petrolatum (no Aveeno does not = healthy skin), fragrances (even if it says natural, essential oils, etc... these are almost always synthetic and/or chemical based), etc. Stick with just organic virgin coconut oil, organic olive oil, avocado oil, or Young Livings V-6, or any of Young Living's massage oils or lotions (Lavender is my favorite! Makes my skin feel amazing!).

Open your oils up, it will be easier to do this now than after you have oils in your hand...
 Put about 1/4 tsp of Virgin Coconut Oil in the palm of your hand.  Add 1 drop of each of the following essential oils:  Lemon, Lavender, Melaleuca Alternifolia, and Peppermint.
Massage gently into affected area.  Repeat process on all areas of affected skin.

A 15mL bottle of YL Essential Oil contains approximately 300 drops.  So, you should have plenty for quite a while.  I started out applying the oils every time I felt itchy.  At first, this was quite often.  Within 3 days, I was applying oils about 5 times.  I now apply the oils after bathing and sometimes before bed.

I also have found relief with putting Peace & Calming Essential Oil into my YL Diffuser at bedtime.  My skin condition, like many others,  is aggravated with stress, and being over tired.  The diffuser really helps me to relax and fall asleep.  You can also run the diffuser with 1 drop of each of the skin care regimen oils.  With the affected area of skin exposed and close to the diffuser, the skin is able to soak in the oils being diffused.  Very therapeutic and relaxing. (I now have an amazing bedtime routine that I will share here soon!)

If you would like to order Young Living Essential Oils, you can do so here, Roots of Integrity - Young Living (or ask the person who led you to this page or has been helping you so far), and have it shipped right to your door! If you would like to order at wholesale cost (24% off retail), you can also become a member like I did.  If you order the "Premium Start Living with Everyday Oils Kit", you will get 11 essential oils, which include the oils you need for your skin, plus the home diffuser, plus a bunch of other stuff you can use & share!  The value is incredible, you're saving over 50% off of retail with this kit! Please let me know if I can do anything to help you!