Simply Earth takes Self Care to the Next Level with November's Bath-Themed Essential Oil Recipe Box

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Friday, October 11, 2019

DIY Candles and Lip Balms, Oh My!: Simply Earth October Essential Oil Recipe Box

The past few months, I have done something I never really saw myself doing before: delving into the world of essential oils! Sure, I've picked up a couple years ago for a random craft project, but I wasn't sure what all I could do with them, not to mention they were expensive enough to mostly avoid. A few months ago, I was introduced to a new essential oil concept that caught my attention, and ever since, have blown me away! Let's jump on in!

Press Sample and Affiliate Links

I am definitely a craft person, and generally if you come to my house, you'll see a few projects I have completed out on display or in use, while at least one more is in progress and hiding out in the closet. When I heard about the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box, my interest was piqued. Each month, Simply Earth designs a series of do-it-yourself projects based on a particular theme. A box of four essential oils plus any necessary extra items is then curated along with the recipes for these projects and shipped out to subscribers. Crafting with essential oils cannot be any easier than this!

October's Essential Oil Recipe Box is about candles and lip balms; the included essential oils get double duty use with included recipes to help with joint and muscle pain as well! I was excited about this box when I first knew I would be making candles and lip balm, but my shoulder and knee are extremely pleased with these other recipes!

This month's Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box comes with the following essential oils:

Balsam Fir

Cassia

Sweet Orange

Focus (blend of Cardamom, Frankincense, Eucalyptus and Sweet Orange Essential Oils)

There is also a sticker sheet so you can label your products as you make them.

The extra items that will arrive in the October box include

Soy Wax

Lip Balm Tubes

Candle Wick

The Essential Oil Recipe Box is completed with six recipe cards to get you well on your way to a fall scented, natural home! I wanted to try out these recipes to see just how easy there were to use. When you first sign up for a subscription, you also are sent a "Big Bonus Box" that includes the multiple tubes, carrier oils, and other things to suit your crafting needs with the monthly recipe boxes. Between the original Big Bonus Box (check out the details on mine here) and the monthly box, there is little you would have to provide yourself to make the recipes. Let's check out what you'll be making this month!

Fall Diffuser Blend

Every month comes with a recipe for a diffusing blend, and this one smells so inviting and warm! Fall is arguably my favorite season as these types of smells are my favorite; I am currently typing away as my diffuser is filling my house with this blend! I've already made a master blend using this combination in a 5mL bottle so I can enjoy this scent in my house even sooner.

Cassia and Orange Candle

This was my first time making a candle, and I was impressed with how easy Simply Earth made it for me! Simply Earth made sure I had all the items I needed to make a candle between this monthly box and the Bog Bonus Box with one exception- you do have to provide your own jar. The recipe calls out for enough wax to make a votive-sized candle, so keep that in mind when following this recipe. I had saved a couple of these cute ramekin dishes from crème brûlée minis I had bought at Costco, and they were the perfect size! I also appreciate the wider opening to help prevent burning my fingertips when I cannot find my long lighter. This spiced orange combination is heavenly!

Focus Lip Balm

Technically you don't have to provide anything extra when it comes to making this recipe, but the standard recipe makes a fair bit of extra product. I have made my own lip balms before in the past, and I still had two additional tubes available to pour the extra mix. In the end, I ended up with 3 and 3/4 tubes of lip balm. I recommend holding onto those empty chapstick containers for excess melt. If you're a tin lip balm fan, this recipe will not work well as written as the final product dries very firm. I triple checked the amounts I was using, and I think the beeswax to oils ratio is too high for my preference. I personally prefer the recipe I used to follow, but I do like the Focus Essential Oil blend in the lip balm.

Joint Pain Roll On

Getting older is great for some things- you can rent a car, you don't have to pull out your ID while at a restaurant to get a cocktail, you're (hopefully) making more money with your career, and you really stop caring about what other people that don't matter think. The down side: your joints sometimes ache. I badly hurt one of my knees a couple years ago, and it's just never been the same ever since. It's definitely doing better, but after a lot of walking or an intense workout, it can start to bother me again. This Joint Pain Roll On is the perfect solution to help with those aches, and the roller bottle makes it convenient to toss in my bag before going to the gym or on a hike. I actually made two of these- one for myself and one for my mother in law.

DIY Aromatherapy Rice Bag

Now that your joints are covered, you can move on to helping sore muscles! Many year ago, I had made myself a heating bag by filling a knee-high sock with beans and popping it into the microwave to heat. My hubby used to think it was weird, but man did that feel good putting it on the back on my neck! In this month's Simply Earth version, you fill a sock with rice that has been mixed with essential oils. As I always found myself placing my original bean bag on a few specific small spots, I decided to make this rice aromatherapy bag with one of my kids' stray socks whose partner had disappeared long ago. Holding a cup of rice, this baby heats up nicely in my microwave in about 20 seconds. I actually used this earlier today on one of my shoulders (side sleeper, checking in) and then asked the hubby to massage my shoulder. The heat soothes the muscles quickly so he could get at the knot that was bothering me almost immediately. While my rice bag isn't fancy, you can opt to use a fun pattern or solid coloured socks and made a really awesome gift. Alternately, you can sew a fabric tube or go the simpler route of using sleeves from a long sleeve shirt. I always have random fabric extras around the house so I'm probably going to make myself a bigger version to place at the foot of my bed to prewarm the area when the nights are chilly. The Focus Essential Oil Blend is too uplifting for bedtime, but you can easily use different calming essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and/or bergamot.

Cassia and Balsam Fir Candle

(not pictured)

If you're wanted to get a jump start into the holiday season, this candle combination may be the one that appeals the most to you. Because my Essential Oil Recipe Box only came with one candle wick, I opted to skip this one in favor of the citrus option. I'm not sure if the October subscription boxes come with only a single wick, or if mine did because it is a demo box. There was plenty of wax to make two candles, so if your box only comes with one wick, you may need to pick up more at the craft store. Alternately, you can melt your waxes and mix with oils and pour into small silicone molds to create wax melts. A lot of my friends are more into wax melts than candles, so this is a great gift option. I even found my long-missing wax warmer during my move back to Arizona at the end of last year so I can even enjoy melting wax again!

The Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box is a subscription service with two subscription options:

The MONTHLY BOX is $39 per month, and you will receive a box every month.

The QUARTERLY BOX is $45 every three months, and you will receive one box every three months.

There is no additional membership fee for subscribing, and you can skip boxes if a particular monthly theme doesn't suit your needs.

If you decide to subscribe for the Essential Oils Recipe Box, feel free to use the code LAUGHLOVECONTOURFREE . This code will get you a $40 gift card with your first purchased subscription box and a free Big Bonus Box. Please note that this code is not a discount off your first box but an incentive for first time subscribers. The value can be applied to your next monthly box or towards individual items offered by Simply Earth. These boxes are fantastic for yourself, and the monthly themes makes these a fun gift for friends and family. The holidays will be here soon, and what better way to show you care than giving a handmade gift!

If you decide you're not in the market for an essential oils box but still want to pick up a few assorted essential oils, please consider using my referral link. I don't have any special discount codes to share for this type of purchase, but using my referral link helps to support my blog so I can keep bringing you the great content you enjoy!

As always, 13% of every purchase at Simply Earth is donated to help stop human trafficking. This month, donations are going to 5 Stones. This Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization works to raise awareness of sex trafficking as well as prevent victimization and working with other organizations to fight against human trafficking. I love knowing when money generated from my purchases is also doing good; this is just one of so many great things about Simply Earth!

November Essential Oil Recipe Box Sneak Peek

While you are enjoying the October Essential Oil Recipe Box, you can be looking forward to next month's box too! The theme for November is.... Bath & Shower! In addition to your monthly diffuser recipe, you can look forward to recipes for 2 milk baths, chai tea bath, shower steamers, and a roll-on. The spicy aroma of chai tea is one of my favorites, and who doesn't enjoy a good soak in the tub? I've never used shower steamers although I have wanted to try them, especially with cold and flu season coming up! I'm really curious if the roll-on is going to have a therapeutic use or more for the aromatherapy benefits. I guess I'll have to wait to find out!

Are you a DIY crafter? Do you enjoy incorporating essential oils into your every day life? Would you be interested in the Essential Oil Recipe Box, either for yourself or as a gift? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

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Monday, September 2, 2019

Simply Earth Keeps Your Home Natural with the September Soap Making Box

Last month, I shared the do-it-yourself essential oil skincare box by Simply Earth, and I am back to share this month's offering: a box geared towards soap making! Before I get into the specific details of this month's box, let me fill you in a little about Simply Earth and why you should support this company whenever you are in the market for essential oils.

Press Sample and Affiliate Links

If you've been purchasing essential oils, or have just looked into buying a bottle or two, you may have already had your mind blown by the price tags on many of them. While it is inevitable that some essential oils are going to be more expensive than others, what if I told you that you could get high quality, pure essential oils at a fraction of the price AND know that you are supporting a company that uses ethical practices and gives back? If these are factors that influence your purchasing decisions, then Simply Earth is the essential oil company you want to subsidize.

Commitment to Quality

You can grow many plants just about anywhere, but it doesn't mean it is good for them. Simply Earth sources their essential oils from plants that are grown in the most ideal environment for each specific plant. Working with the farmers, they then ensure the oils are harvested both safely and fairly via cold-pressing or steam distillation, whichever is ideal for the specific oil and plant. Each batch of essential oils then undergoes Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis to ensure the final product is high quality before being passed to consumers.

Giving Back to Fight Human Trafficking

Whether we like it or not, human trafficking is a reality for 25 million people globally. Some of these people are victims of sex trafficking while others are involved in labor trafficking. This unfortunately is happening in the United States as well. Simply Earth partners with different organizations and gives 13% of profits from all purchases to an organization that is selected each month. The number 13 was chosen as this is the average age of a person forced into human trafficking. This includes purchases of individual oils from their shop and their Essential Oil Recipe Subscription Box.

Speaking of the Essential Oil Box, let me briefly fill you in on how they work and the get into the details on this month's box. This is a subscription box with two subscription options:

The MONTHLY BOX is $39 per month, and you will receive a box every month.

The QUARTERLY BOX is $45 every three months, and you will receive one box every three months.

There is no additional membership fee for subscribing, and you can skip boxes should you need to save some money or if the specific boxes just don't appeal to you. Each month, the recipe box has a theme to help you decide if it is a good fit for your lifestyle and the previous month's box will give you additional details on what you can expect when it comes to the included essential oils and recipes.

This is what is included in September's Essential Oil Recipe Box:

"Happy Joy" Pure Essential Oil Blend (15mL)
Bay Pure Essential Oil (5mL)
Cajeput Pure Essential Oil (10mL)
Lemongrass Pure Essential Oil (10mL)
Aloe Glycerine Soap Base (3 oz)
Soap Mold
6 Recipe cards
Sticker labels

There isn't enough soap base to make a year's worth of soap by any means, but there is enough to make one of each of the three soap recipes that come with this box. The retail value of the four essential oils found in this box is $40, and the soap base and reusable soap mold really are a bonus. What I really appreciate the most about this box are the added recipes that tell me how I can use my essential oils!

The recipes included in this month's box are:

Flowers and Spice Diffuser Blend
Sugar Scrub Soap Bar
Happy Joy Facial Soap
Flowers, Spice, and Something Nice Soap
Happy Joy Roll On
Lemongrass, Cajeput, and Bay Compress

I had got to get with the program and pick up a diffuser! I love having my home filled with nice smells, and the Happy Joy Essential Oil Blend is just so vibrant and cheery!

In addition to the soap recipes, the Lemongrass, Cajeput, and Bay Compress recipe is going to be a popular recipe around my house. This compress recipe has a multitude of uses, from helping to reduce fevers to relieving pain caused by inflammation. I've already had a nasty cold just a few weeks ago, and with cold and flu season coming up, I'm really going to appreciate this one!

I did get to play with some of the recipes from this box, and I wanted to share my experiences with you. Let's check them out!

Happy Joy Roll On

It really doesn't get much easier than adding a couple drops with a carrier oil in a roll-on! I used the almond oil and a 10mL roll-on bottle that came in my Bonus box, described in full detail here. Those with nut allergies can easily switch to coconut oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil.

The recipe may be simple, but don't underestimate the value of a simple roll-on. This is a handy size with a portability I love! The recipe box comes with a handy sticker sheet, and I cut out this one to attach to my roll on bottle to make it look a little fancier.

Sugar Scrub Soap Bar

Speaking of fancy, these easy to follow soap recipes are both functional and will make you feel a little glamorous. I'm a fan of sugar scrubs, and this is the first I have used in a soap bar format.

The soap base is clear, but my final product is a rich brown due to the cinnamon I opted to add to the mix. The final recipe is a little more coarse than I like on my body overall, but I have been loving using this soap on my feet as an alternate to a pumice stone!

Happy Joy Facial Soap

The Happy Joy Facial Soap recipe is a quick an easy recipe to follow- simply melt the soap base, add in the oil, add some lemon zest if you wish, pour into the mold, and let it solidify. The melting and mixing stage takes about 30 seconds; you're going to spend more time zesting your lemon than getting this soap made!

Once poured into the mold, it takes about 15 minutes for the soap base to fully cool down and solidify. If you're feeling extra eager to use this, or package it up for a gift, you can pop it in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process. Once cool, the soap pops out of the mild easily.

I'm admittedly not crazy about citrus smells on my face, but I do love having this in my kitchen for hand washing. The lemon zest floating in the base is so pretty as well!

I still have enough glycerine soap base left to make the Flowers, Spice, and Something Nice Soap, but I am holding off on making it until I can decide what I additional goodies I want to add to the mix. I have certainly enjoyed breaking in this box, and I look forward to doing more with the essential oils in the future! Whether you are a DIY kind of person or looking for a unique holiday gift for friends and loved ones that may not always be the easiest to shop for, the Simple Earth Recipe box is definitely going to help you out with the upcoming holiday season!

If you decide to subscribe for the Essential Oils Recipe Box, feel free to use the code LAUGHLOVECONTOURFREE . This code will get you a $40 gift card with your first purchased subscription box and bonus box. Please note that this code is not a discount but an incentive for first time subscribers. It can be used on your next box or a future purchase. These boxes are fantastic for yourself, and the monthly themes makes these a fun gift for friends and family. The holidays will be here soon, and what better way to show you care than giving a handmade gift!

If you decide you're not in the market for an essential oils box but still want to pick up a random oil or two, please consider using my referral link. I don't have any special discount codes to share for this type of purchase, but using my referral link helps to support my blog so I can keep bringing you the great content you enjoy!

Sneak peak at October's Recipe Box!

Now that Labor Day has come, it is the unofficial start to fall. For me, fall is all about the cozy sweaters, fabulous boots, and delicious smells, and apparently Simply Earth agrees. October's box is going to be all about fall candles. It will include oils, bonus items, and recipes for candles, lip balm, an aromatherapy rice bag, a pain relief roll-on, and a Fall-inspired diffuser blend.

Simply Earth is a company that makes it easy to make your home more natural, and I love what this company represents! I hope you're as excited about the soap-making recipe box as I am, and I hope you consider checking them out for all your essential oil needs!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

Helpful Links

Store: SimplyEarth.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/FromSimplyEarth
Affiliate Code: LAUGHLOVECONTOURFREE

Connect with me on Social Media!

Monday, July 29, 2019

Simply Earth Combines Essential Oils with Crafty DIY Project in August's "Face Care" Box

Press Sample and Affiliate Links

It's no secret I love finding and trying out beauty products! While I do not have a dedicated "Beauty Room", I do have an office where I store my products, photograph them, and write about them here on the blog. Another interest of mine is crafting, and I have a shelf filled with assorted odds and ends for my current project du jour. While I've generally kept these two passions separate, I was ecstatic to see my love of do-it-yourself combined with face care when I stumbled across Simply Earth.

Simply Earth is an essential oil brand that curates a subscription box with fun monthly themes. I've always loved the idea of essential oils, but with so much information to digest and the staggering cost of each bottle, I've shied away from really jumping in and using them. Until now! Simply Earth is a family run company that started all because of stinky feet. After sourcing quality and bulk ingredients, they discovered that essential oils aren't as expensive as the MLM brands I keep seeing. This revelation in itself isn't particularly shocking, but what I AM impressed with is Simply Earth's dedication to quality. They have sourced their oils from pesticide-free farms across the globe so each oil is derived from plants grown in optimal conditions. Working directly with farmers, Simply Earth has assured that the oils are then harvested fairly and with safe practices by either steam distillation or cold pressing. Each batch then undergoes GC/MS testing to verify purity for quality assurance. What is sent out is an undiluted, GMO-free oil at an affordable price. If you're not happy with you purchase, there is a 365 day guarantee. This is something I am happy to support!

Now that I've filled you in on the company and the general practices, let's get into the Essential Oil Recipe Box! This is a subscription box with two subscription options:

The MONTHLY BOX is $39 per month, and you will receive a box every month.

The QUARTERLY BOX is $45 every three months, and you will receive one box every three months.

There is no additional membership fee for subscripting, and you can skip boxes should you need to save some money or if the specific boxes just don't appeal to you.

Simply Earth donates 13% of profits to organizations that work to end human trafficking. The specific organization changes each month, but the end goal is always the same. Why 13%, you ask? This is the average age of a child that enters the trafficking ring.

Each Essential Oil Recipe box comes with 4 x 15mL essential oils, recipe cards that utilize the oils with recipes that fit within the monthly theme, and additional extras that may be needed to complete the recipes. Please keep in mind that there may still be some ingredients not included that you will have to provide. This is particularly true in the upcoming "Face Care" box for August as some recipes will require water or a handful of food items from the pantry.

This is what is included in August's Essential Oil Recipe Box:

"Clear Skin" Pure Essential Oil
Frankincense Pure Essential Oil
RosemaryPure Essential Oil
ClovePure Essential Oil
Pure Lavender Hydrosol
DIY Compressed Mask
7 Recipe cards
Sticker labels

I don't know if I can even find the words to express my excitement when I saw the reusable sheet mask! If you've been following my blog, you know I'm no longer purchasing sheet masks once I finish my current stock. I still have more to use up, but I am happy to start using the reusable masks and get those into my beauty routine!

The recipes included in this month's box are:
Feel Good Morning Diffuser
Step 1: Frankincense Face Scrub
Step 2: Rosemary Facial Steam
Step 3: Skin Renewing Face Mask
Step 4: Hydrosol Facial Toner
Step 5: Moisturizing Face Cream
Step 6:Clear Skin Roll On

Simply Earth recommends using all 6 face care steps only once a week, but the toner and cream can be used daily and the acne roll on as needed.

Simply Earth also has a BIG BONUS BOX! When you subscribe to a subscription plan, the BIG BONUS BOX will ship with your first purchase. This box is worth $50 and includes assorted supplies such as hard oil, spray bottles, roller bottles and other things to help with the mixing process. The ensure you have what you need, this box is automatically shipped out with every 6th Essential Oil Recipe Box that comes your way. Now that is convenient!

Also, I have to say I love Katie's fun personality showing through here with her sealing sticker!

My BIG BONUS BOX included the following:

Coconut Oil Pure Carrier Oil (4 oz / 118mL)
Coconut Oil Pure Unrefined Cold Pressed (12 fl oz / 355mL)
Almond Oil Pure Carrier Oil (4 oz / 118mL)
Beeswax (2 oz)
6 x tall amber vials with metal roller inserts
6 x short amber vials with droppers

That's a lot of stuff! I used to purchase many of these, but it added up quickly and I always ended up with far more than I needed (I can't tell you how many too-small vials I packed once again for my last move). The BIG BONUS BOX is a great way to get what you need while still keeping the volume manageable. I really appreciate that!

As you can see, the Simply Earth subscription service comes with A LOT of great products! I love knowing that I am getting quality essential oils at a great price, and the busy mom part of me appreciates that they have already done the leg work and created fabulous recipes that let me keep my home as natural as possible. The added flexibility of being able to skip months and cancel at any time provides the added security I need to comfortably dive in on a subscription plan.

If you are interested in trying out either the quarterly or monthly subscription plans, or if you just want to visit the website and pick up your own assortment of essential oils, please consider using my referral link. Purchasing through this link allows me to continue sharing great products with you here on the blog.

If you decide to subscribe, please use the code LAUGHLOVECONTOURFREE . This code will get you a $40 gift card with your first purchased subscription box and bonus box. Please note that this code is not a discount but an incentive for first time subscribers. It can be used on your next box or a future purchase. These boxes are fantastic for yourself, and the monthly themes makes these a fun gift for friends and family. The holidays will be here soon, and what better way to show you care than giving a handmade gift!

Super Secret reveal!!!!

As you know, the theme for August's box is "Face Care". Each Essential Oil Recipe Box will give you a few details about the following month's box. Next month's box is focused on soap making and will include Happy Joy Blend, Lemongrass, Bay, and Cajeput essential oils and soap base and soap mold extras. September's box is a great follow up to the August skincare-focused box. I've actually always wanted to try my hand at soap making but haven't yet, so I am really excited about it.

Have you used essential oils? What do you like to do with them? Is the "Face Care" box something you would enjoy? How do you feel about the followup soap making box? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

Helpful Links

Store: SimplyEarth.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/FromSimplyEarth

Connect with me on Social Media!