Hey, already mid-August! Our beautiful summer is slowly fading away… to make way for the start of the school year. After this rather particular year, we can be happy about it! Even so, this period can bring its share of stress and discomfort for young and old alike. We therefore would like to share tips with you for starting the new school year smoothly, through natural care recipes and tips to give your neurons a boost!
Tips for concentration
When it comes to homework or during a study session, it’s essential to take breaks to refocus… without losing focus! When you need to concentrate, there are two must-haves essential oils: Rosemary Cineole and Exotic Basil.
Rosemary Cineole is recognized as an intellectual tonic and helps relieve general fatigue and overwork. Simply put 4 to 12 drops in a diffuser, or in a bowl of hot water and inhale for 5 to 10 minutes. For Exotic Basil, apply it on the skin: 1 drop in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil of cold-pressed vegetable oil, like Jojoba, Argan, Hazelnut or whatever you have available, and massage the mixture on the neck, the nape of the neck and the wrists.
One last tip for an instant boost of energy: Black Spruce essential oil. Used in aromatherapy as a nerve tonic, this oil is your best ally in the fight against mid-day fatigue. Apply 1 to 2 drops diluted in ½ teaspoon of vegetable oil, on the adrenal region (middle and lower back) or on the back of the neck if you prefer. Certain molecules in Black Spruce will stimulate the adrenal glands, which makes you feel more energized. And guess what? Black Spruce is a local product from Quebec!
Taking the time to relax: tips for parents
At the start of the school year, our pace of life speeds up: between work, the children’s homework, dinner (and so on), it’s sometimes difficult to find time for ourselves and release the stress. In this case, aromatherapy is a great natural way to recharge our inner battery.
During the day: Ready-to-use remedies (essential oil blends) are an easy way to incorporate aromatherapy into your daily routine. The Stress and Insomnia Roll-on contains a superb synergy of Sweet Orange, Lavender-Hybrid Super (Lavandin), Bergamot, Green Mandarin, Exotic Verbena and Spanish Marjoram. Apply it to the inside of the wrists, at the level of the solar plexus or on the temples towards the hairline. In addition, its format is super practical to take it everywhere!
In the evening and before bedtime: If you or your children have trouble falling asleep, here’s a tip: at supper time or 15 minutes before bedtime, diffuse an essential oil with calming properties. We suggest two synergies: Lavandula Supreme and Anti-Stress. What is interesting about these is that they can be used as a diffusion, in a bubble bath or shower gel, shampoo, or simply in inhalation. For quick use, there’s the Good Night Air Purifier and Freshener, which is perfect to spray in a bedroom to promote sleep and relaxation.
Back-to-school hair treatment
Despite all the necessary precautions, sometimes a lice infestation happens at school and your child comes home with these “visitors” on their hair. In this case, Lavender-Hybrid Super (Lavandin) essential oil is very effective in preventing and relieving infestations.
Why does it work? In general, insects and lice hate the smell of Lavender, especially linalool. This compound, found in different types of lavender, has properties that repel and prevent critters from reproducing.
In the event of a serious infestation, do not panic, go ahead with a treatment from the pharmacist!
As a complement and prevention, we have concocted a great 2-in-1 recipe to help repel and eliminate these undesirables, which can be added to a shampoo or to make your own hair mask. All you need is Lavender-Hybrid Super essential oil, Sweet Almond beauty oil and True Lavender floral water. It is important to comb through the hair several times to remove these intruders.
But first, it should be mentioned that the use of essential oils is not recommended for children under 3 years old. It’s always a good idea to do a skin test to avoid reactions or allergies!
Baobab oil, an all-in-one treatment for curly or frizzy hair
After spending the summer in the sun and pool, our hair needs a little love. In fact, curly and frizzy hair more often tends to be dry and needs to be well nourished to keep its vitality!
Baobab Oil comes to the rescue: extracted from the seeds of this African miracle tree, this oil has restorative and softening properties for both hair and skin. Apply a few drops by massaging on dry hair to control frizz and restore shine.
You could also incorporate this Baobab oil-based care for very dry hair recipe into your beauty routine, or for your little ones! Enriched with Avocado and Jojoba oils, this treatment will soften and above all, untangle flyaways.
It should be noted that Baobab has a slight nutty smell: you can then add an essential oil to give a nice fragrance, such as Ylang-Ylang, Fine/True Lavender, Lavender- Hybrid Super (Lavandin), Roman chamomile, Palmarosa, etc…
For fine and flat hair, you can still use Baobab, but in moderation as it could weigh down your hair. We prefer a lighter oil, such as Jojoba or Sweet Almond.
