From the hands of an Angel.

I placed a few orders from From the Hands of an Angel earlier this year to include as gifts in a couple swaps and picked up a few goodies for me and Mia.  She's very into 'fancy lady' things and this shop it right up her alley.

One product that stands out is her Hair Oil Serum.

Hair Oil is perfect for dry brittle hair that is in need of moisture and tender loving care. Its also ideal to use as a preventative to keep your hair from becoming dried out and unhealthy.

I hand picked a blend of all natural and organic oils that are known to help moisturize, strengthen, protect and keep your hair looking shiny, lustrous and healthy. The oils I chose are also packed full of vitamins and protein that can help combat brittle, dry hair. As well as help to stimulate your scalp, which encourages new and healthy hair growth. Each oil has a specific job to help keep your hair beautiful, healthy, nourished and moisturized.

How do I know? My oldest daughter is living proof, she was blessed with naturally tight curly hair. I've done years of research and we've gone through a bunch of trial and errors. Finally a few years ago I found the perfect blend of oils and not only has it helped my daughter's dry hair, frizz and overall health- it's helped with her hair growth.*My daughter uses this oil daily on the tips of her hair and once a week as a deep treatment. (Pictured Above)

Ingredients: All Organic- Coconut oil, Argan oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil and Vitamin E.

Since I've been studying myself, I know for sure this is a solid base of really great oils!  This is the only thing I've used in may hair all summer (other than shampoo and conditioner... which I've been testing).  No sprays or gels or anything else.  I'm in the process of growing out my colour and my hair is shaved across the sides, so this is really all I've needed!  A little goes a long way but my hair always looks amazing!  

The bottle is super cute and the dropper easy to use, you never over pour or use too much.  You can order it with a very light scent, ot keep it unscented.  Either way, this is one product I'm going to repurchase over and over!

DIY: Herb Balm

I have a burn around my one nail that has taken off my entire cuticle bed and refuses to heal.  It was caused by a bad polish I used for a mani... like a month ago now.  I used what the pharmacist recommended until it dawned on me... Hey.  I can make something better MYSELF.

This recipe isn't anything I plan on producing, it's just a little Rx I made myself full of a couple EOs that I knew would help my peeling skin.  I made just enough to fill up a couple little jars.

4g Cocoa Butter
2g Lanolin
4g Beeswax
1g Argan Oil
1g Avocado Oil
 5 drops each: Arnica, Lavender, Chamomile, Tea Tree, and Rose Geranium. 

Add the first five ingredients to a small heat proof jar and melt together, I use a double boiler.  When it's all combined mix in the EOs and pour into jars to cool and set.

It's not a very solid balm, I wanted it to melt in without needing much rubbing and it's very herbal smelling, almost like a perfume with the Lavender and Rose.  While I made this to use on my cuticle, you could easily use it to sooth burns and scrapes anywhere!

Storms Ahead

This month's Mango Bunny mystery polish is a duo!

Storms Ahead is a perfect silver liner holo that is opaque in two easy coats.

Bright Lightening is a flurry of neon glitters.  It's not a full coverage glitter, but it's not sparse at all!

Want some bacon?

There is still time to enter my 5K giveaway!  Head on over to IG and check it out!

QotW!

DIY: Tinctures!

One of the things I've been studying the last few months is herbology.  Herbalism is not just a skill in WoW, it's a very real medical science that goes hand in hand with Aromatherapy.  By studying them at the same time I have not just overloaded my schedule, but my brain with possibilities!

After a nasty stint with insomnia this Spring, just after the accident, I found an amazing Deep Sleep glycerite that worked really well.  They're not hard to make at all.  It's a process, though, and so to get there I started out with creating tinctures.

Tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs that you take orally (by mouth). They are usually extracted in alcohol.  Tinctures are easy and convenient to use.

I create my tinctures with 95% alcohol and you can find it next to the Vodkas in the liquer sections.  It is quite possibly the most disgusting drink ever, so don't even sip it neat.  Don't.

If I'm creating a specific blend,  I first research and ensure that the herbs I have gathered meet that purpose.  In this case I'm working on a body spray for all that bare summer skin, something that is clarifying.  I am using White Willow Bark, which creates salicylic acid (salicin, which is an aspirin like chemical), and Calendula, which helps with inflammation and wound care.

It's really important to make sure that your herbs are both skin safe and don't counter act each other!  Also make sure you are not using something that isn't suggested for oral use that you plan on ingesting.  In this case, both my herbs are safe!

In this case, I used about 10 ml (volume) of each and added them to a 4 oz ball jar and then filled it with the alcohol and capped it tightly.  Then your work is done.  All you need to do is let it sit for a while (48 hours) and shake it occasionally, keeping it in a cupboard and away from direct heat and light.

And then you have a tincture! They tend to be very strong and bitter and used by the drop orally, though there are actually MANY applications to using them in sprays and lotions, as I made this one for!  I store mine in amber glass dropper bottles in a cool cupboard.

NWP: Mermaid Edition

I am so so glad I subscribed to this.  I say that about everything, I know, but Indies never.  Ever.  Let me down.

Mermaid Kisses (full) - this is a microglitter polish full of deep blues, turquoise, and rich purples.  It's almost like a 'dust' in one coat and is mostly opaque in three.  It doesn't gloop or glob and is fairly smooth.

Enchantress of the Sea (full) - this is a deep blue jelly loaded with clear iridescent  and turquoise glitter.  I THINK.  They are so shimmery and gorgeous and add such an amazing depth.  I used three thin coats for depth.

Beautiful Ocean Home (mini) - is a turquise jelly polish loaded with duochrome depth.  It's sheer with two coats and would work in some amazing pond designs and is opaque in three layers.

Soapy!

Somehow I've fallen into soap making.  It started innocently enough, YouTube reccomended a video for me after one I had currently been watching.   The woman was infusing oils with herbs to use in something called 'cold process soap'.

Oddly enough, lye gets PRETTY DANG HOT when you're making 'cold' process soap.

I'm hooked!  It takes about a month for a bar to fully cure to use it, though, so I currently have thee batches all with recipes I've created myself drying out.  I think that the formulation came a little easier to me than a real beginner based on my knowledge of oils, butters and their chemical reactions from soap making and aromatherapy.

Does anyone else make soap to swap resources/recipes with?

It's Breakfast Time!

Head on over to my IG for a chance to win my #5k giveaway!

Friday Favs!

Today I have one favourite for you and it's Ikea.  I have no idea what anyone did before there was Ikea.  My entire studio loft is outfitted in Ikea and it's both affordable and durable.  I went looking for a counter top for my #apothecary needs and came out with an entire set up, plus extra mixing bowls, some markers, and a candle for under 100€.

What do you think?

Bahama Seas

I asked Amanda from Fairtytale Finish to make me something 'tropical' and this is what she created!

Humidity

I feel like I'm going through withdraw.  The weather has been very warm and while I normally don't mind it's been really humid.  Humid weather means that polishes don't dry, they get thick, and they gloop on the brushes.  I've tried waiting until evening and trying early in the morning, but sadly the moisture seems to linger in the air.

In the meantime I have been working on perfecting some lotion formulas.  I plan on offering a small selection of specialized products, bespoke.  That was they are insured to be fresh since I'm using all natural igredients with as many organic and non-GMO ingredients as possible.  I've found a few resources for locally sourced olive oils, beeswax, and herbs. 

The heat has actually caused me to have to pause my aromatherapy studies, it's been too hot to properly blend and oils need to be kept at the correct temperature to ensure their integrity.

As soon as it cools off I plan on doing my very best to creating a blog schedule I can actually keep up.  I keep meaning to!  I also hope to be able to have my formulations finished and ready to go around September.

Hope you all are keeping cool!

Friday Favourites

With the weather in the 30s℃ (it was 95℉ today) my first favourite is a fan.  It's not very common for homes in Italia to have air cooling units in them so it's always a challenge to stay comfortable.  

It also means that it's too hot and humid for nail polish to dry!  I can manage one thin layer before it wants to gloop and no matter what it doesn't dry.  I have been really inspired lately and really disappointed because nothing has set!

On to some ACTUAL favourites!

The 100

I didn't even know this show existed until recently when someone mentioned one of the actors in it was in something else I watch, so hence to them I would 'totally love it'.  I searched it out and they are right, I do really love it.  The second season just ended last month so I was lucky enough to marathon two complete seasons.

Dream Polish's Sun & Sand

I had a feeling I was going to love this scent and I do. 

Complex, fresh and clean scent with notes of orange blossoms, ylang ylang and a touch of musk. Reminiscent of sunbaked sunscreen and a private beach shower.

 I had hoped it was a suntan sort of smell, where as most of the sunny scents I typical find are full of coconut.  I will have to stock up when my no-buy is over.

No Buy July

With my #supersecret #5k #giveaway coming up I went incredibly overboard in May and June so I really have to be careful this month.  On top of that I have to figure out my car situation, as it's still crushed in my front garden!

What have you been loving this month?