Interview with Emily Vass

I wanted to do something special this year to try to make a difference. I sat down with a very good childhood friend of mine, who happens to be a member of the Lenni Lenape Nation, to talk about growing up in a small town, relationships and love, raising kids, autism, essential oils and so many other topics. Native American Heritage month (November) culminates in Native American Heritage Day on November 27th, 2020. Check out this incredible video below.

Stills from the video and other images

I released this video on the 27th, to celebrate this incredibly strong, resilient woman. Generally speaking, this video was well received. I was using my platform to aid a voice in finding new ears, exactly what I intended to do. I posted the video to a Facebook group that celebrates that history of Wayne County, only to have this video silenced from the beginning for being inappropriate. The administrators of the group couldn’t even be bothered to read the descriptions of the video (that included pertinent information including both of us being from Wayne County) or even watch the first few minutes of the video where we discuss historical events in that area. Below is the explanation that i got as to why the video was not allowed to be posted.

My Vow

After seeing, in a very direct way, the discriminatory behaviors that still exist against our Native populations, I now have a new fire burning inside me. I will not stop until I can make some sort of positive change. I will continue to be an advocate for those who cannot stand on their own, and a voice for those who need to be heard. Please help me share this incredible story and give Emily the acknowledgement and respect that she deserves, by liking, sharing this video. Help me, help others!

Please visit or reach out to Emily if you are interested in any of the services that she provides. She is an experienced professional with a track record to be rivaled. Her page on Facebook (@eolwithemily) is listed below.

We Love Lemon!

I love finding new ways to use old products. We know that lemon essential oil is a powerful cleaner and great for lots of things. Trying to think outside the box, I decided to put these three uses into a video and share them with you.

Brush Cleaner

Not cleaning your brushes can actually be a pretty serious thing, and may actually be a cause to other issues you may be having, like acne. You can run into issues with poor application quality and the life of the brush will be reduced, essentially wasting money. Leaving old make up in your brushes can actually be damaging to your skin. You can check out this article on Canada Living that covers some more of these issues in depth.

The lemon water that I showed you how to make, again, is just an incredible cleaner. I generally keep a large bottle of this stuff around, along with a small spray bottle to make some applications a bit easier. Either way, use a small amount of the lemon water to moisten the bristles of your brush. Swirl your brush in a circular motion on a cloth that has some texture to it. This will help to break up the old makeup and remove it from the bristles. Continue this process until the bristles are clean. Rinse with clean water and allow to dry.

Makeup Remover Pads

This is another recipe that could not be easier to make. Makeup removers can contain some pretty nasty ingredients and can be drying to your skin. Many of the preservatives that are used to keep mold at bay in these pre moistened products are actually skin irritants. Check out this article by Mellanie Perez for some incredible information about how dangerous these products can be.

So you are going to need the most basic of items to make this recipe. Witch hazel is the main ingredient here and is a natural astringent. Using the Vitamin E oil will help keep your skin from drying out. If you find that the witch hazel is too strong for your skin type, simple cut it down with some water to a level that works for you. Feel free to use other essential oils, but lemon really works well in this application. One note to be aware of is the photosensitivity of lemon oil. You should try to avoid direct sunlight directly after using and citrus oils.

Wig Refreshing Spray

So this spray is really doing to help do two things: Reduce buildup and moisturize. As mentioned before, lemon oil is a great cleaner. This will work in your wigs by helping eliminate hairspray (and other product) buildup that can cause your wigs to look like that have seen better days. stripping all of that buildup out will freshen your wig up and bring life back to the hair.

The oils are also going to help add moisture back in to the wig. Depending on use, some wigs can be highly styled time and time again, stripping out some of the natural luster that was in the hair at the beginning. Regular maintenance, including rehydrating and refreshing, should be on the top of any good queen’s list!

@LEMONGIVESYOULIFE

Yes…we love lemon! Lemon (Christopher Baptista) from Drag Race Canada that is . Check out some of his amazing work on instagram @lemongivesyoulife

Room Refreshing Spray

This is probably on of the easiest switches you can make. With simple ingredients that you most likely already have around the house, you can start making a spray that is safe, effective, and scented just the way you like. As I mention in the video, I use this spray in ever room of the house, on different surfaces.

Witch Hazel (Not the cartoon witch…)

Some of you may have this in your apothepantry, some may not. Witch hazel has become a staple in my home as it can be used in a variety of products. It is a natural astringent derived from a plant and is perfect to mix into a facial toner. In the room spray, it is being used as a medium to help the essential oils to disperse more evenly in the water, giving you better scent with each spray.

Scale It Down

Once you get the basics of how to make a spray like this, you can start branching out. Make a few smaller bottles, change up the scent, and spread them around the house. I keep one next to my bed so I can spray an relaxation mist on my pillows before bed. I also keep a small bottle in my vehicle to help keep the interior fresh. A few sprays of the focus blend near your desk after lunch is a great way to get productive. There is one in the gym bag for our shoes and athletic gear. Put a small bottle in your guest bath to cover any unwanted odors during a party. Be creative and let me know where you stash bottles!

Coffee Scrub

Another Way to Use Leftovers

I LOVE coffee. Over the years, I have done my fare share of consuming this amazing beverage. One thing that I never enjoyed was cleaning out the filter basket. I seemed like such a waste to throw out all those grounds and the filter. When we owned the farm, I got in the habit of using the coffee grounds in my garden spaces. One problem solved.

French press coffee pots have been around for a while. It was a few years ago when a friend purchased one, that I got to see one in action. I love the simplicity of the contraption, and honestly feel the coffee taste better. We have been using a french press ourselves for almost a year now, and the best part…no filters to have to mess with. Since relocating, we no longer have a garden to absorb that mass amounts of coffee grounds we produce.

The Secondary Solution to Problem One

Creating the body scrub allowed me to use the grounds one more time before relinquishing them to the drain. I had used a store bought facial scrub for years, but it was not suitable for bodily use. The cost of regular exfoliation would have been crazy.

If you do not happen to produce as much coffee waste as we do, there are places where you can get huge bags of the stuff for FREE. Trust me, it would take you months to use all of the coffee in just one of the free bags. If you do not like the smell of coffee, or maybe have an allergy, feel free to replace the coffee with something you prefer. Just be sure to make note of the texture. You want to exfoliate, not scrub your face off!

In The literature

Studies have shown that used coffee grounds still contain plenty of antioxidants to be of benefit to your skin. Check out this study if you would like to read more. Here is another study about the antioxidant content of coffee. One more here. There are plenty more out there readily available if you would like to search for yourself.

Great Inside and Out

So with all this talk about antioxidants, what exactly can it do for your skin? Antioxidants, especially in coffee, can help reduce inflammation and redness, can help treat and prevent dark circles under your eyes, can help dry out and prevent acne breakouts, and boost your anti-aging routine by helping fight free radicals. All this comes together to leave your skin renewed and vibrant. You will kick yourself for not figuring this out sooner. I know I did!

The Cost

The breakdown below is based on figures from my supply. Coffee is not included because it was free from the local chain store.

Green Tea Facial Toner

Why Toner?

I get started using a toner several years ago, and have never looked back. I am not the kind of person who generally likes to have lotions or moisturizers on my skin; especially on my face. I found the using a toner made using a daily moisturizer and sunscreen a bit more bearable. I started using a name brand toner, recommended by many, but found that it dried my skin out. I came across a recipe using green tea and have never looked back.

So what does toner do and why should guys use it? Essentially, toners are used to balance the pH and oil levels of the skin. Not everyone needs to use a toner. If you have acne and oil free skin, you may not need to use a toner. It may even prove to dry your skin out in this case. Toner will also make your skin be more receptive to any layers of serum or moisturizers applied afterward.

I use this toner twice a day; after my morning shower, and before bed. I always clean my face first, apply the toner, and follow with several serums and a light moisturizer.

Antioxidants

Finding this recipe changed everything. I had a consistent supply of green tea in the house, along with apple cider vinegar (which was in the original recipe). I knew that green tea was good for your body, but did not realize that it was just as good for your skin. Green tea is full of antioxidants which help to neutralize environmental free radicals and prevent premature aging of the skin.

I eventually switched to using witch hazel in my recipe. Witch Hazel is a natural astringent and can help with acne and redness due to some of the anti-inflammatory properties it possesses. Witch Hazel is also has antioxidant properties, further boosting the power of this toner to transform your skin.

Tea Tree essential oil plays a central role in this toner. Tea Tree is known for having antibacterial, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties; making it perfect for use in a toner. But, guess what? Tea Tree also has antioxidant properties! This means that this toner contains the perfect trifecta for fighting premature aging, reducing redness and acne, and providing the perfect base for your moisturizer.

The Cost

The breakdown below is based on figures from my supply

Body Wash

I tried virtually every body wash for men out there and they were all basically the same. Often there was a heavy scent that I did not find appealing or my skin would dry out after using the product. I finally started making my own and my skin has never felt better.

This recipe should be used with a foaming dispenser. While a lather will form, it may not get as foamy as the store bought competitors. Do not be fooled! The foam is highly moisturizing and will leave you feeling clean, refreshed and ready to take on the day. This body wash is gentle enough to be used on sensitive areas, yet strong enough to wash off a long hot day in the garage.

The blend of essential oils in this body wash create a light masculine scent. All of the essential oils used here have therapeutic qualities for the skin as well as acting as cleaning agents. The blend of honey and hemp oil create a super moisturizing foam that will nourish even the toughest mans skin without leaving you feeling/smelling like you just rolled around in a flower garden.

This recipe, along with others is available in my eBook. Check out the link in the menu above for more information.

All Purpose General Cleaner

I am a big believer in working smart, not hard; especially when it comes to cleaning my home. I started using this cleaner a few years ago, and have never gone back. I have found it to be one of the most effective general cleaners and is safe to use on virtually any surface. I use this cleaner from the kitchen to the bath and everywhere in between.

Pack an extra punch

The addition of lemon water and the 4 Thieves blend to this recipe adds an additional layer of power to this cleaner. Essentially, lemon water is a vinegar based extraction that contains essential oils leached directly from fresh organic lemon peels. Other citrus peels could be used in a similar manner in order to gain their benefits. The blend of essential oils that make up the 4 Thieves blend are powerhouses when it comes to cleaning.

This recipe, along with others is available in my eBook. Check out the link in the menu above for more information.

The Cost

The breakdown below is based on figures from my supply