by C Sawyer
What is self-care?
Self-care simply means taking care of yourself. It’s about prioritizing your well-being, both physically and mentally. It can be anything that makes you feel good and helps you manage stress. Just like you care for your loved ones, it allows you to show yourself some love and attention, especially through the stress of the holidays.
Is it selfish?
Self-care is not about being selfish. In fact, taking care of yourself through the holidays and everyday allows you to be more present and supportive for the people in your life. When you’re well-rested, relaxed, and feeling good, you have more energy and patience for others.
How to practice:
Self-care is personal. What works for one person might not work for another. The key is to find activities you enjoy and that make you feel good. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Relaxing baths or showers: Indulge in a warm soak with bath salts or essential oils. You can also use a scrub to exfoliate your skin and a moisturizer to keep it hydrated.
- Spa treatments at home: Give yourself a manicure, pedicure, or create a spa-like atmosphere with candles and calming music.
- Other activities: Explore activities like reading, spending time in nature, listening to music, taking a walk, or spending some holiday time with loved ones.
Remember, this is about finding what works for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Start your self-care journey over the holidays and be the best version of yourself during whatever stress the holidays bring.
You can find our Blog HERE and all of our lovely products, perfect for self-care HERE. Check our LinkTree for all social accounts and easy one click access to everything Belvedere Lavender. Enjoy your holidays!
by C Sawyer
As we move towards winter and the cold season, our bathing habits are changing. Instead of focusing on speed, we’ve begun to soak in the bathtub. Long, luxurious soaks in our bathtub, complete with a good book, a glass of wine, and a rubber duck. (The glass of wine and rubber duck are optional, but recommended.)
With the cooler weather approaching, our self-care habits have shifted. Instead of showering quickly to rid ourselves of dirt, we’ve been sinking into a bathtub full of hot water, with a good book and a glass of wine. It’s an incredible feeling – to find yourself with 20 minutes of alone time, a tub full of hot water, and a good book.
Here’s what our ideal self-care bath time routine looks like:
- Fill the tub with hot water, adding Goat’s Milk Bath to the water. Goat’s Milk Bath is an excellent all-natural moisturizer – full of protein and triglycerides that help restore moisture to your skin. While the packaging recommends spending 15-20 minutes in the bathtub, we won’t tell if you soak for longer.
- After climbing out of the tub, towel dry, being careful around problem areas or sensitive skin like your face.
- We recommend applying a thin layer of Body Oil, Body Butter, or our Hand & Body Lotion to seal in the moisture. With a light application of either product, you’ll feel moisturized, refreshed, and ready to take on whatever comes your way.
- We recommend a quick application of our Face & Eye Cream to ensure your face has the same thorough, self-care experience as your body.
- Looking for a slightly different post-bath experience? Give our Body Powder a try – you’ll be treated to a lift scent of lavender with a soothing application. You’ll feel like a new person.
While we didn’t include our Coffee Body Scrub or our Salt Body Scrub, you can easily add either of these products into your bathing routine. They provide an excellent scrubbing experience without drying, irritating, or agitating your skin. Both products help exfoliate dry skin, replacing it with moisturized skin.
Each of our products is crafted exclusively by Belvedere Lavender and made with our locally grown English lavender. We’re an independent, family-run business that you can feel good about supporting.
We’d love to hear about your bath time routine and soaking in the bathtub. What’s your bath time routine like? How do you practice self-care in the bathtub? Follow the Blog here and find all of our non toxic, organic products in our Shop.
by Brittney Park-Sawyer
Lavender Sugars
Most recipes for lavender sugar use white sugar; but there is absolutely nothing wrong in using brown sugar, as long as it is not moist! Compacted sugars will spoil quickly, so use brown sugar that is raw or any dry granulated sugars.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of (white OR brown) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
DIRECTIONS:
- Prepare a clean/sterilized dry jar to store the sugar in, and then add your cup of sugar to the mixing bowl.
- Open your package of Belvedere Lavender Culinary Lavender (or other dried lavender). You can leave the buds whole if you are going to remove them later, or, you can throw the dried Lavender buds into a blender to pulse them until the buds are a coarse cut but not a powder. Then mix together with the sugar.
- Transfer the mixture into the storage jar, making sure to pack the sugar down while sealing it carefully.
- Store the sugar jar in a cool, dark place for 2+ weeks (allowing the sugar to absorb the Lavender flavor – the longer, the stronger the Lavender flavor), shaking the jar every-other day to distribute the Lavender.
- [Note: If using full Lavender buds, remove them after a two-week period]
- Lavender Sugar is now ready to be use in cooking, teas, lemonades, baking recipes, anything that needs a hint of sweetness with a floral twist!
Check our Blog for more uses of lavender in the kitchen. We have a full array of kitchen lavender products in our Shop.
by C Sawyer
Lavender and skincare have a long and intertwined history, dating back to the earliest written records and even further to prehistory based on archaeological evidence.
Ancient Uses:
- Egyptians: Hieroglyphs document lavender’s use in cosmetics and as an anti-aging agent. It was also an essential herb in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.
- Greeks: Medical writings from the 1st century AD mention lavender’s medicinal properties.
- Romans: Lavender was used for indigestion, headaches, and as an antiseptic for sore throats, wounds, and burns.
Victorian Era:
- Ladies of status used lavender oil as a perfume. Even Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed lavender for both fragrance and medicinal tea.
Early America:
- People would freshen wet bedding and clothing by laying them over lavender bushes to absorb the lovely scent.
Modern Uses:
- Scientific research confirms lavender’s benefits for a variety of conditions, including:
- Skin conditions
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
- Headaches and migraines
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Digestive issues
- Colds
- Breath freshening
Lavender’s Enduring Appeal:
Lavender’s benefits are well-documented and continue to make it a popular choice for skincare and alternative medicine today. At Belvedere Lavender, we combine the power of lavender with other natural ingredients to create the best possible all-natural skincare products. Learn more about our natural ingredients and their benefits here.
You can find our Blogs Here and our amazing lavender skincare products Here.
Lavender Stories: Deep History
by C Sawyer
Feeling Down? Lavender May Help! Research suggests that lavender oil holds promise for treating anxiety and depression. Used for over 2,500 years for beauty and medicinal purposes, lavender is now undergoing clinical trials to explore its potential anti-depressive effects.
Studies show that lavender may have several properties beneficial for anxiety, mood swings, pain relief, and even convulsive disorders. These potential benefits come without the addictive issues associated with many traditional anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications.
What is Lavender Essential Oil and How Does It Work?
Lavender’s essential oil is present throughout the plant, offering defense against microbes and aiding its own functions. Even the aroma of lavender has measurable relaxing effects. This is because our sense of smell is linked to the limbic system, which regulates emotional responses. In simpler terms, smelling lavender can make you feel better.
While lavender plants don’t have high concentrations of essential oil (it takes 200 lbs. of flowers to produce 1 lb. of oil), it’s quite potent. Its calming properties have led scientists to explore its potential as a natural alternative to medications like Prozac and Valium, without the side effects like drowsiness or addiction.
Want to Learn More?
Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media, read our Blog or visit our online store for lavender-based skincare products.
by C Sawyer
Hair Loss? Discover the Power of Lavender Oil
Hair thinning and loss are common concerns. A good hair care routine is essential, whether for prevention or treatment. Natural solutions, like essential oils, can be a valuable addition. Try Lavender for Soft and Luscious Hair!
Lavender Oil: Nature’s Hair Growth Booster
Derived from a natural source, lavender oil encourages hair follicles to produce thicker, faster-growing hair. This versatile oil has a long history in beauty and health, including softening hair and reducing split ends.
Studies on lavender oil for hair growth show promising results. Both animal and human trials have found increased hair growth rates and overall hair volume. These findings suggest lavender oil may be helpful for hair thinning and pattern baldness. While human research is ongoing, many lavender hair products are already available.
Beyond Growth: Lavender’s Scalp Benefits
Research also reveals lavender oil’s anti-microbial properties, helping fight bacteria and fungi on the scalp. Additionally, lavender has been used for centuries to treat skin inflammation. Studies confirm its effectiveness for scalp issues, including dryness and itchiness, by reducing inflammation and promoting faster healing.
In Summary:
- Lavender oil promotes thicker, faster hair growth.
- It softens hair and reduces split ends.
- Lavender’s anti-microbial properties benefit scalp health.
- The oil’s anti-inflammatory properties can help with dry and itchy scalp.
Unlock the potential of your hair with lavender! Lavender for Soft and Luscious Hair. Visit our Shop to find luxurious lavender body and skin care products. Follow our Blog for more insight into the power of lavender.
