With summer well under way, ease sunburn and create beach hair with DIY beauty recipes from superfoods brand, Nutiva.
After spending a day in the sun, soothe skin with Nutiva’s After-Sun Calming Balm, which combinesNutiva’s Extra Virgin Coconut Oil with shea butter, calendula, aloe and lavender. Or create coveted beach waves without ever leaving home by mixing Nutiva’s Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil with sea salt and rosemary essential oil for an Ocean Hair Spray that’s both texturizing and nourishing.
Ocean Hair Spray
Use this ocean-in-a-bottle spray for gorgeous beach hair. Salt water provides texture and coconut oil provides moisture and nourishment for dry hair.
Ingredients:
3 tsp Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil
4oz Purified Water, warm
3 tsp Sea Salt
4 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
Directions:
1. Put coconut oil in an 8 oz canning jar and place in a pan filled with several inches of water. Melt the coconut oil over low heat.
2. Meanwhile, fill an 8 oz spray bottle about ¾ full with warm, purified water and add the sea salt. Stir until the sea salt is dissolve in the water.
3. Use a funnel to add the coconut oil and essential oil to the spray bottle.
4. Shake the bottle to incorporate. Then fill to the top with purified water.
Yields 8 oz. Sometimes the oil solidifies. If this happens, run the bottle under hot water and it will melt. Shake the product and it’s ready to use.
To use: Shake the bottle and spray 2-5 pumps on damp hair. Try different amounts to see what works best for your hair.
After-Sun Calming Balm
A soothing blend of coconut oil, shea butter, calendula, aloe and lavender to calm the skin after time in the sun. Shea Butter is available at most natural foods stores. We like Everyday Shea by Alaffia.
Ingredients:
6 Tbsp Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Shea Butter
1/4 cup Aloe
2 Tbsp Calendula Oil (like the one by Herb Pharm)
1 tsp Vitamin E oil
25-60 drops *Lavender Essential Oil
*Lavender is well known for its skin healing properties and is especially soothing for burns. Be sure to use lavender and not lavendin, which can actually cause more inflammation.
Directions:
1. In a double boiler over low heat, gently warm the coconut oil and shea butter. Be careful not to melt the oil and butter – heat just enough to blend easily. Once incorporated, transfer the oil and butter mixture to a bowl.
2. Using an electric mixer, blend the coconut oil and shea butter mixture on low to medium speed until well incorporated, 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and avoid having clumps in the final product.
3. Add calendula, aloe vera and vitamin E oil. Blend for 3 to 5 minutes until thick and creamy.
4. Add essential oil and blend to incorporate.
Yields 8oz. Transfer to a container like a wide-mouth canning jar for easy scooping. Keep out of direct sun as the oils and butter will separate if melted.
About Essential Oils:
• Essential oils are powerful. Be careful not to use more than called for as doing so can cause irritation to sensitive skin.
• Essential oils often have a specific purpose. Different scents can be soothing, invigorating or calming. If you wish, you can substitute different oils in these recipes to achieve a particular effect.
• You can find essential oils online or at natural foods stores. We like doTERRA, Mountain Rose Herbs, and Aura Cacia.
Tips & Tricks:
• Coconut oil melts at warm temperatures; we recommend that you do not place these products in direct sunlight or leave them in your car.
• If you enjoy the scent of coconut, we suggest you use Nutiva Organic Virgin coconut oil. If you want the nourishing benefits of coconut oil without the coconut scent, use Nutiva Organic Refined coconut oil (available at Whole Foods Market starting June 2014).
