Empowered Wellness

I've been using essential oils for several years now and have never made myself, at home, a truly "luxe" beauty serum. I've used frankincense + lavender before (these come in the popular starter kit), and I've added drops of frankincense to my existing moisturizer. I've also acquired a pre-made rose essential oils serum which is totally divine! If you have only ONE oil to choose from for a serum, use rose! I'm forty so of course beauty regimens take a greater priority these days. The easier the routine, the better! So, I did a little research in my essential oils reference guide and came up with this list of oils I have on hand that are very beneficial for helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and for brightening the skin. This is not an exhaustive list but gives you an excellent starting point. Also, don't worry if you don't have all of these on hand. Feel free to experiment on your own and make adjustments. Remember, if you want to keep it...

Elderberry syrup can help the immune system halt enzymes that spread viruses in our body's cells! It can even decrease the severity of symptoms. I use 1 tablespoon a few times a week for "maintenance" and daily, several times a day if I have a cold or flu. Our children use 1 teaspoon. I researched a few recipes and determined that you can't go too wrong; it's pretty hard to mess it up! ;) You can prepare it on the stove or in a pressure cooker. I used an InstantPot so feel free to modify your process as necessary. Ingredients 2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces) 3 1/2 cups of water 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder 1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder Orange Vitality essential oil Thieves Vitality essential oil 1 cup raw honey (we get from our local bee farmer; leave out for children under age 1) Instructions Add elderberries, water, and all other ingredients except essential oils and honey...