Articles & Resources

Intent Essential Oil Blend An essential oil blend to help you to focus & reinforce new habits Add the following essential oils to your aromatherapy diffuser Ingredients: 2 drops Juniperberry Essential Oil 1 drop Rosemary Essential Oil 1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil 1 drop Patchouli Essential Oil DIY -Intent Pulse Point Potion Alternatively - to make a convenient pulse point potion Mix 10 drops Juniperberry Essential Oil 5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil 5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil 5 drops Patchouli Essential Oil with 10 ml Jojoba Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil Method: Mix all ingredients in a roller ball bottle. Replace roller ball and cap Use as required. For more great info on how to retrain your brain using this and other essential oil blends, including moon haven's pulse point potions ...Check out the Blog post "How to Retain Your Brain Using Scent" Leonie Gully- Moon Haven's Aromatherapist Glass RollerBall Bottles 5 x 10ml Pack Juniperberry Essential Oil Rosemary Oil Peppermint Essential Oil Patchouli Essential Oil Jojoba Oil CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Re-train Your Brain with Scent If you are like me- breaking old habits and adopting new ones can be so very difficult to do. In fact, it almost feels impossible. So when it comes to forming new habits I'll take every bit of help I can get. This is where using our sense of smell to anchor and reinforce our new behaviour patterns can really make all the difference. Use scent to make adopting new habits easier You see, our sense of smell is our most powerful sense for triggering memory. And we can use this fact to build and reinforce good habits What the Science Says Psychologists at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK found that smelling and associating a strong odour with a positive activity not only helped to reinforce the positive behaviour in their subjects, but also assisted with improving their performance and motivation over time. The Scent - Memory Connection You see, scent signals go directly to the memory part of the brain - the limbic system and are not subject to being processed by the thalamus and then the cerebal cortex - (our interpretation, thinking part of the brain) like our other senses. Easily Adopt New Habits - Re-Train Your Brain At moon haven we decided to take advantage of this direct scent- memory connection to make adopting new habits so much easier. We developed our Scent Reinforcement Technique (SRT) using these scientific principles - and we found that it works! Moon Haven's Scent Reinforcement Technique Here are the steps: Choose the habit you intend to change or adopt. Select a unique essential oil or essential oil blend that you wan to associate with the new habit. Make a pulse point potion with the unique essential oil scent - make sure you label to bottle Apply the scent to temples and jaw line to positively reinforce the new behaviour when you do it Apply the scent every time you perform the new habit so that the scent association is embedded in the limbic system (memory centre) in your brain. It usually takes 21 to 28 days to create a habit...so program yourself to do this new thing every day for 28 days. Keep the scent combination only for that particular task - you want to associate that scent with the new habit only Ensure that you also have a different scent to embed a scent association to reinforce times of rest and relaxation How I Used MH's Scent Reinforcement Technique I needed to adopt an exercise routine that suited me You know how it goes... it's New Years and you know you need to up the regular exercise if you want to get fit this year. Well this is me this year! I'm in my early 60's. I carry a bit of extra weight and I am certainly unfit. With all of this in mind I know that a simple 30 minute walk each day will do me the world of good. Using the technique Going through the steps above this is what I chose to do: Identify the habit: So the habit I wanted to develop was the habit of going for a fast 30 minute walk every day . I'd be happy with 5 days out of 7. (I can change the activity and intensity as my fitness level improves.) Choose an essential oil or blend to associate with this habit - I wanted to feel invigorated and motivated to move so I chose Eucalyptus radiata essential oil as the scent i wanted to hang my exercise habit on . For me Eucalyptus essential Oil is uplifting, invigorating and reminds me of long walks in the bush. Make a Pulse Point Roll On: I made a pulse point roll on with 2 ml of Eucalyptus radiata oil and 8 ml of fractionated coconut oil to use for this habit. I call it my "get up and go" roll on. Choose the time and place : I decided to walk in the late afternoons in summer when its cooler and placed the reminder in my calendar. 5. Apply the Pulse Point: A couple of minutes before my walk I apply the pulse point blend to my temples and jaw line. 6. I take a few moments to breathe in the uplifting invigorating scents of Eucalyptus oil, focussing my mind on what I'll know will be an incredible walk. 7. Then for the next few minutes I get ready to go for my walk - put on shoes, grab my hat and water bottle - all the time telling myself that this is moving me towards becoming fitter and healthier. 8. Then as I am about to walk out the door I re-apply a little of the pulse point blend to boost the scent . 9. I love breathing the scent in deeply as I go on my walk. NOTES: To help reinforce this habit I try to go for my walk at the same time each day. For me that is in the late afternoon in Summer when the air is cool but its still light outside. I set a reminder a few minutes in advance so I can prepare and get my mind in the right zone. I make sure my walking gear is in one place and easy to get to. Lastly, I don't beat myself up mentally if I miss a day. I appreciate that new habits take time to become habitual. I've given myself 4 weeks to make this new habit routine. I'd love to hear how you get on. Warmest regards Leonie of moon haven References: Chem Senses. 2008 Jan;33(1):65-71. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjm063. Epub 2007 Sep 10. "Olfactory conditioning of positive performance in humans" Simon Chu International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis -Volume 57, 2009 - Issue 2:184-197 doi.org/10.1080/00207140802665450 Epub: 2010 Oct 27 "Hypnotherapeutic Olfactory Conditioning (HOC): Case Studies of Needle Phobia, Panic Disorder, and Combat-Induced PTSD" Eitan G. Abramowitz & Pesach Lichtenberg Fractionated Coconut Oil 100mlWonderful skin and hair moisturiser Pulse Point Potion - Relax 5.0 Pulse Point Potion - Focus 5.0 Pulse Point Potion Selection Pack 5.0 Eucalyptus Australiana Essential Oil 5.0 Glass RollerBall Bottles 5 x 10ml Pack 5.0 Jojoba Oil 5.0 Aromatherapy Starter Kit 5.0 CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Oils Ain’t Oils – Pure and Standardised  Essential Oils Oils Ain't Oils! I love it when we get a question! We received an email from Maria asking: “What are the different grades of essential oils?” You see Maria is as confused as almost every other person we talk to about aromatherapy and the quality of the oils that they buy and use. Pure Essential oils are not classified into grades or qualities.  When extracted and handled correctly they are just as nature intended them to be. To clarify – A pure, natural essential oil is just that…the extract of the volatile, aromatic compounds from botanical material by any  of a variety of extraction methods and processes. The differences arise when we talk about how the oil is handled and formulated after extraction. There are two distinctly different types of essential oils on the market today. Pure Standardised Essentil Oil Purity and Standardisation Pure Essential Oils A pure, natural essential oil is an oil that is extracted from one species of plant from one specific geographical area.  The aroma profile for these oils will vary slightly from season to season and from geographical location to geographical location.  For example the lavender essential oil we sell at Moon Haven is a high altitude lavender grown and distilled in the mountains of France and we feel this is the best quality oil with the most appropriate and consistent scent profile of the plant Lavendula angustifolia. Of course natural, non-standardised oils are what most aromatherapists use in their clinical practice At Moon Haven our Aromatherapy and Essential Oils sold through our cottage and online webstore are all Pure, Natural Essential oils Standardised Oils Many essential oils on the market are Standardised to a certain aromatic profile (scent) to ensure consistency and reliability.  In itself this is not a bad thing… it is just different and the essential oils produced through these methods can be successfully used for specific purposes . To give you an example the perfume industry requires a standardised scent profile for most of the oils that it uses so that the perfume that they manufacture has a reliable scent.  So  the oils supplied to the perfume industry are usually standardised accordingly. Lavender 40/42 is  where two of the main constituents in lavender oil, linalool and linalyl acetate, are added to the oil to make up 40/42% of the oil. There are several ways that an oil can be standardised through blending different components . They can be: Origin blend -Blending oil from the same species of plant from different geographical locations Natural Blend – Using the majority of oil from the named species of oil usually above 90% with added natural extractions from other oils to boost the scent profile to reflect the standardised specification. Commercial Blend – this is an oil produced by using around 20% of the named species of plant and adding in natural extractions from other essential oils to meet the standardised oil profile requirements. At Moon Haven we may use these oils in our soap where the strong alkalis used can obliterate the subtle differences and attribute of a Natural or Origin Blend. Commercial Oils – these are oils that are typically made from 100% synthetic ingredients and we only use these type of oils in our fragrant oil soaps…not our essential oil soaps and certainly not in our essential oil based skin care. Of course natural, non-standardised oils are what most aromatherapists use in their clinical practice. They are neither standardised or predictable and just like a wine vintage will vary from season to season.  To us here at Moon Haven that is one of the most wonderful aspects of working with our truly Pure and Natural essential oils – you just never know what exquisite oil you will encounter next. This article was written by Moon Haven’s aromatherapist and founder Leonie Gully and as such represents her personal opinion on the given subject. Subscribe to the Moon Haven Newsletter where each month Leonie and the Moon Haven Team share articles just like this one plus fill you in on all the happenings at the Moon Haven Cottage. Subscribe to the Moon Haven  newsletter at moonhaven.com.au Leonie loves to receive your emails, questions and requests for information .  Just email her at info@moonhaven.com.au Leonie Gully- Moon Haven's Aromatherapist While any advice provided is general in nature, it is not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you are at all concerned about your condition, it is important that you do consult your medical practitioner of choice for an individual consultation and treatment plan. CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Moon Haven's founder Leonie Gully was recently honoured to be asked to share her love of healing herbs with the wonderful Steve Wood of the @allthedirtpodcast ' podcast fame.

One of the keys to a more relaxed festive season is to choose to do only that which makes you happy.  Which promotes your own enjoyment of the season and those that you love. Over-committing at this time of year, volunteering for time consuming tasks and obligations, accepting every invitation and attending every event can be overwhelming and exhausting.

Place your orders before these dates to ensure delivery before Christmas.

Gift Giving at Christmas is meant to be  joyous ... isn't it? Yet giving the right gift to the right person can cause incredible stress and anxiety for everyone involved. Here are  strategies to help make this gifting season as stress free as possible...dare I say it could even be joyous!

Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally One of the most common issues we see at the moon haven cottage is our gorgeous moonies dealing with various chronic pain issues. Arthritic and body pain is debilitating.  The experience of chronic pain can control your life. So many sufferers of chronic pain have found that gathering together a personal " toolbox' of pain managing techniques helps them take back a little of that control.  In fact, it was the chronic pain of fibromyalgia that motivated Leonie to develop our now famous St John’s Wort & Calendula Rub (SJWAC).  And it was from this wonderful salve that moon haven was born. Arthritis: Did you know that arthritis affects 1 in 7 Australians?  (ref https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/).  While there are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common forms are" Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout are the most common forms Pain from Arthritis can be caused by: Inflammation Damage to the joints Muscle tension and spasms from the body trying to protect the joint form injury Also , how we experience pain is influenced by a number of factors.  Stress, anxiety, fatigue and depression each play a part in your sensitivity to pain episodes. So it makes sense to find ways to mange these factors to help diminish pain. Managing Arthritis Pain Managing and minimising the pain from arthritis requires a multi-faceted approach.  There are a number of practical, medical and lifestyle changes that if adopted can radically improve your experience. Importantly-  follow your chosen health practitioner's advice: At moon haven we believe in an integrated medicine approach to managing our health.  This approach  combines the best of  modern medicine alongside the most suitable complimentary health practices for each person and situation.  It  is so important to follow the advice of your chosen health practitioner- especially when it comes to using prescribed, recommended medicines, lifestyle and activity suggestions etc..   Naturally reducing your pain: There are a number of ways to reduce your pain levels and increase mobility these include: Exercise Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet Add Turmeric and Curcumin to your diet Use heat and cold  Massage regularly Adopt stress reduction techniques Use Moon Haven's St John's Wort Rub + Achy Breaky Essential Oil Blend Booster Exercise: It has been found the simple, regular, low impact exercise can be very helpful in managing arthritic pain. Everything from gentle stretching, low impact pilates, yoga, walking and swimming can all be beneficial.   Not only does exercise help to stretch and strengthen muscles that support your joints but it also helps to reduce stress and improves sleep.   Adopt the Anti-inflammatory Mediterranean Diet: Choose a balanced diet that cuts out processed products and boosts your intake of whole, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich foods. Food to avoid or minimise include sugary foods and beverages, processed meat, alcohol, and foods high in refined carbs and unhealthy fats. To help reduce inflammation in the body it is important to mainly eat unprocessed, high fibre, antioxidant  and nutrient rich foods like vegetables and fruits, fish, high fat natural oils like avocado and olive, seeds and nuts etc. In fact one of the best anti-inflammatory diets to follow is the Mediterranean diet (download this very helpful Mediterranean diet fact sheet and guide from the Queensland Dept of Health website). Add Turmeric (with black pepper) to your diet: I can personally attest to the benefits of adding turmeric to your diet to help combat the pain of arthritis. You see Turmeric contains the anti-inflammatory compound curcumin which helps to reduce inflammation in the body.  I add black peppercorns to help the curcumin be better absorbed into my body. (it's the piperine in the black pepper that increases the bioavailability of the curcumin 2000 times!) There are many ways to include turmeric into your diet.  Perhaps the easiest is to make a turmeric rich drink.  Turmeric lattes, turmeric rich juices and smoothies. When going through a pain relapse I make a turmeric-black pepper enhanced smoothie each morning... usually with banana, apple, linseed and lots of ice! You see Turmeric contains the anti-inflammatory compound curcumin which helps to reduce inflammation in the body.  I add black peppercorns to help the curcumin be better absorbed into my body. (it's the piperine in the black pepper that increases the bioavailability of the curcumin 2000 times!) My morning anti-inflammatory smoothie recipe is as follows -  In a blender combine  1 banana 1 chopped apple 1 tablespoon turmeric powder 5 black peppercorns 1 tablespoon linseeds 200ml juice of choice ( i often use apple) - or milk if you prefer Ice blocks to suit you taste (this is wonderful served icy cold). Heat & Cold: I use heat to help soothe painful joints and muscles and cold to help reduce inflammation. Heat assists with relaxing muscles and assists with increasing circulation.  I find hot showers, warm baths, wheat bags and hot water bottles fantastic to help soothe and reduce arthritic pain.  With inflamed joints while I can't make myself have an ice bath :)  - but an ice pack applied to a painful joint can be very effective in helping to numb the area and reduce swelling. Massage: Regular massage can hep with reducing pain and increase the mobility of painful joints as well as being relaxing and helpful in reduce in stress. Whole body massage with a qualified massage therapist is wonderful but daily self massage of inflamed joints can be very helpful. (Of course we recommend you massage sore joints and muscles with our St John's Wort & Calendula Rub) Relaxation, Meditation, Reducing Stress: Learning and using relaxation, meditation and stress reducing techniques can help you manage your pain. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, and sequential muscle relaxation are wonderful tools to use when dealing with chronic pain.   One of my preferred techniques it to listen to a simple guided meditation to help me slow my breathing and progressively relax my muscles and in turn my muscles. St John's Wort & Calendula Rub: Of course Moon Haven makes a wonderful natural herbal salve that we use to help with arthritis, joint and muscle pain. Our founder, Leonie, first made our very popular St John's Wort & Calendula Rub to help her with her own muscle and joint pain caused by Fibromyalgia. Gently massaging in a small amount to the affected areas as well as the area of the spine that 'control' that area can be very helpful in temporarily reducing your pain . Combined with our Achy Breaky Essential Oil Blend you can boost the relief  for nasty stubborn pain too! Achy Breaky Duo Soothe your body pain St John's Wort & Calendula Rub Soothe muscles & joints - naturally Achy Breaky Essential Oil Blend our SJWAC Booster Choose what works for you So please  do look through this list and find the techniques and approaches that work for you. Most importantly - Use them! I hope this information is helpful and wish you well on your journey. Warmest regards, Leonie - moonhaven's aromatherapist, founder & creator of good things CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Bathe Your Stress Away We've all been there - when we're stressed out - at the end of our tether - wound up like a spring that's about to break. First -  Burn Off Your Pent Up Energy The best thing we can do is to get out let off a bit of steam, run, walk,  hit a ball against a wall and get the physical build up of energy out of our system. Then- Bathe Your Stress Away Follow up with a long soak in a warm, relaxing bath with a tailor made blend of essential oils to help remove the remaining tension in  your mind and  body.This is where the amazing properties of Ylang-Ylang, Frankincense and Sweet Orange Essential Oils can really make a difference and help you to completely relax and leave the tensions of the day behind. Stress Away Blend Bath Blend Mix together : 2 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil 3 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil with 5 ml Solubiliser Add to a comfortably warm bath and take a long hot soak.  Better still - play relaxing background music, light a few candles and invite your partner to join you.                        

These Scented Drawer Liners are so easy to make and are fantastic gifts for almost everyone.   Why not make a set for a teenagers sports sock drawer (phewww) the linen closet to scent your sheets and towels or the classic scented drawer liner for underwear, negligees and lacy bits?

Is you skin looking a little dry, dull and is in need of a boost? Then this MIY (Make It Yourself) moisturising and gently exfoliating mask will help restore you skin to its full wonder.

What is your Skin Type? Take our Skin-Type Test What is Your Skin Type? It’s confusing, right?  Choosing the right skin care starts with knowing your skin type. Sounds simple? And it is…  if you know how to determine what skin classification you fall into. And that’s where its easy to get a little lost. There is just so much advice and so many opinions out there, it’s easy to become confused and uncertain. That’s why we’ve put together this simple “how to guide “ helping you to identify where you stand in the skin care stakes.  By breaking it down into simple categories and steps you’ll have your skin care type identified.  From there your skincare system choices are straightforward. Did you know that there are only 3 different skin types? Despite what the so called experts, influencers and sellers of cosmetics may try and tell you  - there are only 3 true skin types – Dry, Oily and Combination. Acne, sensitivity and hormonal breakouts do not determine your skin type. Conditions like acne, rosacea, hormonal breakouts and sensitivity  are issues that can happen to any skin .  These conditions can come and go no matter what type of skin you have.  (If you suffer from any of these issues -jump into chat with us or leave a message and we can talk you through how to deal with them effectively and easily.) Take the Skin-Type Test Now that we know that there are only three skin types it’s a fairly easy process to decide which type you have.  Of course your skin classification can change over time.  Most skin tends to dry out as we age .  So don’t be surprised if you find that your once oily or combination skin changes to dry as you mature. 1. Wash Your Face To start, wash your face with a gentle milk cleanser – (something like our Herbal  Cleansing Milk with Rose Geranium)  then gently pat it dry. Note do not use a foaming facial wash or anything  that creates bubbles on the face as these will artificially dry your skin and likely give you a false result. 2. Wait 30 minutes After 30 minutes look at your skin in the mirror under good lighting. Note how your skin looks, as well as how it feels. 3. Evaluate the Results  Now lets looks at the different skin types and see where you fit in. Dry, Dull Looking Skin? If your skin looks dull – feels dry – even tight in places, then you more than likely have dry skin Shiny All Over? If your skin looks shiny all over and feels comfortable without any areas that feel tight or look dull, then you more than likely have oily skin. Dry Cheeks with a Shiny T-Zone? If your cheeks look and feel dry and your T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin) are tending towards shiny/oily then you more than likely have what we would call combination skin. CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

What Combination Skin Looks Like: Combination skin is skin that consistently has both dry and oily areas. Often this means that your cheeks are look dry/dull/flaky with fine pores and you have an oily T-zone ... i.e you have a shiny forehead, nose and chin where the pores are larger.  What Combination Skin Feels Like: While your cheeks may feel tight, warm ad dry your forehead, nose and or cheeks will feel a little slick, greasy even oily. What Causes Combination Skin? Combination skin is just that ... two types of skin in the one face. We often see people with combination skin when they are transitioning from oily to dry skin.  This especially occurs after a change in hormones.  Eg Puberty, pregnancy, starting or stopping oral contraceptives (The Pill) and menopause.   How To Care For Combination Skin: Jut because you have combination skin doesn't mean that you have two completely different sets of skincare to separately care for the dry and oily areas of your skin' Cleanse and Exfoliate Gently: No matter you skin type gentle cleansing is all that is required so please throw out any harsh bubble forming cleansers as well as drying alcohol based toners. Using a mild but effective cleansers and hydrating toners is so very important - see below for our recommendations Because your skin has oil laden areas  as well as dry patches you will want to keep any exfoliation to a minimum.  The last thing you need is to overstimulate the oil and distress the dry patches. A gentle exfoliator like our Moisturising Facial Scrub is ideal for use with combination skin. Moisturise Lightly:  Moisturising your skin is a little trickier when you have combination skin. Your oily areas need only light moisturisation while your drier areas may need a little more attention. For many people with combination skin they will get away with using a light moisturiser for the whole face - just applying a little more to the drier areas. As their skin tends towards the dry they will then move through to using a moisturiser for drier skin and applying less to the oil t zone.    Recommendations Moisturisation: Nature's Own Moisture Lotion for oiler skin Moisture Cream with Bergamot for drier skin  Ultra Night Cream with Honey & Rosewood for night time 2 or 3 times a week. Eye Cream with Calendula for every day care Cleansing Herbal Cleansing gel with Bergamot Pick Me Ups & Treatments Bergamot Facial Mist - use anytime throughout the day to boost humidity and uplift your mood Facial Clay Mask Powder with Sandalwood & Oats - A once a week treat to help refine and tighten skin Moisturising Facial Scrub with Organic Clays - Use once or twice a week to keep your skin looking vital and youthful  

Oily skin is just that - oily! Your face is almost always shiny, especially around the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). You'll have visible, enlarged pores particularly around your nose and may be prone to blemishes. 

Healthy skin is kept supple , lubricated and maintains a protective barrier  by producing natural oils called sebum in the skin’s sebaceous glands.  As we age these sebaceous glands gradually reduce their production of this skin nurturing oil.  This leads to drier skin, fine lines and more sensitisation.

Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Essential Oils Safely on Your Skin Using essential oils on your skin effectively and safely isn’t difficult but it can be a little confusing. So we've put together this handy guide to using essential oils on your body. Never use undiluted essential oil on your skin First things first - ALWAYS dilute essential oils when applying them to your skin or scalp.  Undiluted essential oil on the skin can potentially cause sensitisation and severe skin reactions in susceptible people. I have known of clients who have splashed lavender essential oil around like it was a cologne only to find that at some point in time their skin starts to react, becoming sensitized or developing eczema like rashes. I have a personal theory that we all have a lifetime limit or threshold for different substances in our lives.  Once that limit has been reached then sensitisation occurs on every subsequent exposure. Download Your Essential Oil Dilution Guide For this reason I prefer to err on the side of caution and recommend that essential oils are diluted when applied to the skin. We have written a simple essential oil dilution guide for skin applications.  Click here to get your copy Warmest regards, Leonie - moonhaven's aromatherapist, founder & creator of good things CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

10 Top Essential Oils for Women Supporting women's life journey through the use of essential oils I am constantly amazed at how essential oils can support every one of us as we progress through life. Traditionally the following oils have been used to help women on a daily basis as they face life's ups and downs: Clary Sage Essential Oil Clary sage has long been a favourite when dealing with women’s issues. Not only has it been traditionally used for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, it’s also wonderful for a number of women’s health issues. It’s even considered by some to be an aphrodisiac. Lemon Essential Oil This sunny energising oil is wonderful to help with uplifting the mood and adding a little boost to energy levels. Peppermint Essential Oil Cooling effects soothe the digestive tract, helps eliminate sensations of nausea, provides a natural energy boost, relaxes muscles, relieves headaches, helps with acne, reduces bloating, and eliminates bad breath. Rose Absolute - 3% in Jojoba Oil Mood uplifter, promotes self-love and self-care, soothing, good for skin health, balances hormones, and increases sex drive. Lavender Essential Oil Promotes relaxation and sound sleep, reduces anxiety, good for skin health (acne and wounds), alleviates headaches, and improves mood. Rose Geranium Pure Essential Oil Reduces inflammation, reduces anxiety, balances hormones, increases energy, and lifts mood. Bergamot Essential Oil Improves circulation, increases energy, relieves depression, balances hormones, reduces pain and headaches, helps with insomnia, and aids healthy digestion. Frankincense Essential Oil Helps the body deal with stress and anxiety, reduces pain and inflammation, and helps with acne. Also a powerful energy + space protector. Sweet Orange Essential Oil Helps relieve motion sickness, anti-inflammatory, and anti-depressant. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Helps with increasing libido, lowering stress levels, lifting mood and can assist with lowering high blood pressure. 10 Top Essential Oils Clary Sage Essential Oil Lemon Essential Oil Peppermint Essential Oil Rose Absolute - 3% in Jojoba Oil Lavender Essential Oil Rose Geranium Essential Oil Bergamot Essential Oil Frankincense Essential Oil Sweet Orange Essential Oil Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Feminine Balance Trio Essential Oil Pack With all these beautiful oils to choose from we decided that three oils were the must haves for Feminine Balance. Clary Sage was always going to be the hero of our balance trio.   After all it is the "goto" women's essential oil - noted for its hormonal regulating and emotional balancing properties. Admittedly it can be a bit overwhelming when diffused on its own - I always prefer it in a blend.  That's why we added in our 2 most feminine and floral oils  - Ylang Ylang and Rose Absolute  - 3% dilution. Clary Sage can be combined with either oil or both.   Play with the proportions, add in a little Lavender Essential oil to meld the scents together or add a citrus to lighten the mood. The opportunities to create your own personal balancing blend that suits just you, are endless. Together these 3 oils pack a powerful punch.  Play with the proportions, add in a little Lavender Essential oil to meld the scents together or add a citrus to lighten the mood. The opportunities to create your own personal balancing blend that suits just you, are endless. Together these 3 oils pack a powerful punch. Warmest regards, Leonie - moonhaven's aromatherapist, founder & creator of good things CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar Every household could do with a jar of this amazing all purpose herbal ointment created and made right here at moon haven for 20 plus years.. Many of our moonies have called it a "First Aid Kit in a Jar" and their kids call it "Magic Cream" it's that good. It's fantastic for all of life's little boos boos.  Small cuts, nicks, insect bites even for rashes, colds sores and spots. When my boys were little and getting into all sorts of strife the jar of universal was always on hand... I even carried mine in my handbag for all those little emergencies. Now that I am often out and about camping in the wonderful wild world of the Australian outback a jar of universal can be found in my car, the van and my back pack.. It's that good. We make it by infusing 12 wonderfully helpful herbs in quality sunflower oil and then add 8 essential oils with beautiful organic beeswax, a little lanolin to help with stickiness and voila we have our first aid kit all bundled up in a convenient 30ml jar.   Just remember - A little goes a long, long way. This little pot of healing herbs and essential oils can help with all sorts of skin issues. Just apply a tiny amount to the affected area and gentle smoothed into your skin. We suggest even half a grain of rice worth may be all you need! Apply as needed.   P.S. If you find that the ointment stings then dilute down with any regular cooking oil. Universal Herbal Ointment A soothing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral healing salve for life's bumps and bites helps calm and soothe: -insect bites, cold sores, cuts, small burns, ulcers, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, chapped lips.. and so much more A soothing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral healing salve for life's bumps and bites helps calm and soothe: -insect bites, cold sores, cuts, small burns, ulcers, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, chapped lips.. and so much more Warmest regards, Leonie - moonhaven's aromatherapist, founder & creator of good things CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

10 Ways to Use Thieves Oil Blend DIY Thieves Oil Recipes and Uses So you’ve heard about the power of essential oils to do everything from helping to clear and clean spaces to deterring silverfish. Friends have swapped stories of how a single blend of oils has been so effective that they’ll use nothing else when it comes to disinfecting their home and protecting their family. More than likely they are referring to an extremely potent blend of essential oils commonly referred to as Thieves Oil. The Origins of Thieves Oil In medieval times, during outbreaks of the black plague…you know the one where you caught a cold and then the chills and fever set in, your lymph nodes enlarged, then burst and finally your fingers and toes turned black with gangrene. You were usually dead with 2 to 7 days of catching it! In the 1300’s the Black Plague decimated Europe, killing up to 60% of the population. With those sorts of statistics you can understand why the plague has been so greatly feared throughout the ages. 4 Thieves Vinegar was believed to protect users from the Black Death Four Thieves Vinegar Back in the time of the Black Death (also known as bubonic plague) when not much was known about its origins and how to combat it,  there was a much praised concoction,  of herbs seeped in vinegar that was said to protect you from contracting this deadly infection. There were a variety of recipes for this apparent miracle protector.  They included herbs like rosemary, wormwood, rosemary, sage, lavender, camphor and of course garlic. The story goes that four thieves created the initial formula to ward off the plague when they robbed the  dying and the dead.  That is why it was widely know as 4 Thieves Vinegar. Thieves Oil Blend Fast forward to the present time and the modern day  version of  four thieves vinegar has become Thieves Essential Oil Blend – and like in times of old, there are numerous recipes and formulations out there to choose from. Moon Haven’s Thieves Blend Oil – A Powerhouse of 6 Essential Oils Our essential oil version of the  4 Thieves Vinegar  actually contains 6 incredibly talented essential oils. We formulated this powerhouse blend with essential oils known for their strong anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and  immunity boosting properties. It is extremely useful around the house and even carried with you for those emergency situations. Thieves Essential Oil Blend DEFEND AND PROTECT Your Price: : 100% NO-RISK MONEY BACK GUARANTEE DIY Thieves Oil Recipe Of course if you would like to make your own blend, here is a simple 5 oil blend that you can make at home Ingredients: 10 drops Cinnamon Bark Oil 10 drops Clove Bud Oil 5 drops Lemon Oil 5 drops Eucalyptus Australiana Oil 5 drops Rosemary Oil Mix together and keep in a well labelled, dark glass bottle away from heat and light. All Purpose Surface Spray: Mix 10 drops of Thieves Oil Blend with a drop of washing detergent. Add to 100 ml of distilled water and place in a spray bottle Shake well before use. Massage Oil Dilute 4 drops of Thieves Oil Blend in 20 ml of your carrier oil of choice ( sunflower, grapeseed, rice bran, almond, macadamia etc) 10 Ways to use your Thieves Oil Blend   Spray on pet’s beds to help reduce pet odours   Use as a room spray to freshen stale air   Keep a small bottle of the diluted spray in your handbag and spray on shopping trolley handles… have you seen the reports on the germs that grow on those things?   Apply a light spray to bed linens when travelling to help with keeping bed bugs at bay   Use the spray to wipe down phones and other equipment we place near our face and hands. It’s best to spray a clean cloth first then use the cloth to wipe down the appliance   Use as a toilet deodoriser   The spray is a  simple antibacterial solution for cleaning bathroom surfaces   Use the massage oil when you begin to feel unwell nauseas or  heady   Massage a little of the massage oil into feet after a long day to relax and restore your energy   Use undiluted on plantar warts on the feet.  (Important – see Caution and instructions  below) Caution: Do not use undiluted on skin except in the following circumstance: You can apply 1 undiluted drop to plantar warts.  Apply only on the wart itself and not the skin around it. You may have to do this every day for 3 to 4 weeks but they will eventually begin to shrink and die! Continue the application until the last of the wart has disappeared. I hope that you do get t play with this wonderful essential oil blend… and of course if you have any questions don’t hesitate to email or call us on 1800 005 059. We recommend these.. Thieves Essential Oil Blend Defend and protect Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil Christmas spice Clove Bud Essential Oil Spice energy Lemon Essential Oil Bottled sunshine Eucalyptus Australiana Essential Oil The gentle eucalyptus for all the family Rosemary Essential Oil Oil of remembrance Sweet Almond Oil This article was written by Moon Haven’s aromatherapist and founder Leonie Gully and as such represents her personal opinion on the given subject. Subscribe to the Moon Haven Newsletter where each month Leonie and the Moon Haven Team share articles just like this one plus fill you in on all the happenings at the Moon Haven Cottage. Subscribe to the Moon Haven  newsletter at moonhaven.com.au Leonie loves to receive your emails, questions and requests for information .  Just email her at info@moonhaven.com.au Leonie Gully- Moon Haven's Aromatherapist While any advice provided is general in nature, it is not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment.  If you are at all concerned about your condition, it is important that you do consult your medical practitioner of choice for an individual consultation and treatment plan. CHECK OUT OUR MOST POPULAR CONTENT What is your Skin Type? Take Our Skin-Type Test Get a Good Night's Sleep - Naturally 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Your Face Essential Oil Dilutions - How to Use Oils Safely on Your Skin 10 Top Essential Oils for Women Dealing with Arthritis & Body Pain - Naturally Universal Herbal Ointment - Our First Aid Kit in a Jar The Moon Haven Story Get offers, sales and all the latest from moon haven in your inbox Join The MoonHaven Family Do you have a question? ... Want to know more? Just click the "Chat with us" button in the right hand corner of this page to ask a question or get more information - if we're logged in you may even get an answer straight away...otherwise we'll get back to you as soon as we are back online.. Always seek qualified medical advice regarding your own individual situation Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

Watch this video to learn our simple but effective method for creating an essential oil blend using our "3 Oil Blend worksheet "using the Nose Knows method No need to learn complicated formulas or learn the properties of oils ...just follow your nose.