My cracked heel problem is not the worn and weathered garden variety that a little moisturizer will fix – it's really bad. My pealing heels are practically a lethal weapon! Big chunks of dry skin peel off on a regular basis that I have to trim off every few days or they are so sharp they will cut my sheets and socks (or my skin if I happen to rub my heel against my leg). Then, and only then can I file them with a heavy-duty file (if no raw skin is exposed). Filing is not easy to do on heels this cracked, and I usually can't even do it.

Some years, my entire heal splits open in several places exposing raw skin and being excruciating to step on. Some years it's worse than others, but it never goes away.

So what have I done about it?

Lots and lots of things… with little success. None of the super-duper creams on the market have helped a bit, even the expensive creams made specially for this problem. I've tried applying jojoba, coconut and sesame oils straight, but they haven't managed to penetrate into the dead, thick skin on my heels.

In case it's a deeper health issue, I've done many types of cleanses, including colon cleanses, liver flushes, bentonite clay, mineral soaks, and the Master Cleanse (among others), and although these cleanses are very good to do, none of them affected my cracked heels in any way.

But this year I did something that worked much better. A friend of mine told me she uses Animal Scents Ointment for her dry, cracked heels and it works like nothing else.

Wait a minute – I thought Animal Scents Ointment was for animals!

Sure, but not exclusively. Turns out humans can use it, too. Why not? The ingredients are pure, healthy and include Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils.

Animal Scents™ Ointment was originally formulated as a natural salve to help animals heal from injuries, abrasions and cuts. But since humans are mammals, we qualify, don't we?

When you look at the list of ingredients, you can see what I mean:

Ingredients:

• Mink oil
• lecithin
• beeswax
• lanolin
• sesame seed oil
• rosewood† essential oil
• wheat germ oil
• palmarosa† essential oil
• geranium† essential oil
• patchouli† essential oil
• balsam fir† (Idaho) essential oil
• myrrh† essential oil
• carrot seed oil
• Melaleuca alternifoila† essential oil
• rose hip seed oil

† 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oil.

This impressive list of fine ingredients shouldn't be limited to our pets alone. After all, it's blended with Melaleuca alternifolia and myrrh, two of nature's most powerful essential oils, and many other wonderfully beneficial oils… like Mink oil, rosewood, palmarosa, geranium, patchouli, balsam, carrot seed and rose hip seed oils (all wonderful for skin).

Besides, Animal Scents Ointment contains:

• No mineral oil
• No synthetic perfumes or fragrances
• No artificial colorings
• No toxic ingredients

I love that all the ingredients are natural!

What the heck, I decided to give it a try.

I'm so glad I did. The results have been nothing short of miraculous. After just the first application, the cracks in my heels started healing up. After a few more applications, my heels softened and became smooth – something I never thought I'd live to see!

What helped even more was to put it on at night and cover my heals with a protective cover – a strip of plastic wrap around the heal and ankle creates a spa-type wrap that really helps penetration. It also keeps the ointment from being rubbed off on your sheets.

Now, my heals are doing soooo much better, that I forget to put the Animal Scents Ointment on half the time! What's amazing is that the softness remains, even if I forget to apply the ointment for a whole week.

A little goes a long way, but you can apply it generously if you need to – it's totally up to you (and your heels). This rich blend of ingredients is effective yet gentle and safe, so you can soothe your heels without using harmful chemicals or synthetic products.

Perfect!

Did I mention it has also worked miracles on dry hands, knees and elbows as well? My dry, cracked heels AND every other dry part of me is now soft and supple!

It's true. Lavender can help you be more beautiful!

Everyone knows that lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils. Not only does it have a beautiful aroma, but it also helps your body adapt to stress or imbalance.

For years, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has been used in lotions, skin creams, eye pillows, bath oils, balms, salves, perfumes, cosmetics, and topical applications. etc., not only to induce relaxation, but also as a beauty aid.

According to Wikipedia, the "Essential oil of lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties… Lavender oil heals acne when used diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions."

Why not try lavender to beautify your skin, add suppleness and a more youthful appearance? Try the following easy skin regimen and see what changes lavender can make for you!

Simple Lavender Face lift Procedure:

Before putting on any moisturizer in the morning, put a couple of drops of lavender essential oil on your fingertips and apply them directly to your face in outward circling motions. Make sure to avoid the area around your eyes.

Repeat daily for at least two weeks.

You'll love the improvement in your skin's appearance and elasticity!

More information on lavender essential oil…

Here is what one Young Living lavender user had to say about following this regimen herself:

“I have been using lavender full-strength on my face for the past two and a half weeks and have seen a marvelous change in my skin. I only do it once a day, usually in the morning. I apply the oil before I use any moisturizer. My pores are getting tighter and my wrinkles are diminishing. I can't wait to see what changes occur in a month or in a year! I love my YL essential oils now more than ever.”

— Mary Jane Cushing

The natural hot oil treatments mentioned in the previous post will not only help your damaged hair survive winter, but will also help it look beautiful and healthy in the spring. But there's more…

If you’re looking for additional cold weather hair protection, try incorporating the following tips into your daily hair care routine:

• Wash your hair with lukewarm water, not hot water. Hot water can strip your hair of moisture, and during the winter you need all the moisture you can get!
• Keep your blow dryer a foot away from your head when drying your hair. Most of us put the blow dryer as close as we can to wet hair when drying. This places the hair at the hottest point of the dryer and in strongest wind current – causing the most stress on the hair from high heat and dry wind. If you move the dryer further away, you can reduce the impact these harsh elements have on delicate hair. Surprisingly, it doesn't take hair any longer to dry.
• Air dry as often as possible. If it's warm inside and you don't have to go out, air drying is much easier on your hair than blow drying.

• If you use conditioner, use a quality conditioner. If you have dry hair to begin with you may want to look for a hair conditioner that is made for dry hair, such as Young Living’s Rosewood Moisturizing Conditioner. (Rosewood essential oil is restorative and helps hair and skin stay elastic.) Conditioner is usually not necessary for oily hair as it can weight it down too much.
• Use styling tools designed to lock in moisture. Using hair tools such as ionic hairdryers and ceramic-plated straighteners will style your hair without unduly drying it.
• Don’t go outside with wet hair. Exposing wet hair to cold winter weather runs the risk of your hair freezing, which leaves it prone to breaking and getting severely damaged.
• Use a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment at least once a week. Your hair needs this extra attention to help repair and undo winter damage. Check out the end of this post for some essential oil-enhanced recipes for home hair treatments!
• Protect your hair by wearing a hat or other head covering when outdoors … or wear your hair up as much as possible. Choose a hat or covering that will not flatten your hair completely, but one that will just cover up most of your hair. Fortunately, there are lots of attractive style choices that can make your hair covering stylish as well as functional. Wearing your hair back and up will also help reduce exposure to the cold. This doesn’t have to be just a boring ponytail. Experiment with cute updos or sleek chignons to help protect your hair – remember Michelle Obama's stunning updo. Try some large-sized hair clips that hold your hair up with one clip.
• Rub an unscented dryer sheet on your hair brushes and combs to minimize static electricity. Sounds silly, but it works. When the heat is on all winter and the house is closed up, static cling builds up and causes a huge problem for hair. This simple little trick will save you that highly undesirable frizz frenzy. But don't use scented dryer sheets – they are loaded with chemicals that can seep into your scalp and get into your brain.
• Use the right shampoo. Too many shampoos strip the hair of moisture and its natural elasticity and cause product buildup. Instead, try all-natural Rosewood Moisturizing Shampoo™ for damaged hair, which gently cleanses dry or damaged hair. The botanical herbal extracts, vitamins, and essential oils remove buildup from commercial hair products while supplementing moisture and maximizing body.
  
  

  Fine hair especially benefits from Lavender Volume All-Natural Shampoo™ which gently cleanses and volumizes fine hair while nourishing and restoring balance. The secret is in the lavender oil, long known for its ability to improve the appearance of hair and skin. Here it works its fragrant magic to enhance the natural beauty of your hair.

Oh, the damage indoor heating, hot hair dryers and cold, dry weather can inflict upon your hair!

Just when you need your hair looking it's best for all the parties and gatherings, it sticks out with extra frizz or hangs there dull and limp. Or gets so brittle it breaks off every time you comb it, or even stroke it.

Too bad we don't all have top stylists to whip our hair into shape. If you saw the TV special on Christmas with the Obamas, you were probably as impressed as I was with Michelle Obama's beautiful upswept style. Sheer elegance not seen since the days of classic Hollywood movie stars. From the screen, each strand of hair looked like silk!

Is there a way to get your hair looking like that in time for the holidays or at least the rest of the winter?

Well, I can't say for sure how quickly your hair will respond, but top quality essential oils have been used since the days of ancient Egypt to help protect and repair damaged hair. Notice I said "top quality" – those low cost oils you find at most health food stores won't do. They are full of thinners, fragrances and additives that will only damage your hair further. For best results, use only 100% Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils.

Once you have the right oils, here are a few essential oil-infused recipes to help you protect and repair your hair:

Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair

Ingredients:

* 1/2 c. organic almond or sunflower oil or jojoba oil (soybean oil is OK in a pinch)
* 8 drops Young Living lavender essential oil
* 8 drops Young Living sandalwood essential oil
* 8 drops Young Living geranium essential oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients well. Warm oil to a comfortable temperature and apply the mixture to damp hair. Cover hair in a plastic wrap and apply a hot towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo.

Lavender & Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment – a top favorite!

Ingredients:

* 1/2 c. organic almond or sunflower oil or jojoba oil
* 10 drops Young Living lavender essential oil
* 5 drops Young Living rosemary essential oil

Directions:

Mix all ingredients well. Warm oil to a comfortable temperature and apply the mixture to damp hair. Cover hair in a plastic wrap and apply a hot towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo.

Super Deep Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients:

* 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
* 1 Tbsp. almond oil
* 1 Tbsp. jojoba oil
* 1 tsp. evening primrose oil
* 5 drops Young Living rosemary essential oil
* 5 drops Young Living Roman chamomile essential oil

Directions:

Melt coconut oil in a double broiler on low temperature. Add other carrier oils and allow to cool. Add essential oils. Apply to hair and wrap in a towel for 30–45 minutes. Shampoo.