How will you be spending Mother’s Day this year?

Will your family be giving you some well needed relaxation time?

Will they be taking care of you for a change or will you have to fit in some time for yourself in between demands from others be it work, family or friends?

Whatever your plans here are three ideas to help you squeeze some calm in to your day with one of my favourite essential oils, Carshalton Lavender.

Why is Carshalton Lavender oil so special?

In the 1900s the surrounding towns of Carshalton including Wallington and Mitcham were all a sea of lavender.

It was the main industry and this beautiful oil was even personally requested by Queen Victoria.

Carshalton Lavender is a 100% volunteer led project whose aim is to keep Carshalton’s Lavender heritage alive.

They have 3 acres of lavender which is the identical type of lavender that was grown all those years ago.

This makes the pure essential oil very special indeed.

The field is cared for by volunteers and the oil is distilled on site, in fact you can watch this happen during their Pick Your Own Harvest Weekend on 29th & 30th July later this year. It’s a great day out for all the family.

So what has this wonderful oil got to do with wishing you a Calm, Peace-ful and Soothe-ing Mother’s Day?

When I discovered this unique essential oil I fell in love with it and decided to develop three products to help others reap the benefits too! Here are the three products along with three ideas to help you get some much needed relaxation….

1. Set the scene for your time to relax by using a space spray like Peace Room & Linen Mist.

This is perfect before a morning meditation or perhaps just before bedtime to help create a Peace-ful atmosphere and it’s safe to use in young children’s bedrooms too.

Close your eyes and focus on your breathing taking 3 deep breaths in and out and then just let your body breathe and check in…

• How does your breath feel?
• How does your breath sound?
• Is your inhalation longer or shorter than your exhalation?

Take a few moments to check in with your body, your breathing and acknowledge how YOU are feeling. It’s so easy to become distracted and detached from ourselves when roles of employees, parents, friends, relatives take over.

2. Are you someone who is always giving, taking care of others and leaving yourself last?

When did you last take a good look in the mirror at your face, your skin?

How often do you touch your face gently?

Are you always just quickly moisturising, maybe applying a bit of make up, and later quickly removing it if you have time?

An aromatherapy facial oil is a fantastic way to nourish your skin and your mind together.

I developed Calm Facial oil to be calming for sensitive skins but also to have a calming effect on the mind though the therapeutic properties of Carshalton Lavender.

• Why not put aside 5 minutes, just 5 minutes to apply a bit of facial oil to your skin, close your eyes and feel your hands running over your face.
• Use gentle upward strokes massaging around your jaw, around your cheek bones around your eyes and around your temples.
• Use slow movements, breathe and feel, really feel your skin underneath your fingertips, what do you notice?

3. So you have listened to your body, nourished your face and mind now it’s time to take care of one of the busiest parts of your body….your hands.

As a fan of non-greasy hand creams, when I started making my own skincare I took on the challenge to develop a hand cream that is easily absorbed and one that does not leave an oily residue.

I’m delighted to say many of my customers tell me I have achieved this with Soothe Carshalton Lavender hand cream.

It is full of very rich, skin nourishing ingredients, ready to soothe and repair the driest of hands but a very small amount goes a long way which means a pot will last you many months.

The best time to apply hand cream is just before you go to bed so you won’t be washing your hands and instead you can allow it to sink in and moisturise while you sleep.

Why not take a few moments to give yourself a hand massage or maybe ask your partner, husband or child to give it a go, you could practise on each other?

Smooth the cream over the palms of your hands, work around a palm using your thumb in a circular motion and the backs of your hands and massage gently from the base of each finger to the tip.

My message for you this Mother’s Day came from my mother many years ago.

“Take care of yourself because no one else can.”

It’s so true!

Only you can take care of you, only you know what is going on inside your body and your mind.

Only you can choose to listen in. Choose to be kind to yourself and nourish your body and mind, inside and out, so you have the strength to care for others and the strength to continue giving as mother’s and carers naturally do.

Whatever you are doing this Mother’s Day, take some time to take care of YOU!

Best wishes,

Louisa x

To see the full Carshalton Lavender range of products please click here

For Mother’s Day gift inspiration click here.