A Creative Space
Having a little creative space of your own is really important for everyone to incorporate into their lives in some way, shape or form. I have a few creative spaces, one being my studio where I make my products, but I have another little spot where I have tended to gather some herbs and flowers, mortars […]
Yoga Inversions & Their Benefits
For those who know me well, know how important yoga is to my life. By practicing yoga for so many years, I have truly gained a greater appreciation for my body and how practicing asanas, such as inversions, can improve my overall well-being. Not discussed as often, is how inversions can improve your skin complexion. […]
Ayurvedic Gatorade
Since I’ve been studying more on Ayurveda, I came across a recipe for an Ayurvedic hydrating drink in a book called “The New Ayurvedic Kitchen-What to Eat for How You Feel” by Divya Alter. This drink recipe stuck out to me as it’s often referred to as “Ayurvedic Gatorade”. As it’s so important to keep hydrated for […]
Hydrosols (Botanical Waters): What They Are & Why I Create Them
My love for hydrosols first began many years back when I was introduced to rose water and orange blossom water. Hydrosols are not perfumes, but they really are the ancestors of what are perfumes today. Hydrosols are botanical waters, often called floral waters, and they are created from steam distilling different flowers and/or herbs. The hydrosol is the […]
Skincare Benefits of Spending Time in the Sea
Spending time in salt water can have some amazing benefits for your skin. Such benefits include reducing inflammation, opening up your pores and fighting off bacteria on the skin. Salt water contains potassium, magnesium and calcium, which all are great minerals to help assist in skin healing and skin cell regeneration. What I enjoy most about spending […]
Pink Magnolias
I visited my dear cousin over the weekend in Tennessee and I was AMAZED at the beautiful pink magnolia blooms. There are a few Saucer Magnolia trees in a park in the town she lives in and I have never seen witnessed them before. They are definitively the most beautiful blooms I have seen. I […]
Gua Sha
Lately, I’ve been learning more about Gua Sha, which is a traditional Chinese skin scraping technique to help improve circulation. It typically involves scraping a flat or round stone over the skin in upward strokes to promote tissue drainage and to relax the muscles. I was intrigued to practice facial Gua Sha on myself because we often […]
MJN Stickers are here =)
New Misha Jo Naturals stickers just came in so if you are interested in getting some just request how many you want in your next order and I’ll put some in your package. Thanks for your love and support! =)
Swedish Cardamom Buns
Oh Cardamom…is there any spice better? There are lots of spices out there, but few come close to cardamom, in my book. I have used cardamom in my skincare products before because of its skin healing benefits and grounding fragrance; however, the cardamom flavor is what makes these buns over the top good! Interestingly, cardamom […]
Benefits of Yin Yoga
Of the years that I have been practicing yoga, the style that has seemed to resonate with me most is Yin. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for this practice due to the physical benefits I have seen stem from it. When I was first introduced to Yin, I remember thinking “How hard can stretching be?” Once I […]
Bee Pollen-Benefits + Recipe
Bee pollen is a natural product that I have been hearing of for awhile, but that I haven’t begun using until recently. Essentially, bee pollen is made by young, baby bees. It is a combination of nectar, honey, pollen and saliva. It is created when the young bees land on flowers. The bees carry these pollen balls back to […]
Mint for the Skin
Mint is such a versatile plant that can be used in cooking, baking, tea making, and even skincare! I first began experimenting with mint for skincare when I was gifted a little garden mint plant years back. I still have the same plant to this day and I have used it in so many different ways. One […]
Blueberry Lemon Marmalade
I like to make this recipe right before Autumn begins when the blueberries have come to their peak. This recipe is a nice amalgamation of blueberries and citrus–lemons and oranges. You can substitute the orange for all lemon or keep the oranges in for a more balanced flavor. Blueberries have wonderful benefits for the skin, […]
Flower Drying
When you want to incorporate dried flowers or any botanical in skincare products, it’s essential that they be dried sufficiently to eliminate water content so as to prevent any fungus or bacteria from growing in your skincare creation. This specifically applies in regards to recipes where there is an oil content. Oil and water generally do not […]
Botanical Book Recommendations
One of my favorite past-times is finding unique books about plants and flowers. Here are some of my latest finds: “Weeds and Wildflowers”, which is a compilation of poems by Alice Oswald and botanical etchings by Jessica Greenman. This book is beautifully bound and filled with lovely poems about some enchanting botanicals. “In Pursuit of Plants” by […]
Lemon Balm–A Healing Herb
If you are thinking of starting a little herb garden lemon balm is one to include. It’s truly a healing herb. It’s most commonly found in herbal bedtime/calming teas, but it can also be applied to the skin. As it is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it is great for cleansing pores and alleviating redness of the skin. Lemon balm grows […]
Bath Crystals
Bath crystals (salts) are fun and simple to make. Creating them requires minimal ingredients and time. The base ingredient is the salt itself to which you can add other things such as dried flowers/herbs, oatmeal, milk powders, and essential oils. I think the key to making soothing bath salts is the kind of salt that […]
Facial Steaming
Facial steams are a great way to cleanse and soften the skin. You can customize the steam to whatever skin type you have or whatever skin imbalance you are experiencing. All you need are some skin-friendly botanicals of your choosing, a large bowl, some warm water and a towel. First, place warm water (the warmer the better) […]
Lavender Harvesting
I often get asked when the best time is to harvest lavender. The answer really depends on what you want to use it for. Right now, in the southwest the buds should be about 25%-40% open by now. Just depending on the variety. I grow English lavender and the buds are about 35% open right now as a whole. If […]
Bath Tea
Sometimes when I am feeling overwhelmed and need to relax, I like to make bath teas. Bath teas are essentially a mix of flowers, herbs and sometimes sea salt that are placed in a cotton bag, cheesecloth, organza bag, nylon sock or strainer. I like to tie the bag onto the nozzle of the bathtub so […]