While every season has unique and specific scents, the enchanting aromas of fall and winter are the best ones. Be it a simmering pot of cider, homemade apple pie, pumpkin spice beverages, or cinnamon-scented candles, it’s safe to say the holidays smell amazing. Did you know that you can invite that signature cinnamon spice into your home without purchasing candles or air fresheners? All you have to do is make the cinnamon spice candles in this article. 

Candles are great for numerous occasions and make practical home decor items. It’s also useful to have them if you ever experience a blackout. And while it’s easy to purchase candles in store, they can often be quite pricey and filled with chemicals, many of which are harmful to your respiratory system. Candle making is also a great way to save money on gifts if you are trying to have a budget-friendly holiday season. You can decorate the jars/glasses, in which the candle goes, and gift them to friends, family members, and coworkers alike.

Why Are Natural Candles Better?

They Produce Less Soot

If you are a regular candle lighter, you may have noticed that a lot of soot accumulates around the inside of the glass. This is because chemical-rich candles don’t burn as clean as natural candles do. Because of this, you won’t see black soot gather on the candle or surfaces near where you light it.

No Unsavory Chemicals

Paraffin wax is the predominant wax that manufacturers use to make candles. It is derived from petroleum and can contain carcinogens, numerous toxins, and air pollutants. Organic waxes like beeswax or soy wax can help you avoid exposure to harmful chemicals. Additionally, wicks made from cotton, wood, or hemp are better options than metal-cored wicks, which release toxins as they burn.

They Burn Longer

Unlike paraffin wax, natural waxes have a lower melting point, meaning they last longer. This means that your candles will last longer, so you can enjoy them for longer. They are also eco-friendly and have a more pleasant aroma when they burn. So you won’t get tired of the scent due to the longer lifespan. 

DIY Cinnamon Spice Candles

Ingredients:

• Mason jars or container of choice
• Smokeless candle wicks
• Flaked soy wax
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon ground clove

Instructions:

• You have to start by melting your wax. If you want to fill a standard pint Mason jar, you’ll need 2 cups of melted wax. 
• Start by adding one cup of soy wax flakes to a heat-safe glass measuring cup and microwave for two minutes. Continue microwaving for one-minute intervals until fully melted. 
• Add another cup of wax and continue to microwave in one-minute intervals until it’s all thoroughly melted. If you prefer to melt the wax in a double boiler, you can do it that way as well.
• While the wax is melting, wrap the end of a candle wick around the middle of a wooden skewer or pencil and balance the skewer on the top of the jar. 
• The bottom of the wick should be resting at the bottom of the jar. 
• When the wax is complete melted, add in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and clove and mix well. 
• Hold the skewer with the wick and slowly pour the wax into the jar. If you see any air bubbles on the sides of the jar, use a separate wooden skewer to rub the inside of the jar to release them to the top. You can leave them be if you want. It’s simply a matter of aesthetic appeal. 
• Allow four to five hours for the candle to complete set. 
• Light it up and enjoy!

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Affecting the aesthetic appeal of your hands, brittle nails can diminish a person’s self-esteem and make it impossible to receive most beauty treatments involving the nails. Brittle nails can occur for a variety of reasons, including excessive polishing, dry weather, anemia, hypothyroidism, or as a natural result of aging. Instead of losing control and heading straight for the emergency room, it is possible to learn how to naturally strengthen your nails.

What Causes Brittle Nails?

The nails, which are comprised of a protein known as keratin, protect fingers and toes. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) has broken up, no pun intended, brittle nails into two categories: dry & brittle and soft & brittle.

Dry and Brittle Nails: stem from lack of moisture, commonly caused by excessive washing and drying of fingernails.

Soft and Brittle Nails: stem from too much moisture, caused by overexposure to household cleaners, nail polish remover, and detergents.

On the other hand, brittle nails can stem from an iron deficiency or Raynaud’s syndrome, which is characterized by poor circulation in the extremities, which ultimately affects nail health.

What Can You Do About Brittle Nails?

There is good news and it is that several DIY cosmetic treatments and regular practices can improve nail health. That being said, age-related nail issues may be harder to fix, although it is possible to reduce the risk of cracked, splitting, or brittle nails. To keep your nails strong, employ the following tips.

Avoid Alcohol-Based Sanitizers

Hand sanitizers have become a staple item in cars, purses, and homes, but the overuse of hand sanitizers dries out the nails and skin. The excessive use of hand sanitizers can contribute to brittle nails, so opt for natural soaps whenever you feel the need to wash your hands.

Protect Your Hands

In the same vein as avoiding hand sanitizers, it is recommended to keep hands dry when you are cleaning. You can do this by wearing gloves while washing dishes or cleaning the house. In addition to keeping your nails dry, you will also protect your nails from the harsh chemicals in detergents and other cleaning products. Additionally, protect your hands and nails when you head outside in cold weather to prevent the hands from becoming overly dry.

Castor Oil & Vitamin E

The essential fatty acids in castor oil work to moisturize the nails and create a protective layer. Mixing castor oil with vitamin E oil creates a strengthening solution that helps make the nails less brittle. To make this natural solution, mix one tablespoon of castor oil with five drops of vitamin E oil in a small bottle. Using a small brush, apply the oil mixture on your nails once a day.

Paraffin Wax Bath

This is something that may be considered an indulgent remedy, but paraffin wax can help to moisturize the nails and supply them with much needed nutrients. Melt the wax and soak your nails in the wax for about 10-20 minutes. Remove your hands from the wax, allow it to dry, and then peel it off. Do this treatment a couple times a week.

Baking Soda Treatment

The antiseptic properties of baking soda help to inhibit fungal growth in the nails, but they also work to prevent the nails from becoming brittle or breaking down. Baking soda also strengthens the nails. To make a quick solution, stir one tablespoon of baking soda into a warm cup of water. Soak your nails in that mixture for 15 minutes, rinse afterwards, and pat gently to dry. Do this three times a week.

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Most bunions are the result of wearing tight fitting and thus uncomfortable shoes.

Causes and Risk Factors

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than half of U.S. women have bunions. They go on to state that nine out of 10 bunions occur in women.

The main culprit for bunions is wearing tight, narrow shoes and high heels. Ill-fitting shoes also can cause corns, calluses, and hammer toes. These conditions can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. The sad part is the they are often completely avoidable.

A bunion is an abnormal enlargement of the joint at the base of the great toe. It is caused by inflammation of the bursa, usually as a result of chronic irritation and pressure from poorly fitted shoes. It is characterized by soreness, swelling, thickening of the skin, and lateral displacement of the great toe. The bursa is a fibrous sac between certain tendons and the bones beneath them.

Whatever may be the cause of the pressure to the big toe, it needs to end and fast. The health of your big toe (and all toes) depends on it.

Symptoms

When your feet hurt and there is pain, this means the shoes are too tight and you need to stop wearing the particular shoes causing the problem (pain). Change into shoes that properly fit and that are comfortable.

Healing Options

Bunions can be treated by simply switching to shoes that fit properly, are comfortable, and that don’t squash the toes. Surgery is really unnecessary in the majority of cases:

Feet should be soaked daily, especially after work, for a good 20-30 minutes. Soak the feet in warm water and 13 ounces of sea salt. You may add essential oil of Wintergreen, Eucalyptus, or Peppermint to the water if you like.

If you have corns and/or calluses, after soaking your feet gently remove the callus or corn with a pumice stone, Hindu stone, or emery board. But remember, calluses and corns will go away on their own if proper care is given, i.e. comfortable shoes are worn, the feet soaked periodically and oiled after wards, and/or massaged (reflexology).

Make sure you get your feet measured annually because as the older you become, the more your feet can grow and thus affecting the size of shoes you wear.

If you simply MUST wear high-heeled shoes with pointy toes, buy the shoes one-half size larger to make room for your feet as they swell. This little trick is used by fashion insiders, and allows them to wear high heels for hours pain free. Also buy high-heeled shoes at the end of the day when your feet are swollen. This simple strategy helps to keep bunions at bay.

To naturally reduce the swelling, redness, and inflammation of a bunion, oil the bunioned toe (actually, all the toes) with a good botanical oil such as olive, coconut, grape seed, or almond, and massage essential oil of Wintergreen, Peppermint, and/or Spearmint oil into the toes.

If you like, you can get your feet waxed periodically with paraffin wax. Hot wax treatment can greatly help with swelling of the feet and toes. Hot wax machines are pretty economical and can be purchased at department stores or stores such as Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

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