If social media is to be believed, summer is supposed to look effortless.
The gardens are perfectly weeded. Everyone is drinking gallons of water. The kids are making core memories. Dinner is healthy. The house is clean. And somehow there's still time to sit on the porch with a cute drink and watch the sunset.
Meanwhile, here in the real world, my garden is trying its best, my water bottle is mostly decorative by 4 PM, and the mosquitoes have once again decided I'm their favorite person.
And honestly? I'm okay with that.
The older I get, the less interested I am in doing things perfectly and the more interested I am in finding simple things that make life a little easier.
Take my garden, for example.
Every spring I convince myself this is the year I'm finally going to stay ahead of the weeds. I buy the flowers, plant the vegetables, and spend way too much time deciding where everything should go. For a few weeks it looks great. Then life gets busy, we get some rain, and suddenly I'm staring at weeds wondering where they all came from.
Last weekend I went outside planning to pull "just a few weeds." Three hours later I was still out there. My back was reminding me that I'm not twenty anymore, and Deep Relief became my best friend for the rest of the day.
I do have a few things that make gardening season more enjoyable though. Peppermint is one of my favorite oils to keep nearby on hot days. A little on the back of my neck before heading outside feels refreshing, especially when Maryland decides it's going to be ninety degrees before lunch. I also love running a diffuser with Citronella nearby while I'm working. The mosquitoes don't seem to appreciate it nearly as much as I do.
One thing I've enjoyed experimenting with over the years is adding a few drops of DiGize to my watering can. It might sound strange if you've never heard of it before, but many gardeners have incorporated it into their gardening routines as part of their efforts to support healthy soil and thriving plants.
My goal these days isn't a magazine-worthy garden. It's keeping the plants alive, growing a few things we can enjoy, and spending some time outside without turning it into another item on my to-do list.
Speaking of things that don't always go according to plan, let's talk about hydration.
Every summer I tell myself this is going to be the year I become one of those people who effortlessly drinks water all day long. You know the type. They carry a giant water bottle everywhere and somehow finish it multiple times before lunch.
I am not that person.
Every morning starts with good intentions. My water bottle is full. It's sitting right next to me. I genuinely believe today's the day. Then I get busy, answer emails, run errands, work outside, and suddenly it's late afternoon and I've somehow survived on iced coffee, pure determination, and about six sips of water.
I've learned I need all the help I can get. Adding Jade Lemon Vitality or Lime Vitality to my water makes a huge difference because plain water gets boring fast. Starting my day with NingXia Red has become one of those habits I rarely skip, and when I'm spending a lot of time outside, especially working in the garden, I'll often add electrolytes because some days water alone just doesn't seem to do the trick.
Am I perfect at it? Not even close.
Am I doing better than I was a few years ago? Most days.
I'll take the win.
Then there are the mosquitoes.
If you've followed me for any length of time, you know I've accepted that mosquitoes apparently find me irresistible. Ball games, cookouts, walks around the neighborhood, evenings on the porch—it doesn't matter. If there's a mosquito nearby, it will find me.
That's why Young Living's Insect Repellent lives in my bag all summer long. It's one of those products I don't think much about until I need it, and then I'm really glad I have it. The bottle is generously sized too, which is good because it seems to get used constantly this time of year.
For the DIY crowd, I also love making a simple outdoor spray with distilled water, witch hazel, Citronella, Geranium and Purification. It takes about two minutes to make and is easy to keep by the door before heading outside.
Another favorite trick is running a cordless diffuser with Citronella on the porch while we're sitting outside in the evenings.
It's simple, it smells nice, and anything that helps me enjoy summer without becoming a mosquito buffet is worth trying.
The funny thing about all of this is that none of these habits are complicated.
As I've gotten older, I've realized the wellness habits that stick aren't usually the fancy ones. They're the simple things you can repeat over and over again without having to think too hard about them.
For me, that looks like NingXia Red, drinking more water, getting some movement every day, using my daily oils, and taking a handful of supplements. Nothing groundbreaking. Nothing that would make for an exciting Instagram reel. Just a few habits that fit into my life.
Some days I do great. Some days I'm reheating the same cup of coffee for the third time and wondering how it's already time to make dinner.
That's life. And maybe that's my biggest summer reality check.
The garden doesn't have to be perfect. The wellness routine doesn't have to be perfect. I don't have to do summer perfectly.
I just want to enjoy it. Spend time with my family. Make some memories. Keep the plants alive. Stay mostly ahead of the weeds. And maybe, just maybe, finish my water before 4 PM.
If I can pull that off, I'm calling it a successful summer.
So tell me—what's your biggest summer reality check?
A Little Bonus for Making It to the End
If you've stuck with me through the hydration struggles, mosquito complaints, and garden confessions, you deserve a prize.
Unfortunately, all I have are recipes.
The good news is they're pretty good recipes.
Now I'd love to hear from you... What's one simple thing that makes your summer a little easier?
Before You Go...
Welcome to Keeping It Real with the EssentOILS, where wellness is practical, life is busy, and I believe you shouldn't have to read a novel to find a helpful tip.
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The Bathroom MVP You Probably Aren't Using Enough
One Product. Three Surprisingly Handy Uses.
Let's be honest...
I'm all about products that earn their keep. If something only has one purpose, there's a pretty good chance it'll end up tucked in the back of my bathroom cabinet until I stumble across it months later and think, "Oh yeah... I forgot I even owned that!"
That's one of the reasons I always keep Young Living's Charcoal Mask within easy reach.
Sure, it was designed as a facial mask, and it's fantastic for that. But since I only use it about once a month, one tube lasts me a long time. Along the way, I've discovered a few other ways to use it, and now it's become one of those products I reach for far more often than I ever expected.
Honestly, if a product can pull triple duty instead of sitting around waiting for facial-mask day, that's a product worth hanging onto.
So... What Makes This Mask Different?
The Charcoal Mask combines gentle cleansing ingredients with botanical extracts to leave your skin feeling refreshed without feeling stripped.
🖤 Charcoal Powder helps absorb excess oil and lift away dirt and impurities from the surface of the skin.
🤍 Kaolin Clay is a gentle mineral clay that helps cleanse and absorb excess oil while remaining suitable for most skin types.
🌿 Salicylic Acid provides light exfoliation by helping clear away dead skin cells and keep pores looking cleaner.
💧 Botanical Extracts including cucumber, chamomile, licorice root, bilberry, and comfrey help soothe and condition the skin.
🌸 Essential Oils like Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Tangerine, Rosemary, Bergamot, and Patchouli give the mask its fresh scent while complementing the overall skincare experience.
The formula also contains naturally derived alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) from fruit extracts like bilberry, lemon, sugarcane, and sugar maple. These gentle acids help exfoliate away dead skin cells, leaving skin looking brighter and feeling smoother after you rinse.
Now for my favorite part...
🖤 1. A Monthly Facial Reset
This is exactly what the Charcoal Mask was designed for, and honestly, my face has a lot to deal with during the summer. Sunscreen, sweat, humidity, makeup... it's basically working overtime.
About once a month, I smooth on a thin layer, let it dry, and rinse it off. The whole process takes very little effort, but my skin always feels noticeably cleaner, smoother, and refreshed. It's one of those simple routines that reminds me skincare doesn't have to be complicated to be effective.
When you apply the Charcoal Mask, you may notice a mild tingling or tightening sensation as it dries. That's completely normal and comes from the combination of naturally derived fruit acids (AHAs) and peppermint essential oil working together. I find it invigorating and refreshing.
Another thing I appreciate is what you won't find in the formula. It's dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, cruelty free, and made without parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, or petrochemicals. You know how I feel about crappy ingredients.
🖤 2. Give Your Armpits Some Love
Yep... we're talking about armpits.
Stay with me on this one because I've actually been doing it for years.
Once a month, after showering, I apply a thin layer of the Charcoal Mask to clean underarms, let it sit for about 10–15 minutes, and then rinse it off. It's become one of those simple little maintenance routines that takes almost no effort but leaves my underarms feeling extra fresh.
No, I'm not trying to perform some magical overnight "detox." I simply like using the charcoal and kaolin clay to give my underarms a deep clean and help remove the buildup that can accumulate from deodorant, sweat, and everyday life. If you're just making the switch from traditional antiperspirants after years of use, you may find it helpful to use the mask once a week for the first month. After that, pay attention to how your skin feels and decide whether you'd like to continue weekly or switch to a once-a-month maintenance routine like I do.
Sometimes our skin just appreciates a fresh start—and if it only takes 15 minutes once a month, I'm happy to add it to my routine.
🖤 3. Bug Bite Relief
This is the newest Charcoal Mask hack I've learned, and my first thought was, "Why have I never tried this before?"
Now, before anyone says it... yes, I absolutely love my Insect Repellent, and it's my go-to all summer long. But let's be real—every once in a while I get distracted, head outside for "just a minute," and completely forget to spray it on. That's usually when the mosquitoes decide it's an open invitation.
When that happens, I usually mix up a DIY itch-relief roller. Then I learned you can simply dab a little Charcoal Mask directly onto an itchy bug bite, let it dry, and rinse it off later.
The charcoal and kaolin clay create a cooling, soothing feeling as the mask dries, making it a simple way to help calm the itch and keep yourself from scratching.
Will I still make my DIY roller? Probably. But the next time I forget my bug spray and end up with a mosquito bite, I have a feeling I'll be reaching for the Charcoal Mask first. It's already sitting on my bathroom counter, ready to go, and there's something to be said for using what you already have instead of making one more DIY.
Anything that simplifies life—and saves me from washing another tiny roller bottle—is a win in my book.
Why I Love Multi-Purpose Products
The older I get, the more I appreciate products that can do more than one job. My bathroom cabinets aren't getting any bigger, and I'm not interested in buying five different products when one can do the trick.
When one tube can pull triple duty, it earns permanent counter space in my house. Less clutter. Less waste. More value from something I already own.
Honestly, if a product works this hard, the least I can do is let it stay on the counter. 😄
💡 Did You Know?
Activated charcoal is incredibly porous, which is one of the reasons it's such a popular ingredient in skincare. Its porous surface helps absorb excess oil and lift away dirt and other surface impurities, leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean.
In the Young Living Charcoal Mask, it's paired with gentle kaolin clay to help absorb oil without over-drying the skin. Salicylic acid provides light exfoliation to help keep pores looking clearer, while soothing ingredients like aloe, cucumber, chamomile, licorice root, and other botanical extracts help leave your skin feeling balanced and refreshed.
It's a thoughtful combination of cleansing and soothing ingredients that works together to deep clean your skin while still being gentle enough for most skin types.
Keeping It Real...
One of my favorite things is discovering new ways to use products I already have instead of adding one more thing to my shopping list. I love a good DIY, but I also love finding simple solutions that don't require mixing, measuring, or buying another product.
Life is busy, bathroom cabinets only hold so much, and most of us don't need a separate product for every little problem. If I can make one product work a little harder, that's a win in my book.
Whether you're giving your skin a monthly refresh, showing your underarms a little extra love, or keeping this trick in your back pocket for the next time you forget your bug spray, the Young Living Charcoal Mask has definitely earned its permanent spot in my bathroom.
Now I want to hear from you! Have you discovered an unexpected way to use one of your Young Living products? Share your favorite "Why didn't I think of that sooner?!" hack in the comments. There's a good chance you'll teach the rest of us something new!
Want to Give It a Try?
If you're anything like me, you appreciate products that work a little harder so you don't have to. If you'd like to add the Young Living Charcoal Mask to your own bathroom counter, you can shop using the link below.
🖤 Shop the Charcoal Mask: https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/myaccount/wishlist?listId=6a4e6040660254000aa4dc02&enrollerId=3410574&sponsorId=3410574&userName=Jessica
Welcome to Keeping It Real with the EssentOILS
Around here, you'll find short-ish, sassy blog posts that skip the fluff and get straight to the good stuff. Real life is busy enough—you don't need to scroll through 800 words about my childhood before getting to the tip you came for.
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