Welcome to today’s show! Today we have our first repeat guest, Rachel Pontillo, who is an expert in holistic medicine and skin care. We had a great conversation the first time, but there is SO much more to discuss! Today we dig deeper with Rachel about creating your own skin care products. Join us! Rachel shares the following about skin care: As she battled acne as a kid, she became interested in specific ingredients in skin care products. She later attended aesthetic school and learned about ayurvedic herbs and treatments, including herbalism, aromatherapy, and cosmetic chemistry.  As Rachel experimented with mixing different ingredients, she wanted to create products that were shelf stable, and wanted to prove that she could make products with the same (or better!) quality as the super expensive ones at the spa. Rachel discusses reasons why you should make your own skin care products at home: Your products can be healthy and free from toxins. Your skin absorbs up to 66% of what is applied topically, so skin care products are just as important as the food you put IN your body. Individual ingredients at wholesale prices are available online for anyone. Homemade products will be more concentrated and have less water, less carrier oils, and will need less preservatives than over-the-counter products. The prices for various mixtures will vary, depending on the essential oils and carrier oils used. Regarding essential oils, Rachel stays “brand-neutral” in her courses, but has several manufacturers that she recommends. Listen to find out more! There is currently no regulation in the US for essential oils, so doing your homework is important to find high levels of purity and quality. Rachel cautions that essential oils should be handled with care, since they can be dangerous if used improperly. How do you know what toxins might be in your current skin care products? Rachel includes a “dirty 30” list in her book, but she cautions against parabens, sulfates, fragrances, and other preservatives. Rachel says that anyone who is interested in making skin care products should have a cosmetic ingredient dictionary to look up information about various ingredients, and to find alternatives to preservatives, surfactants, and emulsifiers. Rachel shares several stories of her “bloopers” that have occurred while mixing and creating her products. Listen and laugh along with us! How to reach Rachel and more: www.createyourskincare.com  (Rachel has her course catalog to download, which includes lifetime access with purchase! You can also find information about her live instruction and course events.) www.ewg.org/skindeep  (You can look up ingredients, products, and safety test results.) Now it’s your turn!   WHAT changes have you made in your diet?  HOW have those changes affected your health?  WHAT has been your biggest challenge while implementing a healthy lifestyle?  WHO do you want to hear from?   Let me know in the comments below and I will try my best to get them on the show!  I want to answer your burning questions and for YOU to add your thoughts to the conversation.  So go ahead and leave a comment now.     And if you want even more resources to heal yourself naturally, make sure you sign up for my email updates, because I share some insights in my email updates that I don’t share anywhere else.   Thanks so much for stopping by and until next time, remember to eat consciously, because the world needs a healthy and vibrant you! BECOME A FOOD AS MEDICINE VIP FOR FREE.  ENTER YOUR EMAIL BELOW AND RECEIVE: My free gift, “The Clean Eating Rules.” It’s my #1 guide for how to eat to lose weight, improve your biometrics, and get more energy. Summary of Pearls shared on the show Occasional Love Letters from Dr. Anh, where I share my favorite recipes and products, upcoming events, new inf