Gilley's Naturals

03/16/2026

While we're talking about mosquitos, lets talk about keeping them at bay (or killing them outright by slow, painful means) ; (I meant keeping them at bay...). If you want to make your own repellant citronella may be your answer! But there's more to this wonderful oil.

It's also good for naturally repelling most insects, fighting free radical damage, combating bacteria and fungi, reducing inflammation and promoting relaxation, parasite cleansing and even helping control pet behavior. Dr. Axe says, "According to the ASPCA, research has shown that a citronella collar (and this can be any strong cloth or leather collar saturated with citronella oil) can be at least as effective for eliminating barking as an electronic collar, and it’s typically viewed more positively by dog owners. You can also use citronella to keep your dogs off furniture. As a bonus, when you spray citronella on your furniture or linens, it keeps them free from bacteria, pests and odors."

A few drops in water (until it smalls strong enough to notice) may be all you need to find so many of these ideas useful.

Most often associated with repelling insects, Citronella is so much more. Even the Environmental Protection Agency has classified it as “a biopesticide with a non-toxic mode of action”! You know you’re safe using it on even the youngest in your family. It has been studied and found to provide ...

03/13/2026

Mosquitos! For all my friends in MN, my heart goes out to you. I know!! I heard a pest guy say yesterday that just a pop bottle lid of water in your yard can host hundreds of eggs that turn into the menace. Time to think about that?

I'm sure you've heard about all the chemicals and problems with bug sprays. AI told me this....

Some repellents contain DEET, which can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals may lead to neurological issues, particularly in children.
Ingesting or improperly applying repellents can result in toxicity and serious health risks.
Environmental concerns arise from chemical repellents, as they can harm beneficial insects and ecosystems.
Pregnant women should be cautious, as some ingredients may pose risks to fetal development.
Always follow label instructions to minimize risks and ensure safe usage.

I used to love and NEED the ones containing DEET and faithfully put the sprays on my clothing but even then, you have to wonder! When my first grandbaby Oriah was born, we had a trip to a remote camping place and she was a baby so what to do?! This was over 20 years ago and there weren't many options on the market. A lot of searching and the trip turned out to be the Research and Development I needed. Buggone Bug Repellant was born too!

Essential oils mingled with aloe vera gel juice, non-alcohol witch hazel for quick drying, vitamin E for conditioning, Essential oils of Lemongrass, Citronella best known for repellents, Cedarwood that has been used for literally centuries in India, and Eucalyptus, also very effective in natural bug products are the base for this effective spray. The great thing is that you can use it on children without a thought of safety.

Also in a stick form, we found this helpful rubbed on the brim of hats as we fished, worked on dog collars to keep the menacing bugs away and an old friend told me she thought it helped detract ticks on them too. Win win!

If you garden, hike or camp or even just walk outside this spring and summer (eye roll) give it a try to help keep your family and furry friends enjoying the great outdoors that you wait all year for. Literally, I know! Be safe AND comfortable.

Buggone Bug Repellent is the perfect spray for everyone in the family. Created for our first grandbaby, it's perfectly safe for children and may be used directly on the skin.All natural ingredients of Aloe Vera gel juice for conditioning skin, non-alcohol witch hazel for quick drying, vitamin E....

03/04/2026

The smell of Cedarwood is so amazing. Calming, grounding, rich in quality the essential oil is wonderful. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antifungal, tonic, astringent, diuretic, sedative and insecticidal properties. Who knew a tree could be so amazingly helpful with so many things?!

Dr. Axe says on his website, "helpful in a wide range of common health concerns, including skin problems, hair loss, infections, stress and much more. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this essential oil can even help naturally repel moths and pests from your home while discouraging the growth of mildew!" Do any of these environmental/health concerns ring a bell with you?

Probably 55 years ago I was in an early version health food store and bought a super tiny bottle of Cedarwood oil that at the time, was uncommon. My first sniff told me I'd found a treasure. I remember almost immediately feeling a real sense of calm and rest. It was weird. I recently ran across that tiny blue bottle and as soon as I opened it, that sensation washed over me again. Ok, no shaming about never throwing anything away allowed....

For skin care with acne, a drop or two in your moisturizer may help stop frequent breakouts. In shampoo or conditioner, a few drops again massaged into your scalp may stimulate hair growth or added to a carrier oil and massaged into the scalp may be helpful, and wouldn't your hair small incredible!!

Great against moths or pests, a few drops on a cotton ball or pad and tucked asway may discourage pests in closets or storage. Here's something I use it for often. A little in a diffuser in the evening may help with relaxation and calming after a long or tough day. If I had a store again, it would be diffused all day because of it's restorative brain properties. It is amazing blended with lavender, bergamot, frankincense, sandalwood, patchouli, lemon and orange oils or this blend combined with a carrier oil as a natural perfume. Or add it to your favorite lotion!

Here's a link to a very interesting, invaluable site for a lot more uses and ideas. https://draxe.com/essential-oils/cedarwood-essential-oil/

And here's where you can find it readily available from you-know-who.....https://gilleysnaturals.square.site/product/Cedar-Wood-Pure-Essential-Oil/26?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=KI7YLBBTE7KOGJSP3EZF6ZIM

Cedarwood essential oil benefits include helping boost skin health, promoting hair growth and relieving tension. Find out about more cedarwood oil benefits.

03/02/2026

You go somewhere and look down at your hands and soon it will be your feet in sandals....whose alligator skin is this?! They can't have gotten that dry since....

Spring always surprises me because things are so well covered all winter (long sleeves, pants, heavier socks) that when your body comes out of hibernation (hopefully you haven't had a baby or two like bears do) your beautiful summer skin is long gone.

Time for Bergamot Vanilla Mint lotion! Or Patchouli lotion from Gilley's! Both are almost greaseless and are without so many of the chemicals you don't want absorbing into your system. Bergamot Vanilla Mint is a soothing scent beginning with Bergamot essential oil, grounded with a touch of vanilla and invigorated with just a smidge of spearmint to make the smell pop. You'll besurprised soon after using it you don't have to worry about handling papers or things because it's been absorbed and doesn't leave THAT residue.

98% natural, clean ingredients make it a wonderful lotion to keep handy to use all day or slather on before bed. Do you enjoy the smell of Patchouli? Not that office worker who wore too much and made you gag but just a little whiff that gets noticed (and often complimented on, I know of many many instances). You'll be surrounded by old hippies, ha! Seriously, both lotions use the same nourishing base so it comes down to your preference in scents. We also have travel sizes for each one that fit well in purses, bags, glove boxes etc. Where do you need to remember to put it on?

02/27/2026

Let's talk a little more about Sweet Birch essential oil today. You may remember it's one of, if not THE favorite oil I've sniffed. Smells like Wintergreen! Have you ever chewed a wintergreen leaf in the woods? Amazing. The oil is slightly sweet but a little "muffled" minty if that makes sense.

Some of the most impressive points of this oil are the anti-inflammatory properties and help with pain relief for things that are caused by higher inflammation like arthritis or joint pain. Its easy to add some Birch oil to a good carrier oil like h**p seed or almond or coconut oil. OR, you can just order Deep Muscle Relief products from Gilley's (wink wink). 4-6 drops to a TBS of carrier oil is recommended.

Also anti-bacterial, you may add a drop to your toothbrush for help disinfecting your mouth and gums, especially helpful after or during illness. And your breath will be so wonderful!

I've added it to a diffuser for a calm and uplifting scent to a room, lifting spirits and getting away from the gloom of a cloudy day. Here's one I love, 6-8 drops added to Epsom salts and added to your bath. sigh. For congestion, a few drops added to steaming water can help unclog sinuses!

So who's ready?

Aaaaahhhhh, the uplifting, rejuvenating smell of this oil will soon become one of your favorites. Besides being a terrific anti-inflammatory oil for aches, pains, and muscular conditions, it does so much more. Try it diluted for topical pain!A vaporizer or bowl of hot water, it helps alleviate disco...

02/16/2026

Have you ever smelled Sweet Birch essential oil? The scent is akin to Wintergreen and is incredibly calming and reviving at the same time. How can that be you ask? It's uplifting and yet the scent grounds your spirit with it's slightly sweet and minty smell. It can ease your racing mind and helps if you feel "weak willed" according to one article I read.

Besides the effects it may have on your mind and mood, it has properties for helping with spasms and injuries working as a stimulant towards healing and fighting inflammation. Very helpful as a circulatory stimulant! We use it's "sister", Wintergreen in our Deep Muscle products for its healing and restoring properties. According to Bio Source Naturals it is "similar to cortisone, beneficial for bone, muscle, and joint discomfort as well."

Uplifting, just a drop inhaled in your hands can help open your mood and sinuses making you feel more invigorated and clear headed when you need your mind to rest. It's actually my favorite essential oil for just cheering your heart.

And here it is!

Aaaaahhhhh, the uplifting, rejuvenating smell of this oil will soon become one of your favorites. Besides being a terrific anti-inflammatory oil for aches, pains, and muscular conditions, it does so much more. Try it diluted for topical pain!A vaporizer or bowl of hot water, it helps alleviate disco...

02/12/2026

Gilley's makes a great all purpose moisturizer that many of you have used. We've gone to great lengths to find a base without the traditional parabens, stabilizers and additives that can be harmful with prolonged use.

To our lotion base we've added cucumber peel, green tea extract, geranium (benefits & conditions skin and rosewood (regenerating and antibacterial) essential oils (so it smells glorious too!)

You will love the immediate softening while enjoying the long-term benefits of this non-greasy moisturizer. Especially knowing that it will actually increase the moisture in your skin and keep dry skin at bay.

Now, for some people (myself included) this cream is not quite enough. My dry skin needs more so here are a couple of suggestions. The Marigold Eye Cream isn't only for fine lines and wrinkles but is also a terrific non-greasy moisturizer that helps add the elasticity and combats the tight feeling that dry skin needs,

If you like the scent of our Fabulous Foot Butter that also is a great face moisturizer! Especially as an overnight routine, you'll wake with an unbelievably soft and glowing skin.

Get an even better look at out Ultimate Moisture here.

When your skin needs extra nourishment, our Ultimate Moisture is what you want.Without harmful parabens and additives, this formula keeps well with few stabilizers. Contains water cetearyl alcohol (a fatty acid to help thicken), Ceteareth-20 (a 'fatty alcohol' from coconut oil), glycerin, su...

02/09/2026

Our skin needs moisture. Just as plants need watering, our skin does too! But how and what do we use to do that?

Moisturizers, bless their little elements. And how do you decide which promising one to use? First step, find out what type of skin you have, you probably already know but just in case. Dry, oily or a fair combination of the two. This will make an absolute difference in what form of moisturizer you rely on.

If you lack oil in your skin, you can probably thank your parents, dry skin is genetic. Dry skin is dehydrated skin so there is some benefit to drinking more water. It won't be enough to rehydrate it completely but it's a good place to start and will add all sorts of other benefits.

Dehydrated skin isn't genetic but environmental. Any type of skin can suffer from that so there's your next step after deciding your skin type. Dry skin will respond to a cream type moisturizer, while oily and combination skin will find the most benefits from a gel or lightweight lotion, something that doesn't clog pores.

Always try to moisturize your skin when it's damp. Your treatment will help lock that water in so leave it a little damp wafter washing.

Experts say to watch for these thing in moisturizers for all skin types...Humectants like hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and glycerin. Emollients like ceramides and squalene and petroleum or beef tallow. I have some issues with the addition of petroleum in any form to any part of your body so we part ways on that....and on sunscreen. They're the experts but you make the decision!

Of course, if you're VERY dry, something on your skin overnight may be a terrific help. My mom should have had stock in Merle Norman cosmetics, she slathered her face with night cream faithfully and wiped it off each morning with tissue. Funny what sticks in your memory, eh? We know where I get my dry skin (eye roll).

I hope this was helpful, stay tuned for some ideas of pretty natural moisturizers from a pretty natural company you know and love. Yes, Gilley's Naturals!

01/30/2026

I'm still wading through the class on skin care and really loving it except that I realize how old my skin is, ha! But for the new product info I promised...

4 New Butters!! And the scents are INCREDIBLE. Believe me, they are really wonderful. We already have Lavender Butter, and if you have trouble relaxing, using it as a hand/body cream might be life changing. The new ones are Citrus, a beautiful orange color and an AMAZING smell, Jasmine that's beyond the moon! Chamomile Butter that may help with some skin issues because of the healing properties of Chamomile (besides being an incredible natural blue color) and last, Rose Butter that will make you think of the most beautiful rose bush you've ever ever smelled.

All these new butters will be up on the website over the weekend and available in one and a half ounce glass jars for convenient use. As we've learned in the skin series, moisturizing is almost EVERYTHING for healthier and beautiful looking skin and these butters may really help. Only 2 natural ingredients so they may work well for people with sensitive skin or sensitivity to fragrances or chemicals. This month every order will have at least two samples of the new butters so you can see what you think. Don't forget, because of their simplicity they can work as face moisturizers too and wouldn't it be incredible to have your face smell like Jasmine......

As always, I appreciate your business and for those near the Iron Range in MN, stop by F & D Meats in Hibbing to see Gilley's Products on sale there! We loved getting fresh cuts of meat there and are really honored to have Gilley's products in the store now. Your patronage means everything to both of us! Have an amazing weekend, better weather is coming, have faith!

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01/27/2026

New Products!!! WWWwwwweeeee HHHhhhaaaaaa! Posted by the end of the week; New butters that smell amazing, feel good on your skin and are affordable. What more could you want?

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01/22/2026

Do you know you skin type? It's important to your skin care routine and especially moisturizers so if you're unsure, do the pinch test now...

So you pinch the skin on the back of your hand or your face. Does it spring back or does it stay fairly rigid? (mine sprang back, phew) That tells you about the moisture in your skin which can help you determine your skin type. It will help you see if your skin is dehydrated, which is a lot different from dry skin. Get that glass of water you know you should be drinking! I think generally we all know what type we are but here are the choices if you wonder. Oily, dry, combination (a little of both in fairly specific areas on your face, especially the "T" from above your brows and down your nose) and sensitive. I'm sure you know if you have sensitive skin already, it will be pretty obvious because you can't use just ANY old thing on your face without a breakout or sensitivity.

So now with that general idea, let's talk about moisturizers. Next week I'll tell you which of the natural moisturizers from Gilley's fit the bill on certain ingredients so you can be informed.

Oily will want to avoid heavy oils and petroleum (and it's my own opinion that EVERYONE wants to avoid petroleum anyway). Dry can benefit from shea butter bases and ceramides (fatty acids) that generally come in capsule form for you to take internally and combination skin will benefit from squalene and glycerin in their creams. Sensitive should look for oat extract, avoiding essential oils and other fragrances. But if you have sensitive skin you probably already knew that, eye roll.

Another factor is the climate you live in. Is it dry or humid? You're going to need extra help if it's dry and if more humid, you'll want to go with lighter moisturizers. One more tip...Put your moisturizer or body lotion on partly damp skin, say after a shower or face wash. It helps lock in moisture and don't forget to just pat your skin instead of a full drying session.

Let me know if you've felt like this little teaching on skin health has been helpful, I can definitely make these posts a little more about things other than just Gilley's products. Even though THAT'S what drives it all... Have a great weekend and don't forget to relax a little!

01/20/2026

What do you think about your face? Not pretty or cute or whatever. Your face needs a little attention by this part of winter, no matter where you are.

Cleansing is the basic first step and here's the rub. You think more is better, especially if you have oily or problem skin but the key word is moderation. Moderation. Let me emphasize, MODERATION. Water, not hot (guilty) only lukewarm and not scrubbing (guilty again) but gentle so you don't remove the protective layer underneath the grime. The experts I'm watching say, once or twice (if oily or problem) a day with care. Think about how you scrub, moisturize and protect.

Consistency & patience with problem skin is crucial, it won't become radiant over night.

Did you know bacteria can replicate every 20 minutes on our faces? yuck. Whether you wear make up or not, that alone lets you now that cleansing is vital. A person in the city will have skin that ages faster than a person on the farm because of the pollutants they encounter. Try cleansing with just water if you don't have a city or make up prone face, and you may use baby wash cloths to do it. They suggest a different cloth for each day then into the wash. Also changing your pillow case (flipping it over) every other day so you aren't transferring drool and gunk from the day before. Seems smart, but will I? Probably not ... Have you ever tried a face chamois? You can just use water and come away feeling just as clean as with cleanser.

Different washes for different skin types. Do you know your skin type? It can be important so that might be your first step. Try to avoid sulfates that give you a great amount of foam (and are way more fun) but also a lot of chemicals that can be damaging. More and more companies are getting away from SLS and ALS that are tough on more than skin health, those chemicals can be stored in our brains. As if we didn't have enough trouble thinking clearly as it is!

Read labels and try to find cleansers that are sulfate and fragrance free, don't do more harm trying to do more good, eh?

Come back on Thursday and we'll talk about moisturizers! ooohhh bboooyyyy!