March 19, 2018
5 DIY Natural Beauty Products
If I were to ask you how many toxic chemicals were in your bathroom right now, would you know?
How about if I asked how many you put on your body every single day?
It’s something that a good bulk of us overlook, but that is so crucial to be mindful of. Not only for our own well-being, but for the well-being of our world as a whole.
Every day millions of us use body and hygiene products for cleanliness, grooming and cosmetic purposes. In all of these products are thousands and thousands of chemicals that when placed on our skin, are absorbed into our bodies and can potentially cause harm in the form of allergens or even eventually contributing to several forms of cancer. Or, if you’re like me, you find yourself sensitive to these chemicals, which can result in some pretty severe and/or just plain irritating skin reactions. On top of that, as many of these hygiene products are rinsed and washed down the drain, they continue to cause upsets in the water supply, poisoning ecosystems and wildlife. Even contaminating our own drinking water.
Sure, it doesn’t seem like THAT big of a deal when you’re just one person using such a small amount of these chemicals a day. But add up every single day that you use them, and then multiply that by the millions of people who also find themselves turning towards chemical based hygiene and cosmetic products. Now it definitely sounds like a concern worth addressing.
The good news is that there are several healthier, more natural options out there to try. Not only can they be better for you and the environment, they can also be cheaper! Save the earth AND save a few bucks? Count me in.
Now, I understand the convenience factor of grabbing and going with your store-bought face wash or conditioner is appealing. It seems so much easier. But if you have the chance to improve your health, your children’s health, the WORLD’S health, wouldn’t you do it? It’s an easy place to start making a difference and it’s much less effort and time-consuming than you might think.
These are five of my favourite beauty and hygiene products that are so incredibly easy to make and actually work SO well. I will note that in all of these I use 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils and I only encourage the use of essential oils that the purity can be guaranteed.
Face And Body Scrub
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅛ cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 15 drops of lime (or any) essential oil
Combine all ingredients and transfer to container. Use in shower on face and body. Rinse clean.
Facial Cleansing Wipes
- ¾ cup very warm water
- ½ tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp rubbing alcohol
- 2 drops lavender oil
- 2 drops lemon oil
- 2 drops melaleuca oil
- Soft, plush paper towels
Cut the paper towels in a shape and size that will fit whatever jar you decide to use (mason jars work well). Mix all ingredients in jar. The coconut oil should melt in the warm water. Slowly submerge enough paper towels to fill the jar and absorb the mixture. Store in jar and use as needed. These work great at night as makeup removers!
Deep Hair Conditioner
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 drops essential oil of your choice
Mix all ingredients in mixing bowl, preferably with electric mixer, until consistency is thick and creamy. Transfer to container for storing. As for choosing an essential oil, lavender and cedarwood are AMAZING for shiny and thick hair, but orange is great if you prefer the citrus smells 🙂 Apply evenly to dry hair and leave in for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse out and style as normal.
Key Lime Whipped Body Butter
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp aloe vera
- 10 drops lime oil
- 10 drops lemon oil
Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl without melting the coconut oil. Whip on high for 3-7 minutes until it is a light, airy consistency. Spoon into a jar and store at room temperature or in refrigerator to keep coconut oil from melting.
Acne Clearing Face Wash
- ½ cup olive oil
- 10 drops lavender
- 5 drops melaleuca
Put all ingredients into jar and shake well. Apply to face and neck as any other face wash and rinse.
I know there are so many healthy, natural options being explored and so many for you to try. For some of them, I’m aware that the start up costs may seem intimidating (like buying that jar of coconut oil), but in the long run, it winds up being much cheaper! These ingredients go a long way and you’ll have plenty left over to create again and again. Also, be sure to hang on to your containers and jars! Using them over again for each batch can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce your plastic waste contribution, again, helping save our planet. 🙂
