Are you disenchanted or disillusioned by all the beauty products with all their cancer causing ingredients? I am so tired of reading package ingredients that sound like my old chemistry class. Today I am going to make some affordable alternatives or at least get started on putting a few together. You can make you own shampoo, conditioner, bath salts, body butters and lotions that are much better than any commercial product. Even used alone Shea butter does wonders for dry skin.
I want to know what is in the products I am using and those don’t include alcohol, triclosan, sodium laureth sulfate or other poisonous chemicals. It is amazing how much we absorb through our skin. Think of all the patches that are used for pain or smoking. The products I make are usually pretty simple and knowing what is in them is optimal. Many of the products can be put together with only one or two ingredients and essential oils.
One of my favorite ingredients is local honey. I buy mine at the Winter Park Farmer’s Market. I buy it a half gallon at a time and it doesn’t last long as we use it in tea as well as lotions, potions, and blends. Did you know that honey will help heal a blemish, take the sting out of an insect bite. Homey has an antimicrobial effect and is high in potassium. The potassium makes it difficult for any bacteria to survive. Honey, when used on the skin or hair, prevents moisture loss. Put a few tablespoons of honey in the tub with a hot bath to soothe rough skin or mix it with olive oil for your hair.
What makes this a fun day is the opportunity to experiment with different combinations. As I have mentioned, I have a cupboard full of essential oils so trying different fragrances is always fun and sometimes challenging. The other thing I have in my cupboard are old cups, bottles, witchy woman containers of brown and blue, ribbons and stickers to add some flair to the containers. If you don’t have all these items in your cupboard, it may be time to run to the Salvation Army or Goodwill stores where you will find a multitude of inexpensive containers. Also think about using some of the old jewelry you have laying about. Take it apart and glue the parts on the bottles and use that creativity that is laying dormant in the mornings.
Here are some of the ingredients I will use today:
Honey which I plan to use on my hair since my hair looks like “Scary Mary” with its dry ends and damaged other parts.
Green Tea Which I plan to use the used tea bags on my eyes today and as a toner after washing my face. You do not have to wash it off as it is a great antioxidant and tones the skin.
Pineapple Juice This was in the bottom drawer of the fridge this morning. I buy the small six packs to mix with coconut water but it also works as an ingredient in the lotions and soothes rough patches on the elbows.
Baking Soda I buy this from Costco in giant bags as we use it for everything from cleaning the sink to baking gluten free banana bread. It is also a great hair rinse, bath soak, and facial scrub. I also use it for toothpaste. I usually add apple cider vinegar to the tub along with the baking soda to detox the entire body.
Olive OilThis is another item I often buy at Costco as you can get two very large bottles which is much less expensive than the smaller ones. Also our Publix often has two for one sales (BOGO’S) on Olive oil.
I have many, many other ingredients including oils, dry herbs, salts, and liquids but I think after pondering all of this I will make what I happen to need the most this morning, Shampoo and conditioner.
Shampoo Recipe I will need castile soap, and fresh or dried herbs. I am going to use lavender and chamomile dried herbs because I happen to have them available. To make the shampoo get out the cauldron and place 6 tablespoons of dried herbs in the top with four cups of water and boil them for around 30 minutes. Don’t let all the water evaporate and ensure you have at least two cups after straining the water and herb mixture. Mix the herb water with 8 ounces of castile soap and shake until well combined. Now you can wash your hair.
ConditionerMy hair is extremely fine and very dry so the recipe I use is 1 cup of olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cider vinegar, 2 tsp honey and then 5-10 drops of essential oil. Stir this well or put it in the food processor to ensure it is well mixed. If you have any leftover store it in an air tight container such as a mason jar.
So I am off to the kitchen to stir this all up and then into the shower to get the day started. Do you have any great recipes? Please feel free to comment, and add your recipes to the comment section of the posts.
The Castile soap I use is the unscented kind which allows me to mix any essential oil I like for that day.