HOW TO MAKE: Facial Cleanser

When my oldest child started to hit puberty she began trying out different products to help control acne.  I saw a segment on the news talking about a study of cosmetic products and the toxins that we put on our skin everyday, especially teen girls.  I went to the website and read the study for myself (http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens). 

They have examined and reported the ingredients to thousands of everyday products like shampoo, lotion, etc., and rate them on their safety.  I used their search bar to look up the products from we had in our home and ended up throwing away 3 laundry baskets full of products!  (http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/)

After my "cleanup", I had to replace the questionable products with safer options.  This is what started my whole focus on being naturally homemade.  I have found that not only do we save money, but we feel better too.

So here is my recipe for FACIAL CLEANSER.

Ingredients:

empty 8oz. bottle with lid
5oz. Rubbing Alcohol (I use 70% )
3oz. Aloe Vera Juice
15-20 drops Tea Tree Oil


Pour the ingredients into your bottle.  Then I use a cotton pad to wipe across my face.  *Be sure to avoid your eye area.  If you have more stubborn acne you can increase the alcohol and tea tree oil.  If you have dry skin increase the aloe vera juice.  It is really that simple and this recipe really works!

I hope you are seeing the pattern here....you only need a handful of ingredients to make dozens of products.  Think of it like stocking your pantry with the essentials, like flour and sugar!

Thanks for reading!

HOW TO MAKE: Natural & Safe Deodorant

Why would anyone want to make their own deodorant?  Well let me share with you a few reasons:


1. First of all, it is quick and easy.  If it wasn't easy I would have stopped doing it years ago.  I do a lot of running our 7 kids around and can't do things that require much time, so it has to be simple.


2. Another reason you should consider making a natural deodorant is because it really works.  I have a darling husband that plays hockey and he LOVES my deodorant!  If it didn't work I would have stopped making it a long time ago because hockey players are stinky.


3. If you are trying to cut your grocery bill and save money, then you are going to love this recipe!  It costs you about $.30 per deodorant.....compare that to your store bought or organic brands and you will save some serious cash!


4. The most important reason I think you should make your own deodorant is because it is safer.  Most deodorants contain harsh chemicals and irritants to the skin.  Your skin is the largest organ in your body.  It is so important to pay attention to what you are putting on your skin or exposing it to because it can effect every other system in your body.  Read the label on your deodorant and watch for the ingredients tricloson and/or aluminum.  Tricloson is thought to cause many cancers and has been linked specifically to breast cancer.  Aluminum has been connected to Alzheimer's disease. In commercial deodorants, aluminum comes in the form of aluminum chlorhydrate, a heavy metal that can be absorbed through the skin. When you apply these chemicals to an area near the underarm lymph nodes they are very easily distributed throughout your body. 

I hope I have you thinking about the safety of the products you use.  Here is the best working, cheapest, and safest recipe for deodorant I know of, so give it a try and let me know what you think!

All Natural Deodorant

INGREDIENTS
3 TBSP. Corn Starch (Can be found in Organic also)
1 TBSP.Baking Soda
1-2 TBSP. Coconut Oil (Can be found in Organic also)
1/4 tsp. Vit E Oil (or 2 broken softgels)
3 drops Tea Tree Oil
scented essential oils if you want a scent (like rose or geranium)


Sift the baking soda and corn starch into small bowl.  Pour melted coconut oil over the top. Add Vit E oil or squeeze out 2 broken capsules.  Stir until smooth.  Mix in any tea tree or essential oils you may like.  Store in any plastic container that can be sealed, and let cool (will get firm).  To use, apply like a thick lotion to underarm area.

Some noteworthy notes:

* Coconut oil has a very low melting point.  If you live in a warm/ hot climate your deodorant will be soft or may need to be stirred before use.

* I put 1-2 TBSP of coconut oil in the recipe so you can adjust it your climate or preference.  I like mine more creamy like lotion, but my husband likes his more thick like paste. 

* If you increase the coconut oil a bit and can keep your deodorant cool it can be put into a deodorant stick!  I actually pushed up my daughters Teen stick and broke it off, washed out the container, dried it, spooned in my deodorant "batter" and let it set.  Then you can turn the button and your deodorant will come up perfectly and you can use it just like the store bought kinds!!!

* If you do not want to use coconut oil you can substitute Olive Oil.   It works just as well, but it does tend to separate more often.  The olive oil is lighter and works it's way to the top of the deodorant.  So you will probably need to stir it before each use.

*Vitamin E and Tea Tree Oil are great for the skin as well as acting as natural preservatives in your deodorant.  I do not recommend omitting them, but you can easily leave out the Tea Tree Oil if you do not like the smell ( I personally love it :)

* I don't scent my deodorant, but sometimes do for my daughters.  It is up to you, just be careful to add oils that are not burning to the skin (like cinnamon).  You can always add imitation extracts (like Almond) to get a nice scent without the risk of stinging.

* I included linked words (ones in blue) so if you want to see an item or need help finding one you can just click.