Safe, natural skin and hair care products are always a healthier option than synthetic commercial products for you and your family. But they're not always a good option for your wallet. How do you make the decision between saving a buck or saving yourself from harsh chemicals?
Try these simple recipes for making healthy, non-toxic,
natural skin care and hair care products that you can make for yourself or your family for much less money than you can buy them for in stores. Take these natural products on the go, or stock up at home, for healthy savings.
1. DIY Natural Shampoo and Body Wash
Castile is a safe eco-friendly vegetable oil
soap that also makes an excellent natural shampoo and body wash. A little goes a long way, so it is economical, too. This natural shampoo and body wash is never drying to skin or hair and can be mixed with dried herbs, essential oils* or any ingredients you want to use to make your own special blend.
What You'll Need:
- 2 oz. liquid castile soap
- handful of dried chamomile, linden or hibiscus flowers or leaves
- 8 oz. boiling water
- few drops of Bird of the Soul essential oil
- mortar and pestle or grinder
- strainer or cheesecloth
- plastic bottle to store
How to Make Natural Shampoo and Body Wash:
Mix liquid castile soap with the water. Add one handful of dried chamomile, linden or hibiscus flowers or leaves to the boiling water and allow to steep for one hour. Strain the liquid over a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. You can also add a few drops of
Bird of the Soul essential oil for a chakra-opening aromatherapy experience. Drain liquid after it's cooled and add it to the liquid castile soap. Shake well.
*Make sure to test a small area of skin for sensitivity before using any essential oils.
2. DIY Natural Hair Rinse
Make your hair super shiny and healthy by using a cupful of lemon juice or vinegar in your final rinse. Shampoo residue can weaken hair over time, making it more prone to breakage. Lemon and vinegar neutralize the soap's pH and thoroughly rinse residue out of your hair, leaving you with clean, healthy locks.
What You'll Need:
- 3 cups cool water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- dried rosemary or nettle leaves (optional)
- strainer or cheesecloth
- glass jar or plastic bottle
How to make Natural Hair Rinse:
Mix the apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with cool water in a bottle. Adding in dried rosemary or nettles leaves makes an excellent herbal rinse for getting rid of dandruff and speeding hair growth when used after each washing. Let the leaves sit overnight then strain out before using. Shake well and pour over your hair as a final rinse
3. DIY Natural Face Wash
This natufal face cleanser is an excellent all-in-one DIY
skincare product that provides moisture, cleaning and nourishment to your skin.
What You'll Need:
- 2 tbs. almond or jojoba oil
- 2 tbs. raw honey
- 4 tbs. goat's milk
- crystallized Vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid)
- few drops of Bird of the Soul essential oil
- airtight container to prevent drying out
How to Make Natural Face Wash:
Whisk together almond or jojoba oil with the goat's milk and raw honey. Add the crystal Vitamin C ascorbic acid. Pour a little into your palm, add some water to dissolve the powdered C and massage into your skin for a refreshing gently exfoliating facial cleanse. Store in an airtight container. Use it with a cotton pad to wash your face.
4. DIY Natural Deodorant
Sweat is our body's way of eliminating metabolic waste. But sometimes perspiration can build up under our armpits faster than we can wash it away, causing odor. Aluminum-containing ingredients in commercial deodorants are what help prevent wetness. But Aluminum-free, natural antiperspirants are your safest option. If you want to lose the aluminum but keep the odor-causing bacteria inhibitor, use baking soda or hops. This simple recipe is non-toxic, effective and inexpensive. See below on how to make natural deodorant.
What You'll Need:
- 3 tbs. baking soda (can substitute dried hops)
- 2 tbs. arrowroot
- 3 tbs. coconut oil
- crystallized Vitamin C powder
- lavender, mint or Bird of the Soul essential oil (optional)
- empty deodorant case or container
How to Make Natural Deodorant:
Mix together the baking soda (or ground dried hops for sensitive skin), coconut oil and arrowroot. Blend well together and add 5-10 drops of an essential oil of your choice (optional) such as lavender, mint or Bird of the Soul. Store at room temperature or in a fridge in warmer weather to prevent the coconut oil from melting. Rub a small amount of the mixture into armpits daily in place of your usual deodorant.
5. DIY Natural Toothpaste
Most commercial toothpaste contains artificial sweeteners like saccharin and chemicals such as triclosan that can be hard for your body to process. You can quickly whip up a batch of this whitening, brightening natural toothpaste with a few simple ingredients from your kitchen cupboard. Good old fashioned baking soda alone is sufficient for cleaning teeth and keeping your gums healthy. But these added ingredients help increase its cleaning power and give an extra mineralizing boost to your oral health.
What You'll Need:
- 6 tbs. baking soda
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- fresh chopped sage leaves
- calcium powder
- stevia powder (optional)
- a few drops of peppermint oil (optional)
- pint jar or plastic container
- mortar and pestle
How to Make Natural Toothpaste:
Mix together the baking soda and sea salt. Finely chop the
sage leaves and add the powdered calcium tablets, or open capsules and pour in, for more abrasion (optional). Grind all dry ingredients with a pestle and mortar. Add coconut oil and a drop or two of peppermint oil to taste. You can also add stevia powder if you prefer a sweeter taste. Store in a small container such as a half pint glass jar. To use, either dip a clean toothbrush into it, or use a wooden stick or spoon to spread it on your toothbrush.
To make these
natural skin care and hair care products, you can find all the ingredients at your grocer or natural foods market. For quick and easy travel-size kits, make large batches to store and use to refill your smaller bottles. Another trick is to pour lotions and soaps into ice cube trays to make grab-n-go quantities. No more running out of or running to the store for your favorite essentials!