I’m not very good with recycling or saying no to plastic straws. I know that, if I had a baby, it would 100% be in disposable nappies. Usually, I forget my fabric bags at home and then I buy plastic bags at every shop I go to. This isn’t because I’m some sort of pro-pollution Nazi, or…what’s the opposite of a tree-hugger? I actually love the earth. Mostly, I just forget. But, it thrills to my core (MY VERY CORE) when I can use stuff around the house instead of paraben-laden and expensive products on my body. So, here are some of the things I use (and some others that I’d like to try) – all eco-friendly natural beauty products that only feed and nourish our bodies and make far less of an impact on our environment:
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Moisturiser
- Coconut oil (add a few drops of lavender or orange oil for a gorgeous smell)
- Oil blend – mix a combination of coconut oil, tissue oil, vitamin E, almond oil, a few drops of delicious smelling essential oils (like vanilla or grapefruit). Add a little bees’ wax, if you have.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Shampoo
I got this recipe from Thank Your Body and made it myself:
½ cup purified water
¼ cup liquid Castille soap (this is a soap made only with vegetable oils)
2 tsp avocado / olive oil
10 drops peppermint oil
10 drops tea tree oil
½ tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)
Mix all of the ingredients together well in a bottle. Pour a little on your head and massage in for two minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Then, this natural shampoo is from Wellness Mama, which also sounds easy enough:
¼ cup coconut milk
¼ cup liquid Castille Soap
20 drops of essential oils (e.g. peppermint, lavender, rosemary and orange or combinations of those)
For dry hair: add ½ tsp olive or almond oil
Mix the ingredients and massage a little into your head for two minutes.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Conditioner
Strangely (to me, at least), apple cider vinegar is an excellent softening agent for your hair. Just mix a tablespoon of the vinegar into a cup of water and you have the cheapest, healthiest, least environmentally damaging conditioner out there. #You’reWelcome
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Hair Mask
For an affordable hair mask that won’t damage the environment, combine:
1 egg
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp castor oil
1 tsp glycerine
1 tbsp honey (optional)
Massage this mixture into all your hair – from root to tip. Cover your hair with a warm towel (heat in the microwave or in the sunshine) and leave the mask to absorb for about 40 minutes. Then, rinse it off with a light shampoo, followed by conditioner.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Hair Spray (bonus: alcohol-free!)
Shame, my hair is a bit sad. I can pin it all up (every last strand on my head) with one of those small crocodile clips.
So, I don’t often know what to do with hairspray. It’s not like my hair does anything that’s worthy of spraying. But, should I want to, I love that there’s an eco-friendly option.
Dissolve about four teaspoons of sugar (depending on how thick and responsive your hair is to hairspray, you could use a little more or less) in a cup of boiling water. Once it’s cooled, you can add essential oils like geranium, lavender or peppermint for a glorious aroma. Put it in a spray bottle and keep it in the fridge. Spray on your hair as needed.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Foot Scrub
Choosing your foot scrub ingredients depends on what you’re going for. In general, a mixture of coconut oil and about a cup of granulated sugar, mixed into a paste, is ideal. Then, add peppermint oil for a refreshing scrub, lemon oil for a cleansing one, or lavender oil to feel calm and pampered.
For tired, sore feet, mix hot water, a handful of Epsom salts and two tablespoons of vinegar in a bowl and soak your feet for 20 minutes. Then, transfer them to another bowl that has cool water, Epsom salts and vinegar. Repeat this a few times a day for really achy feet.
For really dry and / or cracked soles, a natural alternative to a salon heel peel (my favourite thing on earth. Are those baby bums at the bottom of your legs? Nope, they’re my flawless heels), you can combine lemon juice with bicarb until it forms a grainy paste. Rub it all over your feet, but especially on problem areas and wrap your feet in plastic wrap (or cling film). Leave it on for about two hours, then rinse, dry and slough off the dead skin with a pumice stone. Apply some coconut oil and put a pair of socks on to protect them. The skin may continue to peel off for a few days after this treatment, so keep them moisturised. I can’t wait to try this one!
Otherwise, a great heel-peel soak is made up of four cups of hot water, half a cup of bicarb, and a cup of vinegar. Soak them for 30 minutes, scrape the skin off with a pumice stone, apply a rich moisturiser or coconut oil, and put on a pair of socks.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Toothpaste
This one always kind of freaks me out. I mean, you don’t get more “in-your-face” than something you put in your mouth. So, a natural alternative is one of those thrilling things to me. The things that thrill me to my core.
This is the one I tried:
½ cup coconut oil
3 tbsp baking soda
2 tbsp Xylitol
20 drops organic or edible peppermint oil
Mix all the ingredients together very well (slightly softened coconut oil works best). Put them in a small jar. Dip your toothbrush into the jar and brush your teeth as normal.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Sunscreen
Did you know that coconut oil has a natural SPF (sun protection factor)? You would if you’ve ever tried to use it to accelerate a tan. Like…some people I’ve heard of, but totally not me. So, I found this sunscreen recipe. I thought of reinventing it, but why? Just check out her easy-to-follow instructions.
Natural Beauty Products – DIY Cuticle Cream
5 drops vitamin E oil
4.5 tsp sweet almond oil
½ tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp beeswax
3 drops lavender OR sweet orange oil
5 drops lemon oil
Combine the sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax in a glass bowl and melt these thoroughly by placing the glass bowl into a larger bowl with boiling-hot water, stirring occasionally.
Remove the glass bowl and dry the outside with a clean towel so that no water can get into the cream.
Add the vitamin E and essential oils and stir well.
Immediately pour the mixture into a little container(s) and allow it to cool at room temperature. It should become a firm balm.
Rub it onto your cuticles and nails morning and evening.
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These might not be massive projects that will change the world. But, they’re something. And they certainly improve my little world. If you have ones that you’ve tried, I’d love to hear more about them. Also, can we all just agree that coconut oil and bicarb are slowly taking over the world? Soon, there will be nothing else. Only coconut oil and bicarb. And, apparently, ridiculously healthy, clean people.
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