As it happens, non-toxic self care is not only healthier, but also can be a lot less expensive than using manufacturers offerings. I prefer to avoid those anyway, because even if you painstakingly select a product from a reputable small manufacturer with known safe ingredients, the product’s ingredients can and may change without any notice. Mega-corp tries not to let the word get out when they buy out a green” competitor – they’re buying that good reputation and they don’t want to spoil it. But then they feel free to change the ingredients to make it less expensive...often making it more toxic at the same time.
Many of the ingredients they are likely to put in to reduce cost without hampering effectiveness are linked to cancer, birth defects, reproductive disorders, heart disease, liver disease and lung disease. Several are also endocrine disruptors.
They include:
Butyl Acetate: keeps nail polish from chipping
Butylate Hydroxytoluene: prevents colors from fading and changing too quickly
Coal Tar: dissolves dead skin cells and controls itching used in shampoo and hair dye
Cocamide/Lauramide DEA: causes foaming in shampoo and bath products
Formaldehyde: disinfectant and preservative in deodorant, nail polish, soap, shampoo,
Diazolidinyl Urea: helps the disinfectants (like formaldehyde) work
Ethyl Acetate: liquid in nail polish, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume
Parabens: preservatives that don't allow bacteria to grow in your cosmetics
Petrolateum (Petroleum): makes lipsticks shine, creams smooth, and softens skin
Treithanolamine: keeps cosmetics from clumping
Triclosan: prevents bacteria from growing in your cosmetics, soaps, or deodorants
Toluene: liquid part of nail polish and hair dye makes it stick and look glossy
Talc: absorbs moisture and prevents powders like eye shadow, blush, deodorant from clumping
Sodium Laureth Sulfate: helps the cosmetics stick to your skin
Propylene glycol: keeps products from melting when it is too hot or freezing when it is too cold
Phthalates: keeps color and scents dissolved in the nail polish, perfume, hair spray and others
I focused on the top most used 15 cosmetics, which include:
Body wash/soap, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toner, acne cream, body lotion, face moisturizer, sun screen, hair de-tangler/conditioner, deodorant, and toothpaste.
Some of these recipes I use. Those I have marked with an asterisk*. Others I have no need for, but since I was teaching a class for young folk, I included some recipes I'd found on line for their concerns.
Body care
Body wash
Use a pure castile soap* or castor oil with baking soda
Shaving cream
Use pure castile soap
Body lotion
2 parts coconut oil 1 part jojoba oil 1 part olive oil (for dry skin or winter) *
Essential oils (optional)
Deodorant
Essential oils: lavender* or rosemary, dissolved in a bit of jojoba oil
Dental care
Toothpaste
Baking soda* and hydrogen peroxide
I still use a sensitive tooth toothpaste, but I use baking soda once a week or so to really clean my teeth
Mouthwash/pre-brush rinse *
1 cap water
1 cap hydrogen peroxide
1 drop tea tree oil for prebrush or peppermint for mouthwash
Swish for a few minutes before or after brushing. Make this up as you go because the peroxide loses effectiveness after a while when combined with other things and exposed top light and air.
Hair
Shampoo*
1 tsp of baking soda to 1 cup of water
Pour over wet hair and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse. Follow with vinegar hair rinse. If you use only one, use the vinegar -- baking soda is too alkaline and will ruin your hair if not neutralized.
Hair conditioner *
2 tbp of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water
Essential oils (optional): 1 drop
Pour over wet hair and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse.
Hair detangler/ Conditioner*
2 tablespoon jojoba oil
2 cups of water
10 drops Ylang Ylang 10 drops rosemary (for dark hair) or lemon (for blondes) essential oil.
Pour into a spray bottle that has a fine mist setting and spray on as needed.
Hair spray
Boil 1-tablespoon sugar in one-cup hot purified water, adding three to five drops of essential oil. Store the hair spray in a spray bottle in a cool and dry place and use within a week. Wash the nozzle of the bottle after each use to avoid clogging. Do not touch your hair until the spray dries.
Hair Mousse
Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon plain gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Let sit at room temperature until slightly set. Rub into hair (dry or wet), and blow dry.
Moisturizing hair mask
Mash together 1 medium avocado and 2 tablespoons of honey.
Massage into your hair and cover with a shower cap and a warm towel.
Leave for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse hair thoroughly with warm water and then with vinegar.
Facial Care
Face wash
Dry skin 1 part castor oil 1 part olive oil 1 part jojoba oil *
Oily skin 2 parts castor oil 1 part jojoba oil “
Normal skin 1 part castor oil 1 part jojoba oil
Toner
Pure witch hazel* tisane (no alcohol) or mild vinegar and water
Moisturizer*
1 part coconut oil
1 part jojoba oil
½ part olive oil (for dry skin or winter)
Essential oils (optional): lavender, neroli, myrrh, frankincense)
Facial mask
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons honey
10 drops of almond oil
Whip the ingredients together until a creamy consistency is achieved.
Zit cream
whip egg white with a drop of myrrh oil.
When it’s stiff, put a bit on the pimple and let it dry.
For black heads, peel it off.
For whiteheads or pimples, rinse with warm water.
Sun screen
wear a hat!
Facial scrub*
baking soda and water or castor oil
Lip Moisturizer
2 parts coconut oil
½ part jojoba oil
½ part olive oil (for dry skin or winter)
Essential oils (optional)
Essential Oils for Facial Care
Normal Skin
Carrier Oils: almond, apricot, hazelnut Additions: borage seed, evening primrose, jojoba Essential Oils: carrot, German chamomile, geranium, fennel, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, lemon, neroli, palmarosa, rose
Dry to Normal Skin
Carrier Oils: almond, apricot, avocado, olive oil, wheatgerm Additions: borage seed, evening primrose, jojoba
Essential Oils: carrot, German chamomile, geranium, lavender, neroli, palmarosa, patchouli, rose, rosemary, sandalwood.
Oily to Normal Skin
Carrier Oils: almond, apricot, grapeseed, hazelnut Additions: borage seed, evening primrose Essential Oils: carrot, German chamomile, cypress, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon, lime, marjoram, palmarosa, pettigrain, rosemary,
Antiaging essential oils to combat wrinkles: carrot, German chamomile, clary sage, fennel, frankincense, lavender, lemon, lime, myrrh, neroli, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, rosemary, thyme
Antiaging Additions: borage seed, evening primrose
Essential Oils for Hair Care
Normal Hair
Carrier Oils: almond, borage, evening primrose
Essential Oils: carrot, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, rosemary
Dry Hair
Carrier Oils: almond, avacado, borage, cocoa butter, jojoba, sesame
Essential Oils: birch, carrot, geranium, lavender, palmarosa, rosemary, sandalwood
Oily Hair
Carrier Oils: borage, evening primrose, sesame
Essential Oils: basil, birch, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, rosemary, sage, thyme
Hair Loss Essential Oils: basil, birch, carrot, Roman chamomile, clary sage, cypress, lemon, palmarosa, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, ylang ylang
Dandruff Essential Oils: basil, birch, carrot, cedarwood, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, lavender, lemon, rosemary, sage, tea tree, thyme
A Basic Self Care Kit can be built with: Baking Soda Apple Cider Vinegar, Jojoba oil, Castor oil Coconut oil, Witch hazel (look fore an alcohol-free brand, or make your own), Hydrogen peroxide, Essential oils (optional) Eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, lavender are our standbys
Learn more:
Skin Deep Cosmetics databse: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Campaign for safe cosmetics: http://www.safecosmetics.org/
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics DIY recipes http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=233#face
Eden Organic Beauty Recipes http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/browse.php?categories_id=4
The apple cider vinegar is great for conditioner. I swear by it! I've also used the baking soda on and off for years, it used to be great, but not so much now. Could it be that my hair changed?
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