Natural Personal Care

Did you know that what you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat? To improve our health, we should diligently consider not only the quality of ingredients in the food we consume but also in the personal care products we use. The skin is our largest organ and what is put on it penetrates inside in a matter of minutes. Commercial skin care and personal hygiene products have an unending list of ingredients, most of which are impossible to pronounce. This leads me to wonder... does my hair (skin, teeth etc) require 47 ingredients to be clean...is this natural...what are the side effects...what happens to these chemicals when they go down my drain?

In a never ending attempt to live more naturally, simply, resourcefully, healthfully and respectfully our family has changed many of the products found in our bathroom. It has been a process. We began to replacing our personal care products with the ones labeled "natural" or "organic". I tried MANY different tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and deodorants...without success. We're unpleased with the results and the products are rather expensive for my budget.

"Do I have to do everything myself?!" I want natural personal care products that are safe for my family, respectful to the environment and soft on my budget. So... I do it myself! I use safe, natural products to make many of the items that do on our skin.

I can not guarantee pursuing a healthy lifestyle with food, body products, cleaning supplies, etc will be a piece of cake, but I will say it is definitely worth it. Taking good care of our bodies will make us more fit for the Masters use!

Remember take your time incorporating a more natural lifestyle into your home. Start by adding one new thing a month so it is not to overwhelming.

Tooth Paste: Additives like fluoride, flavoring, coloring, and foaming agents are now a standard part of the recipe for commercial toothpaste. Even commercial "natural" tooth paste has a long list of ingredients I don't know. But you can keep your teeth clean and white and your gums healthy without these additives.

Recipe #1

1 Tbsp Dr. Bronners castile liquid soap or any natural castile liquid soap-we use Baby Mild unscented (because it is the most versatile for us)

5 Tbsp coconut oil

3 Tbsp baking powder

Essential oil (10-25 drops), I use spearmint (peppermint is also good)

Stevia, or to sweeten to your taste – a few dashes or so works

Mix all ingredients together. I store mine in a small glass jar with a lid and we just scoop some onto our tooth brush. You can also store it in a new soap dispenser and just pump some out on your tooth brush. To put in a soap dispenser: omit baking soda, add 1 Tbsp or more water- to get the consistency you want (this makes it thin enough to put in a soap dispenser).

Recipe #2

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup vegetable glycerin

1 Tbsp castile liquid soap

A few drops peppermint, anise, wintergreen essential oil, optional

dash of stevia or xylitol

Combine ingredients with a hand mixer or by hand as desired. Store in a old toothpaste dispenser by cutting the end off and filling with your toothpaste. Seal the end with masking tape until it is ready for a re-fill.

Note: These toothpaste recipes are safer for children than many of the commercial tooth pastes. (safe to swallow) The only thing that you may want to be careful about is the essential oil. If this is a concern for you just stick with a smaller amount.

What about the fluoride? This lovely product is added to many water supplies and toothpaste. Dentists supposedly say it prevents tooth decay. However, this product has been banned from adding to water in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, France and The Netherlands, I question why it is still being promoted as a healthy product here in the U.S.

But there is another form of fluoride that is added to your average container of toothpaste along with the warning DO NOT SWALLOW. Fluoride is toxic and dangerous and numerous studies have shown the dangers of fluoride to your health. For more information on fluoride I encourage you to do your own research or visit Mercola.com.

Shampoo- A combination of Dr. Bronner’s soap and other mainly edible ingredients this recipe not only works great as a shampoo but also has apple cider vinegar in it, which is a natural detangler, thus serving the purpose of a conditioner. Use a spray bottle to apply it and it also can be used in replacement of a traditional bar of soap to clean the rest of your body.

1 cup Dr Bronner Organic Castile liquid soap (we use Baby Mild, pictured
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

3/4 Tbsp tea tree and vitamin E oil oil

1/4 cup water

1 16oz spray bottle or other container for application

Combine and store in spray bottle. Although it is thinner then other shampoo's, it sprays well. To wash: spray on hair, rub to active the suds and then scrub scalp.

Note: This will leave your hair slightly greasy, but that is actually more natural, modern shampoos remove natural oils and dry out your hair.

Recipe #2

1 oz Olive Oil

1 egg

1 Tbsp lemon Juice

1 t Apple cider vinegar

Blend together and store in the refrigerator between uses.

Recipe #3 This baking soda paste is great at removing build up from hair products and is a deep cleanser.

1 Tbsp baking Soda

1 cup water.

Mix together in an old dispenser. Massage this into the scalp and rinse well. It does not have a soapy feel to it by cleanses more thoroughly.

Conditioner: #1 Coconut oil is a great leave in conditioner. It softens hair, moisturizes the scalp and leaves the hair shiny. Your scalp actually absorbs coconut oil very will and does not leave it greasy. Apply a pea sized drop to wet hair after the shower. Coat your hands by rubbing them together, run your hands through hair and rub into hair. You can also use a comb to distribute the oil throughout hair. repeat if desired.

#2 Apple cider vinegar diluted in water cleans, detangles, resets pH balance, moisturizes, and removes "wax" from commercial shampoos. Combine 1-2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 cup of water in a new spray bottle. In the shower: spray ends of hair and rinse well.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been proven beneficial to take internally but also offer many topical health benefits too. It is an all natural remedy that helps the skin and scalps pH balance. Maintaining healthy skin (scalp)with a proper pH balance assists in the skins normal detox process. Our favorite Apple Cider Vinegar is Bragg's Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, is easy to find and great internally and externally.

Skin care, Aftershave, Lotion, Moisturizer, Hair Gel, Defrizzer, Curling Gel, Make-Up Remover: Coconut Oil. A little dab will do. For the make-up remover just put coconut oil on to a cotton ball to remove mascara and other products.

Note: I love the way coconut oil enhances my hairs natural curl!

Coconut Oil, is the healthiest (most versatile) dietary oil on earth. For more information about the amazing benefits of incorporating coconut oil into your daily diet and natural body products read more here or pick up the book Coconut Oil Miracle. For the best prices on coconut oil visit Mountain Rose Herbs.

Deodorant: It is especially important for women to take thought in the harmful aluminum material in deodorant as it has been linked to breast cancer, being that the lymph nodes that go to the breast are next to the arm pits.

I have tried MANY brands with no lasting success. Commercial and Natural deodorants have always been temperamental for me. There are some safe, natural brands, including Thai Crystal Stones, but every product I tried left me smelling worse that if I would not wear any. This deodorant works wonderfully! I am so happy with it!

1/4 baking soda

1/4 cup arrowroot powder or non GMO corn starch

3-6 Tbsp coconut oil (softened)

Mix baking soda and arrowroot powder. Slowly add coconut oil, stirring with a spoon, until it maintains the substance you desire. You can then scoop it into an old dispenser or place it in a small container with a lid and apply it with your fingers. My husband didn't like the idea of using his fingers at first, but you can use what is left on your fingers as lotion! This lasts about 3 months with 2 people using it.