Q: Any recipes for affordable natural body care products?
A: I was in my teens when I first decided to break free from drugstore chemicals toward more natural products. Being broke, I reached for the cheapest health store products around. Shame they didn’t all turn out to be as clean and green as I’d hoped.
The thing is, if you really want top natural prepackaged purity, you’re generally going to have to pay a few bucks more than you would at a drugstore. Luckily, there is a secret to accessing genuinely pure and effective products that won’t break the bank – make them yourself.
Just yesterday, I bypassed my $16 organic shampoo and stirred up a mug of one of the most impressive new shampoos I’ve tried: baking soda and water. Yes, I’m serious. I stirred 2 tablespoons of basic baking soda into 2 cups of warm water, flipped my head upside down and started drizzling. Once my hair was wet with the solution, I rubbed it into my scalp for a minute, then rinsed it out.
How did I condition it? I poured another mug with 2 tablespoons of shine-boosting apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of warm water on my head and rinsed. And, no, I didn’t smell like a chip truck!
You’ll be amazed to see how gently but thoroughly this cleans your hair. You’ll also be part of the growing “no ‘poo” movement (an unfortunate name, I know). This technique’s not really recommended for frequent use by those with colour-treated hair, and apple cider won’t be enough for really dry hair, but all you need to do in that case is go to your kitchen and put a few drops of straight oil in your hair.
Grape seed oil’s a good option because it’s scentless (unlike olive which also works well as a hot oil treatment), and you can use it for cooking and conditioning. Ditto for coconut oil, fab on hair and in muffins.
Did I mention that simple oil doubles as your all-over body lotion, too, without pumping you full of the usual petrochemicals found in drugstore creams? For real. My whole family does it. My gorgeous mom uses straight safflower on her legs, but I prefer coconut oil for that all-natural tropical smell. For your facial moisturizer, the most economical oil is jojoba. It’s not dirt cheap, but at a few drops a day, it’ll last you.
And guys (those of you who actually shave clean and bypass the beard-trimmer craze), just trust me: put down the air-polluting aerosol can of gel and shave with a few drops of grape seed oil on your face instead. Your skin will love it, and so will your wallet.
This DIY kitchen cupboard goodness doesn’t end with moisturizers. Try controlling your BO with a puff of baking soda. Wet it a little if you like before you apply. It’s not for everyone, but it definitely has some fans. Or if you want to get fancy, experiment with online recipes like this one: crunchybetty.com/not-a-secret-homemade-deodorant.
Really, the possibilities for homemade DIY body care products are endless. Everything from foot scrubs to face masks and toothpaste recipes can be found online on sites like makeyourcosmetics.com. There’s even a Complete Idiot’s Guide To Making Natural Beauty Products.
And don’t stop with lotions and potions. Girls, if you’re even slightly crafty, you can try making your own that-time-of-the-month reusable cloth pads. For all kinds of patterns and tutorials, check out alter-eco.info/cloth-pad-patterns.html.
Anyone who tells you living on the cheap relegates you to crappy, toxin-laced drugstore products is so totally out to lunch. Show naysayers how to make good stuff at home in 60 seconds flat and they’ll be converted. Or you can keep your beauty secrets just that – a secret.
Got a question?
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