On my quest to Make >LESS< Work by using fewer household products.
I am passionate of this topic, too. Ask my husband who snickers each time he walks into a room and sees me making another 'concoction'. I think we all can do with fewer cleaning products AND fewer health and beauty products.
According to the Environmental Working Group's site (EWG) Skin Deep "our survey of 2300 people, on average, respondents use nine products daily. These contain 126 unique ingredients. One man in 100 and fully 25 percent of women surveyed apply 15 or more products each day." How many of those products are harmful to us? Probably more than you think.
When I was preparing to be a new Mom, and doing all the reading about parenting, I became aware of the function of our skin - our largest organ in the body. It isn't just an external covering but a TWO-WAY barrier. One of the tips for babies, and for us all, is that NEVER put anything on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth and eat (since our skin is going to drink it in). That was eye opening for me.
Since then, I've been conscious about what I was smoothing on my skin. I use olive, coconut, or almond oil quite often for the base of many concoctions. I still can't part with the fun of wearing make-up, for now, but at least I can be conscious about what it contains and try to make better choices.
Deodorant
If you want to do one thing to improve your health and well being…you can make your own deodorant. Be aware, that it is not an antiperspirant; however it does stop odor. Our bodies were made to eliminate toxins through perspiration; we shouldn't prevent that. But we can cut down on the odor with a simple recipe. Just mix the ratio of 2:2:1 cornstarch : baking soda : coconut oil, and you may add any essential oils or perfume if you wish. That's it.
In one bowl I mix equal parts of corn starch and baking soda in whatever quantity you wish. Start small like two tablespoons each. Next, I soften the coconut oil to be slightly liquid in the microwave (that is another topic for another time) or if it is warmer than 75 degrees in the house, it may be liquid already. For instance use 1 tablespoon. Then just pour in the coconut oil and mix until it is a runny paste. You can add a perfume or essential oil if you wish. I like to use my Monoi Oil (which is just coconut oil infused with gardenia flowers) or a drop or two of Bergamont Oil which gives it a citrusy clean smell. I store that runny stuff in a little jar and keep in the bathroom. After the shower when I am dried off, I take a nickel-size dab and smear it under each arm and smooth in. Be careful not to rub too vigorously because the baking soda can be a bit abrasive. In colder months, the coconut oil will harden in the container. You'll have to scrap off a fingerful and hold it to your underarms for about 2 seconds and then it will emulsify and you can smooth it around where you need it.
It sounds more complicated than it really is. The benefits are so worth the effort. It does leave a slight powdery residue on dark sleeveless tops at first, but I haven't found that the oil has ever stained anything, surprisingly. My white tops doesn't have any yellowish stains from it, which I was pleased about, and it has never stained my silk blouses.
I've read where some people have added beeswax to it, to keep it soft, but I haven't tried that, so I can't comment on its effectiveness.
So do something good for your body. Begin with just ONE change. Have fun with that concoction. Make it your own! Let me know your results.
I am passionate of this topic, too. Ask my husband who snickers each time he walks into a room and sees me making another 'concoction'. I think we all can do with fewer cleaning products AND fewer health and beauty products.
According to the Environmental Working Group's site (EWG) Skin Deep "our survey of 2300 people, on average, respondents use nine products daily. These contain 126 unique ingredients. One man in 100 and fully 25 percent of women surveyed apply 15 or more products each day." How many of those products are harmful to us? Probably more than you think.
When I was preparing to be a new Mom, and doing all the reading about parenting, I became aware of the function of our skin - our largest organ in the body. It isn't just an external covering but a TWO-WAY barrier. One of the tips for babies, and for us all, is that NEVER put anything on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth and eat (since our skin is going to drink it in). That was eye opening for me.
Since then, I've been conscious about what I was smoothing on my skin. I use olive, coconut, or almond oil quite often for the base of many concoctions. I still can't part with the fun of wearing make-up, for now, but at least I can be conscious about what it contains and try to make better choices.
Deodorant
If you want to do one thing to improve your health and well being…you can make your own deodorant. Be aware, that it is not an antiperspirant; however it does stop odor. Our bodies were made to eliminate toxins through perspiration; we shouldn't prevent that. But we can cut down on the odor with a simple recipe. Just mix the ratio of 2:2:1 cornstarch : baking soda : coconut oil, and you may add any essential oils or perfume if you wish. That's it.
In one bowl I mix equal parts of corn starch and baking soda in whatever quantity you wish. Start small like two tablespoons each. Next, I soften the coconut oil to be slightly liquid in the microwave (that is another topic for another time) or if it is warmer than 75 degrees in the house, it may be liquid already. For instance use 1 tablespoon. Then just pour in the coconut oil and mix until it is a runny paste. You can add a perfume or essential oil if you wish. I like to use my Monoi Oil (which is just coconut oil infused with gardenia flowers) or a drop or two of Bergamont Oil which gives it a citrusy clean smell. I store that runny stuff in a little jar and keep in the bathroom. After the shower when I am dried off, I take a nickel-size dab and smear it under each arm and smooth in. Be careful not to rub too vigorously because the baking soda can be a bit abrasive. In colder months, the coconut oil will harden in the container. You'll have to scrap off a fingerful and hold it to your underarms for about 2 seconds and then it will emulsify and you can smooth it around where you need it.
It sounds more complicated than it really is. The benefits are so worth the effort. It does leave a slight powdery residue on dark sleeveless tops at first, but I haven't found that the oil has ever stained anything, surprisingly. My white tops doesn't have any yellowish stains from it, which I was pleased about, and it has never stained my silk blouses.
I've read where some people have added beeswax to it, to keep it soft, but I haven't tried that, so I can't comment on its effectiveness.
So do something good for your body. Begin with just ONE change. Have fun with that concoction. Make it your own! Let me know your results.
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