In Celebration of Earth Day, I’m doing a short series of posts that will help us all to live greener healthier lives, and also help us save some moolah! See the previous installments of this series HERE and HERE.
Earth Day Tip #3: Use Better Health and Beauty Items
With coupons and drug store shopping, most of us end up getting our Health and Beauty items for free. But most of these products are not good for our bodies or the environment. Here are some recommendations for products and recipes for things you can make to help your family use healthier products.
1. Use your overage from coupons or drug store deals to get the natural items. I usually use my Extra Bucks from CVS to get some natural deodorant
2. Watch for the deals. This week at Walgreens, Organic Wear items are quite a deal after rebate. Watch for things like this.
3. Make Your Own Concoctions.
- Wash with Baking Soda (2-3 Tbs mixed with water to make a paste) and Rinse with Vinegar (dilute 3 Tbs in 3 cups of water for a rinse). Do this 2-3 times a week. Your hair will go through a detox stage for about 2 weeks, but it’s not terrible.
- Basic Shampoo Recipe: 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s), 1/2 tsp. light vegetable oil (omit if you have oily hair). Makes 4 oz. Wash as you normally would and rinse well with water.
- Herbal Shampoo Recipe: Mix 1/2 cup of water and 2 tbs dried herbs or 1/3 cup of fresh herbs (chamomile, rosemary or lavender). Heat gradually on the stove, and then let steep for 20 minutes (like you are making a tea). Add in 1/2 cup of the Basic Shampoo recipe above and 2 tbs of glycerin. Mix well and let set in a squeeze bottle overnight to thicken. Makes 8 oz. Wash as normal and rinse with water.
4. Find other inexpensive products to use. I really like coconut oil. You can cook with it, spread it on toast like butter, use it as a moisturizer for your face and body and it is a natural sunscreen.
What are some natural products or concoctions you use in your home? I’d love to hear some other tips!
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I love using honey as a facewash and pure shea butter as a moisturizer. My complexion has improved so much since switching to these a year ago. I also love using makeup from Everyday Minerals. It’s inexpensive, but well-made!
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coconut oil is a natural sunscreen? How effective is it?
thanks for the ideas! i usually end up donating our samples and freebies to shelters b/c we don’t use the products.
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Krista – I just recently learned that you could use coconut oil as a sunscreen so I am unsure as to how affective it is. If you ever watch Man vs. Wild, he talks about using it if you are ever stranded on a deserted island. It’s good stuff. I plan on experimenting with it in the coming weeks.
I like to use oils and brown sugar as exfoliating scrubs. I mix brown sugar with olive, jojoba, and sweet almond oil in a small jar and then scrub my legs with it after I shave. It makes them sooooo soft and silky once out of the shower. It is very messy in the shower but once you dry off and pat down with the towel, it feels so nice. I also use this scrub on my face once every other week or so and wash off with a wet steamy rag several times. I love using oils!! The benefits are so great.
Oh and I second the EveryDayMinerals makeup line. Fantastic product and very very affordable. I cleaned out all other makeup products once I found this line and I use nothing else (except mascara and lip liner, which they don’t make). The makeup is a good sunscreen too because of the zinc I think. I swipe some on my baby girl’s face when we go outside instead of putting sunscreen.
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