Homemade Beauty Products

Do you smoke? No, of course not, you might say...it's bad for the lungs. How about your diet? Are you having Sausage McMuffins for breakfast every day? I wouldn't dream of it, you reply. What about alcohol? Is there whiskey in your coffee at the office every morning? Never! you declare.

We are taking care of our hearts, lungs, liver...all of our organs are being treated with TLC by our healthy lifestyles...or at least, we are trying, right? Yet what about the largest organ in our body, our skin? After all, it is covered with millions of pores that take in anything around them - the good (sunshine!) the bad (pollution) and the ugly (dimethicone, for example, found in some moisturizers).

That's why I love homemade beauty products. They are natural, without a chemical in sight. They are affordable. Eight ounces of Origins body scrub is almost $28.00. Eight ounces of my Yummy Sugary Body Polish? Pennies. Homemade goods are not packaged in some plastic thing that took loads of energy to make and ship, and that now will live forever in a landfill. Best of all, they are fun! All the oils, fragrances and actual food that goes into homemade beauty products makes them a real treat to use, or to give as a gift! No mystery ingredients. No department store mark-up. No animal testing (unless you want to try it on your dog, and please don't. My children have done this and dogs really do not appreciate it!)

Don't get me wrong. I adore Origins Body Scrub and I use my fair share of store-bought goodies. (Just read my other Hubs to hear all about it!) I just like to mix it up a little, using my homemade treats when I am feeling like I want to be more natural, or I am budgeting. Nobody is saying you can never use your faves again - just give these and try, and maybe they will become favorites too!

So let's go! And if you like this hub, rate it, comment on it, or pass it on to a friend!

This smells ridiculously good. Seriously, the only aroma that has ever come close was the smell of my children when they were babies

1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of almond oil
1/4 cup of liquid lavender soap (Jason Brand is best, since it uses natural ingredients)
1/4 tsp of vanilla

Combine all ingredients. Store in a Mason jar or any sort of airtight container. This will need a good mix before each use - I just use the end of my back brush in the shower to stir, then pour onto my loofah and scrub away! Sooooo wonderful.

Perfect for when you want to pretend you are sunbathing on a Greek Island instead of hopping into bed and watching a re-run of Friends.

1/2 cup table salt

1/4 cup olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

2 tsp. crushed, fresh rosemary or 1 tsp. dried rosemary

Combine ingredients. Store in Mason jar or any airtight container. Stir before each use. Do not use after shaving, as the salt will irritate your skin.

Preferably enjoyed with a glass of wine (trashy gossip magazine optional).

1 peach or 2 small apricots

1 cup oatmeal

1 Tbs. honey or agave nectar (if you use honey, you might want to make sure it's from a reputable, humane beekeeper....sorry, the vegan in me is rearing her ugly head!)

Pop the peach into some boiling water for about 2 minutes, to loosen skin. Taking care not to burn yourself, peel the peach and put into a food processor. Add the oatmeal and honey or agave nectar and pulse until well combined. Smear onto face and chill for 10 minutes.

So named because you will look like everyone's favorite ogre once you have applied this. Although avocado masks have been done and re-done for years, it is worth repeating a basic recipe here. Why? Because avocado is simply wonderful for the skin, loaded with potassium and Vitamin E, plus all the wonderful "good" fats about which we hear so much. I advocate eating avocados frequently and rubbing the avocado skin onto your skin - but for the more calorie conscious, a mask is a great way to get all the benefits without the calories.

1/2 an avocado, mashed well

1 tsp lime juice (optional)

Combine, smear...you know what to do by now!

This recipe comes is adapted from one I found at www.creativehomemaking.com. I have vegan-ized it.

In a blender, combine 1 ounce olive oil, 1 Tbs. ground flaxseed, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Use as regular shampoo.

To remove gunk left over form products, shampoo and conditioner, combine 1/4 cup beer, vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup water. Pour slowly over hair after washing. If you opt for the beer, this is not the best treatment to do right before going to work, as you may smell like a saloon.

If you have some bananas laying around that are getting dark, and you hate to waste them, you have two options: Make banana bread or beauty products. If you opt for the latter, here are some ideas:

• combine mashed banana and 2 Tbs. warmed jojoba oil and massage into the ends of your hair.
  
• combine mashed banana and natural, sugar-free soy yogurt and blend; great facial mask.
• banana, cinnamon and brown sugar combined make a good scrub. Add any favorite oil if desired. (If not adding oil, be sure to moisturize after scrubbing).
• combine 1 banana, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup soy yogurt, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and some ice cubes in a blender. This makes a healthy smoothie (add flaxseed for even more nutrition).
  

You know, we could just stop blow-drying, flat-ironing, curling, coloring and processing our hair and then we would not need this. Oh, never mind, here's the recipe!

1/4 cup coconut, olive or almond oil

1/2 cup silken tofu (yes, really!)

Combine oil and tofu well. Heat over low hat until warm. Massage into damp hair, especially ends. Twist hair into a bun and secure with claw clip; cover with shower cap and leave for 1 hour. Shampoo as usual.

Alternately, heat oil in microwave until warm, but not too hot. Add to tofu and blend extremely well. Microwave for 15 seconds, stir and add proceed with application.

This is the ultimate luxury; homemade soap rich in lavender and olive oil, deeply fragrant and nourishing. Well, I suppose the ultimate luxury would really be a yacht docked in the French Riviera instead of a soap made with French inspired ingredients....but you get the idea.

• molds muffin tins, old yogurt containers, mini tart-tins, anything small is fine
• nonstick cooking spray or petroleum jelly
• glycerin soap
• lavender essential oil or any essential oils you like
• about 1/2 cup olive oil (exact measurement is difficult)
  

1. Coat molds evenly with cooking spry or petroleum jelly; wipe away excess.
2. To determine how much glycerin soap you will need, fill the molds with water, then transfer water to liquid measuring cup; note the amount, and empty measuring cup.Chop the soap into 1/2 inch chunks; place in measuring cup and microwave, covered with a paper towel, until melted, but not boiling. As you microwave, add olive oil a little at a time, until the oil/soap combo is the same amount as the water measured before. (You can also melt in double boiler).
3. Remove glycerin from the microwave and stir until smooth. Skim off any bubbles. Add food coloring to tint to desired color. Reheat for 15 seconds, or until color is incorporated.
4. Add 4-5 drops of desired essential oil, and any spices you like. Also, if desired, add oatmeal.
5. Pour into molds and let harden for 2 hours. Pop out of mold and voila!
   

If you love a good cup of herbal tea, you will adore these cute little bath-time teabags. They function like any other teabag - but in the hot tub water, not your cup! Wonderful.

Cut circles from muslin, 3-4 inches in diameter. (a CD is perfect for tracing the circle, as it is the right size). Fill with 1/4 cup dried lemon verbena, lavender, chamomile, peppermint - any herb you like, really. Secure with kitchen twine at the top, creating a cute little parcel of herbs. Make as many varieties as you like...stuffed into a beautiful box with tissue paper, they make a lovely gift.

Alternately, you can save your teabags and stuff those, then re-seal with twine or waterproof glue. Not as attractive though!