DIY Organic Cosmetic Solutions

Most cosmetics contain toxic chemicals that can cause harm and age you prematurely.  They may look good and smell good, but underneath the facade of that beautiful packaging, those harsh chemicals are causing your skin to age faster than you ever imagined!  Why use toxic cosmetics, many of which were tested on animals, when you can have your makeup and eat it too?  You can make everything in your makeup bag from items you already have in your kitchen and some from your local health food store.

What’s in Your Makeup Bag?  

The effects of makeup on your health are more than just skin-deep. Your makeup bag harbors more horrors than you can shake a sharp stick at: everything from lead to asbestos and quite a few nasty things in between. Some of the ingredients moonlight as stabilizers for pesticides and industrial cleaners.  I think we all agree that something that’s used to clean a factory floor probably shouldn't be cleaning your delicate face?

The ugly truth about the beauty industry is that many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer, birth defects, infertility, as well as skin irritation and eczema.  Here is a short list of the chemicals with the most dire health consequences:

1. Phthalates

These endocrine disruptors found in synthetic fragrances and nail polish have been linked to breast cancer and early puberty in girls. Studies have also found high phthalate levels in people suffering from diabetes. Phthalates have been linked to obesity in children. 

2. Parabens
Used as an anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and as a preservative, parabens have been found in biopsies of breast tumors. Parabens are in 75-90 percent of cosmetic products!  The problem is that these are considered part of the “trade secret” ingredients, so cosmetic companies aren’t required to list them on the label. They are found in a wide range of creams, lotions, and antiperspirants. 

3. Ethylene Oxide

The National Toxicology Program classifies ethylene oxide as a known carcinogen. It is found in shampoos and fragrances and has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

4. LeadFound in a plethora of products, including sunscreens, lipsticks, foundations, nail polishes, and toothpastes with whitening properties, lead is a neurotoxin that is known to reduce fertility and may result in learning and language disabilities and behavioral problems.

5. Triclosan

A popular anti-bacterial, triclosan can be found in cleansers, antiperspirants, cosmetics, and toothpastes. Triclosan is actually classified as a pesticide, and it can have serious effects on your hormones, especially those associated with the thyroid, which regulate the metabolism. Widespread use of triclosan in hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial soaps is linked to increased bacterial resistance. 

DIY Deodorant

Antiperspirant contains anti-bacterial chemicals and zinc, which are linked to breast cancer and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.  So why not toss your underarm sticks and make your own?  You probably already have everything you need!

Ingredients

3 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons baking soda
3 tablespoons cornstarch

Mix all the ingredients into a stiff paste and spoon into an empty underarm deodorant stick. Cool in the fridge until firm. Apply as usual.  *Note: if it is very warm in your home, keep the deodorant in the fridge so that the coconut oil doesn’t liquefy.

DIY Face Powder and Eye Shadow

Talc, a known toxic substance, is found in face powders and eye shadows, where it acts as an anti-caking agent. Talc contains asbestos, which causes cancer in the breast and lungs. 

Face powders and eye shadows also contain zinc and may cause skin irritation with extended use. Dr. Donald Grant, dermatitis specialist, says, “Unfortunately I do see an awful lot of women who have eczema or inflammation on their eyelids and nowhere else. The tissue around the eyes dries out as you get older.”

Ingredients
Arrowroot
Cocoa powder for brown eye shadow
Beet powder for pink eye shadow
Spirulina for green eye shadow
Activated charcoal for black/gray eye shadow
Nutmeg for golden brown eye shadow

Directions

For the eye shadows, use one-quarter of a teaspoon of arrowroot as your base. Now add color until you get the shade you desire.

For face powder, start with one tablespoon of arrowroot and slowly add cocoa and nutmeg until you get a shade that matches your skin tone. 

DIY Mascara and Eyeliner

Smokey eyes can be healthily achieved when you follow this easy recipe that serves as both an eyeliner and mascara.  Use an old mascara tube and a brush to apply the mixture. To clean the mascara tube, soak it in very hot water for 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.

Ingredients
3/4 tsp beeswax
1/2 tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp shea butter
2 tsp aloe vera gel
1 capsule activated charcoal

Directions

Place the beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, place the ingredients in a glass or metal bowl in a pot of water.  

Heat gently over a very low heat until all the ingredients are melted and mixed. Break open the capsule, add the charcoal, and mix well. Use a funnel to pour the mixture into the mascara tube or pour it into a container for eyeliner.

If you don't have a funnel, pour the mixture into a plastic bag, snip a corner off, and then squeeze the bag so that the mixture can be piped into the mascara tube without spilling. 

For more information on DIY's info graphics and more, please visit: http://www.fix.com/blog/diy-organic-makeup/.  

Original Article by: Nikki Fotheringham from FIX.

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Green Your Cleaning Routine with Non-Toxic Chemicals

If you've ever been curious how to clean your house with no chemicals, this is a post for you!  I've been on a mission to clean up my families beauty and health routine for some time now and I've learned a lot along the way.  

So here are some tips to get you started in the right direction.  Remember, it just takes a little research online and to be diligent and read labels on the products you buy in-store.  Research non-toxic cleaning diy's or products and start cleaning up your routine.  You'll feel good about using less chemicals and your lungs with thank you too, when they're no longer breathing in the harsh chemicals.

• Tip #1 - Dump the toxic shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, aftershave, perfume, soap, lotion, skincare and make-up!  Remember, 90% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream and then finds it's way to your major organs.  These harsh chemicals cannot be filtered out of the body because their toxins.  The body stores them in the fatty tissues and after some time, cells will begin to mutate what is later into cancer if there is too much toxic build up.  

• Tip #2 - Clean your Bathtub without toxins.  Once you've washed your body, let out half of the water.  Soap up your washrag, scrubby mitt, or whatever it is you use to wash yourself.  Use it to wash out the soap ring around the tub. That same soap ring you have struggled to clean with numerous sprays and powders immediately dissolves when faced with plain old organic soap.  Just rub in a circular motion and rinse.  Do this every time you take a bath and your tub will stay clean.

• Tip #3 - Clean your oven without harsh chemicals.  To do this, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the surfaces in your oven.  Let it sit for 12 hours. Use a wet towel to wipe out the oven the next day.  Then spray vinegar on any residue that is left.  Finally, wipe with a wet towel.

• Tip #4 - Clean Floors Naturally.  An environmentally friendly way to clean your carpets is Baking soda.  You not only can get carpets cleaner by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and then vacuuming it up, the carpets will smell better, too.  You can use plain hot water to wash your carpets, or you can add essential oils or vinegar to the water. For spot cleaning, try spraying with a vinegar solution of 1:1 vinegar to water.  Remember that the first thing to do when anything spills on the carpet is to blot, blot blot. After dabbing, stand on that towel to soak up anything that is trapped under the fibers. Then pour a little boiling, hot water on the area and blot it again.

Other non-toxic cleaners - As far as other cleaners, use baking soda, lemons, salt, and vinegar as much as you can to replace those toxic chemical cleaners. If you do choose to purchase cleaners, read the labels well - beware of "greenwashing".   Just because it says natural, doesn't mean it is.  Try Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap!  With 25 uses in 1 - it cleans everything from your face, body and hair to your laundry, dishes, floors, bathrooms, the entire kitchen and more.

You can also look for some good natural, non-toxic cleaners online or in the store which are non and low toxicity and better for you and your family.  Some good ones you can find at Target and Walmart are Seventh Generation, Meyers, Method and Green Works.  You can also purchase healthier cleaning products at Honest.com, Amazon.com and Vitacost.

Detox Your Body
Now that you've cleaned up your cleaning routine and thrown out the toxic cleaning products, it's time to clean their residue out of your body.  Many chemicals are endocrine disruptors; others erode our health in numerous ways, including gut inflammation that disturbs the proper balance of bacteria so essential to all processes of the body and this causes all kinds of problems in the body.  For a complete detox, I recommend Eden Total Cleanse.  This will supercharge your body and immunity to completely detox your body and help you burn fat and loose weight fast.

Make sure you purchase truly green, non-toxic cleaners for washing dishes and clothes. Not just for the environment - it's also for you and your family.  Remember when you use standard cleaning products, you are ingesting harsh chemicals that come in contact with your dishes and your skin will soak in any chemicals that come in contact with your clothes.


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