Easy Natural Beauty

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Today I came across an interesting article in The Daily Green about natural beauty products, and it got me thinking about the whole concept of all natural beauty.  The article is by a “reformed beauty queen” (Sammy Davis) who – like most of us – was once enticed by the allure and claims of the beauty industry and its products.  And, then, she saw the light:

According to a 2005 survey . . . the average woman encounters 168 chemical ingredients in her beauty regimen everyday.

With 90% of the 10,500 different chemicals used in personal care products never evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for safety, it’s impossible to have peace of mind when our skin is potentially absorbing chemicals that might cause cancer, reproductive problems or other health concerns. Plus, some of these chemicals can harm the environment, too. Even the drugs and personal care products that disappear down the drain can harm fish and other wildlife at the other end of the pipe.

[This is a] big deal [because] we’re using these products regularly, essentially creating a stockpile of some chemicals in our bodies (stored in fat cells) that may only cause harm after years of use. Some preservative chemicals used in cosmetics (like parabens) have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, contributing to breast cancer.  Pregnant mothers can pass along the effects of some chemicals to their unborn offspring, like testicular abnormalities in little boys or vaginal cancer in teenage girls. And don’t think that spending more money is the answer — endocrine-disrupting chemicals  are found in both drugstore and high-end department store brands.

Alarmed by these facts, Sammy has decided to take preventative measures while she’s in her 20s. (Why wasn’t I that smart in my 20s?)  She did some research and compiled her own “8 Commandments of Natural Beauty,”  and what I’d like to focus on here is Commandment #7. Commandment #7 involves starting small by replacing three products, and I’d like to help you do that by offering you some natural replacements for them.  Sometimes, to get all natural beauty, you need to start with just some natural beauty.



Product #1:  Perfume and Cologne



The companies involved in this multi-million dollar industry want to guard their secrets.  As a result, they aren’t legally required to list their ingredients so who knows what you’re getting?  And whatever it is, many women apply it everyday, multiple times, and in multiple places. Try making your own scent instead.



Homemade Scent

Ingredients:
essential oils (Pick your favorites.)
2 1/2 ounces of vodka
2 tablespoons of distilled water

Slowly stir the essential oil(s) into the vodka.  When everything is completely mixed, let it sit for 2 days. After the 2 days, slowly stir the distilled water into the mixture and let that sit 2 days.  Check the mixture, and if you’d like it stronger, allow it to sit longer.

Store your finished product in a dark glass bottle to protect it from sunlight, which will kill the scent.

Note: It can take a little trial and error to get the right potency so start slowly with 4-8 drops of  just one essential oil.



Product #2:  Face Lotion



I’ve fanatical about using face lotion since I was in a pre-teen.  (I may not have been as foresighted  as Sammy about the distant consequences of toxic beauty products, but I sure was about the possibility of wrinkles!) I slathered it on and was never without it.  If you do the same, you’re giving the chemicals in your products their best possible chance of being absorbed into your skin.



I’ve already given you a recipe for Peach Lotion for dry skin and one for Strawberry Cream and Olive Olive Oil Night Cream for oily skin, but did you know you can just use almond oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter for a face lotion/cream?   Experiment to see which works best for your skin, and if you’re using one of the butters, be sure to rub it in your hands first so you don’t over apply it to your face.



Product #3: Deoderant



I don’t know anyone who would consider giving this one up, but according to Sammy,

The most active and effective ingredient in non-green deodorants, aluminum, will aid hygiene by blocking pores from releasing smelly sweat, but some suspect it could contribute to health problems by preventing toxins produced by sweat from escaping the body. Aluminum has been linked to increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, brain and respiratory disorders and possibly breast cancer.

I can hear some of you now, “Make deodorant? Are you kidding?”  Well, Amy at Angry Chicken made it, and here’s her recipe:



Ingredients:
3 tablespoons shea butter
3 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons cocoa butter
2 vitamin E oil gel caps (puncture and squeeze out the oil)
essential oil (She used ylang yang and orange.)

Melt all the ingredients (except the oils) and give it a good stir. Takes about 30 seconds in the microwave. Then add the oils, stir again, and pour it in a jar.  Put it in the fridge to set. Makes about ¼ pint.



I hope these baby steps will help you get started on the All Natural Beauty path.  (Natural, beautiful, and healthy, why wouldn’t you want to go there?) Let me know how the recipes work for you.



P.S. If you want to read all eight of Sammy Davis’s commandments, you can do so at http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/natural-beauty-cosmetics/natural-beauty-tips#ixzz0vqJMks7J.