Chemical Product Users Anonymous
In much the same way that I used to enjoy the lingering chemical scent of name brand cleaning products, once upon a time I also claimed unending confidence in the working power of chemical laden hygiene products.
“Hello, my name is Lindsey, and I was a ProActive user.”
Needless to say, I have learned my lesson. I am not where I want to be, but I am slowly transitioning to a healthier hygiene regimen.
You Are What Your Skin Eats
I am not really sure when it happened, when the American people transitioned into a day and age where the idea of a product being homemade was less than quality, even beneath them. Homemade food is considered the top echelon of edible delights, but homemade deodorant - “No, thank you!”
Do you know what you are putting in your body?
We are concerned with calories and the source of our foods, but we never think twice about what our skin consumes. Maybe we think that because we are not ingesting it, that it is okay. Maybe we think that because we can just wash it off later, it will not affect our internal systems. Maybe we are wrong …
Dr. Joseph Mercola says, “Our skin is our largest organ, not only the largest, but also the thinnest. Only 1/10th of an inch separates you from all sorts of toxins. Your skin is highly permeable, allowing what you apply to your skin access to your bloodstream (and thereby to the rest of your body). So we should not to put anything on our skin that we wouldn’t be also willing to eat.”
There are so many ingredients in our regular hygiene products that are highly toxic to our bodies. Just because the FDA says something is “safe” does not mean that it is.
The website Skin Deep answers this question further concerning the watchful eye of our government as it pertains to the safety of the products that they deem “fit” for public use:
Cosmetics companies may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives (read about the harmful effects of food dyes HERE) and a few prohibited substances, without government review or approval (FDA 2005, FDA 2000).
- More than 500 products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in cosmetics in Japan, Canada or the European Union (EWG 2007b).
- Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association (EWG 2007c).
- A wide range of nanomaterials whose safety is in question may be common in personal care products (EWG 2006).
- 22% of all personal care products may be contaminated with the cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane, including many children’s products (EWG 2007d, CDC 2009).
- 60% of sunscreens contain the potential hormone disruptor oxybenzone that readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans (EWG 2010, Calafat et al 2008).
- 61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues of lead (CSC 2007).
This is only a sampling of the harmful substances within our usual hygiene regimen.
Is there a better way? Is it simple and efficient? Is it inexpensive? YES, YES, and YES!
Basics for Beginners
For the beginner in transitioning from the chemical to the homemade in hygiene care, start with just the basics.
The basics use many of those things directly in your kitchen pantry.
The key is to not give up, if one recipe does not work for you, do not give up all together. Try another recipe. Google is your friend. There are so many recipes out there on the worldwide web that people have created, tried, reviewed, and altered to make it fit their personal body’s needs. Begin simple and find what works for you!
Follow our DIY Bath and Body Board HERE:
Follow The Road to 31’s board DIY Bath & Body on Pinterest.
Homemade Shampoo
8 ounces Warm Water
1-2 tablespoons Baking Soda
Directions: Mix and work through hair. Rinse thoroughly.
Homemade Conditioner
8 ounces Warm Water
1-2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
Directions: Mix and work through hair. Rinse thoroughly.
***This method of hair washing will take a month or so to get used to. Your hair will basically go through a short time of getting used to this new method of washing and conditioning. You must stick with it to experience the results. It will level the pH balance of your scalp.
Want to see some more thorough recipes for All-Natural Hair Care? CLICK HERE.
Homemade Face Wash (for those with acne)
2 parts Heritage%20Store Castor Oil, 32 OunceCastor Oil
1 part Olive Oil
10 drops of Aura%20Cacia Essential Oil, Cleansing Tea Tree, 0.5 fluid ounceTea Tree Essential Oil
Directions: Combine and store in squirt bottle. Shake before each use. Pour a quarter size amount on fingers. Rub in a circular motion onto face and neck. Lay a wet very warm wash rag over your face and let sit for a couple of minutes. This will draw out impurities in the skin. Wipe face clean with wash rag. There is no need for lotion. The olive oil serves as the moisturizer in this method.
Homemade Face Wash (for those with normal skin)
Equal parts Olive Oil and Heritage%20Store Castor Oil, 32 OunceCastor Oil
Directions: Combine and store in squirt bottle. Shake before each use. Pour a quarter size amount on fingers. Rub in a circular motion onto face and neck. Lay a wet very warm wash rag over your face and let sit for a couple of minutes. This will draw out impurities in the skin. Wipe face clean with wash rag. There is no need for lotion. The olive oil serves as the moisturizer in this method.
Homemade Face Wash (for those with dry skin)
1 part Heritage%20Store Castor Oil, 32 OunceCastor Oil
2 parts Olive Oil
Directions: Combine and store in squirt bottle. Shake before each use. Pour a quarter size amount on fingers. Rub in a circular motion onto face and neck. Lay a wet very warm wash rag over your face and let sit for a couple of minutes. This will draw out impurities in the skin. Wipe face clean with wash rag. There is no need for lotion. The olive oil serves as the moisturizer in this method.
***I have been washing my face with this solution for over six months and I will never use anything else. My skin is perfectly soft and it does not clog my pores. Putting oil on your skin seems both counter intuitive and counter productive to ridding your skin of oils, but do not knock this until you try it! It does not make your skin oily and does not clog your pores. In fact it draws the impurities out of the skin and is all the moisturizer you will need!
Baby Wash
I actually use my face wash for my children’s body wash. My son and daughter both have severe eczema in the winter months. I began to use this solution last winter when nothing else was helping rid my son of his very uncomfortable eczema. Within one week his eczema was completely healed. He is never oily either. Completely hypo-allergenic and natural!
1 part Heritage%20Store Castor Oil, 32 OunceCastor Oil
2 parts Olive Oil
Directions: Mix and store in squirt bottle. Shake before each use. Apply liberally and rub in a circular motion all over the child’s body. Wash off with warm wash rag. Pat dry.
These are some basic recipes that I have been using over the last year and have had a good experience with each. Homemade hygiene products do not need to be complicated or expensive to make.
First, it is important to realize the harm in consistently using and applying toxic substances to our bodies. The same way that we watch what we eat, we need to be wary of what our skin consumes.
Start by reading labels in your own home. You can look up individual products and brands on Skin Deep’s website to discover what harmful chemicals are in each.
Do not freak out! Most of the things we grew up using and are currently using contain many cancer-causing substances and toxic chemicals. The main goal is to transition from using these products to either buying safer or making those same safer products for exponentially cheaper.
Yes, you can make those expensive natural products from the store, at home for much cheaper and it really is not all that difficult. CLICK HERE to see Homemade Hygiene recipes for soaps, body washes, anti-aging products and more!
What are your thoughts on Homemade Hygiene Products?
What are your thoughts on Homemade Hygiene Products?
What have your experiences been with using them?
You might like this too!
Going No Poo In A New Way
My Go-To Products for Healthier Skin and a FREE Recipe so You Can Make Them TOO!
Homemade Hygiene: Kickin’ The Funk The Natural Way
DIY Oil Pulling Melts for a Cleaner Mouth
Cowgirl Dirt All Natural Cosmetics GIVEAWAY- Going No Poo In A New Way: A Time Efficient Recipe For Busy Moms
Sriracha Salmon Cakes
How to Have Clean Water for the Whole Family- The Homemaker’s Companion: The Natural Health & Living Edition
- Cowgirl Dirt Valentine’s Day Sale (ENDS TODAY!)
The Healthy Home GIVEAWAY! Over $1000 in Value!
Healthy Eating, Natural Living, Wholly Judgmental
The following two tabs change content below.
I am a wife to a wonderful husband and mother to four beautiful children five and under: three girls and one boy. I am a disciple of Christ and I am fulfilling my role to my husband and family as a homemaker. I began The Road to 31 almost two years ago in an effort to focus more as I studied the Word of God and researched those things which were important to me. I found that God used The Road to 31 within my own life to bring community to my front door and allowed me to minister and be ministered to by other women who are walking along the same road as I.
Latest posts by Lindsey (see all)
- Read to Meet a Need: Anderson Family Fundraiser - August 23, 2016
- FREE 12-Day Winter Cleaning Schedule - January 13, 2016
- WORLD News Magazine: Fun Facts for Christian Kids! - October 2, 2015
I was using that oil cleansing method for my face for some time as well with GREAT results. I need to get back to doing it again. I always had really oily skin (I mean extremely oily), and I was so afraid to put more oil on top of that but it just got rid of my oily skin problem altogether. I have been using just water lately to clean with, along with a clay mask once a week, and have noticed that I am beginning to be more oily again.
Thank you so much for your time. Recently, I have been feeling that my family and I need to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. I am very frugal and don’t have much choice in that, so most of the natural things that I was seeing did not fit into our very small budget. All of that to say, I had been stocking up on very cheap shampoo when our local grocery store had it on sale. Well, 3 years of using $0.79 shampoo was taking it’s tool on my hair and scalp, so last night I somehow, probably God, found your blog and this morning tried your shampoo/conditioner. I am so happy with the results already. I am also happy that baking soda and apple cider vinegar are in my pantry! Thanks again for having a vision!
Hi! I was wondering what you would recommend for full body washing. I am trying to use natural cleansing methods. I am currently using OCM and moving to BS and ACV hair routine. But I am just not sure what to do with the rest of my body.
Thank you!!!
Thank you for writing. If you are looking into ditching your shampoo and conditioner you may want to look into the series I just finished entitled “Going No Poo In A New Way.” My research has led me to confirm that basic baking soda and ACV is not adequate for the job. You can access this series here: http://roadto31.blogspot.com/2013/04/going-no-poo-in-new-way.html
As for a body wash. I actually use the baby wash listed above for my own personal body wash. It is a great moisturizer but doesn’t leave an oily residue!