What I will be making next... a body spray!!!

CLICK HERE to see the recipe I will be using. Not sure which essential oil I will add yet, any suggestions?

If you have problems viewing the link, the basic ingredients/instructions are:
1/4 Cup high quality vodka or pure grain alcohol
10 drops essential oil of your choice
1 1/4 cups distilled water
1/2 cup witch hazel extract

I found lots of different recipes for this, surprisingly most of them contain vodka, I wonder what role that plays? The links to those are below

RECIPE 2
RECIPE 3

I think this is going to make quite a bit of spray, so I would like to find an essential oil that smells "manly" enough that my Husband could use it... hmmm....

Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day. Find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NaturallyNourishing1 or on twitter @naturalnourish1

Final Review on Homemade Bronzer

 CLICK HERE to read parts, price, and my first thoughts on making the bronzer.

Those are the brushes I use. They have several different sets available depending on what you need and are very affordable.

My Final Thoughts:
Cons- Takes some trial and error to get the right color. Not "compact" meaning it is a very loose powder which can make application a little more tedious.

Pros- Again, easy to make, chemical free, and most importantly, it works! I love the bronze color/shimmer that it gives. It takes some getting used to, learning how to apply it properly and how much of each spice to use (i.e. if you want a darker color you may want to add more cocoa or nutmeg).

Overall- I am going to continue using it because it really works. I think it is going to be an ongoing experiment for a little while until I get it "perfect." I am considering re-making it, but attempting to make it more compact (by actually smashing it down in a compact and letting it set). Not sure if it will work, but I think that with the essential oil binding it, it may... Also, I really do like the color I get with it. It is very subtle and very natural. There is no "orangey" look that you get from some store-bought bronzers. I also like that it is highly adjustable. If I want a daytime look I can just sprinkle some cornstarch in the lid and mix it with the rest for a lighter glow. Finally, I love that it is completely made up of spices. Besides being inexpensive, I can wear it morning til night without worrying about my skin and what's going into my pores. 


*I am also experimenting with adding different creams to see if I can make kinda of a liquid foundation/moisturizer... will update!*


Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day. Find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NaturallyNourishing1 or on twitter @naturalnourish1

First thoughts on making an Oil Facial Cleanser

CLICK HERE for information on why I chose to make this, and where I got the "recipe" from.

Parts and Price
Organic Castor Oil: $3.99
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: $7.99
Total: $12 (approx. prices vary dramatically depending on size and brand)
*Keep in mind, you can use your oils of choice including:  jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and flaxseed oil (better for oily skin) or almond oil and evening primrose oil (better for dry skin).*


The Process: Easy enough! Just mix the oils together!


Complaints: If you don't have any oils at your house already, can be an investment.


Compliments: Easy to make and ingredients were easy to find.


Performance: We shall see!
`


Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day. Find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NaturallyNourishing1 or on twitter @naturalnourish1

*Side Note* Unrefined Coconut Oil as a sunscreen

Feeding the ducks in Florida :)

During a brief visit to Florida this weekend, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to try unrefined virgin coconut oil as a sunscreen. The first day I tried it we went to the pool for an hour. I lathered up myself, my Daughter, and my wonderfully open-minded Husband. Surprisingly, it seemed to work! My Husband and Daughter looked bronzed, but no sunburn...I, on the other hand, had some interesting results. It took me about 5 seconds of looking in the mirror to realize I had forgotten to spread the oil on my chest. You could literally see exactly where I had had stopped rubbing the oil in, somewhere around the bottom of the neck. Although I looked like a weirdo with a random sunburn only on my chest, it was kind of neat to see how the coconut oil worked!

The second experiment took place before we went to the beach. Again, I lathered up my little crew (this time remembering to do my chest) and we stayed for an hour. I forgot about one little thing though: moderation. Regardless of what you're using as a sun protector, moderation is still your best friend and key to success. An hour may not seem long, but when you haven't been in the sun for over half a year, an hour on the beach is an eternity. Needless to say, my experiment was not so flawless the second time. My Daughter (who spent half the time under an umbrella) just got even more beautifully bronzed, my Husband got a hint of red, and I... well, I looked like a naked lobster. Luckily it wasn't tooooo bad, no blistering, peeling, etc. but I definitely got a burn.

So my take on it overall would be that unrefined coconut oil is a good companion to moderation. Depending on your skin tone and how much sun exposure you already have, it definitely works. Remember, this is NOT A SUNBLOCK. The purpose of it is not to block the sun's rays or all that delicious vitamin D, it is merely an accompaniment to smart sunbathing. I had a flawless healing process, which I think I owe to the moisturizing and healing affects of the CO... but needless to say, it was a good reminder that no products can match common sense :)

Will you be trying CO this summer?

Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day.

*Side Note* Use your bill return envelopes as every day envelopes!

Think about it; every time you get a bill in the mail they send you a blank envelope to return payment in. Many people are switching over to paying online or over the phone, so the envelopes get dumped with the rest of the accompanying paperwork. Start saving these envelopes and use them for mailing/organizing things. I started saving mine about a year ago and love having them on hand. I am enrolled in online bill pay for almost all of our bills, but we still get enough of these to keep me stocked for all my mailings :)


Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day.

What to look for in a shampoo/conditioner...

If going "no poo" (sans shampoo) isn't for you, there is still plenty you can do to be kind to your hair and the environment. I found lots of good info on the web, so I will sum that up below. I reaaally understated the info, so make sure you click the links for more information!


What to look for when choosing a Natural Shampoo
1. Avoid antibacterial agents (i.e. triclosan).
2. Look for plant-based biodegradable ingredients. In particular, try to avoid ingredients like BHA and parabens, and seek out those labeled as biodegradable.
3. Look for the USDA Organic seal to make sure you're getting a "real" organic product.


*All this info was taken directly from this site: http://www.greenyour.com/body/personal-care/hair-care/tips/choose-natural-shampoo click the link to get more info about the "whys and hows."*

Shampoo Cleansing Ingredients To Avoid:
Extremely common ingredients
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Less common ingredients
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Thiosulfate
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Alkyl Sodium Sulfate
Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
TEA-Dodecylbenzene
Sodium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate

*This info was taken directly from this site: http://www.savvyskin.com/shampoo-ingredients-to-avoid. Click the link to get a lot more information on which shampoos she uses, etc.*

If you're craving some more information on all this, here are a couple more links that I found really informative. They both have great information that applies to both skin and haircare products. Click the links to read more!

http://www.absolutelyorganic-toxicfree.com/page/page/1233819.htm

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/toxic_cosmetics.cfm

Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day.

What I will be making next (5/1) The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)!

Some of you may remember that a facial cleanser was the first product I made (you can CLICK HERE, HERE, and HERE for a memory jog if you'd like)! Neither of those cleansers really did it for me. I mean they worked, but the fennel seed cleanser took a little more time to make than I like, heaven forbid I spend more than 5 minutes on a product :), and the green tea toner got ruled out because... well... it turns your skin green.


So I have been left in search of another facial cleanser. My Husband and I have sampled a slew of different organic facial cleansers but we never end up buying the same one twice because we haven't found "the one" yet. I absolutely DREAD washing my face because my skin gets soooo incredibly dry after. If I don't wear any make-up I will go as many days as possible without washing just to avoid the inevitable alligator face that follows. Luckily, now that Coconut Oil is a part of my life, I can at least treat the dryness between washings... but then it hit me, what if I could find some kind of cleanser that wouldn't make my face look like the desert floor? *Don't stop reading if you have oily skin, this applies to you too!!!*

Image from: thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com

That's when I discovered this: http://simplemom.net/oil-cleansing-method/ basically, you use essential oils to cleanse your skin. If you are prone to moderately, or extremely oily skin this is for you too!!!

This (below) is taken DIRECTLY from simplemom.net (and the link above)


Alright, it might sound a little odd to clean your face with an oil, especially if you have oily skin. But contrary to popular belief, oil does not cause oily skin or acne. That culprit is usually a combination of hormones, trapped bacteria, and dirt.

Like your hair, the sebum that the skin secretes is actually good for your skin — it’s there to protect it from the outside environment, and to keep harmful things from seeping in. Since water doesn’t break up oil, most commercial cleansers are marketed with the “oil free” stamp of approval, making them easy to splash off.

When skin’s natural oils are removed, the body’s reaction is to compensate by producing more oil, much like shampoo does with our hair. Or if your skin is dry, it’s because all the oil has been stripped away, and your body doesn’t compensate by replenishing it (that was my case).

Here’s a direct quote from acne.org:

“Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to desolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.”

So in essence, good-quality oil is the perfect substance for cleaning sensitive skin, such as on our face, because it helps gently remove the dirty oil and replaces it with good, nourishing, healing oil.

So are you convinced yet? Either way, I will be trying this starting 5/1!!

CLICK HERE FOR A LITTLE MORE INFO

Like what you see? "Subscribe via e-mail" in the top right corner to receive updates when a new post is added! Never more than 1 e-mail a day.