This wasn't in my Story of Cosmetics post but I ran out of toothpaste so I jumped on the chance to make some. Here's the recipe...
Tooth Powder:
3 Parts Baking Soda
1 Part Salt
Toothpaste:
3 Parts Baking Soda
1 Part Salt
Add Glycerin until favored consistency
( I found a 4oz bottle for $5 and I used right under 1oz.)
Add Flavoring Extract until you can smell it {Grin}
I used Peppermint in mine. You can also add a drop of food coloring if it gets the kids excited to try too.
What do I think??
It's going well so far. A bit salty the first try but you get used to it. Little Astronaut hasn't complained one bit. I just told him he needs to spit really well. And I use the smallest bit for Miss Adventure since we're still working on her spitting.
My wonderful mother in law asked me...How do you have time to make all these things??
Maybe you're thinking you're too busy too. There was a time I thought I was too busy to make bread from scratch or start a garden. But really it takes 15 mins of my day. Well, not the bread. But really. It took me 15 mins to make this toothpaste. And I don't do these things every day. I make bread every Monday and I'm thinking our toothpaste will last a month. And the deodorant maybe 2 or 3 months. It's really not a big deal. And once you have the supplies at home all you have to do is whip some up when you need it.
So say good bye to the 'time' excuse and try it. {Grin}
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Deodorant
I'm so excited to share this one because it is
SO CHEAP and SO EASY!! Do you sense my excitement?? lol
And guess what...my husband is using it.
He's the real test.
He does the gym thing and he helps out
with high school wrestling. Talk about close quarters, right?
First off I will Copy and Paste a tid bit from
Use of antiperspirants. Here is a very intriguing thought. Kerri Bodner, publisher of the excellent Women's Health Letter, points out that 50% of breast cancer tumors appear on the upper quadrant of the breast closest to the underarm. Antiperspirants are strong chemicals, usually containing aluminum, which prevent sweating. Now sweating is a way for the body to eliminate toxins and unwanted materials with the help of the lymphatic system. Preventing this activity is, in Bodner's words, "like damming up a river." Sweat backs up into the lymphatic ducts, and the toxins become trapped in the under-arm lymphatic area. The fatty breast tissue allows for efficient storage of these unwanted toxins. Breast cancer often involves the lymph nodes. Could there be a connection?
Now what I've done in the past is use Women's Degree Antiperspirant during the summer
and Toms Deodorant in the winter to give my body some time to detox. I found that I had to apply
Tom's a few times a day or I was smelled a bit funky.
But now I use this and guess what!!
I don't smell like anything. Honest!
My husband has said it too and he has to work outside the home...
you know...with people who care.
Not just two kids.
So here's how you do it...
Take 3 Tbls Coconut Oil and warm it to a liquid.
Pour into a small bowl and add 3Tbls Baking Soda
and 3 Tbls Corn Starch. You can add an essential oil too if you's like.
Mix until combined and our into an empty deodorant stick.
Put it in the fridge and it should be ready in 1-2 days.
You can keep in the fridge and use as a stick or you can pour it into a
small jar and keep it in the bathroom but you have to use your fingers to
apply it. We use it both ways. It's not messy at all.
Coconut Oil is about 8 bucks for 16 oz so it will last forever.
And you probably already have Baking Soda and Cornstarch in your
kitchen so I'm thinking 3 Tbls is 1.5 ounces...that's .50cents an ounce...
so for 1.50 you have one great natural product!
Thank you to my friend Mrs. A for this deodorant solution!
Note: At Micheal's Craft Store you can buy a small bottle of essential oil for $3. (Use your 40% off coupon!)It's in the candle making area. We used Clean Linen.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Soap and Moisturizer
I know you're wondering 'what can she possibly be using for soap??'
Yes...a washcloth and water.
We do use a Trader Joe's (natural) soap in those hidden places :)
but just a good scrubbing with some good ol' clean water does the trick for the rest...promise!
Even on your face!!
For the past 3 weeks I've been washing my face with soap on Fridays when I washed my hair. But I can totally tell my face oil is adjusting because today is day 8 of no washing and it feels great!
Gets me wondering how much damage we do to our hair and face
with all our crazy chemical washing and chemical moisturizer over and over and over again.
No wonder a women's face ages faster then men. We run our skin into the ground!
As for moisturizer...
We use Almond Oil.
This particular one smells like lavender when you put it on
but the scent goes away...just in case your hubby dares to try it {Grin}
I was afraid this would be too oily and I would feel like a grease ball all day
but seriously you need very little and it soaks right in.
It can be a bit pricey if you can't find Almond Oil in your grocery store.
I bought this one at a health food store for $12 but I've been using it for 28 days
and I've used under 1/3 of the bottle between myself and Miss Adventure.
That's only $4 a month. Not too shabby if you ask me.
Maybe you're not quite sure about the no soap thing yet. Try the Almond Oil.
Add your favorite essential oils. Be brave I bet you'll like it {Grin}
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
No Shampoo
A while ago I decided to stop washing my hair so often so my natural oils could do what they were made to do...create healthy hair. I washed every other day so I started to wash every 3 days. After a while I pushed it to every 4, then every 5, then every 6....so now I'm up to every Friday I wash my hair. Then I watched the video I posted yesterday. After such a wake up call I've been washing my hair with this...
That's right! Two things you already have in your kitchen. This is not only more natural and better for your hair, it's better for the environment. No I'm not a 'tree hugger' but it makes sense right? You wash your hair and body in chemicals...it goes down the drain and eventually makes it's way back into your water supply and now you're drinking chemicals. Oh and this is super CHEAP! Maybe I'll get some of you with just that. {Grin} Anyways this is how you can do it too...
Step 1 Don't wash your hair everyday. Work yourself up to an extra day until your not a grease ball anymore and then add another day and another day and another day and so forth. My goal is to work up to every two weeks and then maybe once a month. Note: I do rinse my hair every few days with just water. Really work your scalp with your fingers and pull all that natural oil down your hair. And during this stretching time...Don't touch your hair! You'll add the oils from your hands to your hair.
Step 2 Toss your shampoo. Buy an 8oz squirt bottle (I got mine at a beauty supply store for a buck or two). Use 1 TBS Baking Soda and add 1 cup of warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Use your fingers to work it into your roots. I usually let this sit for a few minutes. Rinse. Then mix 1TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 1 cup warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Let sit a few minutes then rinse well. No you will not smell like Vinegar. Just make sure you rinse well.
I've been using this on myself and Miss Adventure for three weeks and I'm really happy with it. The hubby says the baking soda/vinegar wash makes my hair the softest it's ever been. I haven't used anything but water on Little Astronaut and his hair is not greasy or stinky! That's a big deal for a four year old boy! Goes to show ya that hair was not made to be striped everyday and your body will do it's job if you let it.
More to come on the soap, deodorant, and lotion...
That's right! Two things you already have in your kitchen. This is not only more natural and better for your hair, it's better for the environment. No I'm not a 'tree hugger' but it makes sense right? You wash your hair and body in chemicals...it goes down the drain and eventually makes it's way back into your water supply and now you're drinking chemicals. Oh and this is super CHEAP! Maybe I'll get some of you with just that. {Grin} Anyways this is how you can do it too...
Step 1 Don't wash your hair everyday. Work yourself up to an extra day until your not a grease ball anymore and then add another day and another day and another day and so forth. My goal is to work up to every two weeks and then maybe once a month. Note: I do rinse my hair every few days with just water. Really work your scalp with your fingers and pull all that natural oil down your hair. And during this stretching time...Don't touch your hair! You'll add the oils from your hands to your hair.
Step 2 Toss your shampoo. Buy an 8oz squirt bottle (I got mine at a beauty supply store for a buck or two). Use 1 TBS Baking Soda and add 1 cup of warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Use your fingers to work it into your roots. I usually let this sit for a few minutes. Rinse. Then mix 1TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 1 cup warm water. Shake and work into your hair. Let sit a few minutes then rinse well. No you will not smell like Vinegar. Just make sure you rinse well.
I've been using this on myself and Miss Adventure for three weeks and I'm really happy with it. The hubby says the baking soda/vinegar wash makes my hair the softest it's ever been. I haven't used anything but water on Little Astronaut and his hair is not greasy or stinky! That's a big deal for a four year old boy! Goes to show ya that hair was not made to be striped everyday and your body will do it's job if you let it.
More to come on the soap, deodorant, and lotion...
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Story of Cosmetics
Ahh! It's been 3 weeks since my last post! I know...what the heck have I been doing??? Well I'll tell ya...it all started with me watching this video...
So...what'd you think? Crazy I know.
So in the past three weeks I haven't used shampoo, soap, deodorant, or lotion on myself or the kids. Grossed out yet? {Grin} I'll tell you what we have been using instead in my next post.
So...what'd you think? Crazy I know.
So in the past three weeks I haven't used shampoo, soap, deodorant, or lotion on myself or the kids. Grossed out yet? {Grin} I'll tell you what we have been using instead in my next post.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Safe Plastics??
10 Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
Since our culture is obsessed with plastic you can't avoid all BPA but you can surely reduce your intake.
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
We use BPA-Free plastic bowls and plates made by Munchkin...check that packaging!
2. Give your baby natural fabric toys or wood ones instead of plastic ones
3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers
4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container
5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks
6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your children’s teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7 as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA, but they do contain other unsavory chemicals that you’re best off avoiding as well. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Plastics Guide offers more detailed descriptions of the most commonly occurring chemicals in plastic products. They also offer this handy reminder:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for you."
The website Mother Jones also offers a handy chart that you can cut out and stick on your refrigerator.
Since our culture is obsessed with plastic you can't avoid all BPA but you can surely reduce your intake.
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
We use BPA-Free plastic bowls and plates made by Munchkin...check that packaging!
2. Give your baby natural fabric toys or wood ones instead of plastic ones
3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers
4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don’t microwave food in a plastic container
5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks
6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don’t wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your children’s teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7 as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA, but they do contain other unsavory chemicals that you’re best off avoiding as well. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Plastics Guide offers more detailed descriptions of the most commonly occurring chemicals in plastic products. They also offer this handy reminder:
"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for you."
The website Mother Jones also offers a handy chart that you can cut out and stick on your refrigerator.
Plastic in the Kitchen
There's a new wave in testing people for a so-called "body burden" of industrial chemicals in their blood stream. The results should shock you. A family with two young children in Oakland, CA were invited by reporters to participate in a cutting-edge study to measure industrial chemicals in their bodies.
The parents were horrified to find that their children - a boy, then 18 months, and a five-year old girl - had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents. The baby boy had three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats.
The following chemicals are in YOUR body...so lets take a look...
Phthalates:
This is a big one! Chemicals that make plastics soft and pliable. They're found in all kinds of plastic bottles, as well as plastic containers, kitchen wrap, soft toys and medical devices. Phthalates are also used as solvents for fragrances, so they're in a lot of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfume, nail polish and cosmetics. Animal studies show that phthalates disrupt hormone levels, causing neurological dhysfunction and reproductive defects in lab rats. Preliminary studies on humans show that phthalate exposure may be associated with genital birth defects in males as well as male infertility.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):
Flame-retardant chemicals. They're found in foam products such as mattresses, couches and carpets. In plastics such as casings for TVs, computers and other electronics. In building materials, motor vehicles, airplanes, and textiles. Animal studies show PBDEs cause liver, thyroid and neurological damage in lab rats. Health experts worry most about PBDEs potential harm to fetuses and children under 6, but studies on human toxicity have only just begun.
Bisphenol A (BPA):
This is a big too! A chemical used to make plastics hard. It's in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby bottles, hard water bottles and food containers, as well as in the resin lining of aluminum cans and some dental sealants. A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found a link between bisphenoal A and female reproductive disorders such as cystic ovaries and cancers. In August, an expert panel from the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that bisphenol A may harm children and adults and recommended more research be done.
Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs):
Chemicals used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products such as nonstick frying pans <-We use this all the time right?! and water-resistant materials. PFOAs have been shown to cause developmental problems and liver toxicity in lab rats. Animal studies have caused concern among health experts about PFOAs' toxicity to humans since they stay in the body for years at a time between exposures. Some studies have suggested that PFOAs are human carcinogens. A CARCINOGEN is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing CANCER.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment as well as older models of microwaves and refrigerators. It is found in plasticizers in paints and cements, adhesives, wood floor finishes, de-dusting agents, water-proofing compounds, and surgical implants. They were banned in the US in the late 1970s, but they are long-lasting compounds that persist in the environment. The EPA calls PCBs a "probable carcinogen," meaning they probably cause cancer. PCBs have been associated with immunological and psychosocial problems in children, such as changes in motor skills and a decrease in short-term memory. In adults, PCBs have been associated with rashes, acne and liver damage.
So after all that....We use glass in the kitchen. I bought some Pyrex at Walmart and some mason jars. Britney at http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/ did a post about using certain plastics so I will just copy and paste it after this post because it's so great.
We also replaced our cookware with Todd English's Green Pan. It does not contain PFOA. You can find it at http://www.hsn.com/
But I bought my set on EBAY for a lot cheaper. The pots are fantastic but the pans are hard to keep looking new. I'm thinking I'm going to buy a large cast iron skillet instead but keep the pots.
The parents were horrified to find that their children - a boy, then 18 months, and a five-year old girl - had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents. The baby boy had three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats.
The following chemicals are in YOUR body...so lets take a look...
Phthalates:
This is a big one! Chemicals that make plastics soft and pliable. They're found in all kinds of plastic bottles, as well as plastic containers, kitchen wrap, soft toys and medical devices. Phthalates are also used as solvents for fragrances, so they're in a lot of personal care products like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, perfume, nail polish and cosmetics. Animal studies show that phthalates disrupt hormone levels, causing neurological dhysfunction and reproductive defects in lab rats. Preliminary studies on humans show that phthalate exposure may be associated with genital birth defects in males as well as male infertility.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs):
Flame-retardant chemicals. They're found in foam products such as mattresses, couches and carpets. In plastics such as casings for TVs, computers and other electronics. In building materials, motor vehicles, airplanes, and textiles. Animal studies show PBDEs cause liver, thyroid and neurological damage in lab rats. Health experts worry most about PBDEs potential harm to fetuses and children under 6, but studies on human toxicity have only just begun.
Bisphenol A (BPA):
This is a big too! A chemical used to make plastics hard. It's in polycarbonate plastic products such as baby bottles, hard water bottles and food containers, as well as in the resin lining of aluminum cans and some dental sealants. A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology found a link between bisphenoal A and female reproductive disorders such as cystic ovaries and cancers. In August, an expert panel from the National Institutes of Health expressed concern that bisphenol A may harm children and adults and recommended more research be done.
Perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs):
Chemicals used to make nonstick and stain-resistant products such as nonstick frying pans <-We use this all the time right?! and water-resistant materials. PFOAs have been shown to cause developmental problems and liver toxicity in lab rats. Animal studies have caused concern among health experts about PFOAs' toxicity to humans since they stay in the body for years at a time between exposures. Some studies have suggested that PFOAs are human carcinogens. A CARCINOGEN is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing CANCER.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs):
Chemicals used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment as well as older models of microwaves and refrigerators. It is found in plasticizers in paints and cements, adhesives, wood floor finishes, de-dusting agents, water-proofing compounds, and surgical implants. They were banned in the US in the late 1970s, but they are long-lasting compounds that persist in the environment. The EPA calls PCBs a "probable carcinogen," meaning they probably cause cancer. PCBs have been associated with immunological and psychosocial problems in children, such as changes in motor skills and a decrease in short-term memory. In adults, PCBs have been associated with rashes, acne and liver damage.
So after all that....We use glass in the kitchen. I bought some Pyrex at Walmart and some mason jars. Britney at http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/ did a post about using certain plastics so I will just copy and paste it after this post because it's so great.
We also replaced our cookware with Todd English's Green Pan. It does not contain PFOA. You can find it at http://www.hsn.com/
But I bought my set on EBAY for a lot cheaper. The pots are fantastic but the pans are hard to keep looking new. I'm thinking I'm going to buy a large cast iron skillet instead but keep the pots.
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