Are you worried that your daily wellness products may have dangerous chemicals, harmful preservatives and unnecessary additives? In that case, you can take the DIY route and make your own organic products.
Here are a few natural home remedies to free yourself from the shackles of toxicity..
DIY TOOTHPASTE
Store-bought toothpaste contains sodium fluoride, coal tar and sodium hydroxide, which can be harmful after prolonged use. Use this simple recipe as an alternative.Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
- 1 drop peppermint, clove, or citrus pure essential oil
- A few drops of water
- Combine the ingredients in a bowl to form a dense paste, and your toothpaste is ready to use. Simple.
DIY HAIR DYE
Your usual hair dye has large doses of ammonia, which changes hair texture, dries out the scalp and almost always leads to hair fall. Use a homemade version to avoid these pitfalls.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of black walnut powder
- 3 cups water in a bowl or jar
- 2-3 teabags of black tea
- One cheesecloth bag /emptied teabag
- Keep the bowl of water aside. Take an empty tea bag and fill it with the black walnut powder.
- Steep the tea bag in the bowl of water for at least six hours.
- Rinse hair with this and then dry. This will have a very strong coloring effect and will provide maximum coverage for greys.
- Repeat daily or as needed to darken and maintain a dark shade.
- For a finishing rinse, use strongly brewed black tea that will help restore natural textures.
DIY SHAVING CREAM
Use this quick trick to avoid getting razor burns on sensitive skin caused by harsh shaving cream products.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup castile soap
- 1/4 cup cocoa butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
- 5 drops essential oils of choice (e.g. lavender)
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 3/4 cups warm water
- Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place another on top to form a double boiler.
- Add the cocoa butter on top.
- When it begins to melt, add the almond oil, soap and honey.
- Take the mixture off the stove and then add in the essential oils. Decant the mixture into a container, add a little water to fill and give it a shake.
DIY LIPSTYICK/GLOSS
High levels of metals like chromium and lead found in lipstick can cause rashes or chapped lips. Instead, dye your lips naturally using this organic concoction.Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon beeswax pastilles/soy wax
- 1 teaspoon shea butter or cocoa butter
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Bring a little water to simmer in a small pot and with it, melt the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil.
- When melted, remove the pot from the heat.
- For red hues, either add 1/8 teaspoon of beetroot powder or 1 drop of natural food coloring.
- For dark hues, either add 1/4 teaspoon of organic cocoa powder or a pinch of cinnamon.
- For scent, add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and some crushed mint leaves.
- Blend ingredients together while still liquid.
- Then use a dropper (e.g., for nose drops) to pour the mixture into a dish.
- Leave to rest for at least half an hour and leave in a cool place or else it will soften.
