I guess I haven't been very faithful about writing this month. My apologies to both my readers. But I have had a break through with the no shampoo method. Finally after two weeks my hair finally looked clean! It had shine, body, and volume, instead of the usually flat, greasy mess.
It was pointed out to me that my tablespoon measure that I had been using was actually a teaspoon measure. So I had been washing my hair with 1/3 baking soda I should have. I upped the amount of baking soda and it helped my hair quite a bit. I read that if your hair is really oily you can use up to 2 tablespoons.
My hair smells good for the most part. I still gait faint hints of vinegar when I'm exercising, and on the ends of my hair from time to time. To keep my hair smelling nice, which is important to me, I decided to dilute some lavender oil in water and keep it in a small spray bottle. I spray down my hair in the morning, or after I wash may hair. I use a 2 ounce glass bottle from the vitamin store and I added 5 drops of oil, but it could stand to have a few more drops in my opinion.
Overall, I'm feeling happier and less frustrated with the no shampoo method.
Despite my infrequent blogging I have been keeping busy with my beauty experiments. Posts to come: better dry shampoo recipe, natural hair spray, and how to make an essential oil. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Dry Shampoo
Well here we are, 10 days into February and about 2 weeks since shampoo has touched my hair. I knew getting into this that I was not going to see a good hair day for a while. The first week or so, my oil and unmanageable hair was a novelty. "Oh, my hair is so flat and greasy, hehehe! At least I'm not covered in chemicals! Maybe I'll do this more than a month." Yeah, that crazy idea didn't last. My hair is frizzy and greasy at the same time, heavy and dull, and I'm getting fed up with it.
After I washed my hair yesterday, it seemed to have more volume, and I thought, "Hey! Maybe it's starting to work like everyone promised me it would!" Wrong. My hair looked worse than ever after I blow dried it. It had that stuck-together-by-grease look to it, but didn't feel especially greasy. It was at this point I decided to reach for the dry shampoo. For those of you who are unfamiliar, dry shampoo is a powder or spray you put into your hair at the root to absorb extra oil between washes.
For a while I used the Suave brand of dry shampoo spray, but I've been out for a while, and with my new non-toxic endeavor, I decided to make some. After poking around the internet, I found one basic recipe for brown hair. The basic recipe is corn starch and cocoa powder. Other recipes included rice flour and arrowroot powder in addition to the first two ingredients. I opted for just cocoa powder and corn starch, as they were the only ingredients I had readily available.
Ingredients:
This recipe works pretty well; it does absorb a good amount of oil. The downside is you smell like cocoa. Maybe you won't mind; I really don't care for it. Also, dry shampoo does not make your hair look like it has been washed, unfortunately. It does take care of some of the oil, but your hair will still look a little greasy and potentially dirty. I'm on the hunt for a better recipe, and I'll keep you posted...no pun intended.
After I washed my hair yesterday, it seemed to have more volume, and I thought, "Hey! Maybe it's starting to work like everyone promised me it would!" Wrong. My hair looked worse than ever after I blow dried it. It had that stuck-together-by-grease look to it, but didn't feel especially greasy. It was at this point I decided to reach for the dry shampoo. For those of you who are unfamiliar, dry shampoo is a powder or spray you put into your hair at the root to absorb extra oil between washes.
For a while I used the Suave brand of dry shampoo spray, but I've been out for a while, and with my new non-toxic endeavor, I decided to make some. After poking around the internet, I found one basic recipe for brown hair. The basic recipe is corn starch and cocoa powder. Other recipes included rice flour and arrowroot powder in addition to the first two ingredients. I opted for just cocoa powder and corn starch, as they were the only ingredients I had readily available.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- A few drops lavender essential oil (optional)
This recipe works pretty well; it does absorb a good amount of oil. The downside is you smell like cocoa. Maybe you won't mind; I really don't care for it. Also, dry shampoo does not make your hair look like it has been washed, unfortunately. It does take care of some of the oil, but your hair will still look a little greasy and potentially dirty. I'm on the hunt for a better recipe, and I'll keep you posted...no pun intended.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Hello February, Goodbye Shampoo!
Does anyone else feel like last month flew by? Here we are, February 1, and it's time for me to transition to the next phase of my beauty detox. Apparently the no-shampoo method is highly debated on the internet, or so say many other beauty bloggers that have tried this method. If you go looking for other information on this topic, you'll find that it's commonly referred to as "no 'poo," which I think is just stupid. It's somebody's failed attempt at being cute and clever, at least in my opinion. So you will never see me use that term, but I digress.
For those of you who are completely unfamiliar with the whole thing, the idea is that you ditch the shampoo and conditioner and replace them with baking soda and a vinegar rinse. Why would someone do such a thing?! Well, shampoos and conditioners fall into that same unregulated category of cosmetics that contains a plethora of potentially hazardous ingredients. In addition to letting those nasty chemicals seep into your blood via the scalp, what you rise away goes down the drain and is released into the environment.
Shampoos in general are very basic, typically ranging from 9–11, which is rough on your skin. Conditioners are typically acidic from ingredients like citric acid. I could not find the typical range for conditioners, but I would bet that it's not enough to balance out your skin. Shampoo's general role is to get rid of dirt and oils from the scalp and hair. Conditioner then sweeps in and replaces the good stuff you took out. Unfortunately, the artificial stuff is toxic, and it also does not do as good of a job as your scalp can do for itself when left alone.
But what about my pretty-smelling hair?! I can't walk around with my hair actually smelling like hair. Turns out artificial fragrances are one of the most common toxic ingredients in all cosmetics, and you should be wary of ingredients like "fragrance", or "parfum". How vague is that? It's like when food contains the ingredient, "flavor". You should definitely be suspicious. Don't get me wrong, nice-smelling hair is one of my favorite things, but I prefer being healthy. So I decided to go with natural oils to give my hair a nice scent.
Most shampoos and conditioners contain silicone, usually listed as dimethicone. This is to provide shine and make hair smooth and less frizzy. Apart from being an organ and environmental toxin, this stuff will coat your hair and then make it unable to absorb moisture, drying it out in the long run. Here's a link to a page with other common toxic ingredients you might find in your shampoo.
Through my readings on this subject, I came across a few different methods. Most people suggest using 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda, depending on how thick your hair is. Some suggest making a paste in your hand; others dissolve it in water, then pour it on the scalp for evener distribution. I decided to just make a paste so I could be lazy and just keep a jar of baking soda in the shower. If the baking soda is too drying for your scalp, there is the option of adding a natural oil to the mix. Common suggestions included olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and tea tree oil. The benefit of using baking soda is that it removes dirt from the hair and scalp, but leaves the good stuff like natural oils.
You may recall from my earlier post that baking soda has a pH of 9 – a bit too basic for the skin. This is one of the reasons you do a vinegar rinse after.
Vinegar works in a couple different ways, one of which is that it closes the cuticle surrounding the hair. This helps keep the hair smooth, protects it from damage, and lets the hair reflect light, making it "shiny". It also helps remove buildup and residue of dirt, oil, and hair care products. It can also stimulate blood flow in the capillaries, improving the scalp's overall health. Most people seem to favor apple cider vinegar (ACV), but white should work just as well. One blogger even preferred white because the ACV was too "heavy" for her hair.
Most people say there is an adjustment period of anywhere from 2–8 weeks where your scalp rebalances everything. During this time you can expect your hair to be fairly unpredictable, e.g. very oily one day, very dry the next, etc. I'm hoping that since I wash my hair 2–3 times a week, mine will adjust quickly.
I was afraid the vinegar was going to leave me smelling like a salad, but others who have tried this assured me over and over that the vinegar smell dissipates as it dries. Even so, I did not like the prospect of having my hair smell like nothing, so I opted to add lavender essential oil to my rinse.
One thing that was mentioned by most bloggers is the use of "hard water", meaning high concentrations of minerals in your water. Apparently, most shampoos contain ingredients to combat this problem and prevent mineral build up. One natural option is to use distilled or rain water. Installing a water softener is another. I'm not doing either of those because I'm poor and lazy, so we'll just have to see how this goes.
Here's what you'll need:
Baking Soda
1 small glass or stainless steel container
1 tablespoon measure
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
4 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
I just poured my baking soda in an airtight container to keep in the shower. You could also dilute it (1 tbsp : 1 cup water) and leave it in a bottle in the shower if you prefer. I have a cute tablespoon measure that was given as part of a favor at a wedding I went to over the summer that has just been sitting in a drawer doing nothing for months, so I decided to just leave that in the shower with my jar of baking soda.
I diluted 2 tbsp of vinegar in 1 cup of water and poured it into an old stainless steel water bottle I had lying around. I added 4 drops of essential oil and shook it all together.
The first thing you want to do is wet your hair. Then proceed to either make a paste with the baking soda in your hand, or pour the pre-dissolved solution all over your scalp, focusing on the roots. Since I didn't make a solution, I stuck my head under the shower for a second to help dilute and distribute the baking soda. Massage the mixture into your scalp for about 1 minute, slightly longer if you have very oily hair. One thing many people have noted about this method is that you get zero lather from the baking soda. It's true; it has more of a tingly, slippery feel to it. Be gentle on your hair as you work this stuff in, as your hair might be brittle from previously used, drying products. The last, very important step is to rinse thoroughly. This is important because you don't want any baking soda residue on the scalp. Not only is it drying and basic, which may cause irritation, but if you remember science class, there could be bad reaction if there is still baking soda in your hair when you do your vinegar rinse.
Many people suggest not putting the vinegar rinse directly on the scalp and concentrating on the length of the hair. I do not recommend this because of what we know about skin pH. Also, the scalp should always be your area of concern because healthy scalp = healthy hair. Besides, there is plenty of rinse to go around, so you don't have to choose! Pour the solution evenly over your hair and scalp and massage for a few seconds. I let mine sit for about 3 minutes while I wash my body. My scalp started to tingle a little, and I decided it was time to rinse.
I was actually surprised at how smooth and sleek my hair felt while I was rinsing it: similar to the way it feels when you rinse out conditioner.
Here's my "before" picture. It has been about 4 days since I last washed my hair, and my hair had been up in a bun the night before, so it has a bit more body and waves than it would normally. It was also pretty oily at the roots and dry toward the ends.
One thing I was concerned about are tangles. I have tons of fine, wavy hair, so I get tangled very easily. Fortunately, when you don't strip your hair of its natural oils, your hair is less likely to tangle. I would like to add a side note that vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel can not only tangle hair, but it can also cause damage and breakage. So now I'm in the habit of gently squeezing it dry and putting it up in a hair towel for a little while.
After the wash my hair was about as tangled as it would be if I had used shampoo and conditioner. Typically, I would reach for my olive oil heat protecting spray, which doubles as a fantastic detangler, but since I'm going au naturel I opted for a little bit of coconut oil instead. The result was smooth, easy-to-brush hair.
When I blow dried my hair, the roots were behaving as though they were oily, even though they looked and felt quite (surprisingly) clean. I could not get any lift, and the top of my hair is quite flat. This also happened when I used commercial shampoos (though not as bad) and could be partially attributed to the heaviness of having lots of fine hair, and possibly from being left in the towel too long.
Overall I'm quite surprised and satisfied with the results. My hair is quite smooth and shiny and does not smell like vinegar! It has a very light scent of lavender on the ends. I will have to have my boyfriend smell the roots when I see him to find out if the vinegar smell has lingered there. It will be interesting to see how my hair changes over the next month.
For other people's takes on this process, you can read here:
For those of you who are completely unfamiliar with the whole thing, the idea is that you ditch the shampoo and conditioner and replace them with baking soda and a vinegar rinse. Why would someone do such a thing?! Well, shampoos and conditioners fall into that same unregulated category of cosmetics that contains a plethora of potentially hazardous ingredients. In addition to letting those nasty chemicals seep into your blood via the scalp, what you rise away goes down the drain and is released into the environment.
Shampoos in general are very basic, typically ranging from 9–11, which is rough on your skin. Conditioners are typically acidic from ingredients like citric acid. I could not find the typical range for conditioners, but I would bet that it's not enough to balance out your skin. Shampoo's general role is to get rid of dirt and oils from the scalp and hair. Conditioner then sweeps in and replaces the good stuff you took out. Unfortunately, the artificial stuff is toxic, and it also does not do as good of a job as your scalp can do for itself when left alone.
But what about my pretty-smelling hair?! I can't walk around with my hair actually smelling like hair. Turns out artificial fragrances are one of the most common toxic ingredients in all cosmetics, and you should be wary of ingredients like "fragrance", or "parfum". How vague is that? It's like when food contains the ingredient, "flavor". You should definitely be suspicious. Don't get me wrong, nice-smelling hair is one of my favorite things, but I prefer being healthy. So I decided to go with natural oils to give my hair a nice scent.
Most shampoos and conditioners contain silicone, usually listed as dimethicone. This is to provide shine and make hair smooth and less frizzy. Apart from being an organ and environmental toxin, this stuff will coat your hair and then make it unable to absorb moisture, drying it out in the long run. Here's a link to a page with other common toxic ingredients you might find in your shampoo.
Through my readings on this subject, I came across a few different methods. Most people suggest using 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda, depending on how thick your hair is. Some suggest making a paste in your hand; others dissolve it in water, then pour it on the scalp for evener distribution. I decided to just make a paste so I could be lazy and just keep a jar of baking soda in the shower. If the baking soda is too drying for your scalp, there is the option of adding a natural oil to the mix. Common suggestions included olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and tea tree oil. The benefit of using baking soda is that it removes dirt from the hair and scalp, but leaves the good stuff like natural oils.
You may recall from my earlier post that baking soda has a pH of 9 – a bit too basic for the skin. This is one of the reasons you do a vinegar rinse after.
Vinegar works in a couple different ways, one of which is that it closes the cuticle surrounding the hair. This helps keep the hair smooth, protects it from damage, and lets the hair reflect light, making it "shiny". It also helps remove buildup and residue of dirt, oil, and hair care products. It can also stimulate blood flow in the capillaries, improving the scalp's overall health. Most people seem to favor apple cider vinegar (ACV), but white should work just as well. One blogger even preferred white because the ACV was too "heavy" for her hair.
Most people say there is an adjustment period of anywhere from 2–8 weeks where your scalp rebalances everything. During this time you can expect your hair to be fairly unpredictable, e.g. very oily one day, very dry the next, etc. I'm hoping that since I wash my hair 2–3 times a week, mine will adjust quickly.
I was afraid the vinegar was going to leave me smelling like a salad, but others who have tried this assured me over and over that the vinegar smell dissipates as it dries. Even so, I did not like the prospect of having my hair smell like nothing, so I opted to add lavender essential oil to my rinse.
One thing that was mentioned by most bloggers is the use of "hard water", meaning high concentrations of minerals in your water. Apparently, most shampoos contain ingredients to combat this problem and prevent mineral build up. One natural option is to use distilled or rain water. Installing a water softener is another. I'm not doing either of those because I'm poor and lazy, so we'll just have to see how this goes.
Here's what you'll need:
Baking Soda
1 small glass or stainless steel container
1 tablespoon measure
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
4 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
I diluted 2 tbsp of vinegar in 1 cup of water and poured it into an old stainless steel water bottle I had lying around. I added 4 drops of essential oil and shook it all together.
The first thing you want to do is wet your hair. Then proceed to either make a paste with the baking soda in your hand, or pour the pre-dissolved solution all over your scalp, focusing on the roots. Since I didn't make a solution, I stuck my head under the shower for a second to help dilute and distribute the baking soda. Massage the mixture into your scalp for about 1 minute, slightly longer if you have very oily hair. One thing many people have noted about this method is that you get zero lather from the baking soda. It's true; it has more of a tingly, slippery feel to it. Be gentle on your hair as you work this stuff in, as your hair might be brittle from previously used, drying products. The last, very important step is to rinse thoroughly. This is important because you don't want any baking soda residue on the scalp. Not only is it drying and basic, which may cause irritation, but if you remember science class, there could be bad reaction if there is still baking soda in your hair when you do your vinegar rinse.Many people suggest not putting the vinegar rinse directly on the scalp and concentrating on the length of the hair. I do not recommend this because of what we know about skin pH. Also, the scalp should always be your area of concern because healthy scalp = healthy hair. Besides, there is plenty of rinse to go around, so you don't have to choose! Pour the solution evenly over your hair and scalp and massage for a few seconds. I let mine sit for about 3 minutes while I wash my body. My scalp started to tingle a little, and I decided it was time to rinse.
I was actually surprised at how smooth and sleek my hair felt while I was rinsing it: similar to the way it feels when you rinse out conditioner.Here's my "before" picture. It has been about 4 days since I last washed my hair, and my hair had been up in a bun the night before, so it has a bit more body and waves than it would normally. It was also pretty oily at the roots and dry toward the ends.
One thing I was concerned about are tangles. I have tons of fine, wavy hair, so I get tangled very easily. Fortunately, when you don't strip your hair of its natural oils, your hair is less likely to tangle. I would like to add a side note that vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel can not only tangle hair, but it can also cause damage and breakage. So now I'm in the habit of gently squeezing it dry and putting it up in a hair towel for a little while.After the wash my hair was about as tangled as it would be if I had used shampoo and conditioner. Typically, I would reach for my olive oil heat protecting spray, which doubles as a fantastic detangler, but since I'm going au naturel I opted for a little bit of coconut oil instead. The result was smooth, easy-to-brush hair.
When I blow dried my hair, the roots were behaving as though they were oily, even though they looked and felt quite (surprisingly) clean. I could not get any lift, and the top of my hair is quite flat. This also happened when I used commercial shampoos (though not as bad) and could be partially attributed to the heaviness of having lots of fine hair, and possibly from being left in the towel too long.
Overall I'm quite surprised and satisfied with the results. My hair is quite smooth and shiny and does not smell like vinegar! It has a very light scent of lavender on the ends. I will have to have my boyfriend smell the roots when I see him to find out if the vinegar smell has lingered there. It will be interesting to see how my hair changes over the next month.
For other people's takes on this process, you can read here:
- http://marymakesdinner.typepad.com/marymakespretty/2013/08/life-after-shampoo.html
- http://ruralspin.com/2012/04/22/tips-and-tricks-to-go-shampoo-free/
Monday, January 20, 2014
Lemons, the unsung superfood
I mentioned in the previous post that lemons are amazing. I thought I would use my internet soap box to let you all know why we should all be drinking lemon water all the time. One of the most notable things it does is alkalize the blood. I know I have spent a lot of time talking about pH but it turns out it is extremely important. I had not idea! It can seem counterintuitive because lemon juice has such a low pH, but the long and the short of it is that the high amounts of minerals in the lemon react with stomach acid making it alkaline, due to science reasons. These science reasons are explained in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WndFDIa6a0s.
Why is that important? Why should you care? Well, when our body's natural pH moves from alkaline to acidic it eats away at our bones to neutralize the acid. So alkalizing the blood through other means can prevent osteoporosis later in life. That's not all, there are plenty more reasons you should be drinking lemon water.
Here's a compilation of all the best, and most legit seeming, benefits of lemon water!
Why is that important? Why should you care? Well, when our body's natural pH moves from alkaline to acidic it eats away at our bones to neutralize the acid. So alkalizing the blood through other means can prevent osteoporosis later in life. That's not all, there are plenty more reasons you should be drinking lemon water.
Here's a compilation of all the best, and most legit seeming, benefits of lemon water!
- Lemons are high in potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function. 303 mg per lemon. It also keeps free radicals under check, boosts the formation of blood cells, regulates blood pressure and so forth. In brief, lemon water can protect you from a number of potential physical disorders and keep you energized.
- Lemon juice not only encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, it helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, burping, and bloating. Something I have experienced personally since I've started drinking lemon water everyday!
- It helps flush out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, and stimulating your liver.
- Lemons contain pectin fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings. This is something else I have experienced since I've been drinking lemon water.
- It removes uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.
- Lemons are extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system. The antioxidants present in these fruits can curb down the adverse effects of toxins as well as harmful free radicals on your heart and blood vessels. Moreover, the potassium content of lemons keeps all cardiac problems at bay by diminishing mental stress and relaxing the heart muscles.
- Being a natural diuretic, lemons can increase the rate of urination, which is highly important for maintaining the health of your renal system. As lemon water promotes the elimination of toxins and other waste materials from the internal system, you can easily stay away from rheumatoid arthritis.
- Lemon is full of natural antioxidants. It can effectively combat damaging free radicals and remove them completely from your body. Being a good source of vitamin C, the fruit also repairs the damaged skin cells as well as helps you get rid of fine lines, blemishes, wrinkles, deep furrows etc.
- Apart from free radicals, lemon water also purges toxic materials from your blood
- Lemon water has long been known as an amazing natural hair care solution. It can make your hair stronger by keeping the roots or follicles healthy. It also works as a natural stimulant for your hair and promotes its growth.
- he antioxidants present in lemon are extremely favorable for your scalp. Hence, drinking lemon water in a regular manner is useful for treating dry scalp and dandruff permanently.
- It destroys intestinal worms
- Blood vessels are strengthened by the vitamin P (bioflavinoids) in lemon thus prevents internal hemorrhage. Also, making it useful in treating high blood pressure.
- The citric acid in lemon juice helps to dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.
- Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties; experiments have found the juice of lemons destroy the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases.
- The symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy have been shown in research to improve due to the rutin, found in lemons.
- Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including naturally occurring limonene; oil which slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals and flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells.
- According to The Reams Biological Ionization Theory (RBTI), the lemon is the ONLY food in the world that is anionic (an ion with a negative charge). All other foods are cationic (the ion has a positive charge.) This makes it extremely useful to health as it is the interaction between anions and cations that ultimately provides all cell energy
you can check out the nutritional info here http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1938/2
Pretty amazing stuff right? Serving size is 1/2 a lemon if you are under 150 pounds and a whole if you are over that weight. I've been doing 1-2 whole lemons a day. I squeeze it into a liter of water and add some liquid stevia (a non-carcinogenic zero calorie sweetener) and it makes it like lemonade. On that note, lemonade is not an acceptable substitute for lemon water. Some people prefer it warm, particularly in the morning. I like mine cold. I read that lime juice also alkalizes the blood, but I don't know if it has any of the other benefits that lemons have. Oranges are not a good substitute because of the sugar content. There you have it. Lemons are amazing so drink up!
Green tea toner
I mentioned in a previous post about the importance of a toner if you use alkaline products on your skin. I have been meaning to get around to making this stuff and posting about it for a couple of weeks but always forgot or put if off for some reason or another. Usually it was just because I'm lazy, and I justify my laziness by saying, "I'm a super-busy grad student, I deserve to sit around when I have the chance," which is probably pretty true. Fortunately this recipe is great for the lazy at heart. It took me all of 5 minutes (including the time it took the water to boil, a few seconds if you don't count that time).
One of the other great things about this recipe is you probably have everything you need for it sitting right in your kitchen. Other great things include benefits for your skin and it's pretty inexpensive to make.
I did a little bit of research on what makes a good toner and came across several different recipes, many for making a rose water toner. I decided against rose water because it sounded like it was going to take more time than I wanted to spend, my roses are not blooming right now nor are there any hips remaining, and it does not have an acidic pH. That, of course, could have been remedied by some lemon juice, but that would require me to figure out the ratio of lemon juice to rose water to make it the proper pH range and I'm lazy, as I stated before.
I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to use when I started, that being: green tea, honey, and lemon. Which is, in fact, what I ended up using, but I had to do some research on the ingredients before I could fully commit.
Green tea is one of those things that has a lot of buzz about it's health benefits lately, so I suppose that might be why I naturally gravitated toward using it. Turns out it is pretty amazing stuff! It's considered a "superfood" (at least I think it is) because of its high amounts of antioxidants, which may prove to have anti-aging properties. The antioxidants in green tea reduce and prevent sun damage by absorbing free radicals and reducing inflammation, rather than blocking UV rays. This makes it a good choice to put underneath what ever moisturizer and sunscreen you are using. There is also evidence that green tea can offer some protection against skin cancer. I've heard people make claims about the benefits of caffeine on the skin for increased collegian production, among other things. I did not personally check out these claims (again with the laziness) but there are plenty of other benefits that make it a good choice, in my opinion. The pH of green tea typically falls between 6.7-7.5 making it an ideal base.
I chose honey mainly for the moisturizing properties. I hear mixed things about honey. Some health food people swear by it, others have called it "glorified sugar." I think it is actually pretty awesome. Honey has a lot more to offer than sugar: minerals, vitamins, antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties, it's a natural antihistamine for local plants, it's good stuff. Unfortunately, to get a lot of the benefits of honey you need to buy raw and you need to buy local, and that stuff does not come cheap. For now, I used the stuff I had floating around the house (the kind that comes in a bear) and hoped that all the benefits were not lost in the pasteurizing process. Honey also has antioxidants which help heal and protect the skin from damage. Because of it's anti inflammatory and microbial properties, it can help treat acne. It does an amazing job of healing, I have seen its effects first hand on a gaping wound. Honey reacts with the air and essentially acts as a slow-releasing hydrogen peroxide. Another reason I chose honey is because it is a humectant. That is a fancy word for it draws in and retains moisture. Honey is actually pretty acidic, which I found surprising, with a pH of between 3.2-4.5. So it helps to tip our toner slightly to the acidic side.
Lemons are amazing, let me start by saying that, and I had no idea until researching this toner. I wanted to include lemon mainly for its acidity. With a pH of 2, a few drops should finish getting the toner in the 5-6 range the skin needs. Because of the acidity, lemon also helps exfoliate dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking brighter. Citrus fruit in general is praised for it's vitamin C content and immune system boost, which is (almost) complete malarky. Vitamin C does not do much to help immune system function but it does do amazing things for your skin! Turns out that vitamin C is essential to the production of collegian in the skin, which aids in the growth of new cells and blood vessels. More collegian also means firmer, potentially younger-looking skin. Collegian also helps you skin repair itself because it is an antioxidant. There is some research suggesting that vitamin C may reduce DNA damage to the skin. It may reduce sunburns and help prevent the consequences of long-term sun damage, such as skin cancer. It's amazing stuff. You can get the full scoop here: http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/nutrition/vitamin-c-benefit-skin.htm
So there you have it, plenty of good reasons to choose these three simple ingredients for your facial toner.
Here's what you need:
1 tea bag or table spoon of loose leaf green tea, preferably organic*
1 teaspoon of honey
a few drops of lemon juice
a glass container for finished product*
*I hope it's obvious why you would want organic and non-plastic containers since the point of this is to get rid of toxins. If not, look it up ;)
You need to boil some water and then brew tea in 1/4-1/2 cup of water. Stir in honey until dissolved and add lemon juice. Let cool before trying to put it on your skin. Boom. Nothing too it. I don't know why I put it off so long.
I chose jasmine green tea for mine because it smells nice, and I like to drink it. Honestly, when I made this I mostly did it by taste. I have a handy dandy quick pour through brewer I bought in China town. I ran the tea through 4 times and had a nice strong tea. I measured the honey, but just added the lemon juice until the tea had a nice tartness to it. If I had to guess, probably about a teaspoon or so of juice. I cannot stress enough, DO NOT MAKE THIS IN LARGE BATCHES. This is food grade stuff and should be treated as such. I kept mine on the bathroom counter and it lasted for about 5 days before starting to ferment. I dumped most of it out in the end. What's cool about it though, is if you make extra you can just drink it! Which sounds odd, but also is awesome. I intentionally did that when I made it and added the mix to some lemon water I was already drinking and it was pretty fantastic. If you want it to last a little longer you can always keep it in the fridge, which may be invigorating when applied to skin! I, however, will probably keep mine on the counter because I will forget about it if I don't see it sitting there.
Once I made my toner I figured it was a good chance to try out washing my face with baking soda. I made a past in my hand with about 1 tablespoon baking soda and water and massaged it on my skin for 30 or so seconds. It does work quite well. My skin felt soft and had a nice glow. It is a little drying, and I think I over did it with the scrubbing, so my skin was a little sensitive for a while after. I wouldn't recommend using it on a daily basis, but it's great for a couple times a week, followed up by the pH restoring toner.
Jojoba oil update: I'm still liking washing my face with jojoba oil! My skin seems to be "purging" but it's hard to tell if it's because of the oil or because of my hormones. I have noticed a reduction of blackheads on my nose, and my skin is nice and soft and glowing :) My skin care regimen is currently as follows: dip cotton pad in toner and wipe face first thing in the morning, apply coconut oil moisturizer, wash face with jojoba oil before bed. Simple, easy, non-toxic, and effective. I'm quite happy with it all!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Coconut oil facial moisturizer
It has been a busy day here in my test kitchen (aka my regular kitchen). I have a couple new recipes I've tried that I'm pretty excited about.
First, I want to start by talking about my old face cream. I was using Trader Joe's Enrich moisturizer most days. I liked it because it is SPF 15, has vitamins A, E, & C, is light weight, and smells nice. Sounds like a pretty good product at first, but after looking it up on SkinDeep I was surprised to see it was pretty bad for me. The 2009 version got a 6 on the hazardous scale, the 2012 was moved down to a 4. I can't remember when I bought the stuff, but even with my inconsistent use I think It was after 2012.
4 isn't a terrible score, but I'm wondering if some of the ratings are skewed because of the limited data on some ingredients. Here are two of the worst things about this cream, and many other commercial face creams I'm sure.
Worst on the list Retinyl Palmitate, danger rating of 8. This is a form of vitamin A that is commonly used as a sunscreen. Why it's bad: Studies are showing that when retinyl palmitate is exposed to sun it can cause cancer. So while you are wearing it to prevent skin cancer, it may be giving it to you. Oh cruel irony. In addition to cancer it is linked to "Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)."
OCTINOXATE is the next toxic ingredient, it's purpose is to enhance skin absorption. It is rated at a 6. Among the worst effects associated with this ingredient are developmental/reproductive toxicity, and organ tissue damage.
Overall this product has moderate cancer risk, high reproductive and developmental toxicity, and moderate allergy and irritation concerns. Plus, it is stored in plastic, which I'm sure adds to the problems this may cause. You can read the full report on this product here: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/437805/Trader_Joe%27s_Enrich_Moisturizing_Face_Lotion%2C_SPF_15_%282012_formulation%29/
Now, let's move on to what I made and why it is good for you.
If you have ever browsed the endless supply of DIY beauty products you have probably noticed that just about everything calls for coconut oil. This stuff has been gaining popularity, for good reason, and if you intend to make the same recipes as me you will want to stock up. I will be using this as the base of my cream.
This is the stuff I had around the house purchased from Costco. Don't be fooled by the photo, it is actually quite a large amount, 54 oz to be exact. When selecting a coconut oil you want to make sure it is: pure, organic (the whole point of this is to get rid of toxins), cold presses, unrefined, and extra virgin. This brand meets all those qualifications and costs a very reasonable $16.
What is so great about coconut oil? Well for starters, it has a pH of on average of 5.5-7.8, making it a good match for skin (see earlier post), as it can balance the pH for most skin types.
Coconut oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is a great moisturizer. It helps remove dead skin and repair damaged tissue. It also has a natural SPF of 2-8, depending on the brand.
The second ingredient I chose is vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that plays an essential role in skin protection and repair. It helps heal tissue damage, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and aging (something I'm growing more concerned with). However, this important compound is not produced by the human body and must be added to your beauty regimen. I purchased a vitamin E oil from Trader Joe's some time ago. It is also important to make sure you are eating food that contain vitamin E. For the full report see: http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/nutrition/vitamin-e-benefit-skin.htm This little bottle cost me around $4, certainly worth it.
I looked up the ingredients and found that it could contain both artificial and natural vitamin E. I could not find any research suggesting the artificial version is less effective or toxic in anyway.
The final ingredient you will need is Zinc Oxide powder. I purchased this 1 pound bag on amazon.com for about $10! The purpose of adding zinc oxide is to provide sunscreen. On top of providing SPF, zinc also can sooth mild skin irritations and has anti bacterial properties. How does it work? "Upon application, zinc oxide particles sit on the outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum, where they scatter and absorb ultraviolet radiation, protecting your living skin below. Zinc oxide is unique among sunscreen ingredients in that it is truly a broad-spectrum blocker, protecting from UVA, UVB, and even UVC."
So here's how you make what I did. You'll need:
1/2 cup pure coconut oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
1 oz (about 4 Tbs) zinc oxide powder*
bowl
electric mixer
glass container for the finished product
*Zinc oxide will change the texture and appearance of cream. It may be omitted for a lower SPF. The 1:4 ratio of zinc to cream makes about an SPF 20 cream.
Add all ingredients to a bowl, whip with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Because of the fat content this stuff will hold air! Place in container when finished. Voila! Easy, safe, delicious smelling face cream.
When I made this originally I did not have zinc powder so what you see on the left is just coconut oil and vitamin E oil. You can see how smooth and fluffy it will get. It does harden slightly after a few hours, but it still remains pretty smooth and light and cream-like.
First, I want to start by talking about my old face cream. I was using Trader Joe's Enrich moisturizer most days. I liked it because it is SPF 15, has vitamins A, E, & C, is light weight, and smells nice. Sounds like a pretty good product at first, but after looking it up on SkinDeep I was surprised to see it was pretty bad for me. The 2009 version got a 6 on the hazardous scale, the 2012 was moved down to a 4. I can't remember when I bought the stuff, but even with my inconsistent use I think It was after 2012.4 isn't a terrible score, but I'm wondering if some of the ratings are skewed because of the limited data on some ingredients. Here are two of the worst things about this cream, and many other commercial face creams I'm sure.
Worst on the list Retinyl Palmitate, danger rating of 8. This is a form of vitamin A that is commonly used as a sunscreen. Why it's bad: Studies are showing that when retinyl palmitate is exposed to sun it can cause cancer. So while you are wearing it to prevent skin cancer, it may be giving it to you. Oh cruel irony. In addition to cancer it is linked to "Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)."
OCTINOXATE is the next toxic ingredient, it's purpose is to enhance skin absorption. It is rated at a 6. Among the worst effects associated with this ingredient are developmental/reproductive toxicity, and organ tissue damage.
Overall this product has moderate cancer risk, high reproductive and developmental toxicity, and moderate allergy and irritation concerns. Plus, it is stored in plastic, which I'm sure adds to the problems this may cause. You can read the full report on this product here: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/437805/Trader_Joe%27s_Enrich_Moisturizing_Face_Lotion%2C_SPF_15_%282012_formulation%29/
Now, let's move on to what I made and why it is good for you.
If you have ever browsed the endless supply of DIY beauty products you have probably noticed that just about everything calls for coconut oil. This stuff has been gaining popularity, for good reason, and if you intend to make the same recipes as me you will want to stock up. I will be using this as the base of my cream.
This is the stuff I had around the house purchased from Costco. Don't be fooled by the photo, it is actually quite a large amount, 54 oz to be exact. When selecting a coconut oil you want to make sure it is: pure, organic (the whole point of this is to get rid of toxins), cold presses, unrefined, and extra virgin. This brand meets all those qualifications and costs a very reasonable $16.
What is so great about coconut oil? Well for starters, it has a pH of on average of 5.5-7.8, making it a good match for skin (see earlier post), as it can balance the pH for most skin types.
Coconut oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is a great moisturizer. It helps remove dead skin and repair damaged tissue. It also has a natural SPF of 2-8, depending on the brand.The second ingredient I chose is vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that plays an essential role in skin protection and repair. It helps heal tissue damage, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and aging (something I'm growing more concerned with). However, this important compound is not produced by the human body and must be added to your beauty regimen. I purchased a vitamin E oil from Trader Joe's some time ago. It is also important to make sure you are eating food that contain vitamin E. For the full report see: http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/nutrition/vitamin-e-benefit-skin.htm This little bottle cost me around $4, certainly worth it.
I looked up the ingredients and found that it could contain both artificial and natural vitamin E. I could not find any research suggesting the artificial version is less effective or toxic in anyway.
1/2 cup pure coconut oil
2 teaspoons vitamin E oil
1 oz (about 4 Tbs) zinc oxide powder*
bowl
electric mixer
glass container for the finished product
*Zinc oxide will change the texture and appearance of cream. It may be omitted for a lower SPF. The 1:4 ratio of zinc to cream makes about an SPF 20 cream.Add all ingredients to a bowl, whip with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Because of the fat content this stuff will hold air! Place in container when finished. Voila! Easy, safe, delicious smelling face cream.
When I made this originally I did not have zinc powder so what you see on the left is just coconut oil and vitamin E oil. You can see how smooth and fluffy it will get. It does harden slightly after a few hours, but it still remains pretty smooth and light and cream-like.
Once my zinc powder came in the mail I added it and re-whipped everything. I also added a little more coconut oil because was too thick, in my opinion, so my SPF is somewhere between 15-20, which is fine by me.
You can see how much more white it is after the addition of the powder. The cream is a little bit thicker but still nice and soft and easily spread.
I put some on my hand immediately and it left a white powdery film on top. I still had some left on my fingers that was melted and rubbed it on my other hand and it absorbed much better. I would recommend letting it melt in your hand (should only take a few seconds because coconut oil has a low melting temperature) before applying it to your face.
There you have it. It's so simple and cost effective to make a high quality, non-toxic cream. I can't believe it's taken me this long!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Hair remover and face wash update
Anyone else have unwanted facial hair? I am 3/4 South American and 1/4 British which has left me with very light skin and pretty dark hair, especially on my face and legs. This is an unfortunate combination.
I had not considered adding a hair remover to my list of natural beauty experiments(mostly because I forgot), but I think it might be necessary. In the past I have been professionally waxed, a painful endeavor for sure. Also, it's inconvenient and adds up over time. I am very allergic to nair, it causes me to break out in hives everywhere, and I don't want to be putting those kinds of chemicals on my skin anyway. Bleaching is another option, but it has the same chemical problem as nair.
While on pinterest, a place where I spend entirely too much of my free time, I came across a recipe for natural hair remover. It consists of honey, lemon juice, and oatmeal. The original website described its effect as "controversial." I did some more research and found a few other sites boasting the hair removing abilities of a honey and lemon mask, but none of them could tell me why.
Most sites say that it will remove hair if applied 2-3 times a week. One site guaranteed permanent hair removal after 6 months of use. I'm going to give it the old college try. If nothing else, there are benefits to having honey and lemon on the skin, so what do I have to loose?
The recipe I will be using is as follows:
1 tbs Honey
1/2 tbs ground Oatmeal
a few drops of lemon juice
Apply the mask to desired areas, let sit for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
(recipe from www.benefits-of-honey.com)
Jojoba face wash update:
I have been washing my face faithfully for the last 4 days with my jojoba oil, and so far I am pretty happy with it. I was surprised at how easily the oil is absorbed into the skin. After I have wiped of excess oil and patted my face dry its feels refreshed and not the least bit greasy, and even seems to have a bit of a glow afterwards. Yesterday morning my skin still had a bit of a natural glow to it, something I have never seen or noticed before, and I decided to forgo the makeup, apart from a little blush. My skin's overall oiliness has not seemed to decrease in the last few days, but some people said to allow 2 weeks to see results. My skin has not begun to purge anything. I have noticed a reduction of acne in some of my problem areas, still plenty of black heads though.
Overall I am quite satisfied with using it so far. I'm excited to see how else it might improve my skin :)
I had not considered adding a hair remover to my list of natural beauty experiments(mostly because I forgot), but I think it might be necessary. In the past I have been professionally waxed, a painful endeavor for sure. Also, it's inconvenient and adds up over time. I am very allergic to nair, it causes me to break out in hives everywhere, and I don't want to be putting those kinds of chemicals on my skin anyway. Bleaching is another option, but it has the same chemical problem as nair.
While on pinterest, a place where I spend entirely too much of my free time, I came across a recipe for natural hair remover. It consists of honey, lemon juice, and oatmeal. The original website described its effect as "controversial." I did some more research and found a few other sites boasting the hair removing abilities of a honey and lemon mask, but none of them could tell me why.
Most sites say that it will remove hair if applied 2-3 times a week. One site guaranteed permanent hair removal after 6 months of use. I'm going to give it the old college try. If nothing else, there are benefits to having honey and lemon on the skin, so what do I have to loose?
The recipe I will be using is as follows:
1 tbs Honey
1/2 tbs ground Oatmeal
a few drops of lemon juice
Apply the mask to desired areas, let sit for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat 2-3 times a week.
(recipe from www.benefits-of-honey.com)
Jojoba face wash update:
I have been washing my face faithfully for the last 4 days with my jojoba oil, and so far I am pretty happy with it. I was surprised at how easily the oil is absorbed into the skin. After I have wiped of excess oil and patted my face dry its feels refreshed and not the least bit greasy, and even seems to have a bit of a glow afterwards. Yesterday morning my skin still had a bit of a natural glow to it, something I have never seen or noticed before, and I decided to forgo the makeup, apart from a little blush. My skin's overall oiliness has not seemed to decrease in the last few days, but some people said to allow 2 weeks to see results. My skin has not begun to purge anything. I have noticed a reduction of acne in some of my problem areas, still plenty of black heads though.
Overall I am quite satisfied with using it so far. I'm excited to see how else it might improve my skin :)
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