Green beauty products
Great green beauty products!
Looking great comes at a price these days, and we know this the more we hear about how many harmful chemicals it takes to look good - harmful to us, and the environment. When searching the shelves, look for products with natural ingredients (I always consider whether I wouldn't mind putting the product in my mouth - don't actually try that). Also, it might be worth considering making your own beauty products. Have any of you ever tried doing that? I remember that my sister once made me beautiful grapefruit lip balm. Also, Adria Vasil of Ecoholic fame recommends visiting Make Your Cosmetics for recipes.
Way back in August I wrote about Origins Organics, a great line of green products I had come across. I had fallen in love with their lovely Body Pampering Massage Oil. All of Origins Organics products are free of many of the leading environmental and health offenders, such as parabens (an estrogenic chemical found in most cosmetics), phthalates (a hormone disrupter now slowly being phased out of certain products), petroleum (derived from crude oil), mineral oil (which is a petroleum byproduct) and DEA (which is suspected to increase the risk of cancer and is commonly found in beauty products).
I have great news for those of you who love looking great with a conscience. I have a Origins Organics beauty basket to give away to one lucky Green Living Blog Subscriber. One lucky winner will get:
• Origins Organics Foaming Face Wash
• Origins Organics Nourishing Face Lotion
• Origins Organics Cleansing Body Bar
Just leave a comment here telling me your best recipe for a homemade beauty product. Don't forget, you also have to be a subscriber to win! I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, April 21.
Also, two lucky winners will be walking away with a copy of the book Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs?, by Robyn Harding (I blogged about it here!). It's a great, funny read that most of you can relate to. I'll pick the two winners at random and will announce it here next Tuesday as well.
Tags: beauty, beauty products, Books, Origins Organics
April 15th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
My favourite homemade beauty product is also the most simple one I have ever encountered! I take an egg and separate the white and the yolk. I then froth the eggwhite with a fork and then put the eggwhite on my face. I wait until the dries and then peel it off. I rinse my face and then enjoy my tightened pores and natural glow!
April 15th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
When my eyes are puffy I place cucumber slices over my eyes ..I really feel it helps give me a refreshed look!!
April 15th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
My favourite thing to do for myself at home is mix epsom salts (one cup) and (two teaspons)bergamot essential oil together. I use this when I need a relaxing soak in the tub. The epsom salts soften the water and the oil scents the air and me and I am soothed.
April 15th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Use mayonnaise in your hair to give it a shine and than shampoo out after 10 minutes. I remember having this done to my hair when i was younger or even egg in my hair.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I make my own body scrub, 2 parts sugar, 1 part olive oil.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
My favourite is:
COFFEE BODY SCRUB
2 cups coarsely ground coffee grounds
½ cup raw sugar or sea salt
2–3 T olive oil
Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Start with a quick shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. While still in the shower, using your hands, rub the coffee mixture all over your skin with strong, even pressure. Rinse off scrub and pat skin dry.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I also like:
COCONUT-LEMON HAND SCRUB
½ cup coconut oil (found at health-food stores)
½ cup raw sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
Directions
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Rub the mixture over your hands for one minute. Brush excess sugar from your skin with a facecloth. Slide your hands into cotton gloves and leave on as long as possible.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Hope you all get a chance to try my recipies; they are very good.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:49 am
This is the simplest soothing treatment ever: When finished making your cup of tea put the used t-bag in the fridge. When it has cooled put it on your eyes and relax for 15 minutes. When finished you will be relaxed and have very soothing eyes!!! In these recession times it is cheap and cheerful and believe me it works! It also falls in the "green" category as we are reusing and recycling!
April 16th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
My best homemade recipe for a beauty product is oatmeal all over face and body masque. It is cheap and easy to make, albeit messy to apply to be sure to use towels or better yet, apply it in the bath tub. You could also cut the recipe in about a quarter and just apply it on your face and neck. I gave my husband a "spa day" for his birthday this year, and because he has itchy excema, the oatmeal sooths and at the same time exfoliates the skin. And by adding drops of your favourite aromatherapy oil, it adds fragrance and sooths your soul during the wait time. This is my recipe:
2 cups of oatmeal
1 raw egg
2 tbsp. of honey
6 tbsp. of milk or water, more if needed
a few drops of aromatherapy massage oil like Ylang Ylang, lavender oil or pine scented oil
1. Put all the ingredients in a blender and whiz until you have a thick paste consistency.
2. Apply all over face, neck body, back in a circular motion and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
3. Then wash off and your skin will be smooth and silky.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Grandma's Facemask
1 Tablespoon of plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon of pureed parsley
1 Tablespoon of pureed cucumber
Puree all 3 ingredients together. Put a generous layer on to your face and neck. Leave on for 15 minutes as you and your skin relax and rejuvenate! Then wipe off with warm facecloth and apply moisturizer.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Put white toothpaste on any spot/pimple before bed and it will make it much smaller by morning. For those of you who purchase the green or blue striped toothpastes DO NO USE as it will stain your face blue or green and you will look pretty hidious.....I am allowed to say this as I had previous experience in this field:-) I love all your ideas and will enjoy trying them all out.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:24 am
For red irritated skin, or for small cuts,I crush up a small amount of ripe papaya fruit(not the skin) and apply it to the affected area.The enzyme in papaya really works to soothe and help promote healing.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Here's an easy,economical and green deep conditioning treatment for your hair. Rub a little olive oil into your hair then cover with a disposable shower cap.The cap helps your hair absorb the oil and keeps your pillowcase clean if you use the treatment overnight.After about 30 minutes or overnight,wash your hair and see how soft it has become.
April 18th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Mask recipe
What I like about this, these ingredients are always in my fridge or pantry.
No grounding or pulverizing ingredients.
Quick mix and you have a facial.
Mix together
1 tablespoon honey.
1 egg yolk beaten
1/2 teaspoon almond oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
The honey stimulates and smoothes.
The egg and almond oil penetrate and moisturizes. The yogurt refines and tightens pores.
Smells pretty darn good too!
April 19th, 2009 at 8:00 am
A good way to have shiny hair is to use beer as a rinse on it after you washed it.
April 20th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
For anyone who has dry rough feet - and who doesn't after layers of winter socks and boots?- try soaking in warm water, then using coarse sea salt as an exfoliant and rubbing in olive oil to keep feet soft.
September 8th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I know this is an old post, however if anyone still stumbles across it they should check out the David Suzuki fFoundation's Queen of Green page. She has tons of great beauty product recipies. I really like the rose milk bath.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/QueenofGreen/