Monday, April 1, 2013

Ditching Some Chemicals in Skin/Hair Care

Today I was talking to a friend that is reading a book called The Maker's Diet (http://www.makers-diet.net/).

I have not read the book, and I'm not saying that it's a good or bad idea, but some of the things she mentioned that she read struck a cord with me. I've often tried to buy organic products for my face such as more natural lotions, and I thought about doing that for my hair but those shampoos were SO expensive. I really do think that we use way too many chemicals in our lives. My Grandma Brooksie was pretty smart in this area. Many years ago and also just a few months ago, she said to use vinegar as a toner (I've read that apple cider vinegar is best) on my face and use EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) for moisturizer. I think when I finish my current product, I'm going to try her way as a more permanent solution. I read several articles that have also suggested jojoba oil as a good moisturizer, and many people have suggested it in forums. Has anybody tried this? I definitely want to take good care of my skin, especially living in Aberdeen where the weather is harsher than in Houston. I could really use a good natural all-over skin (body) moisturizer. I've been told that oils work best. Any recommendations?

For my hair, I am thinking about trying the method suggested in this blog post:

Why I Ditched Shampoo (And How You Can Too!)
From: http://becomingpeculiar.com/why-i-ditched-shampoo-and-how-you-can-too/
She claims that (1) it doesn't make your hair smell like vinegar, (2) it doesn't cause the soap scum buildup in your shower that store-bought shampoos and conditioners cause, and (3) after a period of adjustment, her hair was very healthy and required less washing.

Deodorant:
I've tried deodorants without aluminum, but I haven't been very successful. Tom's Of Maine just gave me a red, burning rash and didn't work well! Booo! Since then, I've been afraid to try anything else different. Also, I'm in martial arts and thus, I need a good deodorant. I'm open for suggestions to this as well. Oh, and I need to be able to get it in the UK. :o)

Anyway, I'm still doing some research, and I'd appreciate any feedback or experiences.

5 comments:

  1. Let me know how it goes. Because of my horrible allergies I have to buy everything with no dyes or perfumes. It took me FOREVER to find products with none. I finally found a great company out of Washington that sells everything I need. I would love to save done money if there are better alternatives though! Good luck!

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  2. I have never tried anything like this before. Sounds interesting! But there is absolutely no way I'd put oil on my face.

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    1. I've never done anything like this either. I've used the EVOO on my face before bed a few times, and surprisingly you wake up with a nice soft face, not an oily one. I think it's probably best to use a really good brand.

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  3. I like the idea of that hair treatment. I think I will do that. I'm curious to see the results on my own head.
    A friend of mine read that book years ago. She's fairly "crunchy" and I may be a little jealous. :-)

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  4. Hello, I'm reading your blog as we may be getting transferred to Aberdeen. I've found the photos great. I just wanted to let you know that my family has been using for deodorant. It is the absolute most effective thing I've ever tried.

    1/4 c coconut oil (to make it spreadable)
    2 Tbsp Cornstarch or Arrowroot (for moisture)
    2 Tbsp Baking Soda (for the stink)
    A few drops of essential oil, if you want. I like pine, or tea tree, or rose, or lavender.


    Make into a paste. Store in a jar. If you have sensitive skin, this could give you a rash. Try it with less baking soda and using every 2-3 days until your skin acclimates. I had a rash and did this and I can use it just fine now.

    My Hubs uses this, and swears by it. Our stinky teen uses it too (no issues). Since I had my twins my hormones haven't been right and I was so stinky. This is literally the only thing that's worked. It works better than Secret Clinical.

    Good luck!

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I am happy to hear from you!