The first time I heard about oil pulling is was very surprised and curious. I just had to try it! And now, it has become a part of my daily routine.
This ayurvedic procedure involves one or two tablespoons of oil (most people use coconut oil) and swishing it in your mouth for 15-20 min. Afterwards you spit it out, rinse with some water and brush your teeth as usual. It reduces plaque and some people claim it has whitened their teeth after doing it for a while. I haven't focused on that so I can't tell.
After trying it for some days I could already feel a difference. My teeth felt cleaner after brushing.It really gave me this "just got back from the dentist" clean feeling. For the first few seconds it does taste very fatty, but then it slowly fades as it mixed with your saliva. You don't need to swish for the full 15 or 20 min. You can just swish, leave it in your mouth for a bit and then swish some more. This way the muscles in your mouth and face don't get too tired.
Just try it for a couple of days and you'll feel the difference!
zondag 26 januari 2014
zondag 15 december 2013
Natural colored lip balm
Colored lip balms are a great way to care for your lips and still add a touch of color to your lips.
The colors won't be as bright as in a lipstick, but just a hint of colour. Something some of use can definitely use during these winter months.
You'll need
*a clean container
*1 teaspoon coconut oil
*1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil or calendula oil
*1/2 teaspoon of wax (beeswax, soy wax etc)
A great natural way to add color to your lip balms is with with beet juice or beet root powder. Health food stores might also sell natural food coloring. You can also add that to your balm.
Put the oils and wax into a clean bowl or pyrex jug and heat it in double boiler. Then slowly add the coloring to your oils. You really only need to put in very small quantities at a time. It's better to play it safe and add a little more than to end up with a color that's too bright for you.
To see if you've got the right color just dip the tip of a knife (a butter knife that's not as sharp!) in the mixture and let a bit of the mixture settle. Then you can put some balm on your skin and see if you like the color. Be careful! If the color is fine you can pour the mixture into a container.
Enjoy experimenting with different colors and combinations!
The colors won't be as bright as in a lipstick, but just a hint of colour. Something some of use can definitely use during these winter months.
You'll need
*a clean container
*1 teaspoon coconut oil
*1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil or calendula oil
*1/2 teaspoon of wax (beeswax, soy wax etc)
A great natural way to add color to your lip balms is with with beet juice or beet root powder. Health food stores might also sell natural food coloring. You can also add that to your balm.
Put the oils and wax into a clean bowl or pyrex jug and heat it in double boiler. Then slowly add the coloring to your oils. You really only need to put in very small quantities at a time. It's better to play it safe and add a little more than to end up with a color that's too bright for you.
To see if you've got the right color just dip the tip of a knife (a butter knife that's not as sharp!) in the mixture and let a bit of the mixture settle. Then you can put some balm on your skin and see if you like the color. Be careful! If the color is fine you can pour the mixture into a container.
Enjoy experimenting with different colors and combinations!
zondag 1 december 2013
Delicious all natural chocolate lip balm
With winter coming it's time to get ready for dry skin related issues. Calendula creams, extra caring hand cream and of course lip balms! This recipe is both caring and delicious!
Shopping list:
*a clean container
*2 teaspoons of cocoa butter. I used food grade cocoa butter, it smells heavenly.
*1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil.
*1/4 teaspoon of chocolate or you can use some cocoa powder.
Dark chocolate works best to get a strong chocolate flavor/scent. This isn't exact science, just observe as you stir the chocolate into the mixture. You might want to add more or a little less. The great thing about making your own cosmetics is that you can make it just the way YOU like it.
Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. This shouldn't take long. Then you can add the chocolate or cocoa powder. Simply let it all mix and pour it into a container and let it cool.
This is an all natural alternative to store bought flavored lip balms. All these ingredients are safe to eat so you don't have to worry about unwanted chemicals you might get into your mouth. You can safely lick your lips with this delicious balm!
Shopping list:
*a clean container
*2 teaspoons of cocoa butter. I used food grade cocoa butter, it smells heavenly.
*1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil.
*1/4 teaspoon of chocolate or you can use some cocoa powder.
Dark chocolate works best to get a strong chocolate flavor/scent. This isn't exact science, just observe as you stir the chocolate into the mixture. You might want to add more or a little less. The great thing about making your own cosmetics is that you can make it just the way YOU like it.
Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil in a double boiler. This shouldn't take long. Then you can add the chocolate or cocoa powder. Simply let it all mix and pour it into a container and let it cool.
This is an all natural alternative to store bought flavored lip balms. All these ingredients are safe to eat so you don't have to worry about unwanted chemicals you might get into your mouth. You can safely lick your lips with this delicious balm!
zondag 3 november 2013
5 Super easy natural scrubs
A freshly scrubbed soft skin feels great. But did you know many commercial scrubs contain micro plastics? You are actually scrubbing your skin with tiny plastic bubbles that end up in the water supply, rivers and oceans. Luckily there are a number of easy, green and cheap alternatives. Most of them can actually be found in the grocery store around the corner. It almost sounds too good to be true.
1. Sugar
Sugar makes a great scrub. Mixed with some oil it leaves your skin fresh and the oil moistures your skin leaving it super soft. You can use brown sugar or any sugar with larger grains for your body, hands or feet. Use granulated sugar mixed with some oatmeal and oil for a soft scrub for your face. Or make a quick lip scrub!
Lip scrub
sugar and baking soda scrub
sugar and oatmeal facial scrub
2. Sea salt
I found some sea salt in my supermarket and the grains were just the perfect size for a natural scrub. Many health stores will have all kinds salt, from dead sea salt to Himalayan salt if you're looking for something special. Mix it with oil and you have a perfect scrub.
sea salt scrub
3.Baking soda
Baking soda has very small particles and is great for a softer kind of scrub. Perfect for your face if you have acne or just want a gentle scrub.
sugar and baking soda scrub
4. Apricot kernel and other ground up kernels and nuts
Kernels and seeds of apricots, cherries, avocados or ground up almonds make great scrub powder. Plus you'll get your daily dose of fruit and vitamins. Just let them dry, smash them, grind them and do whatever you like to create small particles perfect for a scrub bar or regular scrub.
almond scrub bar
natural scrub powder DIY
5. Cornmeal
I found some cornmeal at the foreign food section at my supermarket next to the Indian food. You can probably also find it at most Chinese food stores. It has a fine texture but still has some nice scrubbing power. You could use it in a face mask or scrub bar. I usually use it mixed with coconut oil for an oil cleanse with scrub power.
1. Sugar
Sugar makes a great scrub. Mixed with some oil it leaves your skin fresh and the oil moistures your skin leaving it super soft. You can use brown sugar or any sugar with larger grains for your body, hands or feet. Use granulated sugar mixed with some oatmeal and oil for a soft scrub for your face. Or make a quick lip scrub!
Lip scrub
sugar and baking soda scrub
sugar and oatmeal facial scrub
2. Sea salt
I found some sea salt in my supermarket and the grains were just the perfect size for a natural scrub. Many health stores will have all kinds salt, from dead sea salt to Himalayan salt if you're looking for something special. Mix it with oil and you have a perfect scrub.
sea salt scrub
3.Baking soda
Baking soda has very small particles and is great for a softer kind of scrub. Perfect for your face if you have acne or just want a gentle scrub.
sugar and baking soda scrub
4. Apricot kernel and other ground up kernels and nuts
Kernels and seeds of apricots, cherries, avocados or ground up almonds make great scrub powder. Plus you'll get your daily dose of fruit and vitamins. Just let them dry, smash them, grind them and do whatever you like to create small particles perfect for a scrub bar or regular scrub.
almond scrub bar
natural scrub powder DIY
5. Cornmeal
I found some cornmeal at the foreign food section at my supermarket next to the Indian food. You can probably also find it at most Chinese food stores. It has a fine texture but still has some nice scrubbing power. You could use it in a face mask or scrub bar. I usually use it mixed with coconut oil for an oil cleanse with scrub power.
zaterdag 28 september 2013
DIY Bowl made of old vinyl record
This DIY project is so much fun to make and it's quite easy. This bowl is great to store fruit in, it can be used to create gift baskets and more.
What do we need?
*old vinyl records
*an oven
*1 or 2 heat resistant bowls
Heat the oven to about 100 degrees Celsius. It's not exact science but somewhere around this temperature should be fine. Place one of the heat resistant bowl in the oven. I guess there are two ways to do this. One way is to put the bowl in upside down and place the record on top and let it melt around the bowl. The other way is to place the bowl in the oven and the record on top and let it melt into the bowl.
Once you see the bowl starting to melt (this happens very quickly) you can take it out of the oven and while the material is still warm you can adjust the shape. Don't expect a perfect round bowl, the shape will be more free formed and looks a bit like it came out of a Dali painting. If you're not happy with the shape you can just pop it back in the oven to reheat it.
The one on the left would be nice to put some fruit in, the other one might be more appropriate for potato chips or nuts on a birthday party. So run over to the thrift shop, buy a record and make a bowl!
I bought these records for 1 euro (it had 2 in it) so at 50 cents each you have a great gift!
What do we need?
*old vinyl records
*an oven
*1 or 2 heat resistant bowls
Heat the oven to about 100 degrees Celsius. It's not exact science but somewhere around this temperature should be fine. Place one of the heat resistant bowl in the oven. I guess there are two ways to do this. One way is to put the bowl in upside down and place the record on top and let it melt around the bowl. The other way is to place the bowl in the oven and the record on top and let it melt into the bowl.
Once you see the bowl starting to melt (this happens very quickly) you can take it out of the oven and while the material is still warm you can adjust the shape. Don't expect a perfect round bowl, the shape will be more free formed and looks a bit like it came out of a Dali painting. If you're not happy with the shape you can just pop it back in the oven to reheat it.
I bought these records for 1 euro (it had 2 in it) so at 50 cents each you have a great gift!
zondag 8 september 2013
DIY: Calendula Cream for dry skin
I really love Calendula. The flowers are beautiful and it has many great benefits for your skin! Soon the days will get colder and your skin might need a little extra attention. This cream is also great for dry areas of your skin such as your knees and elbows or any other part of your body that needs some extra love. Packed with caring ingredients this cream will give your skin some much needed love and care.
What do we need?
* A clean container
Wait until all the ingredients have fully melted. Now pour the mixture into a container and let it cool. Once the mixture has cooled a little you can add some essential oils if you like. Once your mixture has cooled it's ready to use! Yep, creating a natural caring skin product is that easy.
What do we need?
* A clean container
* 42 gr calendula oil.
* 28 gr shea butter
* 28 gr cocoa butter
* 7 gr sweet almond oil
* 28 gr cocoa butter
* 7 gr sweet almond oil
* 7 gr of wax, bees, soy, or any other wax. I used hemp wax.
You can add a few drops of essential oil if you like, but I didn't. Some chamomile or lavender would be great with this.
Making your own calendula oil is very easy. Just fill a big jar with dried calendula flowers and cover it with oil: olive oil, sunflower oil or any oil you like. Place it in a warm and sunny spot and leave it there for a few weeks. You may notice your oil has changed color. The sunflower oil I used turned orange. Filter the oil and it's ready to use!
Place all the ingredients in a heat proof jar or bowl. Heat the ingredients au bain marie.
zondag 1 september 2013
DIY natural toothpaste
One of the things that was missing from my personal care products was some home made toothpaste. I've tried some natural store bought toothpastes, but they weren't really what I wanted. They were either too expensive for my taste, or they were just plain old minty toothpastes. So I decided to make some of my own toothpaste. After searching the web for some recipe ideas I came up with my own little mix. This isn't a toothpaste that foams, but it will clean your teeth just the same!
What do we need?
*a tube or container to store your toothpaste in.
*3 tablespoons of Bentonite clay, but that was hard for me to find so I used white clay. But I've heard good things about it.
*2 tablespoons of coconut oil
*1 teaspoon of baking soda
*1 teaspoon of salt (I used Himalayan salt)
*1 teaspoon of Calcium carbonate
Now for flavoring. This mixture is really salty and you can add all sort of herbs and sweeteners to give it a better taste and improve your oral hygiene. Taste is such a personal thing, it's best to just buy some ingredients you like and mix it as you go. You can use dried herbs and stevia to create your own blend. I used some sweetener, peppermint oil and clove powder. I used some sweetener to get rid of most of the salty taste and peppermint and clove for a fresh breath.
All you need to do is put these ingredients in a clean bowl and mix it!
What do we need?
*a tube or container to store your toothpaste in.
*3 tablespoons of Bentonite clay, but that was hard for me to find so I used white clay. But I've heard good things about it.
*2 tablespoons of coconut oil
*1 teaspoon of baking soda
*1 teaspoon of salt (I used Himalayan salt)
*1 teaspoon of Calcium carbonate
Now for flavoring. This mixture is really salty and you can add all sort of herbs and sweeteners to give it a better taste and improve your oral hygiene. Taste is such a personal thing, it's best to just buy some ingredients you like and mix it as you go. You can use dried herbs and stevia to create your own blend. I used some sweetener, peppermint oil and clove powder. I used some sweetener to get rid of most of the salty taste and peppermint and clove for a fresh breath.
You can add some water if you like to thin the mixture if you like. If you decide to do so use water, us some that you've boiled first to get rid of a lot of bacteria and other nasty things that could spoil your toothpaste.
Now it's ready to be put in a tube or container. If you use a container I would suggest using a dry toothbrush to minimize the possible growth of bacteria and molds.
zondag 25 augustus 2013
Ethics and ingredients: Making decisions
If you've been following this blog you're very likely to have your own opinions, thoughts, ideas about this world. Green, homemade cosmetics isn't just about looking good and being green. When choosing the ingredients you want to use, you can make those decisions based on a lot of different things. I'll walk you through some of the topics you can think about before buying anything.
Quality v.s. quantity
Sometimes products are cheaper for a reason. They the quality is just not as good as the more expensive version. Sometimes cheaper products contain cheaper chemical substances instead of purely natural substances you might find in more expensive products. Be sure to check labels and ingredients when you buy something and don't just look at the price. Spending a little more on better quality is better deal in the end.
Vegetarian and Vegan
A lot times green ingredients have an animal origin. Milk powder in baths and masks, beeswax in creams. If you're a vegetarian or vegan you can think about what ingredients you want or don't want in your products. There are plenty of alternatives that are plant based. More on that topic here
Local v.s. global
Now that we have airplanes, trucks and boats you can get fresh ingredients all year round. Fresh and exotic products are available in your local supermarket. But have you ever consider the effects on the globe? Transport of these products causes pollution and ingredients are often produced in a greenhouse. Think about what products you could locally before having exotic products shipped over.
Fair trade
In my recipes I sometimes use different teas and sugar. A thing to consider when buying ingredients is the circumstances they were made in. Were people exploited during the production? These are all things you can think about.
There's on personal rule I have when making natural cosmetics. To me it always feels weird to use fresh foods in cosmetics. I just can't stand the thought of putting fresh fruit on my face for beauty while others in other countries are starving because they don't have enough to eat. I'd rather stick to oils, butters and flowers for beauty and leave the fresh fruit there to be eaten.
There's much more things you could think about before you buy products, but I feel like these topics are the most obvious. I hope it has given you something to think about. Feel free to share other topics you could consider at the comments section.
Quality v.s. quantity
Sometimes products are cheaper for a reason. They the quality is just not as good as the more expensive version. Sometimes cheaper products contain cheaper chemical substances instead of purely natural substances you might find in more expensive products. Be sure to check labels and ingredients when you buy something and don't just look at the price. Spending a little more on better quality is better deal in the end.
Vegetarian and Vegan
A lot times green ingredients have an animal origin. Milk powder in baths and masks, beeswax in creams. If you're a vegetarian or vegan you can think about what ingredients you want or don't want in your products. There are plenty of alternatives that are plant based. More on that topic here
Local v.s. global
Now that we have airplanes, trucks and boats you can get fresh ingredients all year round. Fresh and exotic products are available in your local supermarket. But have you ever consider the effects on the globe? Transport of these products causes pollution and ingredients are often produced in a greenhouse. Think about what products you could locally before having exotic products shipped over.
Fair trade
In my recipes I sometimes use different teas and sugar. A thing to consider when buying ingredients is the circumstances they were made in. Were people exploited during the production? These are all things you can think about.
There's on personal rule I have when making natural cosmetics. To me it always feels weird to use fresh foods in cosmetics. I just can't stand the thought of putting fresh fruit on my face for beauty while others in other countries are starving because they don't have enough to eat. I'd rather stick to oils, butters and flowers for beauty and leave the fresh fruit there to be eaten.
There's much more things you could think about before you buy products, but I feel like these topics are the most obvious. I hope it has given you something to think about. Feel free to share other topics you could consider at the comments section.
vrijdag 23 augustus 2013
A small update!
Hey everyone,
I feel like I've been a little inactive the last couple of weeks. Maybe because it's summer and the weather has been exceptionally good this year. I've done a lot of fun things and had a lot on my mind. Now I feel like things are slowly going back to their normal routine. I'll go back to my one post a week goal. I ordered some new ingredients and I can't wait to make new things and share them with you.
I feel like I've been a little inactive the last couple of weeks. Maybe because it's summer and the weather has been exceptionally good this year. I've done a lot of fun things and had a lot on my mind. Now I feel like things are slowly going back to their normal routine. I'll go back to my one post a week goal. I ordered some new ingredients and I can't wait to make new things and share them with you.
donderdag 8 augustus 2013
Etsy store giveaway!
I always wanted to do a giveaway, and now that my shop feels like it's finished the time has come.
So what do you need to do to enter?
It's really simple!
All you have to do is like my etsy store here. If you reblog my tumblr post you have extra chances of winning. Winners will be drawn at August 15th at 8:00 PM CET.
Good luck everyone!
So what do you need to do to enter?
It's really simple!
All you have to do is like my etsy store here. If you reblog my tumblr post you have extra chances of winning. Winners will be drawn at August 15th at 8:00 PM CET.
Good luck everyone!
zondag 4 augustus 2013
DIY Natural cleaning and housekeeping
When we think about doing green and natural things, cleaning our house isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It's a big part of your life you can change towards being greener, more natural and it doesn't have to be expensive! It would be stupid to use natural and green products for your own skincare and health, but not for your home. Here are some easy hints and tips for you to turn it around.
*working with the right tools
If you're trying to remove some hard core lime scale with a very old sponge, you can bet it's not going to be efficient. Using the right tools for the right job means you have to use less cleaning agent, and saves you time. This doesn't mean you should run to the store and buy the most expensive multi functional tools out there. A good sponge, some good microfiber rags and a hard brush will deal with most problems. You can use those old soft sponges for your grandmother's china, and cut up old t-shirts to use as dusting rags. Recycle your old sponges and rags if you can and you can use new ones without feeling guilty.
*clean your home and maintain
Keeping your home clean and cleaning on a regular basis means you will have to work less hard to keep it clean, and you will have to use less cleaning agent. Getting into a habit can save you time and stress.
*Ask grandma for advice
If your grandmother is still alive, ask her for natural cleaning tips. If she's no longer alive, there are plenty of websites out there with old tips and tricks for all sorts of household problems. Did you know you can put onions in some water and use it to clean your windows? It's definitely a lot greener and cheaper than store bought chemical solutions.
Natural cleaning agents
There are quite a few things out that you can most likely buy in your local supermarket that are a great natural alternative. I'll talk you through some of them
*Vinegar
There are 2 types of vinegar, the original vinegar and some vinegar used especially for cleaning. Vinegar is great for removing limescale. Soak a rag in vinegar and leave it around your faucet for a few hours to remove the dark circles. Personally I really don't like the smell, but it works so well I just keep my nose away and use it anyway.
*Castille soap
And other 100% natural vegetable soaps can be used instead of normal soaps to clean your floors and do dishes with.
*Baking soda
This must be my favorite ingredient of all time. It can be used as an abrasive and it can also be used to remove smells from trash cans and carpets.
*Lemon juice
Have you ever noticed how commercial cleaning products use (or claim to use) lemon juice in their products to remove grease? It can also be used as a natural bleaching agent for your laundry and tons of other things. A definitive must have.
*Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has great anti-bacterial properties and you can use those while cleaning. It can be mixed with water to disinfect and clean, to fight mold and to create a fresh smell in your home.
These 5 easy to get ingredients will help you to create a greener and cleaner home. I would definitely recommend asking your grandmother for advice or to look online for those old housekeeping secrets. They can be surprisingly effective!
*working with the right tools
If you're trying to remove some hard core lime scale with a very old sponge, you can bet it's not going to be efficient. Using the right tools for the right job means you have to use less cleaning agent, and saves you time. This doesn't mean you should run to the store and buy the most expensive multi functional tools out there. A good sponge, some good microfiber rags and a hard brush will deal with most problems. You can use those old soft sponges for your grandmother's china, and cut up old t-shirts to use as dusting rags. Recycle your old sponges and rags if you can and you can use new ones without feeling guilty.
*clean your home and maintain
Keeping your home clean and cleaning on a regular basis means you will have to work less hard to keep it clean, and you will have to use less cleaning agent. Getting into a habit can save you time and stress.
*Ask grandma for advice
If your grandmother is still alive, ask her for natural cleaning tips. If she's no longer alive, there are plenty of websites out there with old tips and tricks for all sorts of household problems. Did you know you can put onions in some water and use it to clean your windows? It's definitely a lot greener and cheaper than store bought chemical solutions.
Natural cleaning agents
There are quite a few things out that you can most likely buy in your local supermarket that are a great natural alternative. I'll talk you through some of them
*Vinegar
There are 2 types of vinegar, the original vinegar and some vinegar used especially for cleaning. Vinegar is great for removing limescale. Soak a rag in vinegar and leave it around your faucet for a few hours to remove the dark circles. Personally I really don't like the smell, but it works so well I just keep my nose away and use it anyway.
*Castille soap
And other 100% natural vegetable soaps can be used instead of normal soaps to clean your floors and do dishes with.
*Baking soda
This must be my favorite ingredient of all time. It can be used as an abrasive and it can also be used to remove smells from trash cans and carpets.
*Lemon juice
Have you ever noticed how commercial cleaning products use (or claim to use) lemon juice in their products to remove grease? It can also be used as a natural bleaching agent for your laundry and tons of other things. A definitive must have.
*Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has great anti-bacterial properties and you can use those while cleaning. It can be mixed with water to disinfect and clean, to fight mold and to create a fresh smell in your home.
These 5 easy to get ingredients will help you to create a greener and cleaner home. I would definitely recommend asking your grandmother for advice or to look online for those old housekeeping secrets. They can be surprisingly effective!
zaterdag 20 juli 2013
DIY cosmetics ingredients: coconut oil
Some ingredients used in home made cosmetics deserve some extra attention because they're easy to find and can be used to a variety of recipes. Today we'll talk about coconut oil.
Coconut oil is made out of the meat of the coconut. It's used in a lot of products such as soaps, toothpaste, shampoos and all sorts of body lotions. Some people use it to cook, that's why you can find it in most supermarkets and Asian supermarkets. It's an easy to find product and not expensive.
The unrefined coconut oil melts at about 24-26 degrees Celcius. This can be a bit tricky when you're making a recipe where you want to coconut oil to stay solid, for instance in a cream deodorant .Keeping your products in a cool place during the summer is a must if you want things to stay solid.
How can we use coconut oil in natural cosmetics?
Sometimes the simplest thing is the best. You can put some coconut oil in your hair before washing it, wrap a towel around your hair and leave it in for at least 30 min. This will make your hair super soft.
Massage your skull with some coconut oil to increase blood flow and reduce itches. Sometimes I just melt some coconut butter in my hands and spread in on my hands or body.
If you're going for recipes with coconut oil, it can be used in cream deodorants (see the link above) due to it's antibacterial properties.
It's also great to add to your body butters, because it's a bit more solid when cold, but easily melts when it comes in contact with your skin. Coconut oil is also used for making home made soap.
Like I said coconut oil is sometimes used in toothpastes and for "oil pulling", where people swish with coconut oil before brushing to remove bacteria from their mouth. I'm testing it, more about it later.
Visit your local supermarket or Asian market and try some coconut oil!
Coconut oil is made out of the meat of the coconut. It's used in a lot of products such as soaps, toothpaste, shampoos and all sorts of body lotions. Some people use it to cook, that's why you can find it in most supermarkets and Asian supermarkets. It's an easy to find product and not expensive.
The unrefined coconut oil melts at about 24-26 degrees Celcius. This can be a bit tricky when you're making a recipe where you want to coconut oil to stay solid, for instance in a cream deodorant .Keeping your products in a cool place during the summer is a must if you want things to stay solid.
How can we use coconut oil in natural cosmetics?
Sometimes the simplest thing is the best. You can put some coconut oil in your hair before washing it, wrap a towel around your hair and leave it in for at least 30 min. This will make your hair super soft.
Massage your skull with some coconut oil to increase blood flow and reduce itches. Sometimes I just melt some coconut butter in my hands and spread in on my hands or body.
If you're going for recipes with coconut oil, it can be used in cream deodorants (see the link above) due to it's antibacterial properties.
It's also great to add to your body butters, because it's a bit more solid when cold, but easily melts when it comes in contact with your skin. Coconut oil is also used for making home made soap.
Like I said coconut oil is sometimes used in toothpastes and for "oil pulling", where people swish with coconut oil before brushing to remove bacteria from their mouth. I'm testing it, more about it later.
Visit your local supermarket or Asian market and try some coconut oil!
zondag 7 juli 2013
Animal ingredients in cosmetics: what are they and how to avoid them
A lot of animal ingredients are used in cosmetics. You can find them in store bought cosmetics or when shopping for ingredients. Today I'll share some hints and tips on how to avoid such ingredients.
There are tons of ingredients based on animal products. Some you may know such as lanolin, bees wax, carmine. Some ingredients are made by killing animals such as carmine, while others are just a products produced by animals such as milk and bees wax. It all depends on your personal decision whether or not you choose animal ingredients. It's not up to me to force you into choosing anything, I just want to help people make a decision based on facts.
The internet has a lot of info on this matter, but today I'll share some lists from PETA's website. Often companies will claim their products to be "vegetarian" or "vegan" when in fact they're not. So it's best to check the PETA website or to search the ingredients of the product itself.
Also, not all products that might in fact be vegetarian or even vegan have a label. Companies have to pay to get a certification on their products so in some cases producers may choose not to get one when in fact their products are vegetarian. By checking the ingredients you might be in for a surprise.
so here are some resources that can help you.
A list of a lot of animal ingredients and their alternatives here.
A list of cruelty free and vegan brands here
A website with a search tool on ingredients that also has info on animal ingredients here
I hope these tips were helpful. Always keep a watchful eye when you see a label on your products. It's OK to double check ingredients or to look up labels. Thinking for yourself and doing some research will prevent you from buying stuff you really don't want.
There are tons of ingredients based on animal products. Some you may know such as lanolin, bees wax, carmine. Some ingredients are made by killing animals such as carmine, while others are just a products produced by animals such as milk and bees wax. It all depends on your personal decision whether or not you choose animal ingredients. It's not up to me to force you into choosing anything, I just want to help people make a decision based on facts.
The internet has a lot of info on this matter, but today I'll share some lists from PETA's website. Often companies will claim their products to be "vegetarian" or "vegan" when in fact they're not. So it's best to check the PETA website or to search the ingredients of the product itself.
Also, not all products that might in fact be vegetarian or even vegan have a label. Companies have to pay to get a certification on their products so in some cases producers may choose not to get one when in fact their products are vegetarian. By checking the ingredients you might be in for a surprise.
so here are some resources that can help you.
A list of a lot of animal ingredients and their alternatives here.
A list of cruelty free and vegan brands here
A website with a search tool on ingredients that also has info on animal ingredients here
I hope these tips were helpful. Always keep a watchful eye when you see a label on your products. It's OK to double check ingredients or to look up labels. Thinking for yourself and doing some research will prevent you from buying stuff you really don't want.
donderdag 27 juni 2013
Super easy DIY scrub with sugar and baking soda
I like simple recipes, and this one really is. Because all you need is two ingredients! A 100% natural scrub.
This recipe is really soft on your skin and it also leaves your skin really soft. It's a scrub that has helped reduce my acne.
What do we need?
*baking soda
*sugar
*a container
I chose granulated sugar to get a mild scrubbing action. If you want to use brown sugar or get a more intense scrub I would suggest using this recipe.
All we need for this recipe is equal amounts of baking soda and sugar mixed together. One good tablespoon of the mixture should be enough for one scrub.Mix it with a tiny bit of water to get a thick paste. You really only need a tiny bit of water for this! You don't want the mixture to get too wet.
The thing I like about this recipe is you can make large quantities of the mixture and store it. Because of the dry powder it has a long shelf life. Just store it in a big jar and you can take a tablespoon every time you need it. I use this scrub once a week.
Enjoy your soft skin!
This recipe is really soft on your skin and it also leaves your skin really soft. It's a scrub that has helped reduce my acne.
What do we need?
*baking soda
*sugar
*a container
I chose granulated sugar to get a mild scrubbing action. If you want to use brown sugar or get a more intense scrub I would suggest using this recipe.
All we need for this recipe is equal amounts of baking soda and sugar mixed together. One good tablespoon of the mixture should be enough for one scrub.Mix it with a tiny bit of water to get a thick paste. You really only need a tiny bit of water for this! You don't want the mixture to get too wet.
The thing I like about this recipe is you can make large quantities of the mixture and store it. Because of the dry powder it has a long shelf life. Just store it in a big jar and you can take a tablespoon every time you need it. I use this scrub once a week.
Enjoy your soft skin!
vrijdag 21 juni 2013
Ditching your shampoo - going no poo
About a year ago I decided to stop using shampoo, or as some call it: going no poo. There are plenty of alternatives for shampoo that still keep your hair silky and shiny!
Most commercial shampoos contain some ugly ingredients (SLS, parabens and more) Of course you can still buy greener alternatives, there are some good ones out there but always beware of green-washing.
I chose to ditch shampoo altogether. After doing some reading on the internet about alternatives to shampoo I decided baking soda would best for me.
So how do you wash your hair with baking soda?
You need an empty shampoo bottle or some other bottle. The best option is a bottle with a small opening.
You mix one part baking soda. this can vary from 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 5 parts of water to 1 part to 9, 10 or however many parts of water you choose.
In the beginning you might need more baking soda in your mixture, but as time passes your hair will become less greasy and you can add more water. There might come a point where you have so much baking soda water that it's easier to just start using a smaller measure for your baking soda and water.
You mix it together, and spread the mixture it on your scalp. gently massage it over your entire head. This is where most of the grease and dirt will be. The grease in the rest of your hair will was away as you rinse your hair. You can finish with a conditioning rinse of apple cider vinegar, lime or lemon juice mixed with water. I personally never do this, but it's recommenced in a lot of posts I've read on the subject. For me it doesn't really work, it just leaves my scalp feeling itchy and uncomfortable. You can use a conditioner for your hair afterwards if you want to.
what's different about washing your hair with baking soda?
There are several things I've noticed about washing your hair with baking soda. First of all washing my hair has become a more mindful experience. You can't just put some shampoo on your hair and wait for tons of bubbles to appear and have clean hair. You have to be in the moment, really pay attention to every part of your scalp. When it comes to my hair I've noticed it has more volume and looks very shiny. I was really surprised about how much volume my hair has. According to my hairdresser my hair still looks really healthy.
I've also noticed my hair has become 90% less greasy. When I started this I had to wash my hair every other day. Now I wash my hair once a week.
There are other options though: herbal rinses, clay masks, or just stopping washing your hair. There are several ways to stop washing your hair. The first is to just go die hard and stop washing it. Your hair might look greasy for a few weeks, but your body will adjust and stop producing so much oil. After that you can just rinse your hair with water. You can also go for a more gentle approach and start mixing shampoo with water until you end up with mostly water. It's similar to the first method except for the fact that your hair will look less greasy during the transformation and it will also take longer.
Do you know more alternatives for shampoos? Don't keep them to yourself, please share in the comment section below.
Most commercial shampoos contain some ugly ingredients (SLS, parabens and more) Of course you can still buy greener alternatives, there are some good ones out there but always beware of green-washing.
I chose to ditch shampoo altogether. After doing some reading on the internet about alternatives to shampoo I decided baking soda would best for me.
So how do you wash your hair with baking soda?
You need an empty shampoo bottle or some other bottle. The best option is a bottle with a small opening.
You mix one part baking soda. this can vary from 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 5 parts of water to 1 part to 9, 10 or however many parts of water you choose.
In the beginning you might need more baking soda in your mixture, but as time passes your hair will become less greasy and you can add more water. There might come a point where you have so much baking soda water that it's easier to just start using a smaller measure for your baking soda and water.
You mix it together, and spread the mixture it on your scalp. gently massage it over your entire head. This is where most of the grease and dirt will be. The grease in the rest of your hair will was away as you rinse your hair. You can finish with a conditioning rinse of apple cider vinegar, lime or lemon juice mixed with water. I personally never do this, but it's recommenced in a lot of posts I've read on the subject. For me it doesn't really work, it just leaves my scalp feeling itchy and uncomfortable. You can use a conditioner for your hair afterwards if you want to.
what's different about washing your hair with baking soda?
There are several things I've noticed about washing your hair with baking soda. First of all washing my hair has become a more mindful experience. You can't just put some shampoo on your hair and wait for tons of bubbles to appear and have clean hair. You have to be in the moment, really pay attention to every part of your scalp. When it comes to my hair I've noticed it has more volume and looks very shiny. I was really surprised about how much volume my hair has. According to my hairdresser my hair still looks really healthy.
I've also noticed my hair has become 90% less greasy. When I started this I had to wash my hair every other day. Now I wash my hair once a week.
There are other options though: herbal rinses, clay masks, or just stopping washing your hair. There are several ways to stop washing your hair. The first is to just go die hard and stop washing it. Your hair might look greasy for a few weeks, but your body will adjust and stop producing so much oil. After that you can just rinse your hair with water. You can also go for a more gentle approach and start mixing shampoo with water until you end up with mostly water. It's similar to the first method except for the fact that your hair will look less greasy during the transformation and it will also take longer.
Do you know more alternatives for shampoos? Don't keep them to yourself, please share in the comment section below.
vrijdag 14 juni 2013
DIY ingredients: Baking soda
There are some ingredients you can use in home made cosmetics that deserve some extra attention. They can be used in many products and are easy to obtain. Today we'll put baking soda in the spotlight.
Baking soda has been around for a long time and is used for a lot of things. Around the house it can be used for baking, deodorizing, as a relief for heartburn and it's also used in toothpaste. It's also a great green cleaning alternative.
When it comes natural cosmetics baking soda is a must have. It's cheap, available in supermarkets and Asian food stores and has a long shelf life. Here are some examples of the usage of baking soda:
Head and face
masks, cleaners, scrubs, toothpastes and powders.
Hair
It can be used to wash your hair (more about that in a later post)
Body
A soft scrub, bath salts, deodorants (both body powder and cream deodorants)
a recipe for cream deodorant with baking soda can be found here
Store your baking soda in a dry and dark area.
Baking soda has been around for a long time and is used for a lot of things. Around the house it can be used for baking, deodorizing, as a relief for heartburn and it's also used in toothpaste. It's also a great green cleaning alternative.
When it comes natural cosmetics baking soda is a must have. It's cheap, available in supermarkets and Asian food stores and has a long shelf life. Here are some examples of the usage of baking soda:
Head and face
masks, cleaners, scrubs, toothpastes and powders.
Hair
It can be used to wash your hair (more about that in a later post)
Body
A soft scrub, bath salts, deodorants (both body powder and cream deodorants)
a recipe for cream deodorant with baking soda can be found here
Store your baking soda in a dry and dark area.
zondag 9 juni 2013
Suggestions + update
I've been quite inactive lately, on my blog, my dA page and Etsy. School, work and the nice weather that has finally arrived have kept me busy. I have some ideas for new posts and DIYs in mind, and I hope to be a little more active in the near future. In the meantime I would like to hear some of your ideas. What type of posts do you like to read? Are there recipes or ingredients you want to read about? Do you want to read more about creative ideas? Let me know! Let's fill up the comments section.
zondag 26 mei 2013
DIY headbands and elastics from old pantyhose
This is an easy way to re-use old pantyhose! After the inial anger we get after wearing a pantyhose just once and discovering it already has holes it, we can now make something useful out of it!
What do we need?
An old panythose
scissors
optional: needle and thread
The first step we need to take is to think about what we want for our elastics and or headbands. the waist part will be larger and maybe more suitable for a headband. The leg part has different sizes of circles, so depending on how large or small you want your elastic to be, you either take the lower leg part or the thigh part. It's already a uniform round shape, so all you need to do is get your scissors and start cutting. if you want a smaller elastic you can go for a smaller band, if you want a wider elastic you just cut a wider band.
That's all there is to it! The thing I love about these elastics is that there's no metal strip holding the elastic together, plus there's a lot more variation in elasticity.You can get a lot of elastics just from one pantyhose!
For a headband there are 2 options. You can either cut a strip from the waist or thigh section, or you can go for a bit more creativity. You can cut strips of the pantyhose and braid them together. You can then secure both ends with needle and thread. Let your creativity flow and see what other options you might come up with!
What do we need?
An old panythose
scissors
optional: needle and thread
The first step we need to take is to think about what we want for our elastics and or headbands. the waist part will be larger and maybe more suitable for a headband. The leg part has different sizes of circles, so depending on how large or small you want your elastic to be, you either take the lower leg part or the thigh part. It's already a uniform round shape, so all you need to do is get your scissors and start cutting. if you want a smaller elastic you can go for a smaller band, if you want a wider elastic you just cut a wider band.
That's all there is to it! The thing I love about these elastics is that there's no metal strip holding the elastic together, plus there's a lot more variation in elasticity.You can get a lot of elastics just from one pantyhose!
For a headband there are 2 options. You can either cut a strip from the waist or thigh section, or you can go for a bit more creativity. You can cut strips of the pantyhose and braid them together. You can then secure both ends with needle and thread. Let your creativity flow and see what other options you might come up with!
zondag 19 mei 2013
Creating your perfect skin routine
Finding your perfect skin routine can be very tricky. Today I'll share some tips and tricks to help you get a better skin routine.
First of all we need to step away from everything commercials say. They only want to sell their product and they utilize our fears and insecurities to do so. We all want a clear and soft skin, and want fast results. So if a commercial says you'll have less wrinkles within a week we all run to the store to get it. There is no such thing as a quick fix solution in skin products. It's also hard to define a skin as "oily" or "dry". These are just marketing strategies. Some parts of your face of body might be dry, and other parts might be oily.
We really need to step away from all the commercials and look at what is best for us and be realistic.
The first thing you can do is to take a good look at your own skin. Is your skin dry, a bit oily in some places? how does it react to certain types of weather, and does it feel more oily during the day?
After identifying your skin it's time to find (or even better, make your own) products that fit your needs.
Looking into a bit of biology as to what causes skin to be dry or oily, or how your skin actually works can be very helpful. There's some basic info on wikipedia here. One of things I learned is that most products for oily skin can be very drying, causing the skin to produce more oils. This causes a vicious cycle. It's better to use softer products which calm down your skin.
Depending on your skin you might have certain needs, but our skin always likes is to be well hydrated.
For some of you that might require some extra work, while others might have skin like a cactus that only needs very little watering.
Like I said before there's no quick fix in skin care. Your skin is a living organism and it take at least a month for the skin to renew. As long as you're not having allergic reactions, it's best to be patient. Find a routine and really stick to it, that way you'll have the best chance at having a happy skin. If that means using 2 different cream for your face, using baby products or other "unconventional" products, so be it.
I'm no dermatologist, so please consult a doctor if you have skin issues. I hope this article will give you a push in the right direction.
First of all we need to step away from everything commercials say. They only want to sell their product and they utilize our fears and insecurities to do so. We all want a clear and soft skin, and want fast results. So if a commercial says you'll have less wrinkles within a week we all run to the store to get it. There is no such thing as a quick fix solution in skin products. It's also hard to define a skin as "oily" or "dry". These are just marketing strategies. Some parts of your face of body might be dry, and other parts might be oily.
We really need to step away from all the commercials and look at what is best for us and be realistic.
The first thing you can do is to take a good look at your own skin. Is your skin dry, a bit oily in some places? how does it react to certain types of weather, and does it feel more oily during the day?
After identifying your skin it's time to find (or even better, make your own) products that fit your needs.
Looking into a bit of biology as to what causes skin to be dry or oily, or how your skin actually works can be very helpful. There's some basic info on wikipedia here. One of things I learned is that most products for oily skin can be very drying, causing the skin to produce more oils. This causes a vicious cycle. It's better to use softer products which calm down your skin.
Depending on your skin you might have certain needs, but our skin always likes is to be well hydrated.
For some of you that might require some extra work, while others might have skin like a cactus that only needs very little watering.
Like I said before there's no quick fix in skin care. Your skin is a living organism and it take at least a month for the skin to renew. As long as you're not having allergic reactions, it's best to be patient. Find a routine and really stick to it, that way you'll have the best chance at having a happy skin. If that means using 2 different cream for your face, using baby products or other "unconventional" products, so be it.
I'm no dermatologist, so please consult a doctor if you have skin issues. I hope this article will give you a push in the right direction.
zaterdag 11 mei 2013
Natural scrub powder DIY
It's been a while since I've written a blog post. I've been trying to keep the computer and the internet to a minimum to focus on things that are a bit more important. Now I'm inspired and refreshed.
I wanted to share with you some ways you can make your own scrub powders for masks and various forms of scrubs (bars, creams, oils) It's easy and cheap!
Ground seeds and nuts a great and natural alternative for micro plastic, they come free with the fruit you buy at your local market. Avocado, cherry, mango and apricot kernels are great to use in scrubs.
Once you've removed the kernels, clean them and let them dry. You can dry them in the oven for an hour or 2 at very low temperatures or just put them in a dry place in the sun for a week or two.
When they've dried you can start grinding. I would suggest you try to chop the larger kernels into smaller chunks first before placing them in a blender or hand blender. If after you've placed the kernels in the blender you still feel like they're too large you can use a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.
Once you feel like the powder is fine enough you're ready to use it in a scrub. You can use larger pieces for a body scrub and fine powder for a facial scrub.
I had a picture of my own mixture, but it won't let me upload it. Hopefully I can add it later!
If you use these natural powders in a scrub remember to keep water out of it (if you're using it in creamy or oily scrub) or to let it dry really well after you've used it if you're using it in a scrub bar. This way you'll prevent fungus from growing.
Have fun eating your fruits, getting your vitamins and making your own scrub powder.
I wanted to share with you some ways you can make your own scrub powders for masks and various forms of scrubs (bars, creams, oils) It's easy and cheap!
Ground seeds and nuts a great and natural alternative for micro plastic, they come free with the fruit you buy at your local market. Avocado, cherry, mango and apricot kernels are great to use in scrubs.
Once you've removed the kernels, clean them and let them dry. You can dry them in the oven for an hour or 2 at very low temperatures or just put them in a dry place in the sun for a week or two.
When they've dried you can start grinding. I would suggest you try to chop the larger kernels into smaller chunks first before placing them in a blender or hand blender. If after you've placed the kernels in the blender you still feel like they're too large you can use a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.
Once you feel like the powder is fine enough you're ready to use it in a scrub. You can use larger pieces for a body scrub and fine powder for a facial scrub.
I had a picture of my own mixture, but it won't let me upload it. Hopefully I can add it later!
If you use these natural powders in a scrub remember to keep water out of it (if you're using it in creamy or oily scrub) or to let it dry really well after you've used it if you're using it in a scrub bar. This way you'll prevent fungus from growing.
Have fun eating your fruits, getting your vitamins and making your own scrub powder.
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