Homemade Mascara

How to Make Your Own Homemade Mascara

Not everything can be a success, I guess! But that won't stop me from trying again :) ... which I did and found a recipe I that works! Be sure to see the update at the end of this post.

I've been very unmotivated to try this recipe between needing additional ingredients; reusing or not reusing my mascara container, it is it going to hurt my eyes, and will it even work?!?!? 

A few weeks back I finally purchased the final ingredient, step one done ... but then I was torn between whether or not I should reuse my current mascara container. I've heard horror stories about bacteria growing in makeup but since part of my challenge has been to also minimize waste, I decided I would try to clean out my old container before buying new containers. However, I didn't think all the way through this plan before cleaning out my almost gone mascara that could have last me another week or so before making sure my homemades mascara was going to meet my expectations. Let's just say I have a few options now: go without mascara (this is definitely the most extreme choice), find a new recipe that works, or buy a new tube of mascara. Decisions, decisions!

I'm sure some of you are like "I knew it! There's no way she could make mascara that works like the real stuff." I haven't given up but this is going to be a challenge for sure!

Right away I wasn't pleased with the consistency of the mascara and it definitely didn't coat my lashes like I was hoping, but I figured I needed to test out the stay-power. So today I gave it a shot to see  how it would withstand a typical day and I'm sad to admit it lasted only still about 9:30. After a few smudges, I realized the stay-power of this homemade mascara isn't going to suffice. :(

So enough with the let downs of my first homemade mascara attempt and onto the recipe that will need to be tweaked. The original recipe came from Robin at Thank Your Body and was a great starting point.

notice the stopper, if reusing your mascara container be sure to remove the
stopper and use a small bottle brush to clean out all the old mascara.
Dr. Brown's Natural Cleaning Brush from my baby bottle days worked wonders!

Homemade Mascara

empty mascara container (a new one or a cleaned reused one)

4 tsp aloe vera gel

2 tsp coconut oil

1 tsp grated beeswax

1 to 2 capsules of activated charcoal (1/4-1/2 tsp cocoa powder can be substituted for brown mascara)

Combine aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and beeswax in a small saucepan and heat over low until melted. Add activated charcoal. Whisk until thickened. Place mascara into a small plastic baggie and seal. Push all the mascara to one corner (like a frosting piping bag). Cut the tip to form a small opening. Squeeze mascara in to mascara tube that has had the stopper removed. Replace the stopper. Insert wand and use as desired. 

For the next batch I will be trying one (or both) of these recipes from 'Simple Life Mom'.

UPDATED 1/27/16
'Simple Life Mom' had a recipe that worked great!

Homemade (Egg Yolk) Mascara

1 egg yolk

1 to 2 capsules of activated charcoal (1/4-1/2 tsp cocoa powder can be substituted for brown mascara)

Whisk together until a smooth consistency is formed. Place in a small container with a lid. Apply using a clean mascara wand. Refrigerate between uses. 

I used 1 capsule of activated charcoal and 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder

When my first attempt was far from a success, I did a little more searching and came across this recipe and believe me my first thoughts were ... "What egg yolk on my eyelashes ALL day?!?!?" After a few days of no mascara and being too lazy to leave me cozy office over my lunch break to run to the store and buy any, I decided what do I have to lose. So I glad I got past the idea of wearing egg yolk on my lashes, not only did it cover great, but it last all day with the added bonus of all the extra nutrients from the egg yolk. 

Additional cost: $5.93 for activated charcoal or possibly no additional cost if you use all cocoa powder 

Cost Comparison: $3 to $30 depending on brand for store bought vs. less than $0.25 for homemade per batch

What's in Store

As we are recovering from life comatose from this last week and a half of holiday fun and family time and dwelling in the moment of New Year's Resolutions (which I truly enjoy the opportunity each year to make a change, but I don't limit myself to only make a change at the start of a new year), it's relaxing to think back over the past year and get excited about what is to come.

Life is the perfect balance of learning from the past, living in the moment, and being open to opportunities of the future ALL at the same time. I try not to dwell on the past, but I do appreciate that each new day we are given is a great opportunity to make it better than than the day before. I realize I need to slow down sometimes to enjoy the moment we are currently in. AND I need not to worry about tomorrow but I do need to listen to God's whispers because His plans for my tomorrow starts with how I obey Him today.

2015 holds things that actually happened and 2016 will bring dates of specific happenings we can plan for but there will also be so many unknowns along the way. As I reflect and ponder at the start of this new year, I can only get excited about what's in store.

Highlights of 2015 - started a blog + started a new job + #4 began pre-school + welcome another niece AND nephew into this world + everything in between

Looking forward to in 2016 - turning 35 ... it's just another number in my mind, but some may see this as a milestone :) + #3 will start kindergarten + hopes to finish my Homemade Day by Day challenge + LOVING GOD + loving people + keeping life simple

For the Blog: To Do - Make - Replace - Share

mascara

mozzarella

ciabatta bread

butter

blush

almond extract

more freezer meals

Young Living distributor
italian seasoning

pumpkin pie spice

chai latte

cream cheese

bearawicka (a family favorite of the Mr.'s dad's side ... have a recipe ... need to try this out)

cough drops

concealer

blush

sunscreen

bug spray

donate hair

dryer balls

velveeta

lipstick

eye shadow

Bar Keepers Friend (kitchen sink cleaner)

bar soap

shampoo (not no-poo)

conditioner

bacon

taco sauce

apple butter

enchilada sauce

queso

ice cream
make and take classes

liquid hand soap

dish soap

chicken bouillon

cheese (any variety)

fruit snacks

crockpot meals

coconut milk

granola

granola bars

sourdough bread

wine

sauerkraut (I love this stuff, but never buy it since I'm the only one that'll eat it!)

marshmallows

hard candy

biscuits

gravy

farm fresh eggs
uses for shea butter
uses for beeswax
uses for aloe vera gel
uses for coconut oil
uses for activated charcoal

... and the list goes on but I need to make myself stop :) 

What's something you would add to the list?

Homemade Bath Salts

Health Benefits of Bath Salts and Making Your Own

I am no doctor nor am I an expert in bath salts, but I do firmly believe they have multiple health benefits AND are super easy to make. As much as I love selling my bath salts, I decided there is one thing I would love even more and that would be to share with everyone my recipes! 

The health benefits of soaking in a bath with salt are remarkable. Magnesium absorption is the number benefit and it's amazing the more I read of some of the side-effects of being magnesium deficit. I do want to put a disclaimer here that I do not use bath salts on a regular basis and I really should use them more. I'm an avid believer in their benefits for sure but just don't want y'all to think I make time for a bath everyday although this really would be a great idea! As I am research more and more to add valuable info to my post I'm thinking 'Why don't I use these more?!?!?'

When making bath salts I prefer a 1:1 ratio of Epsom salt and Dead Sea Salt. When I first started making my salts in bulk I did some research and came across SALTWORKS, 'America's Sea Salt Company'. Saltworks sells a variety of gourmet and spa salts at retail price or in bulk. I have only purchased their Dead Sea Salts, but have always wanted to try some of their other items especially the Himalayan Pink Bath Salts.

Here is some interesting information I came across while I was researching: 

The Benefits of Dead Sea Salt - Saltworks

Epsom Salt Uses and Benefits - Saltworks

Need More Magnesium? 10 Signs to Watch For - by enviromedica

As with most things we consume or put on our body, quality is important to me but for a family of six there are definitely times I have to sacrifice quality for affordability! No matter your priorities or budget there are always options.  

Homemade Bath Salt Base

1 part Epsom Salt

1 part Dead Sea Salt (Sea Salt can be used instead of Dead Sea Salt)

Mix salts together in a large bowl. Add essential oils (recipes at the end of post). Stir until well combined. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/2 cup bath salt mixture (or more if you like) per bath. Relax for at least 30 minutes. Then snuggle in your 'comfy clothes' under a blanket for another 30 minutes OR go straight to bed! :)

Buying Options (prices are based off online, in-store prices may differ)
Epsom Salt
Walmart - $2.86 for 4 lbs; $5.43 for 8 lbs
Meijer - $1.29 for 1 lb; $4.49 for 8 lbs
Saltworks - $6.50 for 5 lbs up to $1,160 for 2,000 lbs (that's right folks you can purchase THAT much!! WOWZEERS!)

Sea Salt
Hobby Lobby - $9.99 for 7 lbs (don't forget your 40% off coupon)

Dead Sea Salt
Saltworks - $8.95 for 2.2 lbs up to $1,892 for 2,200 lbs
Amazon.com - prices vary
Walmart - I've purchases from here before but they were more expensive and I the quality didn't compare to Saltworks

Essential Oils
Hobby Lobby - $6.99 for 0.5 ounce, limited selections
Wellington Fragrance - Prices starting at $2.25, great selection, most are for external use only
Young Living - Prices starting at about $20.00, great selection, Seed to Seal commitment, most can be digested
AND MANY MORE ... these are just the ones that I have used :)

If you would like a great essential oil resource, I would highly recommend The Complete Book of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. This book has essential oil uses for all areas of the home and everyday living as well as what oils are safe to use on infants.

Lavender Chamomile Bath Salts 

This would be best to use before bed to help you sleep (or throw a little in the children's bath to help them sleep ... HALLELUJAH!!!!)

3 cups Epsom Salt

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

30 drops of lavender essential oil

30 drops of chamomile essential oil

Grapefruit-Palmarosa Bath Salts

This one is to jump start you energy in the morning, which I really need to use this blend of essential oils in some shower disks since I don't have make the time to take a bath in the mornings!

3 cups Epsom Salt 

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

30 drops grapefruit essential oil 

20 drops of palmarosa essential oil

10 drops of vetiver essential oil

5 drops of cypress essential oil

Lemon Eucalyptus Bath Salts

And probably my favorite, ESPECIALLY during the yucky cold season! 

3 cups Epsom Salt

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

18 drops of lemon essential oil

12 drops of thyme essential oil

12 drops of tea tree essential oil

6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Mix salts together in a large bowl. Add essential oils. Stir until well combined. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/2 cup bath salt mixture (or more if you like) per bath. Each batch makes about 3 pint-sized mason jars. 

Homemade Powder Foundation

How to Make Your Own Powder Foundation

I've been wanting to make this for weeks now, but have been procrastinating on buying some arrowroot powder. Arrowroot powder is very similar to cornstarch and can be used interchangeably but after reading some different recipes arrowroot powder gave a better overall result than cornstarch. However, the only place I've seen it in stores is at Meijer with the spices for $7 for a small bottle; and I'm trying to respect the Mr.'s request to "lay off the Amazon orders" ;-). Yes, the $7 dollars would be much cheaper than the almost $9 'Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder' I usually purchase; BUT not if I don't like the results! 

So, when I finally ran out of my face powder' my choices were to go buy some more OR make some using what I had ... cornstarch it is! My starting point was a recipe I found at 'My Merry Messy Life' and then tweaked it until I had a color I could work with. She has some additional information that would be worth reading if you'd be interested in trying the homemade powder foundation ... including how to make it into a pressed powder! I will be trying that also!

the final product ... needs to be slightly darker for my skin tone

Homemade Powder Foundation

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

5 drops of palmarosa (or other oil of your liking)

Mix all ingredients together. 

After reading over the few ingredients most of the face powders contained, I went to my kitchen cupboard and started investigating some other options for coloring! 

the few options I liked from my cupboard

Seeing them all together really gives you a great idea of what undertones each of these spices have and which ones would work better for your own skin. I did notice the finer the spices the better the blended to make an even colored powder. I think a mortar and pestle just made it onto my Christmas list! There have been a handful of times I would have used one of these sets and making some of these spices finer would just be another reason why I would use one. 

Some pros about making my own powder foundation - CHEAP, it smells really good, easy to adjust the color, and of course healthier for your skin. Some cons or things I'm concerned about - finding the perfect color, overall coverage, and stay power, Now if this becomes something I like well enough to experiment more and really fine the perfect shade, then it's going to take some time!

I am a little nervous to be putting this out there because I am sure I will get some very curious attention about how my make-up (which is bare minimal to begin with) looks up close. If you happen to see me out and about I'd love (well maybe, heehee) hear your feedback. So far I have been fairly impressed other than the fact I need to make it slightly darker. My make-up goes on once (if that) and I'm not one to touch up it up throughout the day, let alone remember to glance in the mirror before walking out the door (unless I'm off to work or a function) and when I do it's through the rear-view mirror as I'm pulling out of the drive so it's at the point-of-no-return and we just have to go with it! 

Here's a starting point for different undertones, I was rather surprised at how much different the colors were! You'll notice the nutmeg is the lightest but also used the most spice, this would partially be due to the fact my nutmeg wasn't has fine as the cinnamon so didn't blend as well.

a little comparison before mixing spices 

Well, this was my fun for the week! The recipe for homemade powder foundation filled my old powder container; so the amounts are fairly equivalent for the cost comparison. 

Cost Comparison: Under $0.15 for homemade powder foundation vs. $9 Physician Formula Mineral Wear

Homemade Orange Infused Vinegar

How to Make Your Own Orange Infused Vinegar

This is one of those homemade items I hadn't intended on making but when I bought a bag of oranges on sale and the Pinterest post I had seen (who knows how long ago!) flashed through my mind as I was about ready to throw the peels out ... LIGHTBULB!!! Homemade item ... check. Post topic ... check. Repurposed (for a little while longer at least ... then to the compost or garbage disposal cleaner) waste ... double check! 

I'm absolutely in LOVE with my Norwex products as they meet everyone of our green cleaning needs. However, I feel like this is one of those items I wouldn't go to the store and purchase or even use to replace my Norwex but would gladly welcome the treat of refreshing orange scented cleaning spray every once in while! 

A fun fact about me, I really don't like to use paper towels ... there's something about that excess waste that just breaks my heart every time I finish a roll! (I find it quite humorous how much empathy I have for our disposables! The Mr., bless his heart, just goes along with my recycling tendencies most day!) In general, one roll lasts us about 2 months. We use them very sparingly to drain bacon, soak up the extra moisture from shredded potatoes when making homemade hash-browns, or any other task that would be more of a pain to launder than a towel used to clean up the typical glass of spilled milk. I'm really not sure where this decision grew from, but there is definitely a love-hate relationship I have with convenience, waste, and money. So this lack of using paper towels and my new orange infused vinegar for sporadic cleaning brings a question to mind for my Norwex consultant "Would it harm my rags to wipe up after this spray?" Vinegar and orange oils are all natural ... so if anything it could give them a extra cleaning boost if used right before laundering?!?!?

Day 1 - just noticing the resolution for this picture is terrible ... not to self take clearer pictures! :)

Homemade Orange Infused Vinegar

1 quart size mason jar

vinegar

orange peels (we used 3-4 clementines)

Place orange peels in jar. Top off with vinegar. Securely close. Allow to set for at least a week or two. Shake periodically. 

Day about 7 or 8 ... or maybe more!

At this point, it is smelling heavenly! At first whiff I get a refreshingly aroma of orange and then if I get my nose a little too close I get a whiff of vinegar. A few tweaks for next time ... more oranges or less vinegar just to allow for the orange to completely "out smell" the vinegar. Definitely not a deal breaker and will be using this as soon as it's ready! I plan on giving this a few days when all of the orange peels have settled to the bottom of my jar. 

There really is no right or wrong way to make infused vinegar but I loved My Merry Messy Life's additional suggestion for using the peels to cleaner you garbage disposable; as well as The Peaceful Mom's thoughts on cost and diluting it. 

My thoughts are exploding with different scents to infuse here ... lemon or mint or grapefruit, OH YUMMY! 

As for cost, I wouldn't buy oranges (or any other citrus fruit) just for this purpose, BUT it definitely adds an additional value to them as a purchase option! Since vinegar is relatively inexpensive at about $2 per gallon ... this would be a much cheaper option than most store bought all purpose cleaners AND I love the fact that vinegar has SO many uses! (Thinking I need to start a few on-going posts that focus on the uses for different items?!?)

Homemade Shealoe

How to Make Your Own Hair Putty

This one was for the Mr. who has been very skeptical (to say the least) when it has come to my homemade bathroom products! He has been so supportive and will try anything I've made in the kitchen but I can read him pretty good and noticed a change in tune since moving to the bathroom. He is still very supportive, but not quite sure about the crazy lady that has decided to try her hand at making almost anything we use. He likes his smell-good products that work and I am up for the challenge ... but it's going to take time. SO for now I can at least say I've tried all of these bathroom products (with a few yet to go) and we will leave it at that. 

Overall, I mentioned back in my homemade shaving cream post about not sure if I liked the feel of almond oil, but I am beginning to wonder if it's the Shea butter I don't like. When I purchased my Shea butter, it was the first time I had ever seen, smelt, or felt raw Shea butter. I have read that it can go bad, but since I have nothing to compare it to I can't make an education opinion. However, for now my opinion is I am not a fan of the smell of Shea butter ... and neither is the Mr. ;) I have used some essential oils, but thinking I may need to use a lot more to mask the smell. With about a pound and a half left of it and I hate letting anything go to waste, I am bound and determined to find a use for it! 

store bought (left) vs. homemade (right)

Shealoe is just a combination of Shea butter and aloe vera gel. I am following a recipe from Natural Hair Rules but would really like to try this with a little beeswax for some added hold power. It can be used as a hair product or a skin moisturizer. I love the double duty idea behind this.

Homemade Shealoe

1/2 cup Shea Butter

1/4 aloe vera gel

2 tablespoons almond oil (or oil of your choice)

10 drops of cypress (optional, to help with greasy hair)

10 drops of rosemary (optional, to help with hair growth)

Whip shea butter until fluffy. Add aloe vera gel and oils. Store in an airtight container. Apply to wet or dry hair. 

I found this to be a little watery from the aloe vera gel and had a hard time getting it to blend well. Next time, if there is a next time ;), I might try straining it overnight with a colander lined with a coffee filter. I will also add more essential oils to out to the Shea butter. 

Today's Question: How attached are you to your bath product brands?

Updated 9/12/15: This is something I am still using, but very sparingly because a little goes a long way! I don't typically use it by itself, but in a combination with some gel and conditioner.  Since the new job started almost a month ago, I have noticed the need for some tweaks in my hair regime yet again. I wish I could get my hair to have the long, layered, wavy look on a regular basis but I'm think I need to take a class on how to do get it to look like that in the first place and THEN I could work it into my daily routine!  And then of course there would be the time issue of would I really want to invest that much time into my hair daily :-p! I will be the first to admit I am an ameteur when it comes to hairstyling my own hair ... I've been our family's barber and hairdresser along with a few other friends for years, but as for my own, I AM CLUELESS and it's so hard for me to invest the time needed! :) 

I find it very funny how every ones' priorities are slightly different! I have no problem spending extra time making something myself rather than running to the store to buy it BUT I cringe at the thought of spending more than 5 minutes on my own hair! It's rather goofy really when I think about my own personal justifications for what I am willing to spend time on. Hehee, oh life you are a funny thing but I couldn't image you without every moment, good or bad!

Face Wash

Not a homemade item but definitely a harsh ingredient eliminator! I have been using the Norwex Body Cloth to wash my face for the past two and a half years and love it! No longer buying outrageously priced face wash and it's healthier for my skin. Also, with the widespreading trend of essential oils (which their are so many health benefits) you are bound to find an oil combination for your skin type or need. Aging, toning, bags, oily, dry, breakouts ... you name it and there's an oil worth trying!

I'll also add, this does an amazing job at removing eye make-up as well. I don't wear a lot, so this does the trick even when it's dry! If you have never heard of or been exposed to Norwex, I HIGHLY recommend you look into their products or find a consultant near you to host a party. It's life changing to say the least and best of all Norwex will save you money in the long. 

As a side note, I am currently looking for a great non-oily eye makeup remover recipe, not because I don't like my Norwex body cloth for removing my makeup but as an alternative just to try. :)

Homemade Moisturizer

How to Make Your Own Moisturizer

This one is going to be a work in progress, but I needed to start somewhere and document what I have tried. I'm a Bath and Body Works user and lover, so this one is going to be a hard one to transition. 

Naturally and Health Living was my inspiration only because it used the ingredients I already have. I have become very fond of aloe vera gel and it's benefits through the reading I have done, so it seemed to be worth a try.

Again, just to add I am no professional throughout all of this, just some one stepping out into the unknown and learning for myself. If you have suggestions, please do not hesitate to inform me! :)

Homemade Moisturizer Try #1

4 tablespoons aloe vera gel

2 tablespoons almond oil

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

2 tablespoons shea butter, melted

20 drops of cypress essential oil

20 drops of grapefruit essential oil

20 drops of palmarosa essential oil

20 drops of chamomile essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Allow to set for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the melted coconut oil and shea butter to return to room temperature after being heating just enough for them to melt. Beat until thick and creamy. 

My essential oil choices were to help with varicose and spider veins. I was "blessed" genetically with these ;-p and the four pregnancies really didn't help either. My life and what I do isn't stopped by these veins, but I do feel more comfortable wearing jeans, capris, and longer skirts to hide these oh-so-lovely additions to my legs. I have always wanted to and have never taken the time (because it will be slow going to show results) to use oils to minimize or eliminate the appearance of my varicose and spider veins. 

You really wouldn't have to use any oils or you could use a combination of your liking. I found this chart to be very helpful if you wanted your oils to double duty for you for smell and health benefits.

Updated 6/16/2015 - I have noticed a little irritation after shaving and then using my moisturizer #1 so next I will need to try something like this from Little House Living.

Homemade Moisturizer Try #2

3 parts coconut oil 

1 part witch hazel 

Melt and mix. Use as aftershave lotion.

Homemade Sugar Scrub

How to Make Your Own Sugar Scrub

I am a barefoot-flip-flip kinda girl which means summer's are brutal for these poor feet of mine. I have already noticed the tell-tale sign of dry and cracked heals ... boooo!!! My feet are the last thing to get my attention and definitely the last thing I want to spend money on, but I am going to try and create some products at home to help do the trick.

This recipe was adapted from a friend of mine that was so willing to share it with me. She uses vitamin E, but since I had aloe vera gel I used that instead. Both vitamin E and aloe have great benefits, but I would love to try this out with vitamin E as well. As for the essential oils, I have an aromatherapy book that I absolutely love and when I looked up foot care, rosemary was used in almost every oil combination so I decided to add it along with the lavender.

Homemade Sugar Scrub

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup almond oil

1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel (or vitamin E)

5 drops of essential oil (I used lavender and rosemary)

Combine all ingredients. Store in airtight container. Use as need on hands or feet. 

This is the second product I have made using the almond oil. I'm still trying to pinpoint the exact feeling the almond oil leaves and I have no other oils to compare it to. I don't dislike it but I'm not sure I LOVE it either ... it might just be that is different than what I am used to. :)

Today's Question: Do you have a favorite oil for health and beauty use?

Homemade Shaving Cream

How to Make Your Own Shaving Cream

Well, I was hoping to get this in earlier today, but there has been no rest for the weary and we are weary! The highlight of my day was for sure getting to meet our newest niece. My sis and her family finally welcomed their bundle of joy into the world yesterday evening. Oh my, her cheeks and her lips are adorable and you don't even want me to get started about that amazing new baby smell! I could enjoy an entire lifetime of just sitting and holding a newborn baby. I know babies are a lot of work but as we approach the teenage years with out oldest daughter, the baby stage is looking like a piece of cake compared to some of our preteen challenges! ;) Yikes, that could be a whole other post on it's own!

On to the shaving cream, I am off to try this as soon as I am done posting so will have to update the result. This first batch I am trying is from Homemade Mommy's site which was actually a guest post from Naturally Mindful. I wasn't able to find the homemade shaving cream post on Naturally Mindful's blog but she had a lot of other great posts in general and will definitely be checking back to her page. 

Homemade Shaving Cream

4 tablespoons shea butter

3 tablespoons coconut oil 

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil

10 - 12 drops of essential oil (see this link for suggestions, I used rosemary and rose geranium)

Melt shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler (I use a saucepan with stainless steel or glass bowl that rests on top of the saucepan). Remove from heat. Add almond oil and essential oils. Place in refrigerator to cool and solidify. Once in solid form, remove from fridge and allow few minutes to warm up. Beat mixture for 2 to 3 minutes or until whipped. Transfer to an airtight container. Good for a month. 

While working with this, I have noticed your body temperature softens and melts the cream. I am very curious how this will compare to the typical store bought shaving cream. Worse case scenario, I try a new recipe in a month. The good for one month is because it loses its whipped consistency, I was wondering this myself so a read through some of the comments on the post I linked above and discovered the reasoning. 

Cost Comparison: approximately $2 for a 8 ounce jar VS. $1.50 to $3.00 per can depending on size (typically 7 ounces), type (cream or gel), and brand

Updated 6/13/2015: Call it chance or I might just be blessed, but it has been two days since I shaved with my homemade shaving cream for the first time and I am hardly even noticing a stubble. Does this stuff really make for that much closer shave? Now that it's shorts weather and I will be shaving more often :) and  am curious to see how often I will need to! As I mentioned in my original post, your body temperature does soften and melt the cream, so you don't really see the cream on your skin like you do store bought. This leaves to feeling where you haven't shaved rather than seeing where you haven't shaved. I do however like the fact I could shave while letting the water run over my legs and it didn't wash the cream off. Also, as with my sugar scrub, I'm not sure if I am loving the feel of the almond oil, but I really don't have any other oils to compare it to, so it just may be it's different than what I am used to. Until the next shave, we will see how things go!

Homemade Hair Detangler

How to Make Your Own Hair Detangling Spray

We had to start going this route when #3's (our second girl) hair started getting longer. Let's just say she LOVES her sleep and her hair says it all when she gets up in the morning! We used to purchase this but now have been replacing it with homemade detangler the past few times. 

Homemade Detangler

Empty spray bottle (this one is 10 ounces)

2 tablespoons of conditioner (guesstimate works just fine) 

water

Put conditioner in spray bottle. Fill with water. Shake to mix. Use as needed. 

SO simple, no extra cost AND works just as good! Now I am going to need to make some real conditioner, not just apple cider vinegar rinse. 

Homemade Conditioner (Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse)

How to Make Your Own Hair Conditioner

My hair was due for a wash last night, so I tried out the new no-poo. I will be using Reformation Acre's Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse just as soon as my aloe vera gel 

But for now, I tried out my no-poo and AVC rinse last night with a little plopping action using a long-sleeve t-shirt to wrap my hair up to sleep in. I did received a few awkward looks from the Mr. AND I am feeling a little like a guinea pig, just sure glad it's summer and I won't feel bad if my hair gets pulled back for than normal.

I ended up using my apple cider vinegar bottle and replaced the lid with one that had a flip top and smaller hole.

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar (AVC) Rinse 

2 parts water

1 part apple cider vinegar

Pour ingredients into a squeeze bottle. Shake. Use on its own or after no-poo. Pour all over hair and scalp. Allow a few minutes. Then rinse well.

Afterwards, I dried my hair using only t-shirts, added a little gel/conditioner mixture (I will replace this as soon as my aloe vera gel gets here), and then wrapped it up in a long-sleeve t-shirt to sleep in over night.

I have notice my scalp feeling drier than normal but I am wondering if I didn't rinse well enough or if the aloe vera gel will help with that. We shall see! :)

Today's Questions: What is the one homemade health and beauty product you are very curious about but hesitant to try yourself? I'm up for being a guinea pig, WHY NOT?!? :)

Homemade Shampoo (AKA no-poo)

How to No-Poo

No-pooing is a method of washing hair without commercial shampoo. Here's is my understanding and is in no way a professional explanation! Commercial shampoos strip your hair of it's natural oils causing it to dry out which in turn causes your scalp to produce more oil making it greasy and needing to be washed again. Yes, everybody's hair is different, some producing more oil than others, so there is a fine line here of what works for one may not work exactly the same for some one else. 

Let me give a little hair background. Growing up my hair was stick-straight and thicker than thick ... four kids later, still thicker than thick and now curly! I really need to find some pictures to show proof of this. I love to joke around that I needed to have four kids otherwise my hair would be half curly and half straight. The curl (more like waves at the time) started out in the back and worked its way to the front so by #4 I finally got a full head of curls. I often wonder what hormones my children brought into my body to cause the crazy hair change. I fought the wave after #1, then attempted to work with it after #2, tried to embrace it after #3, and then said forget it after #4 ... ever since then I haven't spent too much time taking care of my hair. 

For years I had my hair thinned to actually be able to "style" it, but after a while I just didn't have the time to maintain a trim every 6-8 weeks and I couldn't go without one because I would turn into a frizz mess! So about 4 years ago I quit having it thinned and couldn't be happier, I have really had to embrace the thickness and go with the attitude of working with it rather than against it. Two and half years ago marks when I felt if my hair were long the weight would tame my mop and I decided to grow it out. Ideally, I would love to donate my hair which I have never done and is definitely on my bucket list. However, if I am going to grow my hair out long enough to donate AND still have length so I don't have a poof-ball for a hairstyle, I am going to need some help getting it to grow faster and keeping it healthy. 

I am completely stepping into the unknown here and would love to hear any of your feedback if you have used homemade products. I have read quite a bit about this whole no-pooing concept and really believe is has to be better than what I am currently doing BUT I am definitely timid about the time it's going to take to figure out a new hair regimen that works not only for my time but my hair also. I am pretty sure the procrastination on my posts lately is due to the fact that I start each day with the goal of starting a new hair regimen but then put it off another day and find something else to do. :)

My past regimen has been to wash my hair every three days using the cheapest shampoo I can buy, use conditioner (again the cheap stuff) after, brushing the conditioner through my hair with my head upside down, and then rinsing. I then flip my head up, use my fingers to part and comb through my hair, flip my head back over, and wrap it up in a towel just long enough to hop out of the shower and dry off. To style it I use a mixture of cheap (I told you I had given up on taking care of my hair) gel and conditioner to style and use a t-shirt to scrunch it and remove some of the extra water before I let it air dry the rest of the way ... about 2 hours (yes it's THAT thick). 

Reformation Acres's regimen is what I have decided to try. Here is another link from her that I can see myself embracing for my new hair life-styling change!

Homemade No-Poo

1 quart boiling water

1/4 cup baking soda

Bring water to a boil in a stock pot. Add baking soda. Stir to dissolve. Allow to cool. Pour into squeeze bottle (or old shampoo bottle). Shake before use. Apply liberally to hair. Massage into scalp. Rinse well. Repeat process approximately two times a week. 

Keep in mind this is only part of the regimen, I will be adding the conditioner and styling products over the next few days. 

Today's Question: How often do you wash your hair?

Updated 9/12/15 - So I have been pooing again! HEHEHEEEE, sorry I couldn't resist! The no-pooing was great and I do feel my hair responded positively to this process, but with as much hair as I have plus it being curly, I REALLY need the detangler action from store bought conditioners. Since the no-pooing and apple cider vinegar rinse has not been meeting my needs, I've been eyeing the shredded coconut I have in my cupboard to make a coconut milk conditioner, so hoping this happens sooner rather than later! But for now my focus is to grow my hair long enough and healthy enough to donate.

I'm about one hair trim away from chopping 8 inches off to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths  and I CANNOT WAIT! As much as I love being able to pull my hair up in a cute, messy bun, I have reached that point of just TOO MUCH hair for me! I am sure after the cut I will be wishing I didn't have to style my hair every day, but being able to check this off my bucket list will be worth it. The hard part will be to figure out what style I want ... for those of you that know we well enough, know that a decision like this will take me weeks! Open to suggestions on a hairstyle! :)

Homemade Deodorant

How to Make Your Own Deodorant

Going outside the kitchen is going to be even more of a challenge for me! In the kitchen I already had most of the ingredients needed to make everything, but the bathroom, WHOLE different story. I am going to need to sit down and do some research on my products ... butters and oils, there are so many options. I'm not one to buy a bunch of different stuff and use little bits here and there, instead I would rather buy in bulk one or two things and then use them for everything. 

Throughout my brief research today I came up with a list of options, so I could refer back to when making my final decision. The links below have a great information about the many options we have to pick from.

Butters

Shea 

avocado

cocoa

mango

Oils

almond

avocado

coconut

jojoba

grapeseed

Other ingredients

beeswax

zinc oxide

vitamin E

I went with deodorant today only because I had all the ingredients :)

Homemade Deodorant

7 tablespoons coconut oil

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 drops of palmarosa essential oil (next time will add more)

Combine all ingredients using hand mixer. Press into container or old deodorant stick. Store in a cool place. 

I will be curious how this goes on and withstands everyday activity. 

Today's Question: Do you have a favorite butter and/or oil?

Updated 6/5/2015 - First off, wish I could spell deodorant correctly ... my fingers type deoderant every time which is getting old having to correct! :) I used the homemade deodorant this morning and I'm still okay to be around without getting whiffs of a sweating locker room. Disclaimer: Most store bought deodorants are actually a deodorant and antiperspirant which actually reduces the amount of sweat. Since this is just a deodorant I definitely noticed more sweating than when using a antiperspirant; however, our bodies were made to sweat to remove toxins from our bodies so when I ran across this article about doing an armpit cleanse to reduce breast cancer risk, I found to be quite interesting and informative. Now this obviously is not the cure all for stopping breast cancer, but it reminds me just how much additional and possibly hazardous stuff we put in and on our bodies daily without thinking twice. 

Fair warning here! If I really stop and think about this it can be extremely overwhelming, disheartening, and discouraging ... I see all these things on pinterest and Facebook, pin them, like them, or make a mental note, and my list quadruples each day while I am only on a good day marking one thing off. I will say I'm feeling a little on the crazy/weird/abnormal (which all might be true anyway, heehee) side for going to the depths I am with this challenge! Bottom line, I am getting enlightened and can now make more informed decisions about what we eat and use. 

Now off to order my stuff so I can make the rest of my list!

Updated 6/6/2015 - I was asked today why I chose to use palmarosa as my essential oil so I felt the need to add some additional information to my post. There were two blogs I was inspired by when making my homemade deodorant; "passionate homemaking" and "Chocolate & Zucchini." I adapted the recipe from "passionate homemaking" then added the palmarosa from "Chocolate & Zucchini." Palmarosa is an essential oil I have used in a rejuvenating bath salt recipe of mine so I had it on hand. It has a sweet smell and anti-bacterial properties so lent itself for a great essential oil choice for a female. Tea tree oil also is a great anti-bacterial choice and has a more woodsy aroma ... I am out of tea tree oil so didn't have this option. This is day two of using the homemade deodorant and I am still very pleased with the outcome! I'm ecstatic to know there is one less unnatural product I am using AND I am saving money in the process. 

Cost: $1.40 for homemade deodorant, each batch is approximately 1 stick of store bought deodorant ... this is at least a 50% savings!

Homemade Toothpaste

How to Make Your Own Toothpaste

Today marks the start of a new routine. School for every one is done, the Mr.'s baseball season is finished (unfortunately after a tough loss last night ... So proud of the SJO Baseball Team), and we are now full-fledged at home during the day with the four kiddos and plus one occasionally! As with most transitions, it takes a few days to find my groove. I am going to need to figure out when the best time is to get my post in.

There are a few things I still would like to try in the kitchen and get posted, but they will get done periodically as I need them. For now I am excited to head over to the bathroom and eliminate ingredients and waste AND save money. Since we spend most of our summer days around the pool or outside, I can afford a few bad hair days if some of the homemade products need tweaking! :)

I was a little overwhelmed at where to start initially but toothpaste sounded like the easiest. This recipe was adapted from Organic Authority.   

Homemade Toothpaste - Kid Friendly

1/4 cup baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

water as needed

Mix baking soda and salt in a small container with lid. Moisten toothbrush. Lightly dip the moisten bristles in the soda and salt mixture. Brush as normal. 

I love the fact I don't have to worry about whether or not the little kids swallow this. We are not always the best at spitting. ;) 

Homemade Toothpaste with Whitening

6 tablespoons baking soda

1 1/2  teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon of peroxide

2 tablespoons water 

Mix baking soda and salt together in a small bowl. Add peroxide and water. Store in a small squeeze bottle. 

I used a baggie and cut the tip off in order to get the paste into my squeeze bottle without a huge mess. Then for a fun twist, once I use up all of my essential oils and replace them with Young Living oils that we can digest, I will be adding a few drops of essential oils to these as well. I have already tried this and it tastes just like I remember it when I was a kid. We didn't use this very often and it may have only been when I wanted to try being a pioneer! I am looking forward to seeing if it really whitens, will need to take a before picture before I forget. 

Today's Question: What was/would be the first bathroom item you would replace?