Natural Beauty Recipes

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CHAPTER 1

Natural Skin Care Recipes

The skin is the largest organ in the body and it absorbs much of what it comes into contact with. Many lotions, per-fumes, and skin care products contain toxic chemicals that pass into the body. Avoid the chemicals and give your skin the best care with natural homemade skin care products (and you’ll save some money too!)

BASIC LOTION BAR INGREDIENTS

• 1 part Coconut Oil

• 1 part Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

• 1 part Beeswax

• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil to extend shelf life and preserve

• Optional: Essential oils or natural fragrance oils

SECTION 1

Lotion Bar RecipesThis recipe can be adjusted to make any quantity that you’d like. I made with 1 part=1/2 cup so I used 1/2 cup of coconut oil, 1/2 cup beeswax and 1/4 cup each of shea butter and co-coa butter. I added about 50 drops of lavender essential oil and set them in silicon baking cups. The recipe I used made exactly 6 lotion bars.

How to Make:

Combine all ingredients (except essential oils if using) in a pint size or larger glass jar with a lid and gently place in a small saucepan with 2 inches of water in it.

Turn the burner on and bring water to a boil. Stir ingredients constantly or shake inside the jar until they are melted and smooth:

Remove from heat and add the essential oils. Gently stir by hand until essential oils are incorporated.

Carefully pour into molds or whatever you will be allowing the lotion bars to harden in. I used silicon baking cups, though any mold would work.

Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before attempting to pop out of molds. These could be made in different shaped molds for different occasions and make great gifts.

How to Use:

Rub on dry skin with the same motion that you would a bar of soap in the shower. The heat of your skin will melt a tiny

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amount of the lotion bar and it will smooth onto your skin leaving it hydrated and moisturized.

SUNSCREEN LOTION BAR RECIPE

• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil

• 1/2 cup Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

• 1/2 cup Beeswax

• 2 tablespoons (or more) of Zinc Oxide Powder (available online or in many stores on the diaper aisle, just make sure it is pure zinc oxide)

• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil to extend shelf life and preserve

• Optional: Essential oils or natural fragrance oils or a dash of pure vanilla extract for scent

How to Make:

Combine all ingredients (except essential oils if using) in a pint size or larger glass jar with a lid and gently place in a small saucepan with 2 inches of water in it.

Turn the burner on and bring water to a boil. Stir ingredients constantly or shake inside the jar until they are melted and smooth:

Remove from heat and add the essential oils. Gently stir by hand until essential oils are incorporated.

Carefully pour into molds or whatever you will be allowing the lotion bars to harden in. I used silicon baking cups, though any mold would work.

Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before attempting to pop out of molds.

How to Use:

Depending on how much zinc oxide is used, these will have an SPF of about 15-20, though since they are a natural product and not emulsified with chemicals, test your sun tolerance with them slowly to make sure you don’t burn. If you don’t need sunscreen everyday, consider just using the basic lotion bars which are naturally an SPF of 5-6 and which are ex-tremely nourishing for the skin. The basic lotion bars will pro-tect the skin but still allow some Vitamin D production.

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BUG-OFF LOTION BAR RECIPE

• 1 cup coconut oil

• 1/2 cup Shea Butter or cocoa butter or mix

• 1/2 cup beeswax + 2 tablespoons

• 1/4 cup fresh or dried rosemary leaves

• 1 teaspoon dried whole cloves

• 2 tablespoons dried or fresh thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

• 1/4 cup dried catnip leaf

• 1 (or more) tablespoons of mint leaf (optional but adds great scent)

• optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil to preserve.

• Essential Oils (optional but good): Bug off

What To Do:

This version has an extra step that the original Lotion Bars didn’t have. To save money on essential oils, we actually infuse the herbs into the coconut oil.

Using a double boiler or glass bowl on top of a small saucepan, heat about 1 inch of water (in bottom pan) until starting to boil. Place the dried rosemary, cloves, thyme, cinnamon, catnip and mint in the top part of the double boiler and add the coconut oil (can also use almond, olive or other oil but you will need to add more beeswax later on to get the bars to firm.

Cover the bowl or top part of the double boiler and keep the water at medium/high temperature for at least 30 minutes or until oil has adopted a darker color and smells strongly of rosemary. Alternately, you can fill a crock pot about half full with water, put the coconut oil and herbs in a glass mason jar with a tight lid, cover and keep on low-est setting for several days to make an even stronger infused oil.

Then, strain the dried herbs out of the oil using a small mesh strainer or cheesecloth and pour the oil back into the double boiler. The oil will probably be reduced by almost half and you should have about 1/2 cup of the infused oil. If you have more, save it for next time!

Add the butter(s) and beeswax to the double boiler and stir until all have melted. Remove from heat, add the Vitamin E oil and any other essential oils and pour into molds. Leave in the molds until completely set (overnight is best) or you can speed up the process by placing in the fridge.

To use: Rub the bars on exposed areas of DRY skin to protect against mosquitos and insects. If you are pregnant, check to make sure any herbs you use are safe for pregnancy and omit the ones that aren’t.

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Other Lotion Bar Variations:

• Infuse the oil with calendula for a few weeks before making the bars to give the skin extra nourishment

• Infuse the oil with dried ginger root and mint before making the bars for relief of sore muscles. You could even infuse with some arnica flowers (external use only!) for even more relief.

• Add some pure vanilla extract and a pinch of very finely ground cof-fee for an invigorating morning lotion bar.

• Infuse the oil with chamomile flowers before making the bars for a wonderful lotion bar for babies and children.

• Combine the bug off bar and sunscreen bar recipes to make an out-door bar perfect for hiking and outdoor sports.

• Add some natural coconut fragrance or extract for a beach bar with an SPF of 5-6 that smells tropical.

Lotion Bar Gift Ideas:

• Give a mom-to be some basic lotion bars to help prevent stretch marks and bonus- she can use the lotion bars on baby too.

• Give the outdoor bars to your favorite outdoorsman, hunter, or camper.

• The ginger and mint bars are popular among athletes.

• The calendula bars make great gifts for moms and sisters.

• The chamomile lotion bars are a great gift for new baby.

I wrap the lotion bars in a cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon to give as a gift. I’ve even made gift baskets with several different variations and some of the other recipes in this book and given as baby shower gifts, wedding gifts, birthday gifts and mother’s day gifts.

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INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup beeswax

Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

SECTION 2

Smooth Lotion RecipeHow to Make Lotion:

1. Combine ingredients in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, ol-ives or other foods.

2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of wa-ter and place over medium heat.

3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.

4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (8 ounce) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!

5. Use as you would regular lotion. This has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredi-ents are already shelf stable and not water is added. Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.

Note: A little goes a long way! This lotion is incredibly nour-ishing and is also great for diaper rash on baby, for eczema and for preventing stretch marks!

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BASIC DEODORANT BAR INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup Shea Butter, Cocoa butter or mango butter (or a mix of all three equal to 1 part)

1/2 cup + 1 tsp beeswax

optional: Vitamin E oil to preserve. I added 1 tsp vitamin E oil for this recipe)

3 tablespoons baking soda (Omit this if you have sensitive skin and just use extra arrowroot)

1/2 cup organic arrowroot powder

SECTION 3

Deodorant RecipeHow to Make:

Combine coconut oil, shea (or other) butter, and beeswax in a glass jar and place in a saucepan with 1 inch of water in it.

Turn the burner on and bring water to a boil. Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth:

Remove from heat and add the vitamin E oil, baking soda, ar-rowroot powder, probiotics, and essential oils. Make sure the mixture is not hot to the touch (warm is ok) so that the heat doesn’t kill the probiotics.

Gently stir by hand until all ingredients are incorporated.

If you will be making these into bars, pour into muffin tins or other molds while still liquid. If you will be putting into an old deodorant container to use like stick deodorant, let the mix-ture harden for about 15-20 minutes at room temperature to harden and when it is about the consistency of peanut butter, use a spoon to scoop into the deodorant tube and pack down to fill. Then, leave the cap off overnight to completely harden before using.

How to Use:

Use as you would regular deodorant though only a very small amount is needed. Natural perspiration should decrease the longer you use it. If you get a rash, it is likely from the baking soda.

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SUGAR SCRUB INGREDIENTS

You can make endless variations but here is the basic framework to start with:

2 parts sugar (regular white or brown sugar work great)

1 part oil (almond, olive and coconut are great)

Add 1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil (or the gel from a few capsules), add other optional ingredients.

Sound simple? It is!

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Homemade Sugar ScrubsHere are a few of my favorite combinations:

• Pumpkin Pie Scrub: 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup co-conut oil, 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spices (or just 1/2 tsp cinnamon)

• Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub: 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup almond oil, 1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil and 1 tsp real vanilla ex-tract

• Lemon Hand Scrub (for after washing dishes): 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil, 15-20 drops (or more) of lemon or orange essential oil

• Vanilla Lavender Relaxing Facial Scrub: 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup almond oil, 1/2 tsp Vitamin E oil, 1/2 tsp real vanilla extract and 15 drops lavender essential oil

These last on the counter for up to 2 months (or more) and smell good enough to eat… Actually, they are good enough to eat, but don’t… sugar is bad for your intestines!

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INCLUDED

• Natural Face Wash

• Homemade Make-Up Remover

• Basic Lotions and Moisturizers

• Gentle Exfoliators

• Natural Anti-Aging Remedies

• Supplements for Skin

SECTION 5

Natural Skin Care RegimenSwitching from regular skin care products to natural versions is one of the tougher natural living steps to take.

It’s hard to break free of the age defying, wrinkle reversing, acne preventing claims of conventional products and switch to a natural option, even though the natural options are often cheaper and work better!

Here are some of my favorite natural skin-care recipes to help you make the switch more easily!

Natural Face Wash

I’ve been using the oil cleansing method for a couple of years, and I’d still highly recommend it, but I’ve recently switched to a faster, easier and even cheaper option: Microfiber. My favor-ite company makes a natural body cloth with silver wound into the thread so it is completely antibacterial. It takes off makeup, food (kids faces, not mine!), dirt, etc. without any soap at all (which is great since soap strips the natural oils in the skin). It is also completely safe to use on babies and kids (which would be especially helpful for any kids with eczema) and the cheapest/most environmentally friendly. (These are my favorite)

You can also use pure, organic Liquid Castille soap in water to naturally cleanse the face. A few drops on a wash cloth or in a sink full of water will naturally clean your face.

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Natural Make-Up Remover

Microfiber actually works great for this too and removes even mascara without soap or oils.

Plain olive or coconut oil will also remove mascara (even wa-terproof) and will remove other make-up as well but isn’t as ideal if you have oily skin.

For oily skin- Liquid Castille soap in water will remove makeup without adding oils to the skin or stripping the natu-ral ones.

Lotions and Moisturizers

For most people, pure coconut oil is all that is needed for mois-turizing the face. It is naturally full of collagen supporting lauric acid and is easily absorbed by the skin. Even for oily and acne prone skin, coconut oil’s natural anti-bacterial prop-erties make it a great option.

Natural Exfoliators

A sugar/oil scrub is great for most skin types when extra exfo-liation is needed. Just mix equal parts oil (coconut, olive, etc) and sugar (white or brown) and use as a whole body exfolia-tor.

For more oily skin, plain baking soda can be used to exfoliate skin and remove blackheads or dirt.

Natural Anti-Aging

There are a ton of anti-aging products available but the best options are the ones you take internally since collagen must be produced internally and can’t absorb through the skin.

To promote natural collagen production, I use coconut oil as a moisturizer and take Gelatin, Fermented Cod Liver Oil/Butter Blend and Vitamin C to support natural Collagen production internally.

Supplements for Skin Care

I’m firmly convinced that what you put into your body is just as important, if not more so, than what you put on it when it comes to skin health. I used to have terrible acne and since changing my diet and supplements, I don’t break out at all and my past scars have healed. The supplements that seemed to have made the biggest difference in skin health for me are:

• Fermented Cod Liver Oil- for the Vitamins A, D and K, Omega-3s and Antioxidants, all which are great for the skin.

• Gelatin – Which is a pre-cursor for collagen and has made my hair, skin and nails noticeably stronger and smoother (great for cellulite too).

• Magnesium- An anti-inflammatory and lacking in many people’s diets. Topical Magnesium Oil seems to be the most effective for skin health.

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MAKE YOUR OWN:

• Natural Foundation

• Bronzer/Blush

• Eyeliner/Eyeshadow

• Mascara

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Homemade Makeup RecipesNatural Foundation

Homemade Option: At the recommendation of a friend who had used cocoa powder for natural bronzer, I started experi-menting with natural foundation options, and came up with a recipe similar to a mineral make-up, though lighter, and smoother…

I start with a base of arrowroot powder (can also use corn-starch, but arrowroot works better) and then slowly add in co-coa powder and finely ground cinnamon powder until you get a shade close to your skin tone. You can then store in a jar or old powder container and use a brush to apply. It took me a few tries of mixing to get the color correct for my skin tone, but most days, a quick brush of this is all I need.

If you want to make it a more solid base so that only a little sticks to the brush, use a few drops of essential oil or vodka to mix with the powder and push down in a compact. This will make it hard like a regular compact.

I’ve thought about adding this combination to some home-made lotion to make a liquid foundation but haven’t tried it yet.

Commercial Options:If making makeup isn’t your thing but you still want some natural options, there are a few good choices. No commercial choice is as natural as the homemade option, but they are a tremendous improvement over any con-ventional options! Dr. Haushcka Translucent Foundation is the most natural liquid foundation I’ve found and my skin re-

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acted well to it. I really like Nvey Eco Liquid Foundation as well. I’ve also used Nvey Creme Foundation which is thicker and is a great concealer or under-eye cover.

For powdered foundation, my favorite so far is Aubrey Organ-ics Silken Earth which doesn’t have titanium dioxide like many of the mineral make-ups and which has almost com-pletely natural ingredients.

Natural Bronzer/Blush

Homemade Option: Similar to above, natural bronzer and blush can be easily made with a base of arrowroot and by add-ing more cocoa powder and cinnamon to get a darker shade. I’ve also tried powdering dried beet root (in the dehydrator) or dried hibiscus flowers to add a pink tone which works well as long as you can very finely powder them. Store in a shaker make-up container or an old compact.

Commercial Options: For natural blush, I love Aubrey Organic Silken Blush or Nvey Eco Powdered Blush.

Natural Eye Liner and Shadow

Homemade Options: Always be careful when using any prod-ucts, even natural ones, near the eyes. I mix up several colors of eye shadow using cocoa powder (brown shades) Spirulina (green shades) and arrowroot (light shades). My favorite is just cocoa powder with a tiny bit of arrowroot mixed in for smoothness.

For eye-liner, I either use a tiny bit of cocoa powder mixed with coconut oil, or a tiny dab or activated charcoal on a slightly damp brush. Be careful not to get either one in the eye. I store the eye shadow in an old powdered eye shadow container and apply with my finger or a very slightly damp brush.

To make a smoother eyeliner, I mix equal parts of coconut oil and cocoa butter (about 1/2 ounce of each) and add about 1/2 tsp of activated charcoal to make a black eyeliner that is thicker. You can also do this with cocoa powder for a brown hue.

Commercial Options: Nvey Eco Powdered Eyeliner is the best I’ve used so far and is almost completely natural.

Natural Mascara

Homemade Option: I don’t wear mascara most days, but when I want a natural option, it is an easy one to make. In a small bowl, I just mix a few drops of Aloe Vera Gel from Moun-tain Rose Herbs, a couple drops of Vitamin E oil, and a pinch of activated charcoal (not very precise… I know). I mix it up as I use it, though you could also make and store in an old mas-cara container or in a small jar and just clean the mascara wand between uses. I brush it on with a clean mascara brush, or even a used Bass Toothbrush from OraWellness.

Commercial Options: The two natural ones I’ve tried and love are Nvey Eco Mascara and Organic Wear Natural.

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NATURAL SHAVE SOAP RECIPES:

• Foaming Shave Soap

• Homemade Shaving Cream

• Bar Shave Soap Recipe

• Shaving Options for Men

SECTION 7

Natural Shaving OptionsFoaming Shave Soap Recipe

This is the shave soap I use most often in the shower because it is easy, inexpen-sive and works great. Some men may find it harsh on the face due to the high liquid castille content.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Natural Aloe Vera Gel (not juice!)

• 1/4 cup Liquid Castille Soap

• 1 TBSP Olive or Almond Oil

• 1/4 cup warm Distilled Water (or lavender infused)

• Vitamin E or Grapefruit Seed Extract (to preserve)

• Essential Oils for Fragrance (optional)

• 8 ounce or larger Foaming Soap Bottle

How To Make It:

1. Mix ingredients in foamer bottle and shake gently until mixed.

2. Shake well before each use.

This recipe will last a couple of months (I use up within about 2 months, so I don’t know beyond that).

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Shave Cream Recipe

I don’t use this recipe as often, and more in the winter for extra mois-turizing, but it makes a rich, creamy lather and works really well. This one is also better for

men’s faces, as it is more gentle than the above recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup olive, almond or coconut oil

• 2-3 TBSP Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

• 1/4 cup Aloe Gel or Honey

• 1 TBSP Kaolin clay or white cosmetic clay (optional)

• 2 tsp baking soda

• 1/4 cup Liquid Castille Soap

• Vitamin E or GSE (to preserve)

To Make:

1. Melt the oil and shea/cocoa butter in a double boiler until just melted.

2. Remove from heat and add other ingredients

3. Whisk or blend well for several minutes

4. Transfer to jar or container to store

5. Check while it is cooling to make sure it doesn’t start to separate. If it does, shake or mix well to re-incorporate.

6. Lasts up to two months (not sure about longer)

Natural Bar Shave Soap Recipe

If you don’t happen to have all these extra ingredients on hand, this is an easy way to modify a regular bar soap to make it more shave-friendly. It is a little time consuming, but these bar soaps last a long time and are great for making shave mugs if

the men in your life happen to use shave mugs and brushes.

Ingredients:

• 1 bar of natural, handcrafted soap (store bought regular soaps don’t work!)These are my favorite, but I’m bi-ased since I make them

• 1 TBSP olive or almond oil or aloe vera gel

• 1-2 TBSP white clay, french clay, kaolin, or cosmetic clay

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How to Make It:

1. Grate soap, then on low heat, melt down with oil or aloe vera. It will take a while, so be patient and stir often.

2. Once melted, stir in the cosmetic clay (this makes a richer lather and is great for the skin)

3. Pour into molds (I use cardboard) or old mugs and let set for several days until it re-hardens. Will last months and will cure more over time, making it longer lasting.

I’ve been making my husband’s shave soap, after shave and fa-cial rinse for years because he has such thick hair that regular products didn’t work and just irritated his skin. He also switched to an old fashioned razor and a brush shaving set a few years ago and he loves it.

Ladies, if you’ve been looking for a unique and usable gift for your husband, boyfriend or dad, a real shaving kit with some homemade products is a great option!

A Real Shaving Kit

My husband’s opinion and the general consensus on the Art of Manliness forums is that to get a real shave (if you are going to shave, which was a controversial topic over there) a man must use an old fashioned safety razor or straight razor and preferably a brush and mug soap rather than an aerosol can type shaving cream.

There are even brush and mug sets with stainless steel brush handle and safety razor. Fortunately, these “old-fashioned” shaving options actually save money in the long run (no expen-sive razor heads to buy) and are MUCH better for the skin when used with natural shaving cream.

The Shave Soap

If your man is open to natural shaving, there are several great recipes for homemade shaving soap that you can make at home and that are 100% natural and organic.

If you aren’t up for DIY shave soap, there are actually some de-cent and really inexpensive store bought options. Col. Conk seems to be the most popular and is relatively natural (much more so than typical shaving creams according to the EWG da-tabase). There are multiple scent options available, depending upon personal preference.

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The Aftershave

Alcohol based after shaves can be problematic for the same reason you aren’t supposed to use rubbing alcohol on new piercings: it kills healing skin and slows healing. There are some wonderful nourishing options for after shave skin care for men…

• Homemade Lotion Bars are extremely nourishing and con-tain ingredients that will naturally prevent aging and encour-age healing. Some other great options are:

• Rosemary Oil which is naturally antibacterial and has a great woodsy scent.

• Shea Butter by itself is also an excellent after shave lotion and has a manly scent.

• Coconut oil works by itself too and will discourage breakouts from shaving (is there anything it won’t do?!)

• Apple Cider Vinegar also works great by itself or infused with cinnamon sticks, cloves and bay leaves (if you can han-dle the smell)

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CHAPTER 2

Homemade Hair Care Recipes

Hair can be naturally beautiful without the need for harsh chemicals and deter-gents to strip its natural oils each day. Make your own hair care products from Shampoo to Dry Shampoo to Hair Spray to save money and save your hair!

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup coconut milk (homemade)

1/3 cup Liquid Castille Soap (like Dr. Bronners)

1/2 of a teaspoon (or several capsules) of Vitamin E oil (optional)

20 drops of Essential Oils of choice (I’ve used peppermint, lavender, rosemary and orange or combinations of those)

For dry hair: add 1/2 tsp olive or almond oil (optional)

SECTION 1

Homemade ShampooHow to Make Natural Shampoo:

1. Combine all ingredients in an old shampoo bottle or jar of some kind (pump soap dispensers and even foaming dis-pensers work well for this. If you use a foaming dispenser, add 1/4 cup of distilled water)

2. Shake well to mix.

3. Keep in shower for up to a month.

4. Shake before each use.

5. Use about a teaspoon every time you shampoo.

6. If you use a foaming dispenser, it also makes a great shav-ing cream- just dilute with 1/4 cup distilled water!

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BASIC INGREDIENTS

1. Arrowroot Powder

2. Cocoa Powder

3. Essential Oils

SECTION 2

DIY Dry ShampooDry shampoos have been all the rage among some of my friends lately, and I can understand why… A product that makes your hair look clean when it hasn’t been washed is a tre-mendous help, especially for those of us with little ones who are lucky if we get to use the bathroom alone, much less shower every day…

Dry shampoos are also great if you’re switching to “no-poo” or homemade natural shampoo, which will often leave your hair oily for the first week or so while your scalp adjusts to not hav-ing its natural oils stripped each day. Personally, I have natu-rally oily hair even when I don’t strip the oils, so I am a huge fan of dry shampoo. (On the upside, relatives with the same naturally oily hair haven’t started going gray until their 60s or 70s, so I have that going for me…)

The basic idea of a dry shampoo (or wet-dry shampoo) is to put an oil absorbing substance (like arrowroot or cornstarch) on the oily parts of your hair to absorb the oil and leave it look-ing clean. This is also very helpful if you’ll be styling hair and need it to hold.

A wet-dry shampoo uses the same concept, but puts the oil ab-sorbing substance in a quickly evaporating liquid like vodka or rubbing alcohol (or Rum if you like to smell like a pirate…)

Commercial dry shampoos can be pricey and contain things like “isobutane, butane and propane.” Make your own instead! You’ll not only save money since homemade versions are about 95% cheaper, but you won’t be putting explosive chemi-cals on your hair…

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On my hair, I use a light powder (arrowroot) since I’m blonde, but for dark hair, cocoa powder mixed with arrowroot works better (plus you get to smell like chocolate! win-win!)

Here are the official “recipes” that can be customized to your hair type:

DIY Dry Shampoo for Light Hair

• 1/4 cup Arrowroot or cornstarch

• an old make-up brush (optional)

• 5 drops of essential oils (optional)

What to do: Put the drops of essential oil into the arrowroot or cornstarch and mix with a spoon. Store the mix in a small jar or old powder container. Apply with an old make-up brush to the roots or oily parts of your hair. Applying with the brush is optional, but it removes the need to comb through as much and is better for styled hair. If you don’t use the brush, comb the powder through your hair and style as usual.

DIY Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair

• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

• 2 tablespoons arrowroot or corn starch

• 5 drops of essential oils (optional)

• an old makeup brush to apply (optional)

What to do: Mix the cocoa powder, arrowroot/cornstarch and essential oils (if using). Store in a small jar or old powder con-tainer and apply with the make-up brush. Comb through hair and style as usual.

DIY Wet/Dry Spray Shampoo

• 1 cup warm water

• 1/4 cup arrowroot or cornstarch

• 1/4 cup vodka, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel

• essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume to scent

What to do: Mix all ingredients in a small spray bottle and shake well. Shake before each use and spray on roots or oily parts of hair. Let dry and style as usual.

Bonus Tips

Arrowroot or cornstarch can also be used as a mineral veil or finishing powder for homemade makeup or as an oil absorb-ing powder on the skin. I keep a mason jar filled with arrow-root on my counter and use as a dry shampoo in my hair and to set my makeup.

If you have dark hair but don’t want to use cocoa powder in your hair, just use plain arrowroot and apply before going to bed the night before or at least 2 hours in advance so that it has time to absorb and you won’t get the fake-gray-looks-like-a-wig look.

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INGREDIENTS:

1 cup of hot water (not boiling)

2 tablespoons epsom salts

1/2 tsp Himalayan or Sea Salt (optional -adds stiffness)

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel (I get it here)

1/2 tsp conditioner or a few drops of almond oil or jajoba oil

optional: a few drops of essential oils or a spritz of your favorite perfume for scent- Lavender and citrus are great options

optional: 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vodka or alcohol- if you want to lighten hair (the lemon juice lightens and

SECTION 3

DIY Beach Waves Texturizing Spray

NOTE: Can also use strong Chamomile Tea as the base if you want to lighten hair, or black tea as the base if you want to darken hair, but you will need to keep in the fridge.

How to Make:

Get a spray bottle that holds at least 10 ounces. I used a glass bottle made from an old apple cider vinegar bottle and a regu-lar spray top. I also tripled the recipe to accommodate the size of my bottle. Put the hot water (or tea) in the spray bottle and add the epsom salts, sea salt (optional), aloe vera, conditioner, scent (optional) and lemon juice/vodka (if using). Put the cap on the bottle and shake for 1-2 minutes or until epsom salts and sea salt are dissolved. Store in the fridge if using lemon juice or tea base, or at room temperature if you aren’t. Will last 3-4 months or longer.

To Use:

Spray on damp hair and scrunch with a towel to dry for loose beach waves.

Spray on dry hair and on roots for volume and texture without the waves.

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HERBS CAN HELP YOU COLOR YOUR HAIR:

1. Lighter/Blonde

2. Add Red Hues

3. Brown/Chestnut

4. Dark Brown/Black

5. Grey Coverage

SECTION 4

Herbal Hair Color OptionsThese are natural colors and as such will create natural hues on your hair. They will not create artificial colors like hot pink, completely platinum blonde, or jet black (ok, so that isn’t a fake color, I just haven’t figured out how to do it…) The blonde/light recipes will actually permanently lighten hair since they naturally bleach it but the red and dark hues will leave a temporary tint for a few weeks (depending on how of-ten you wash it). The sun will help set all the hues.

Also, I haven’t tried these on dyed/chemically treated hair, so I don’t know how it reacts with those types of hair! Not sure why you’d want to use herbal hair dyes? Read the ingredients and then get back to me!

Herbs for Light Hair

I’ve tried several basic herbal variations including:

• Pure, strong Chamomile Tea (brewed with 1/2 cup herbs per 2 cups water) and sprayed or poured on hair and left on for several hours. Sitting in the sun during this time will en-hance the lightening effect.

• Fresh squeezed lemon juice, sprayed and brushed through hair and left on for several hours (in the sun) will also produce natural highlights.

• A chamomile tea rinse at the end of each shower (leave in hair!) will produce smooth, silky hair and naturally lighter hair over time.

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For a stronger and faster effect, I’ve used the following recipe. It has left my hair very blonde, easy to work with and not yellowy/brassy at all.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

• 2 cups of strong chamomile tea

• 1/2 cup strong calendula tea (optional and will produce more golden tones)

What to do:

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle or other small bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray or pour into hair and brush through to get even. This works best when applied to hair di-rectly before sun exposure and left in for 1-2 hours before be-ing rinsed out. Can be used several times a week until desired color is reached.

You can also use this as a rinse at the end of a shower (and then lightly rinse with water) though it will take longer to have an effect. This will not have an overnight dramatic effect, though when I’ve put it in my hair before gardening in the sun for a few hours I definitely noticed a difference.

Herbs for Red Hair

These will create a red/dark strawberry blonde tint in lighter hair and an auburn tint in darker hair. The effects are cumula-tive, so extended use over time will create a more vibrant red. The easiest thing is to make it part of your hair care routine if you want continual red hair.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of water

• 1/2 cup of calendula flowers or fresh marigold petals from your garden

• 2 tablespoons (or more for more red hues) of hibiscus petals (also available from Mountain Rose Herbs)

What to do: Boil the water and simmer with the calendula/marigold and hibiscus for at least half an hour. Strain off the flowers and store in the fridge. Use as a final hair rinse at the end of each shower. Dry hair in the sun if possible. Repeat daily until desired shade is maintained and then every few days to maintain.

Faster Way:

If you want faster and more permanent results, you can use Henna Hair Color from Mountain Rose Herbs. This is the only brand I can vouch for the quality of, and the results are very dramatic. They have a lot of color variations with red hues (and darker ones) and the results last for several months (or

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longer if you wash your hair less often). They won’t com-pletely cover grey hair, but will darken it. Don’t use on chemi-cally treated hair or test on a small section before using on the whole head!

Herbs for Brown Hair

It is easiest to darken hair that is already light brown or darker, though these colors will even darken blonde tones. Al-ways test on a small part of hair before using on the whole head, especially on chemically treated hair. Used as a rinse, these will also darken grey hair over time. The more they are used, the darker the results. For faster, dramatic effect, use a Henna Color Like Black, Dark Brown or Mahogany. For a slower or more gentle tone, use these herbs:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Nettle Leaf

• 1/4 cup Rosemary Leaf

• 1/4 cup Sage Leaf

• 2.5 cups of water

What to do:

Simmer the herbs with water in a small pan for at least 30 minutes or until water is very dark. Remove from heat and when cool, strain herbs out, making sure all small pieces are removed (I use cheesecloth). Store mix in the fridge. Spray or

brush into hair about an hour before showering each day, then shampoo as normal. Can also use as a rinse and leave on at the end of each shower. Repeat until desired color is reached. It has a cumulative effect and you probably won’t notice much difference the first few days. The herbs in this mix are also great for getting rid of dandruff and for increasing hair growth…

Herbs for Dark Brown Hair or Black Hair

If you have very light hair, it will be difficult to get really dark hues with just herbs, though with enough patience, it can be done. I’ve listed herbs that work, and you can use any combi-nation. As always, test on a small section of hair before using.

• For very dark hair, put 1/4 cup of Black Walnut Powder in a tea bag or cheesecloth bag and steep in 3 cups of water in a quart mason jar for at least 6 hours or overnight. Use as a rinse in the shower for hair and dry in the sun if possible. This will create VERY DARK hair, especially if you have dry or color treated hair. It will also provide the darkest coverage for grey hair. Repeat daily or as needed to darken and maintain dark shade.

• Use strong brewed black tea as a final rinse to darken any color hair. This is also nourishing for the hair and will pro-vide a temporary darkening effect on most hair types. Repeat as necessary to get desired shade and sun-dry if possible.

With any of these herbal hair colors, make sure to test on a small part of your hair first!

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CHAPTER 3

Natural Options for Healthy Teeth

Even your mouth can benefit from home-made options. In fact, there are often more chemicals used in toothpastes than any other toiletry products and these chemicals can be absorbed through the mouth. Find out how to get whiter teeth, healthier gums and even improve cavities with natural options....

INGREDIENTS:

5 parts Calcium Carbonate or Calcium Magnesium Powder

2 parts Baking Soda

3 parts xylitol or more to taste. Optional, but recommended.

3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture

Optional ingredients: Essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon and orange are all good), 10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract, Myrrh and Trace Minerals

SECTION 1

Remineralizing ToothpasteDIY Recipe

[Note: To keep things simple, I just use a teaspoon or table-spoon as the “part” in the recipe. Depending on the size batch I'm making, so the above recipe would read 5 TBSP calcium powder, 2 TBSP Baking Soda, etc]

How To Make Natural Remineralizing Toothpaste

1. Mix all powdered ingredients (CalMag/Calcium, Baking Soda, Xylitol) well in a bowl.

3. Add Coconut Oil one part at a time until you get desired con-sistency.

4. Add any optional ingredients, including Essential Oils for flavor (my favorite is Peppermint Orange with 25 drops of each)

5. Store in small container like 1/2 pint glass jar. To use, ei-ther dip clean toothbrush into it, or use Popsicle stick or spoon to put on toothbrush. You could also store in a plastic bag with a corner cut off to be able to squeeze like toothpaste, but haven’t tried it yet.

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INGREDIENTS:

4 Tablespoons Bentonite Clay

3 Tablespoons Calcium Magnesium Powder

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda (optional)

2 Tablespoons Powdered Mint Leaf (optional, or can use essential oil)- Powder in blender, food processor or coffee grinder.

1 tablespoon Cinnamon Powder

1 teaspoon of Cloves Powder

1 Tablespoon (or more to taste) Xylitol Powder

Essential oils for taste

SECTION 2

Remineralizing Tooth Powder Recipe

Why Tooth Powder?

The main ingredient in this tooth powder is Bentonite Clay, which I’ve recently become a huge fan of. Not only does it bind to and draw out heavy metals and toxins (a huge plus for the mouth!), but it is alkaline and full of minerals.

It can be taken internally to help with toxin removal so it is safe for use in the mouth and it contains calcium, magnesium and silica which are nourishing for the teeth! According to Mountain Rose Herbs:

“Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hy-drated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an “electrical charge”. Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. Bentonite clay’s struc-ture assists it in attracting and soaking up poisons on its exte-rior wall and then slowly drawing them into the interior cen-ter of the clay where it is held in a sort of repository.

To state it another way… “Bentonite is a swelling clay. When it becomes mixed with wa-ter it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound.“

It is also extremely gentle and has a milder taste for kids. I also use Bentonite Clay for facial masks, healing poultices and when drying hair naturally to keep color on.

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The other ingredients are supportive of the mouth as well:

• Baking soda is alkaline and contains minerals. It also helps remove stains.

• Calcium magnesium powder provides extra calcium and magnesium to provide minerals and whiten.

• Cloves powder is naturally antibacterial and gives a great taste.

• Cinnamon is also antibacterial, tastes great and helps discourage bacterial growth in the mouth.

• Mint tastes great and is soothing to the gums.

• Xylitol- completely optional and adds sweetness.

How to Make Tooth Powder:

Mix the ingredients in a bowl or pint size mason jar and store in a small glass jar with a lid. We actually have a separate small glass jar for each family member since we dip our tooth-brushes in it. Mix with a spoon or shake to incorporate ingredi-ents. This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of tooth powder which lasts us for months. You can adjust the recipe up or down (Use teaspoons instead of tablespoons for smaller amounts).

This will last indefinitely on the counter since there are no liq-uid ingredients and all of the ingredients naturally discourage bacterial growth. You can customize the powder to your taste and all of the herbal ingredients are optional. Bentonite or bak-ing soda would actually work alone or together as a tooth pow-der, this one just tastes great. You could also add more cloves, mint and cinnamon for an even more concentrated powder.

How to Use:

Wet the toothbrush (I use a Bass brush from OraWellness since it is super gentle on the gums and cleans better) and dip into the powder. I also add a few drops of OraWellness Brush-ing Blend. Brush using the Bass Brushing Technique until teeth are clean. Rinse with cool water. Can be used daily (or multiple times daily) and is fine for adults and kids.

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WHAT TO DO:

1. Dip a clean, wet toothbrush into powdered ACTIVATED charcoal. Lean over the container or charcoal and quickly put the charcoal covered toothbrush in the mouth (this is to protect your sink). Brush in small, gentle circles for 2 minutes, spit carefully and rinse really well. Your mouth will feel amazingly clean…. your sink, not so much! Use as often as needed.

SECTION 3

Whiten Teeth NaturallyCharcoal on Teeth?

The times that I’d recommended charcoal for use in food poi-soning or other digestive issues, I always cautioned people to mix with water and swallow quickly so that it wouldn’t stain their teeth. Then, a holistic dentist I know mentioned that it is very effective at whitening teeth… huh?

Since the powder stains everything, I had always worried that it would do the same to my teeth.

I did some research and found out that even though it tempo-rarily makes the mouth look extremely black it has the same effect as it does when ingested: it pulls toxins from the mouth and removes stains. (Fair warning: when you open your mouth, it is completely black and rather scary looking! Right after I did this the first time I was intensely worried that it would stain my teeth!)

To my surprise, all of the black washes away and it makes your teeth feel extremely clean and smooth. After a few uses, my teeth were noticeably whiter too!

Further research I’ve done on this showed that activated char-coal can actually be helpful in changing the pH and health of the mouth, and as such is effective in preventing cavities and killing the bad bacteria present in tooth decay and gingivitis. For this reason, I now suggest and use it as part of my reminer-alizing protocol for teeth, along with my remineralizing tooth-paste.

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CHAPTER 4

Natural Baby and Child Care Recipes

If the toxic chemicals in toiletries can be harmful to adults, imagine what they do to babies and kids. Most babies are born with over 200 chemicals in their cord blood and are exposed to thousands more throughout childhood. Minimize their exposure by making these natural and safe alternatives!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 tablespoon calendula flowers

1 tablespoon chamomile flowers

1/4 cup Shea Butter

optional: 1 tsp arrowroot or zinc oxide powder or more to thicken if needed- these will add additional drying power for really bad rashes

SECTION 1

Natural Diaper CreamHow to Make Natural Diaper Cream

Heat a couple inches of water over medium high heat in a dou-ble boiler or small sauce pan. Melt the coconut oil in a glass bowl or glass jar above the boiling water. Add the calendula and chamomile flowers and keep the heat going on low/medium for at least an hour or until coconut oil has started to turn yellow and smells of chamomile and calendula. Make sure to check the water level often and make sure it hasn’t got-ten too hot or evaporated off.

Carefully strain the flowers out, reserving as much of the coco-nut oil as possible. A fine mesh metal strainer is best for this, or a cheesecloth will work, though you’ll lose more of the coco-nut oil. Make sure all visible pieces of the flower have been re-moved.

Using a small immersion blender or even a fork to mash, mix the infused coconut oil with the shea butter and arrowroot or zinc oxide if using until it forms a thick paste. I actually have a small food processor I use for this mixture (and not for food) and when mixed in a food processor it makes an airy, velvety cream.

Store in a small glass jar and apply as needed. Use a liner with cloth diapers. This is much more concentrated and effective than store-bought versions and a little goes a really long way! It can also be used for adult yeast infections or for healing of the perineum postpartum.

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Why These Ingredients?

I chose each of these ingredients for a specific purpose. Coco-nut oil is very effective on its own for treating rash, as it is anti-fungal and very soothing to skin.

Calendula has antibacterial properties and speeds skin heal-ing while Chamomile has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic properties and is especially helpful for diaper rashes.

Shea Butter, besides making the skin incredibly soft, has anti-fungal and yeast-killing properties when raw. It is high in Vita-mins A and E and helps promote collagen production in the skin. It is naturally anti-inflammatory and has an SPF of 6. It also helps prevent and get rid of stretch marks.

Cloth Diaper Safe?

Commercial diaper cream should never be used with cloth dia-pers since the fish oil in it will leave a fishy smell no matter how much you wash the diapers. It will also void any warranty on the cloth diapers. After much research and some trial and error, I finally created a diaper cream that is cloth diaper safe and that works as well as the medicated versions.

It can be used directly with cloth diapers if you don’t mind stripping the diapers after using them, but I prefer just to line the diaper with a piece of an old t-shirt when I’m using diaper cream to avoid the extra laundry hassle.

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INGREDIENTS

1 cup of organic olive or apricot kernel oil (softer scent and great for sensitive skin)

2 tablespoons calendula flowers

2 tablespoons chamomile flowers

SECTION 2

Homemade Baby OilVitamin Rich Baby Oil

Regular baby oil is petroleum based and packed with artificial fragrances! You can always use plain coconut oil, but making an infused oil adds some vitamins and speeds skin healing.

What to Do:

There are two ways to make this recipe.

Fast way: You can infuse over heat: “Heat a couple inches of water over medium high heat in a double boiler or small sauce pan. Melt the oil in a glass bowl or double boiler top above the boiling water. Add the calendula and chamomile flowers and keep the heat going on low/medium for at least an hour or un-til oil has started to turn yellow and smells of chamomile and calendula. Make sure to check the water level often and make sure it hasn’t gotten too hot or evaporated off.” and then just strain the flowers out and use as regular baby oil.

Slower but more concentrated way: Put the calendula and chamomile in a glass jar and pour the oil over it. Put a tight-fitting lid on. Keep in a cool, dark place and shake daily for 6-8 weeks to make a gorgeous light-orange oil that is great for baby or adult skin. It is soothing on eczema or skin irrita-tion and calming to baby.

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WHAT YOU NEED:

1/2 cup arrowroot powder

1 tsp chamomile or calendula flowers, powdered in the blender or food processor

optional: Powdered sugar shaker or spice container to store.

SECTION 3

All-Natural Baby PowderSoothing Baby Powder

Some regular baby powder contain talc, which is closely re-lated to asbestos and has been linked to various cancers. Please don’t put it on your baby’s tender tushie! There are natural alternatives that are incredibly easy to make and work better without the side of cancer.

How to Make:

Powder the chamomile or calendula if using. Mix with the ar-rowroot powder and store in a glass jar or sugar shaker for easy use. Use as you would regular baby powder.

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WHAT YOU NEED:

1 roll of heavy duty paper towels Note: I use Bounty for wipes-cheap paper towels do not work!

Rubbermaid #6 or #8 container or any container that will hold 1/2 a roll of paper towels

1 3/4 cups boiled water (or distilled)-cooled but still warm – (can just use regular water if you use them in less than a week like we do)

1 Tablespoon of pure aloe vera gel

1 Tablespoon of pure Witch Hazel Extract

1 Tablespoons of Liquid Castille Soap

10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract or 2 capsules of Vitamin E (optional)

Essential Oils of choice (optional- I use 6 drops each of orange and lavender)

SECTION 4

Homemade Baby WipesHow to Make Homemade Natural Baby Wipes

1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half using a sharp knife

2. If using a plastic shoe box or old wipe container, accordion fold the wipes into the container. If using a Rubbermaid #6 container (I highly recommend), place the wipes, cut side down in container.

3. In bowl or quart size jar mix the water, aloe, witch hazel, castille soap, GSE/Vitamin E and stir.

4. Add essential oils if desired and stir

5. Pour over paper towels in container and let absorb- this takes about 5-10 minutes.

6. Flip the container over to make sure wipes are well soaked.

7. If using Rubbermaid container, pull the cardboard roll out from the inside This should also pull the innermost wipe out and start them for you.

8. Use as you would regular wipes, and smile, knowing you are not causing your beautiful child any future health prob-lems!

Note: If your child has extremely sensitive skin, you may need to leave out the essential oils or use calendula or chamomile.

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All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced in any way without express written permission.

xxxvi

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed these natural beauty recipes and that they will be help-ful to you in switching to more natural options in your own life. I know from personal experience that making your own products can save money while avoiding the chemicals and harmful ingredients in conventional prod-ucts and I hope my recipes will be useful to you!

Warmly

Katie

“The Wellness Mama”