vegetable glycerin

it's non-toxic natural food substance used in body care products . it pulls moisture from the air to your skin .

light moisturizer - ( i use this 1 - 2 times a day )

1/2 cup distilled water

2 tsp vegetable glycerin

5 drops of lavender or which ever oil you prefer

combine in a storage container and shake before use . it'll last for about 6 months . apply with cotton ball .

vegetable glycerin is available here http://www.frontiercoop.com/brands/frontier.html along with lots of other goodies . go to personal care - oils and extracts . you should be able to find it at a health food store too .

castile soap

this is an olive oil based soap , its very gentle and you can use it on your entire body without stripping natural oils . it can be used as a shampoo base and as a cleanser in the kitchen and bathroom as well as for your floors and counters . you can use it as a fruit wash and a shampoo for your pets . it's also biodegradable .

you can get it from your local health food store .

organic virgin coconut oil

this is one of my favorite products . and this is what i've learned about it so far .

-great for all over body use , its a great skin softener and hair conditioner , its good for after sun skin treatment .

-feed it to your pets ? check this out - http://www.coconut-connections.com/pets_corner.htm

-supports body's immune system

- best natural treatment for eczema

-protects and promotes heart health

-supports healthy metabolism

-energy source

-supports proper function of thyroid gland

i have been using it in place of butter on my toast and in dessert recipes , if you like coconut you'll love this stuff . it's not really strong , just a little sweet . you can get it a your local health food store for about 10 bucks a jar .

random quote

THE WAY LEADS EVER ON . - TOLKIEN

Toxic dryer sheets

WARNING ! put it down and step away slowly ! yep , a simple , lovely smelling dryer sheet is full of toxic chemicals . the artificial fragrance in many different brands of dryer sheets and detergent contain chemicals called carcinogens . they can cause cancer and liver damage . so on that note , why not try and make your own ? it's simple

-put 10 drops of lemon , lavender , rose or any essential oil of your choice on a damp cloth . throw it in with your clothes and that's it !

worried about static cling ? static cling happens when you over dry your clothes . so just play around with the settings on your dryer till you find what works for you .

disinfect

antiseptic - antibacterial - antifungal - antiviral spray .

- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tbsp dried thyme leaves
-10 drops tea tree oil ( i add a few drops rosemary and sometimes lavender too )

i microwave the water for about 3 minutes , then add the the dried herbs , steep for 30 minutes or longer . pour into spray bottle add your oils , shake . shake before use .
spray on hands and face or into the air to help purify your environment . good for acne , infections , inflamed eczema , and abrasions . use within one week .

from -organic body care recipes by stephanie tourles

why ?

Why worry about all those nasty chemicals in the products we use everyday ? well , think about this - the EPA has reported that toxic chemicals found in the home , are on the average 3 times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor airborne pollutants . the consumer product safety commission connects 150 chemicals commonly found in our homes to allergies , birth defects , cancer , and psychological disorders . the national institute occupational safety and health analyzed 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products and 884 were found to be toxic some even caused mutagenic changes .

so when your selecting the latest in health and beauty products, flip it over and check out the ingredients . can you even pronounce let alone figure out what 95% of them are ? me either .
and just think your skin , our bodies biggest organ will absorb about 60% of all that junk and store it in your fatty tissue .

take a time out ...

- BOOKS TO READ -


organic body care recipes , by stephanie toules . this is my favorite so far , it has lots of very simple recipes and a lot of great info for getting started when making your own body care stuff .

if you're into herbs and gardening i suggest reading , growing 101 herbs that heal , by tammi hartung . it makes me want to turn my entire backyard into an herb field . i love it !

essential oil tips

If you are interested in using essential oils it is a good idea to do some research on how to use them and what for . but this should get you started .
only very few oils can be used directly on the skin ( neat ) , such as lavender , tea tree , german chamomile , rose , sandlewood and geranium . the rest should be diluted with a base oil aka carrier oils . some of them are jojoba , virgin coconut oil , hazelnut oil , and apricot kernel oil .
your oils should always be stored in a dark , cool , dry area to get maximum life from your products . most can last up to 5 - 10 years , except for the citrus oils , they will stay potent for about 6 - 12 months unless refrigerated then they may last up to 2 years .
be AWARE of what you are buying ! essential oils are expensive ( not all ) for a reason .
ex . it takes about 500 lbs of rosemary to produce 1 lb of oil . jasmine absolute costs $300-$600 an ounce because the process requires about 8 million hand picked blossoms , harvested before sunrise to produce about 2 lbs of oil .

-WHAT TO LOOK FOR -

-genuine , authentic , vintage , or organic on the label or ask for therapeutic or pharmaceutical grade oils that have been steam distilled at low temperatures .

- essential oils do not feel greasy as a vegetable oil does . an essential oil is absorbed quickly and evaporates without leaving stains behind or just a very small one . otherwise your oil has probably been diluted .


well thats all for now , hopefully thats enough to get ya started !

fresh mouth

Want whiter teeth without having to use chemical based products that can weaken enamel and cause chipping ? strawberry juice has gentle bleaching properties . i do this a couple times a week - crush 2 large ( ripe ) strawberries , strain if desired ( i do ) . dip in your toothbrush and brush till you've used most of the juice and your done ! it also helps eliminate onion and garlic breath .
it can also be used as a cleanser ( not for make up ) , just dip in a cotton ball , apply and rinse .
when using as a cleanser you may add a few drops of lavender oil or whatever you prefer .