It is essential in an organic country home to have a medicine cabinet that is fully stocked with natural, organic products for your family. Are you sick of shelling out a fortune at a big-box store for the basic necessities of life, and then throwing the empty container into the landfill? The good news is, so many of these products you can make yourself. Even better, they use the same simple ingredients we’ve been using all along, with a few extras. If you’re ready to stop exposing your body to toxic chemicals, hormone disrupters, synthetic fragrances, and dyes, take a look at these basic starter recipes.
The Process: Purge, Clean, Organize
Before you begin your natural personal care products journey, you’ll want to get rid of lingering harmful products. Much like the bathroom purge, you’ll want to fully empty the cabinet, cupboard, or drawers that make up your medicine cabinet. If you keep these essential items in different locations, try to create one dedicated space for everything from vitamins and bandages to extra face steam ingredients and Epsom salts. Of course, be sure this area is out of reach of children or pets.
The first purging step is to check expiration dates on everything. Throw away any expired products or medications, discolored beauty products, and anything that you aren’t likely to use again or that is not suited to your organic lifestyle. If possible, empty bottles down the drain or into the trash and rinse and recycle plastic bottles and cardboard packages. This takes more time but is the environmentally responsible thing to do. In some municipalities, it’s actually illegal now to throw away recyclables, so take the extra time to do this.
If the cotton swabs have exploded all over the bottom of the medicine cabinet, compost them (if they have cardboard middles); if your contact lenses are a mismatched mess, sort them. If your outdated prescription medications are overflowing, be sure to safely dispose of them. Most pharmacies will carry kits that help you safely dispose of expired prescription medication. Many communities have prescription drug take-back days at the community center, firehouse, or police station. If all else fails, you can layer them in a coffee can with used coffee grounds and put them in the trash.
Then clean the medicine cabinet so it is spotless and ready for a new beginning. You may discover a layer of eye cream, makeup, and dust on all surfaces of the cabinet, in which case a good scrub is prudent. Adding some rubbing alcohol and tea tree oil will disinfect, too. You can use the sanitizing wipes on page 178 for this.
Organizing your medicine cabinet makes finding the right thing so much easier in your moment of need. And no one goes to the medicine cabinet unless they have a need that is probably best met immediately. Bamboo or canvas cubbies will be great to hold the medicine cabinet necessities. I like to organize mine by ailment: Allergies (anti-itch cream, poison ivy soap, Benadryl, seasonal allergy remedies); Stomach; Cold/Flu; Everyday (Band-Aids, tweezers, scissors, hair comb, etc.); Preventative (seasonal support, teas, facial steams, etc.); and First Aid (gauze, bigger Band-Aids, medical tape, finger splints, etc.).
Then keep another basket with the ingredients you use to create your own products. Since homemade products don’t have preservatives in them, you’ll make fresh batches each time you run out. No unsightly bulk buys of deodorant or shampoo clogging up your shelves.
BEACHSIDE BREAK FOOT SOAK
There’s little more relaxing at the end of a long day on your feet than plunging them into a warm bath that has tonics to ease pain and essential oils to bring you into a state of calmness. Epsom salts have been around for centuries and are well known to help detoxify, and magnesium keeps cramps at bay and relaxes muscles. Keep a basin handy, and a jar of this foot soak, and you can soak away your worries at the end of any hard day. I like to use a combination of vetiver, sandalwood, and lavender essential oils to invoke a calming, beachside scent. This will take you to that happy place of being in a beach chair with the sand under your toes and the salt air breezing by. If you prefer something more refreshing and uplifting, try peppermint or lime essential oils.
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 15 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like 5 drops of vetiver, 5 drops of sandalwood, and 5 drops of lavender)
Mix ingredients well in a bowl, being sure to evenly distribute the essential oils.
To Use: For each foot bath, use ¼ cup of the foot soak mixture and add it to a large basin that will fit both of your feet comfortably. Fill with warm or hot water, being careful not to make it too hot. Put a folded towel right next to the basin before you put your feet in it so you can dry off when you’re finished. Keep your feet in the bath for 20–30 minutes or until the water cools.
STINKY FOOT SOLUTION SOAK
If you need a foot soak with some serious antistink properties, this is the one for you. The vinegar and tea tree oil bring antibacterial properties that will get the job done. I will admit this isn’t the most lovely-scented bath, and it probably won’t inspire any vacation day dreams, but it will solve your stinky feet issues. Do this nightly or weekly to help detoxify.
• 1 cup vinegar
• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup Epsom salt
• 4–5 drops tea tree oil
Mix the ingredients in the bottom of a basin and fill with the hottest water you can stand. Stir well to dissolve and mix the ingredients. Put a folded towel right next to the basin before you put your feet in it so you can dry off when you’re finished. Submerge your feet in the bath for 20–30 minutes or until the water cools.
CALMING AROMATHERAPY FACIAL STEAM
A few decades ago, facial steams were a regular part of many people’s beauty routines, but they have since fallen out of popularity. Facial steams open the pores to allow all the good oils in the herb mixture you’re steaming to get in. There’s no real trick to it, except that you might get a few stares the first time you attempt the towel maneuver. Be careful not to do this when the steam is too hot; burning delicate facial skin is not beautifying by any means.
• ½ cup dried rosebuds (pink or red)
• ½ cup dried lavender
• ½ cup dried chamomile
• ½ cup peppermint leaves
Mix ingredients well in a 16-ounce jar with a tight-fitting lid.
To Use: Fill a saucepan with a quart of water. Add ¼ cup of the above herbal mixture. Place a lid on the saucepan and let simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes, not removing the lid. In the meantime, cleanse your face of any oil or makeup by wiping it with a cotton ball saturated in witch hazel or rose water. Tie back your hair and remove glasses if necessary. Take a hand towel and place it over your head like a hood, draped down at the sides, to create a barrier that will keep the steam in. Then remove the lid from the saucepan and gently lower your face to the warm steam. Start off high and lower your face as the steam gets cooler. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax.
LEMON-HONEY FACIAL MASK
Want a spa facial without the spa price tag? Too busy to leave the house, or have too many kids and/or animals to leave? Open the refrigerator! Chances are you have everything you need to whip up a facial mask. Unfortunately, you can’t pull “time alone” out of the refrigerator, so you may have to retreat to a room with a locked door to enjoy your facial mask in peace.
• 3 tablespoons lemon or plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
Mix ingredients well in a small bowl. Use your fingers to gently spread the mixture on your face. Yes, this might get a bit messy, so tip your head back and keep a towel handy. Once you’ve smoothed this all over, avoiding your eyes, let it rest until it has dried out a bit and feels slightly tacky on your skin. Gently wash off with warm water. Follow with a toner such as witch hazel or rose water to complete the experience.
RAVISHING ROSE WATER
You can purchase distilled rose water in a spray bottle at your local co-op, but if you happen to have a garden full of organic roses, why not dry them and make your own? Homemade rose water does need to be kept in the refrigerator, but I love this aspect of it, because the coolness doubles the refreshing power of this age-old beautifier. There are numerous uses: spray it on baby bums to help combat diaper rash, spray it on bug bites to cool them, and spray it on your face any time of day for a refreshing, uplifting moment and a lightly lingering rose scent. It’s also lovely to spray on linens and pillows to refresh them. Of course, be sure to label this before putting it in your refrigerator and keep it out of reach of little hands.
• 1 cup fresh or dried organic rose petals
• 2 cups distilled water
Bring the distilled water to a boil. Meanwhile, place the rose petals in a heatproof bowl set on a towel. Remove the water from heat and pour over the rose petals, immediately covering the bowl with a lid or plate to keep the steam in. Let sit undisturbed for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, strain the mixture into a sterilized* jar or container. Let cool completely. Store sealed, labeled, and refrigerated.
*To sterilize, place the container in boiling water for 5 minutes and carefully remove with tongs or use it fresh out of the sanitizing cycle on your dishwasher. This prevents mold from growing.
CITRUS NO-STINK DEODORANT
Natural deodorants get a bad rap because they don’t stop your armpits from sweating. But sweating is good and natural; it’s the way your body cools itself down and detoxifies. I don’t actually want to stop sweating, but I do want to stop stinking. This formula works well and has a nice clean citrus scent. I’ve added some of my best natural deodorant tips at the end in the “to use” section. Don’t be worried if this doesn’t seem to work right away … your body will probably need to detox for a week or so before this begins to work. You can also take some extra arrowroot powder and dust that on top of the formula with a soft brush or compact saved just for that purpose to add extra staying power.
• 5–6 tablespoons shea butter (this comes in a small tub in the beauty section of your local co-op)
• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder (check the bulk section of your co-op)
• 20 drops orange essential oil
• 20 drops lime essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
Place a glass bowl in a saucepan and fill the saucepan with water about halfway up the side of the bowl. Heat the water to a slow boil and then add the shea butter to the glass bowl. Melt the shea butter until smooth. Turn off the heat and use pot holders to carefully remove the bowl from the water. You can also melt the shea butter in the microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring to melt completely between each stint in the microwave. Add the baking soda and the arrowroot powder to the melted shea butter and mix until crumbly, like pie dough. Then add the essential oils. Mix thoroughly, until the essential oils have fully absorbed and the mixture comes together. Store in a 4-ounce glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. This may melt a bit in summer; the mixture can be remixed if this happens and then be stored in the refrigerator.
To Use: I’ve noticed the key to any natural deodorant is to use it immediately after you get out of the shower to prevent any bacteria from getting onto your skin or into the jar. Use your fingertips to apply a small amount to your underarms. If you reapply during the day, make sure your fingers are clean and do not double-dip after applying to prevent introducing any bacteria into the product.
PEPPERMINT POWER TOOTHPASTE
Commercial toothpastes are horrifying when you look up the ingredients … harsh abrasives, synthetic colors and flavors, ingredients that destroy helpful mouth bacteria that keep teeth safe, and so much more. Have you been looking for a toothpaste recipe that looks like actual toothpaste? That you can actually squeeze out of a tube? Rest easy, friend. Here is that recipe for you.
• ½ cup distilled or boiled and cooled water
• ¼ cup bentonite clay
• 2 tablespoons calcium/magnesium powder
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Xylitol powder, to taste (start small, with a tiny pinch)
• 1–2 drops pure peppermint extract, to taste, optional
Mix the ingredients well in a blender until they are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a sanitized (see page 187) wide-mouth food-grade silicone tube, such as a GoToob. This can be stored at room temperature for 2 months.
Extra Tip: Make sure the tube you use has two important features that will make your life easier: a wide mouth and made of food-grade silicone. A tube without a wide mouth is impossible to fill or thoroughly sanitize. Food grade silicone can be sanitized easily and, most importantly, it actually squeezes. Hard plastic tubes, such as the kind you find in the travel necessities aisle at a pharmacy, will only frustrate you.
PEPPERMINT LAVENDER MOUTHWASH
Commercial mouthwash is awash in chemicals; you can tell just by looking at its atomic colors. The list of ingredients is pretty much unpronounceable, and I’m not sure why they insist on making it electric colored. There’s also plenty of alcohol in there, which does no favors for your mouth’s ecosystem. But mouthwash can be a helpful oral health tool when it helps balance the pH (baking soda), kills bacteria (peppermint oil and xylitol), and adds a fresh feeling (herbs and peppermint oil). Xylitol is recommended for oral health, too, and it sweetens the mouthwash just enough to make it pleasant to swish in your mouth.
• 1 tablespoon dried organic lavender
• 1 tablespoon dried organic mint
• 2½ cups distilled or boiled and cooled water
• 2–4 drops organic peppermint oil (or omit the lavender and use tea tree oil)
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• Xylitol, to taste (start with a tiny amount; a little goes a long way)
Fill a saucepan with the 2 cups of water and the tablespoon of organic lavender and the mint. Bring to a simmer and let simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool completely. Strain the mixture and keep the liquid, composting the herbs. Add the peppermint oil if you’d like (taste the mixture first to see how pepperminty it is), the baking soda, and a tiny amount of xylitol just to make the flavor appealing. Taste as you go along. Pour into a 16-ounce container with a tight-fitting lid. Label well and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Shake before using.
BITES BE GONE ANTI-ITCH PASTE
I must be sweet because the bugs simply love me. I’m constantly making up this anti-itch paste in the summer months to soothe on my arms, legs, feet, neck, and hands where the bug bites get me. Make up a new batch every time you need this so it doesn’t lose its strength. But it’s so simple to throw together you won’t be itching for much longer than it would take you to find the tube of medicated commercial cream. The tea tree oil may sting at first (be warned if you plan to use this on children), but its antibacterial properties are important.
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
• 1–2 teaspoons shea butter, enough to make a paste
• 2 drops tea tree oil
Mix the ingredients well in a small bowl.
To Use: Smooth on itchy bug bites or rashes from being outdoors.
The problem with commercial shaving creams is obvious: aside from aerosol cans, they’re pumped full of toxic chemicals and synthetic fragrances and dyes. The problem with most do-it-yourself shaving cream recipes is less obvious. Most shaving cream recipes read like a lotion recipe, which certainly makes your legs feel soft, but it does not bode well for your plumbing. This isn’t a cream, so I can’t call it that; it’s more of a liquid, but it does the job. The castile soap and olive oil soften skin and help your razor glide without clogging it like coconut oil or shea butter would.
• ¼ cup castile soap
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup bentonite clay, optional
• 4–6 drops ylang ylang essential oil
Mix ingredients well. Store in a 12-ounce pump container that won’t break if you drop it in the shower (slippery things!). Shake before use, then pump a little on your palms, rub to get a lather, and smooth onto the area to be shaved. Rinse well.
CLEANING TOOTHBRUSHES, RAZORS, TWEEZERS, HAIR SCISSORS, ETC.
Cleaning the grooming tools you use on a regular basis just makes sense, but we don’t do it as often as we should. This is an all-purpose cleaning solution that gets rid of buildup and kills germs. Use it for anything from hair combs to cuticle scissors. You’ll probably want to keep the things that go in your mouth in a separate cleaning solution than the things that you use to trim your toenails.
Place the tools you’d like to clean in the bottom of a clean basin. Sprinkle with baking soda. Add the vinegar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes. Then add enough boiling water to submerge the tools completely. When the boiling water is cool, fill the basin with warm water and 1 teaspoon castile soap and clean the tools with a clean rag. Let dry thoroughly.
CLEANING MAKEUP BRUSHES
Makeup brushes get caked with powder and foundation, and various colors merge together to make totally new shades we didn’t even know existed. But that is bad news, because germs are caked in there, too, and then get spread on your skin with every stroke. It’s easy to clean makeup brushes, though, when you keep a few guidelines in mind. They sell textured silicone makeup brush cleaning pads and if you have one, that’s great. But your palm and a clean toothbrush work just as well. This works for both natural and synthetic brushes.
First, gather all of your makeup brushes to be cleaned. On one side of the sink, place a fresh towel where the brushes can dry. Have a clean toothbrush handy to help clean the brushes.
Then place a drop of castile soap in the palm of your hand. Add a tiny bit of water and make a small lather. Grab the first brush and swirl it gently through the soap in your palm. Be careful not to submerge the portion of the brush where the bristles meet the handle; there are glues in here that will dissolve with prolonged exposure to water.
If the bristles still look caked, grab the clean toothbrush and gently agitate the bristles. Then swirl it again through a drop of castile soap and a bit of water in your palm. Thoroughly rinse the soap out, give it a little fluff, and place to dry flat on the towel. Do not dry makeup brushes upright, as the water will seep into the handle, causing that glue to disintegrate and wood handles to rot. Repeat with all of your brushes. When the brushes are thoroughly dry, give them a little fluff against a washcloth to give the fibers their fluff back. Use a clean dry toothbrush to separate and fluff the fibers if they’re really matted.
EYE’LL BE GENTLE MAKEUP REMOVER
This makeup remover is gentle on your skin but harsh on makeup, even waterproof makeup! Make sure you get a pure witch hazel free of alcohol, such as Dr. Thayer’s. It’s more expensive, but absolutely worth it, especially when you’re putting it near your eyes! Making small batches of this is best; since you’re using it near your eyes, you don’t want to give bacteria a chance to grow. Since it’s just two or three ingredients, though, it’s no big chore; just add the witch hazel first and then add half as much jojoba oil.
• 4 tablespoons witch hazel
• 2 tablespoons jojoba or olive oil
• The contents of 1 capsule of vitamin E oil, optional
Mix well in a small pump bottle (travel-size works great). To use, simply shake it up well, then pump a very small amount onto a cotton pad or small cloth and use to remove makeup. This may sting a bit around the eyes if you don’t close them tightly!
COCONUT-HONEY-LIME SHAMPOO
This shampoo turns your shower into a tropical oasis. It’s quick to make, smells delicious, and nourishes hair beautifully. You’ll want to keep it in the refrigerator, though, since it contains some perishable ingredients. Once you get in the habit of grabbing it on your way to the bathroom, you won’t think twice about it. Just be sure to keep it well-labeled and out of the reach of little hands. This will last a month in the refrigerator.
• 1 can whole-fat coconut milk, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons castor oil or jojoba oil, or 1 teaspoon of each (castor oil helps with hair growth; jojoba oil helps with shine)
• 20 drops lime essential oil
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well incorporated. Pour into a 16-ounce squeeze or pump bottle. Store in refrigerator. Shake well and use as you would regular shampoo. Once a week, follow with a lemon-apple cider vinegar hair rinse (see below).
LEMON-APPLE CIDER VINEGAR HAIR RINSE
My mom has loved rinsing her hair with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar for as long as I can remember. It’s an easy, frugal, and lovely-smelling way to pamper your locks a little. Be sure to use real, fresh lemon juice, not the bottled stuff. This might sound silly, but I like to take the leftover juiced lemons and sit with my elbows in them, one in each half. This softens the tough skin around the elbows and gently lightens any darkening that might be happening on our elbows (I have no idea why that happens, but it does). Plus, it’s just one more use out of that one simple lemon. You only need to use this rinse once a week or so to clarify and refresh the scalp.
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Mix the two ingredients together in a small bowl that won’t break if you drop it in the shower. After you’ve shampooed, step out of the water and pour this mixture over your hair and work it into your scalp a little bit. Don’t let it sit. Rinse thoroughly. Then find someone to smell your hair and tell you how lovely it is!
Extra Tip: Lemon juice is naturally a bit oily, so be careful that you don’t slip in the bathtub when using this product!
PISTACHIO-LEMON HAND AND BODY EXFOLIATING SCRUB
This is such a refreshing hand and body scrub, you’ll almost want to eat it! But don’t, because that means less to use in the shower. Be sure to use your food processor to grind the nuts very finely so they aren’t too abrasive, and store this in the refrigerator, well-labeled.
• 1 cup pistachio nuts, shelled
• Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped
• ¼ cup light olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2–4 drops lemon essential oil, optional
Place the pistachios in your food processor and grind them to a fairly fine powder, about the texture of sugar or salt. Then mix all of the ingredients together in a medium-size bowl. Pack into jars. Keep the lid on these tight so they don’t dry out, and store in the refrigerator. It may separate and need a bit of remixing; not to worry, just give it a stir. Use a few good handfuls on your hands and body to rub in and gently exfoliate. Rinse well.
