Feb 22, 2008

I actually use these-

While trying to be frugal and more healthy, I've been making my own body care products.  I thought I'd share the recipes with you.  These are all products that I use daily.  I have to admit that others in my family aren't as eager to use them as I am, but I know these products are healthier and some work better than those I buy.


 Shampoo-  I make 100% olive oil  castile soap.  I won't put that recipe on here, you can find a recipe for it on any soap site.  Grate about 1/3 of a bar.  Take 1/2 oz. of rosemary-stimulates hair folicles, 1/2 oz. nettles-blood purifier and stimulator, 1/2 oz. lavender-reduces itchy and flaky scalp(all of these herbs are dried).  Boil two cups of water and add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water.. Take off the stove.  Let steep for 30-40 minutes.  Strain.  Add some of this liquid to the grated soap.  Enough to make a shampoo like consistency.  Save the rest of the liquid in frig. for the next batch of shampoo.  Pour into old shampoo bottle.  This will thicken with time.   Shake before each use.


Conditioner-I use 1/4 of apple cider vinegar mixed with water to make 1 pint.  Pour over hair after shampoo and rinse.  About once or twice a month I use a store bought leave in conditioner.  My hair is much stronger now and is actually growing.  I've been using this combination for about three years.


Deoderant-I can't remember the exact amounts.  But I use petroleum jelly mixed with baking soda and some lemon juice.  I like it better than the powdered deoderant. You can make this using your own homemade petroleum jelly:


Petroleum Jelly-1 oz. beeswax, 1/2 cup baby or mineral oil.  Melt the beeswax in the microwave or double boiler.  Stir in the mineral oil.  Remove from heat and stir until cool.


Toothpaste-Mix together 10 tablespoons baking powder, 5 tablespoons glycerin, 1 teaspoon peppermint oil.  Mix and place into a container.


Hand Cream-2 teaspoons each dried mint, sage and rosemary, 1/2 oz beeswax, 2 oz. lanolin, 1/2 cup wheat germ oil, 1 teaspoon honey.  Mix herbs, pour 1/2 cup boiling water over herbs.  Steep 10 minutes.  Strain through cheesecloth.Cool.  Melt beeswax and lanolin in a heatproof glass set in simmering water.  Add wheat germ oil, while stirring.  Add herbal infusion by teaspoonful and stir until well blended.  Remove glass from water.  Add honey to tepid cream and carefully stir it in until blended.  I also add frangrance or essential oil  I don't care for the smell of wheat germ or lanolin.  Let this cool completely.  Stir cream and transfer to clean containers.  This is kinda goopy going on, but it works better than any other lotion we have in the house.  It just takes a little longer to be absorbed.


I  experiment with other recipes and when I find one that I would recommend, I'll post.


Good Night, sleep tight.


 

No comments:

Feb 22, 2008

I actually use these-

While trying to be frugal and more healthy, I've been making my own body care products.  I thought I'd share the recipes with you.  These are all products that I use daily.  I have to admit that others in my family aren't as eager to use them as I am, but I know these products are healthier and some work better than those I buy.


 Shampoo-  I make 100% olive oil  castile soap.  I won't put that recipe on here, you can find a recipe for it on any soap site.  Grate about 1/3 of a bar.  Take 1/2 oz. of rosemary-stimulates hair folicles, 1/2 oz. nettles-blood purifier and stimulator, 1/2 oz. lavender-reduces itchy and flaky scalp(all of these herbs are dried).  Boil two cups of water and add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water.. Take off the stove.  Let steep for 30-40 minutes.  Strain.  Add some of this liquid to the grated soap.  Enough to make a shampoo like consistency.  Save the rest of the liquid in frig. for the next batch of shampoo.  Pour into old shampoo bottle.  This will thicken with time.   Shake before each use.


Conditioner-I use 1/4 of apple cider vinegar mixed with water to make 1 pint.  Pour over hair after shampoo and rinse.  About once or twice a month I use a store bought leave in conditioner.  My hair is much stronger now and is actually growing.  I've been using this combination for about three years.


Deoderant-I can't remember the exact amounts.  But I use petroleum jelly mixed with baking soda and some lemon juice.  I like it better than the powdered deoderant. You can make this using your own homemade petroleum jelly:


Petroleum Jelly-1 oz. beeswax, 1/2 cup baby or mineral oil.  Melt the beeswax in the microwave or double boiler.  Stir in the mineral oil.  Remove from heat and stir until cool.


Toothpaste-Mix together 10 tablespoons baking powder, 5 tablespoons glycerin, 1 teaspoon peppermint oil.  Mix and place into a container.


Hand Cream-2 teaspoons each dried mint, sage and rosemary, 1/2 oz beeswax, 2 oz. lanolin, 1/2 cup wheat germ oil, 1 teaspoon honey.  Mix herbs, pour 1/2 cup boiling water over herbs.  Steep 10 minutes.  Strain through cheesecloth.Cool.  Melt beeswax and lanolin in a heatproof glass set in simmering water.  Add wheat germ oil, while stirring.  Add herbal infusion by teaspoonful and stir until well blended.  Remove glass from water.  Add honey to tepid cream and carefully stir it in until blended.  I also add frangrance or essential oil  I don't care for the smell of wheat germ or lanolin.  Let this cool completely.  Stir cream and transfer to clean containers.  This is kinda goopy going on, but it works better than any other lotion we have in the house.  It just takes a little longer to be absorbed.


I  experiment with other recipes and when I find one that I would recommend, I'll post.


Good Night, sleep tight.


 

No comments: