Natural Clay Toothpaste

 

A few months ago, Chris and I had just finished a date night dinner and on the way home decided to stop at our local health food store. I'm not sure what it is about being sans kids in a store together, but it makes my husband goofy. Kind of a "Who are you and what did you do with my husband" - goofy. That night was no different. We were over by the natural beauty products and he started untwisting lotions and creams and jars to sniff them - which I guess is normal if you don't add weird snorting noises while you're doing it. I was too busy laughing at him to pay attention to what he was doing and before we knew it, a cloud of green powder jumped out at us and decorated the floor, the shelves, our shoes...

 

Long story short, after a lot of cleaning and apologizing on our part, we left the store with a not quite full container of Indian Healing Clay.

 

It has sat on my shelf ever since.

 

I'm not a big facial mask type of person, which is what the directions say to use it for, so that clay was never reopened.

 

Until yesterday. I ran out of toothpaste and I am bound and determined to not spend money on things I can make at home. Toothpaste is no exception.

 

Over Christmas, my mom gifted me the ebook DIY Organic Beauty - thanks mom! I remembered seeing a lot recipes that called for bentonite clay. I checked out my "Indian Healing Clay" and sure enough, that's what it was.

 

There are tons of homemade natural toothpaste recipes out there (like this and this), but I wanted to try this one first because I have the clay and want to use it up.

 

 

 

 

 

I won't lie, the idea of brushing my teeth with clay is still a little unsettling.

 

  After doing quite a bit of research on the subject, I've decided to always make my own toothpaste. It's just a matter of finding the right one for us. I did read online that the clay toothpaste has helped people with sensitive teeth.

 

Chris has very sensitive teeth. So that was what I focused on when I showed him this lovely jar of green clay that I expect him to put in his mouth.

 

 

 

 

Then, to highlight just how non-gross it would be, I picked up my toothbrush, scooped a little bit up with an espresso spoon and spread it on the bristles.

 

I turned on the water, started brushing and you know what? It wasn't gross at all.

 

It was different, for one it doesn't foam, but toothpaste doesn't need to foam. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, an ingredient in toothpaste, is used for the sole purpose of letting you know what you're doing is actually "working" by lathering. It's a marketing ploy (honest! - you can even read about it in this book that is all about marketing and NOT about toothpaste). Did you know that sodium lauryl sulfate - you know that stuff you put in your mouth twice a day - is used to degrease engines?

 

The taste of the clay toothpaste really was just like minty baking soda.

 

Afterword, my teeth were clean and my breath was fresh. Overall, I'm really happy with this will likely continue to use it.

I'm fairly certain, because of the texture, I will have to find another solution for my children.

 

What are your thoughts on homemade toothpaste?

 

Do you have a favorite toothpaste recipe?

 

I would love to hear what you have to say!

 

Have a great day!

~ Lisa

 

** This post is part of a natural livng link party over at Frugal by Choice **

DIY Lotion Disc's - The Best Dry Skin Solution

 

It seems like every year, my skin gets angrier and angrier during the dry winter months. This year is no exception. I do however, have a solution this time around.

 

Lotion Disc's!

 

My goodness, where do I even begin! They are really THAT great.

 

I have tried just about everything to keep my skin moisturized during the winter, and nothing ever works very well. As I get older, and I'm not that old - really, it's getting worse. Not to mention I've been running regularly for over 10 years now and that seems to compound the dryness on my feet. I've gone as far as slathering thick expensive face cream on my feet at night, and covering them with socks so I don't ruin the sheets. That works for about half a day.

 

These little disc's however, took care of all my dry skin issues in less than a few days!

 

I came across this solution to dry skin completely on accident. As a lot of you know, I'm on a Spending Fast for the entire year. Of course when I went on my little frantic spending spree to pick up "important" stuff, I didn't grab lotion. I just assumed I would make my own since I had everything I needed to make it already in my cabinets.

 

I did make my own lotion, but I'm just not thrilled with it. It hardens up and is kind of messy.

 

The lotion disc's are the perfect answer to that problem too. They don't make a mess, they are a lot easier to make than actual lotion, and they keep my skin softer than any water based lotion ever has.

 

There are a ton of recipes for these online, but I'm really happy with mine so I want to share. So far I have made two different kinds - one for me and one for little Stella's eczema.

 

***

 

The directions below will make one of Stella's lotion disc's. The recipe for the one I use will be at the bottom of this post.

 

 

What you need:

 

Stella's Lotion Disc - yields 1 disc

 

1 Tbsp Organic Beeswax

1 Tbsp Organic Shea Butter

1 Tbsp Organic Olive Oil

3 Vitamin E soft gels

Toothpick

Muffin Tin

Cupcake liner

 



 

 

 

1). Put all of the ingredients except the vitamin e into a double boiler or a glass Pyrex measuring cup. I don't own a double boiler, so I melt mine in a glass cup in the microwave. Yes, I know, microwaves are baaaaad - I think we will be ok ;)

 

 

 

 

2) Melt the beeswax, shea butter and olive oil in your double boiler. If you plan on using your microwave, heat it slowly. The idea is to warm it up just enough to melt, you don't want it getting too hot. I warm mine in 35 second increments 3 times and in between each increment, I give it a quick stir with a toothpick. Your times may be a little different though, so play with it if you have to.

 

 

 

 

3) Once everything is melted, take a toothpick and puncture each soft gel and squeeze the vitamin e oil into your melted oils. Give it a few good stirs with a toothpick again.

 

 

 

4). Place your cupcake liner in the muffin tin and then pour your melted oil mixture into the liner. Allow it to cool until it's solid. Reomve the wrapper and it's ready to use.

 

 

 

 

Lisa's Lotion Disc - yields 1 disc

1 Tbsp Organic Beeswax

1 Tbsp Organic Coconut Oil

1 Tbsp Organic Sweet Almond Oil

3 Vitamin E soft gels

Toothpick

Muffin Tin

Cupcake liner

 

Follow the directions for Stella's lotion disc.

 

 

 

That's it! So easy and so effective. I absolutely love these! Try them and let me know what you think. The disc in the picture above has lasted about three weeks so far. Overall, I think this is not only more effective than water based lotion, but also a lot cheaper. To use them, just simply rub the bar along your skin, focusing on the dryer areas. The shea butter bar takes a few more minutes to absorb into your skin than the coconut oil bar does, but both work really well.

 

Natural Homemade Lip Balm and Shop Update

 

 

I have exciting news! My esty shop is up and running again! Yay!  You can visit it here.

 

The newest addition? These awesome little tins filled with organic goodness.

 

I have been experimenting for quite some time with natural beauty products.

 

Lip balm became my front and center focus when my four year old found a sudden obsession with the stuff. Commercial lip balms can contain petroleum, mineral oil, aluminum salts, and artificial sweeteners, just to name a few. Combine that with the fact that not only does lip balm rest on your lips, you ingest it as well.  I remember being a kid and hearing that the average woman consumes 7 POUNDS of lipstick/balm in a lifetime! Yikes! I don't know if that's true or not, but either way, whatever is going on my child's lips or skin needs to be safe.

 



 

 

 

 

So, just for my little Hannah, I came up with two yummy smelling lip balms. Mint Chocolate and Vanilla Mint. One goes on clear and one adds a hint of color.

And do you want to know where that hint of color comes from? Cocoa powder! Yup, the stuff in your kitchen cabinet. These balms are made with organic olive oil, organic beeswax, raw honey, essential oils, vitamin E and in the case of the mint chocolate, cocoa powder.

That's it, pure and simple.

And I love them! So much so, that I think other people might love them too. I have a bunch listed in my shop. These are large 1oz tins that will surely last a long time.

 

 

 

 

And just for fun, here's a few pic's of my quickly growing baby bean...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And her very helpful big sister...

 

 

Happy Monday everyone!

-Lisa

Wood Polish for Diaper Cream?

No, not really. Well.... Actually, sort of, but let me explain...



A few weeks ago I went looking for a simple conditioner for my wooden kitchen utensils. They were getting dried out and needed something, I just didn't know what. I ended up finding a really simple recipe that consisted of just olive oil and beeswax. Within 10 minutes, I had my new wood conditioner or "polish". I had quite a bit too, just a little bit goes a long way.

The kids and I rubbed the polish into all of our utensils and cutting boards. Then we gathered all of their wood toys and gave them a once over as well. During this, our hands got coated in the polish, but since it was just organic olive oil and beeswax, we rubbed it in like lotion. Later that day when I was changing Stella's diaper, she looked a little red so grabbed the tin of natural diaper cream. I scooped a bit out and then had a realization. It looked and felt exactly like the polish I had made earlier. Low and behold, I turned the tin over and that's basically what it was. This had a few different carrier oils in it, but ultimately it was just oil and beeswax. You can bet I won't be spending $7 on a tiny tin of butt cream again.

And the best part, in my opinion, is that by the end of the day, my hands were soooo soft. A few months before Stella was born, our dishwasher broke down and we have been hand washing ever since. Combine that with the dry hot air in the house, and I'm sure you can imagine the sad shape my hands have been in. Since that day, I have been moisturizing my super dry skin with the polish.

I made another batch with essential oils specifically for chest congestion and stuffy noses. We rub a little on our chest and put a dab under our nose when we have a cold or cough. I love it because I don't have to worry about goofy chemicals. I have been spending a lot of time researching natural alternatives to common medicine lately. I'm learning a lot, and hopefully will be able to share some of that with all of you once I feel like I have a good grasp on it.

I plan on making a lavender rub for the kids to use before bedtime. I will share that recipe when I find the perfect mix for us.

I put the olive oil and beeswax in a glass measure cup and just melted it in that.
Let it cool, and give it a stir a few times in 5 minute increments if you don't want it to fully harden. Otherwise just pour it directly into your container to cool completely.
To the left is our "polish" and in the middle is the vapor rub. I stirred the polish before letting it dry completely so it would be easier it scoop out.

Do you use natural alternatives to anything? Please share!

Have a great day!

Homemade Natural Deodorant that Works!

For the last six months or so, I've been searching for a natural, aluminum free deodorant that will actually work.

Saying I tested a lot would be an understatement. I actually ended up going back to my non-natural Dove for a little while because I thought it was a lost cause.

Then I came across this super simple (so simple in fact that I thought it would never work) recipe and was shocked. Not only at how well the deodorant actually works, but also how simple and inexpensive it is. I'm hooked!

**This recipe is not mine, however, I've found it in numerous places all over the web, and have no idea who actually created it. If you know, please tell me, and I'll make sure to credit the author**

I have put this to the test, and it has passed with flying colors. It lasts ALL day, has no scent AND keeps me dry. I've worn it during very intense work outs, and all night waiting tables, and so far, I love it.

A little goes a long way, so just use a little bit, or it will feel greasy. It does need to be kept in the refrigerator as well.

What you need:
1/4 C Baking Soda
1/4 C Arrowroot powder (you can purchase this at most health food stores or online)
5-6 Tbsp Coconut oil

Simply mash everything together until you get a solid-like consistency. The mashing will warm up the coconut oil so that it will not be a complete solid until it's placed in the fridge.

I emptied out an old deodorant stick and just filled it up with my mixture, and it works just the same. Love it!

Natural Hair Build-Up Remover

Commercial haircare products are loaded with synthetic and a lot of times, dangerous ingredients. These, along with styling products build up on the hair shaft. Though it's probably not harmful build-up, it definitely does a number on your hair's shine and manageability.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a known disinfectant and conditioner and can be used on hair. It's too concentrated to use undiluted - so it's suggested to do a 50/50 mix of ACV and water.I decided to give this a try, even though I don't use styling products. I've noticed my hair gets a little life-less for lack of a better term.

It worked wonderfully! I put the mixture in a spray bottle, and sprayed it on my scalp after washing and then all over my hair and let it sit for a minute before rinsing it out and then conditioning (I have very long thick hair and need the extra conditioning - those of you with shorter hair might be able to skip it all together!). The end result was fantastic! I could tell just by touching it that it was super clean, and softer. When my hair dried (I always let it air dry), all of the body came back and it was super shiny. Without saying a word about what I did, some women at work noticed how much better it looked.

I'm sold - and for less than $0.50!

Exfoliating on the Cheap

Welcome Back!
A few weeks ago, I posted about my face cleaning routine (which is super simple!). In addition to washing with castile soap, I also exfoliate almost everyday during the summer. Part of the reason my skin used to break out so much was because it does not shed the dead layers off like it's supposed to. This is a pretty common problem I found out. So, my quick and practically free solution - Baking Soda! Seriously.

I always have baking soda around the house, we cook with it, clean with it, and now shower with it. It's mildly abrasive, but has been gentle enough on my face, and let me tell you, my skin has started looking amazing!

I just shake a small amount into the palm of my hand, mix with a bit of water, and then massage onto my face after cleaning it. It rinses right off, and you'll feel a difference immediately. This really only costs pennies, and you don't have to worry about chemicals, additives, or anything of that nature because you're just using that one ingredient.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Please let me know by leaving a comment.

Take care everyone!
~Lisa

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap - Face Wash

For years, as long as I can remember actually, I've had problem skin. When I was younger, we couldn't afford a dermatologist, and now, as an adult, I wanted to avoid one because I knew the "solution" would be in a pill. I prefer to take a more natural approach when it comes to my body. With that being said, I am sooo excited to share this with all of you!

As a last ditch effort I decided to give a pure castile soap a try in hopes it would clear up my sensitive acne prone skin. I had tried every product imaginable from drug stores and department stores, as well as proactive (don't even get me started on that one - ugh!). Nothing worked. I told myself if this last method didn't work, then it was time to make a dermatologist appointment. Oh my gosh am I glad I gave this a try! It's super simple, costs hardly anything and my skin has not been this clear since I was a child.

All I do is mix a small bottle with a 50% castile soap solution and 50% filtered water. I put 2-3 drops in my hand and rub my hands together quickly to form a good lather. I wash my face twice a day this way, and after a month, I am pimple-free. That's it, seriously! Now that my skin is adapting to this method, it has dry days, and I use a handmade face cream (more on that later!).

I use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap, the mild baby formula. You can buy it online here or go to your local Vitamin Shoppe.

I love that this works because I also use Dr. Bronner's to make my own laundry detergent (for less than $4 for 64 washes), homemade body wash (I actually use the same solution I use for my face, and have since needed far less body lotion), baby wash, dishwasher detergent, and dog shampoo. I'm sure I'll find plenty of other uses for it in the future, and I'll be sure to share.

And, an even better bonus to Dr. Bronner's is that it's completely natural, and biodegradable. I won't harm our water system, or our skin and is produced in a fair way. Because it is free from harsh detergents, it doesn't wreak havoc on my skin (sodium laurel sulfate is a major skin irritant for me).

Let me know if you have questions by leaving a comment below. I'm always happy help!