DYI Toothpaste

Up to this point I have replaced all my shower items.  Organic Shampoo, organic conditioner, soap, and shaving products.  Then as I step out of the shower, I reach for my organic deodorant.  I have managed to avoid the chemicals that I was using on my body every day, and I feel clean and refreshed and happier about what I am doing.

The next few products that I will blog about will be the products used everyday in front of my bathroom mirror.  Toothpaste, I used at least twice a day!  I did a lot of research on toothpaste.  The last toothpaste I was using was Crest Toothpaste, whitening with Scope.  Here are the list of ingredients from it:

Crest Whitening with Scope
Active Ingredients: Sodium Fluoride 
Inactive Ingredients: Hydrated Silica , Sorbitol , Glycerin , Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate , PEG-6 , Disodium Pyrophosphate , Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate , Flavor , Sodium Lauryl Sulfate , Alcohol 1.14% , Xanthan Gum , Sodium Saccaharin , Carbomer 956 , Polysorbate 80 , Sodium Benzoate , Cetylpyridinium Chloride , Benzoic Acid , Domiphen Bromide .0002 wt% , Titanium Dioxide , Blue 1 , Yellow 5

It has a lot of stuff in it that is just not good for you.  And I put this in my mouth twice a day, every day!

I started researching better alternatives to toothpaste.  There was a lady who found a kind of toothpaste made from goats milk, but she bought it from a local farmer.  After researching more, I found a way to make my own, that included only 3 ingredients.  Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Mint Extract!  It took me a little bit to get used to, but wow, I like it.  And my teeth have become whiter.  (what a trade off).

Use a half Cup of Baking soda, mixed with a fourth cup of Hydrogen Peroxide, and then a few drops of mint or peppermint extract or peppermint essential oil.  (I usually add more hydrogen Peroxide for a better consistency).

My first batch I used mint extract, my second batch I used the essential oil which seemed to cut the salty taste.  Extract is cheaper, but if you can find a good essential oil, it does taste better.













My recommendation would be to make sure to keep up with dentist appointments when doing this.  I still let me son use regular toothpaste since his teeth are still forming.  I didn't get cavities till I was in my early thirties, so I don't mess with a good thing (or my sons teeth).  He has a cleaning every 6 months.  I have one every 4 because of some plaque issues and gum issues.

I have been very happy with this change(and my teeth look cleaner).

Again, any comments would be great.  Thank you again for reading and following me as I become a little more Organic every day!

Organic Face Scrub

A few months ago I was invited to a organic beauty party.  At this point I had not been inspired to change my ways with products, but I enjoyed hanging out with my girl friends and not being pressured to purchase anything(which is why I normally do not enjoy those types of parties), but I did buy some bug spray, cause I had used it the year before, and liked the fact that it didn't smell like, well, bug spray!  Our friend Emily started this process of making organic products after the birth of her daughter.

My friend Lori ended up lending me some of her Lavender Almond Oat Face Scrub that Emily made, and after a day or two, I was HOOKED!  I used to have acne when I was a teenager, and used all sorts of products to help me with that.  In my 20's I stopped using soap on my face, and it helped a lot, and it was great, however, I still would break out during that "period" of the month.  Once I started using the Face Scrub, I actually made it through that time with no acne.  It was AWESOME!

Here are the ingredients in the Lavender Almond Oat Face Scrub:

Grapeseed oil, colloidal oatmeal, almonds, vitamin E oil, essential oil of lavender, raw sugar

It's food!  So if you get a little in your mouth, you don't taste chemicals.  It's wonderful!  And because of the oil in the product, your face feels better after you wash.  Make sure to rinse with warm water after you scrub, and to pat your face dry with a towel.  

An 8oz. jar costs $11.50 off of her website.  The product is NOT 100% organic, but it is all natural, and free of chemical preservatives, stabilizers and fragrance.

Update: Here is her website!  A Precious Welcome  Go to the herbal skin care section. All her products are organic.

I learned a long time ago that chemical washes on my face made my skin worse, the reason why I washed with just water for so long.  Using this product has helped my skin more, and I love it.

Thank you so much for reading again.  Any and all comments are welcome.

Bar Soap and Hand Soap

I have been a firm believer for a long, long time that deoterant soap was the way to go.  I grew up using Dial Soap, which would dry my skin out in the winter, and then I discovered Zest!  Maybe it was the catching jingle, but I did love the fresh smell.  (click on link to see watch)

Old Zest Commercial

I would sometimes even use Irish Spring, and yes, I do love both of these "soaps". But once again I wanted to use things that were better for me.  I searched, SEARCHED for the ingredients to Zest, and this is all I could find from their website:


Zest products are kosher, but the tallow ingredient in our bar soap is derived from beef fat
Zest soap is neither antibacterial or deodorant, but it is PH balanced


I started to read about better soaps, and then I read more about  Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps!  So, on the same trip where I purchased my hair conditioner at Vitamin World, I purchased a bar soap(for my shower routine) and a liquid soap(for my bathroom sink).

I bought Lavender Bar Soap, and Oh My Gosh does it smell lovely. It washes me just fine, and does not dry out my skin.



Here are the ingredients in this bar of soap:

INGREDIENTS:
Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Palm Oil*, Sodium Hydroxide**, Water, Lavandin Extract, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Salt, Citric Acid, Tocopherol 
* CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS
** None remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin

The best thing about this soap is that it doesn't "melt" like Zest or Irish Spring.  As long as you don't let it sit in a big pool of water, it lasts much longer.

The liquid soap was another great find for my bathroom sink!  You barely have to use any at all.  Just a couple of drops on your hand(don't squeeze the bottle), and you have plenty of soap.  I purchased Baby Mild and it's very mild. No strong scent.




Here are the ingredients to this liquid soap:

INGREDIENTS:
Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol 
* CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS
** None remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin




I would love to learn how to make my own bar soap, and liquid soap eventually, but the liquid soap is very economic.  Trader Joe's sells a big bottle for 10 bucks, and that is plenty to last all year long(according to my friend Jason D. who was raving about this stuff the other night).  His personal favorite it Peppermint.

Here is the link to their webpage sharing info on their soaps:

Dr. Bronner Soap making

Again, any an all comments are appreciated.  If anyone has a great recipe on how to make soap, I would love to see it.  Thank you again for reading and listening to my daily trip to becoming more organic.

Organic Deodorant

Realizing that I had removed most of the bad stuff out of my hair, I started thinking about other products that I could replace.  Deodorant was the next in line.  I have for a long, long time, been in a battle with deodorant.  For years I used the Dry Idea spray(which they no longer make- because it was an aerosol), and had been searching for a better deodorant.  I would switch back and forth from gel to stick.  They seemed to work o.k., except when it would quit completely.  I realized this on a recent trip to Seattle from St. Louis.  I had a lay over in Phoenix, and even though I had showered 5 hours before the lay over, my deodorant completely FAILED on me.  I didn't pack any because I had another stick waiting for me in Seattle, so I had to buy some at the airport at an inflated airport price.  I started to keep that stick in my carry on in case I had another "fail" for future trips.  So, why the heck not check out a non toxic version?  It wasn't like the toxic stuff was working anyway.  I was using Dove, and I would have to re apply when going out for the evening.

I started to read and was very confused by all the information.  So I thought, the fewer ingredients, the better.  So I found this:  Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal, Spray Mist

 

The first day I used it, was two days before a plane ride.  I found out I could pick it up at Whole Foods, so we went to the store after I got to Seattle.  I couldn't stop doing a "pit smell check".  I felt like I was in a terrible version of a deodorant commercial.

(watch)
Sure Deodorant Commercial

I wouldn't shut up about it either.  Here are the ingredients to this product:

Purified Water, Natural Mineral Salts 

No Preservatives, Not Tested on Animals 

So, I was simply amazed I found something that actually didn't have a bunch of stuff in it AND it worked VERY well!

After a few weeks, it would fail a little, but not NEAR as bad as the other stuff I was using.  My "close to the armpit sweaters and shirts" I was no longer putting directly into the laundry because of a fowl smell in the pit region.  Now, it might have only failed slightly because of taking meds for a headache for a day or two, because your body does smell and process things which can come out making someone smell bad for a day or two, but I'm still sold.  It works SO MUCH BETTER than anything I had used for a long, long time.

Again, all suggestions and comments are appreciated.

Next week I move to soap!  :)

Organic conditioner

After I purchased my new shampoo, I used the old conditioner that I have been using for a long time.  I typically run out as quick as the old shampoo. I started reading the label on that bottle and figured out why.  At least 3 different kinds of alcohol.  No wonder my hair dries out!  So I started my search on the internet again for an all organic conditioner.  Lot's are listed there, but finding the ingredients was difficult.  Amazon.com lists ingredients, if they are available to list.  So, instead of shopping blind, I found myself at The Vitamin Shoppe, by my folks house. They sell health food medication, and to my surprise, hair products!

I started looking at all the labels(and prices) of the conditioners, trying to find stuff with no alcohol in it!  Even the "organic" stuff, still had at least one type of alcohol.  Then, I finally found a brand and read all the ingredients.  Aubrey Organics Conditioner- Rosa Mosqueta- Nourishing.



Here are the ingredients:

INGREDIENTS: Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Coltsfoot Extract, Horsetail Extract, Organic Rosa Mosqueta® Rose Hip Seed Oil, St. John’s Wort Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Amino Acid Complex (Cysteine, Methionine), Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Balsam Oil; Extracts of Fennel, Hops, Balm Mint, Mistletoe, Camomile and Yarrow; Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Sage Oil, Carrot Oil, Aubrey’s Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E).

I did ask about Cysteine and Methionine, and was told they are Amino Acid Complexes.  I would love to know if these are things that need to be in a conditioner, but I was looking for a quick fix to my conditioner problem(finding one with out alcohol).

I started using it and quickly realized I did not need to use very much at all.  Maybe a dime size(or smaller) squirt in my hand.  I leave it one while I wash the rest of myself(so it stays in my hair for a couple of minutes), then I rinse it out. If you use more, your hair will feel slightly oily(I found this out the hard way).

This was still expensive, $17, but again, I'm using very little at a time.  I have been very pleased with it. I didn't like the smell at first, but it has grown on me(not "as" floral then my old conditioner).  It compliments my new shampoo very well.

Again, I would like to make my own conditioner, and will be looking at recipes for that(researching for the right one), but for now, this conditioner is doing the trick!

I hope you are enjoying these entries.  Any comments or suggestions are welcome.  Next week I will talk about my next product that I have changed out.

Shampoo Change

About two months ago I was sitting in my living room with my friends, one who is a hairdresser, for Sunday ritual(watching a bad B movie and eating dinner).  He had just finished cutting my friends hair, who has a mane that is to die for(curly and kind of red).  They started talking about products and how most shampoos have terrible things in them that dry out your hair.  I didn't make a comment, I just continued to watch t.v., but I listened.

The next few days I researched, and researched and researched the Internet, trying to find out the facts on shampoo.  I'm still a little confused by it because of all the advertisements that appear when you TRY to look this stuff up, but it became quite clear that the problem with shampoo is the chemical that makes your shampoo have suds.  It's the same chemical that is used to clean car engines(found this over and over on the Internet).  But then I also found that most hair products also have alcohol, which dries out, um, anything.  I finally found a shampoo, that seemed to be the most organic, and I bought it.  Yes, I bought a shampoo that costs 19 dollars. I know, my inner cheap skate got a little angry too, but OM Gosh does it work!  The Shampoo is called NaturOli, Soap Nut Shampoo(which uses Soap Berries).



Here is my pic(notice the awful conditioner I was still using when I first got it).

Everything I read said that you don't need conditioner when using this shampoo.  That might be ok with some peoples hair, but oh so not mine.  My hair becomes fly away, so I continued to use the same awful conditioner for a few weeks.  I could so tell a difference. My hair felt softer. I couldn't keep my hands out of my hair.  I was no longer stripping it!  My hair is naturally oily, and because I'm not longer stripping all the oil out, my head is not trying to over produce oil to compensate.

You do have to wash your hair twice, but you don't have to use so much of it, and so it "should" last longer.  I'm not half way through my first bottle yet, and I have had it for over a month(I do wash my hair every day).

Directions to use:  Use a small nickle size dab on wet hair and wash your scalp.  It will not suds the first time, but you are only focusing on your scalp.  Rinse then use a slightly larger dad on your rinsed hair and wash your hair.  It WILL suds.  And then rinse.  Use a conditioner if you have fly away hair like I do. Or experiment and don't(I also did this, and yes, I need conditioner).

Best thing is that since there are no chemicals, if you get a trickle in your eye(which I have a habit with shampoo), it won't burn for 10 minutes.  I let my son use this stuff, and he hasn't screamed for a towel to get the shampoo out of his eyes since he started using it.

I will end here for the shampoo portion of my blog.  I will post next week about the next product I replaced.  I want to try to make my own shampoo, but it might be a bit. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you for your time.
Your Inner Hippie!

Organic Products and DYI products

Welcome to my new Blog!  I will be posting about the ways I have been experimenting with changing products and would LOVE to have suggestions from others for what works for you.  I am describing this as my "inner hippie".

I have been over the past few months switching my products to organic products.  It started with a purchase of an completely organic shampoo and it has now morphed to finding recipes to replace my everyday makeup and cleaning products.  I have only scratched the surface, but I want to continue this trend.

I hope you can join me in discussions about what is best.  The fewer ingredients, the better is my belief!

Thank you for listening.  Time to add more info to my new blog page.  :)

Your Inner Hippie!