I’m trying to do a few things. To save money, to help the environment and make my personal products as chemical free as possible. There are many excellent organic products that I could use to address the chemical free part, but some are very expensive and not exactly what I want. So, I’m trying to make some products at home and am finding it is way easier than I thought, especially once you have the few basic products that you need that you may not normally have at home. These have all been tried and tested- even I could do them- so easy (most of them). Some needed a few items I’d never heard of to get me set up, but now I have a little stockpile of things I need. Most are quick and you will see I love my essential oils so there are lots of nice smells. Remember, some of these may not last as long so I make them up one bottle at a time. We also must be realistic; these chemicals have been especially designed to do a job- so there are some cases where the results are not quite as good. But I have come to accept that as the price I am willing to pay to be chemical free. There are a few that I still don’t have right and I’ll mention those below- so if you have something working in that space, I’d love to share.
If you want to know more about my top 25 Household products, check out that post.
So, here are my top 20 personal products!
1. Muscle rub
2. Face oil
3. Body cream
4. Lotion Bars
5. Bath Salts , Bath Bombs and Bath melts
6. Foot Soak
7. Bubble Bath
8. Deodorant
9. Toothpaste
10. Perfume
11. Shampoo
12. Heat packs and scented bags
13. Reed Diffuser
14. Hand Sanitizer
15. Sleep Spritz
16. Night-time rub
17. Toner
18. Sunscreen
19. Sunscreen relief
20. Itch cream
1. Muscle rub
You can make this a rub in a cream or oil. I use an old roll-on deodorant container for the oil. I found a glass one with a screw off top. I also have an old face cream pot for the cream. The number of drops depends on how strong you want the mixture.
· 50 ml pot of oil or cream as base
· Blend White Fir Essential Oil, Wintergreen Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Lemongrass Essential Oil OR Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
2. Face oil
I make this one in the oil dropper bottle that Rosehip oil comes in. The blend depends on what your facial needs are.
· Rosehip oil or Argan Oil Base
· Vetiver Essential oil if you are older or live in a high pollution environment
· Cedarwood, Neroli or Lavender for acne
· Geranium for dry skin with dead cells
· Frankincense as a good all rounder
3. Body cream
I make this up in an old body lotion bottle. I sometimes buy an organic non- scented cream and just add to oils, or I make the cream myself from the base recipe below. The oils depend on my mood. I have 3 main smells I like. A floral blend if I feel like I want to be feminine and calming, a citrus blend if I want to be invigorated and my personal healing blend which now for me is cedar and rosemary. Your healing blend will be personal, so I’ll let you work that one out.
The cream base:
· ½ cup almond oil (or jojoba oil, or any other liquid oil)
· ¼ cup coconut oil
· ¼ cup beeswax
· 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)
· 2 TBSP shea butter (or cocoa butter, optional)
· Essential Oils- your choice. You can use vanilla instead.
Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea, in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water and stir occasionally as the ingredients melt (you can do this in a microwave).
When all ingredients are completely melted, add the vitamin E oil and essential oils
Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. This will not pump well in a lotion pump- its too thick once it sets! Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.
The Oils:
· Sweet Orange
· Copaiba
· Frankincense
· Roman Chamomile, Lavender and Cedar
· Rose
4. Lotion Bars
These are solid at room temperature and look like a soap. These are great! When you rub them on your skin, a tiny amount melts and is transferred to the skin, leaving a moisturizing and very thin layer. You can make different types:
Menthol and Arnica for pain relief
Probiotics for a deodorant
Argan for stretch marks
Zinc Oxide for nappy rash
Check out one for insects further down
· 1 cup coconut oil
· 1 cup shea butter (or cocoa butter or mango butter)
· 1 cup beeswax pastilles
· Essential oils
· 1 tsp Vitamin E oil
Combine all ingredients except essential oils and vitamin E in a glass jar.
Place the jar in a small saucepan of water and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the ingredients are melted. You can use the microwave.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Stir in any desired essential oils and/or vitamin E.
Carefully pour the mixture into moulds or whatever you will be allowing the lotion bars to harden in. Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before attempting to pop out of moulds.
5. Bath Salts and Bath Bombs
Bath salts:
I have a supply in large airtight containers with the main ingredients and make up a base batch with different oils added.
· 5 Cups Epsom salts- I use the high-grade ones from the hardware shop not the expensive ones from the chemist. It’s the same thing.
· 1 cup Soda Crystals – You can buy these in some supermarkets, chemists or online. I use Bexters brand but there are others.
· 2 cups coarse salt- I use high quality pool salt from the hardware store- the supermarket salt is too expensive
· ½ cup od Washing soda (only needed if you have hard water)
This is your white base mix
You can add 2tbs of coconut oil if you want to add moisturiser
20 drops of oil and 5 drops of food colouring mixed together:
Pink colouring and Rose or Geranium oil- Relaxation
Bath Bombs:
These are trickier to make but a nice gift.
· 1 cup baking soda
· ½ cup citric acid
· 1/2 cup Epsom Salts
· ¾ cup Corn Starch
· 2 TBSP oil of choice – almond etc
· 2 tsp Witch Hazel
· 1 tsp Vanilla
· 30-40 drops of essential oils
· Water as needed
Mix oil of choice and essential oils into baking soda and stir well.
Add other dry ingredients: salt, citric acid, and corn-starch, and mix well until combined.
Add other ingredients very slowly (maybe use a spray bottle)
Mix well with hands until the mix will just hold together when squeezed without crumbling. You may need to add slightly more or less witch hazel if it hasn’t achieved this consistency yet.
Quickly push mixture into moulds and leave at least 24 hours (48 is better) or until hardened. It will expand some and this is normal. You can push it down into the mould several times while it is drying to keep it from expanding too much. Using the metal moulds will create a stronger and more effective final bath bomb.
When dry, remove and store in airtight container or bag. Use within 2 weeks.
Bath melts
You drop these in the bath, and they melt all the oils into the water (takes 15 mins). Can make the bath slippery.
· 1/4 cup cocoa unrefined
· 2 TBSP shea butter
· 3 TBSP dried rose petals
· 1 tsp rose kaolin clay optional- can stain white towels
· 35 drops rose geranium oil
·
In a small glass bowl combine the coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter.
Microwave until the butters are completely melted.
Add in the essential oil and rose clay if using.
Sprinkle some rose petals in the bottom of each silicone mould.
Pour the oil mixture into the moulds and transfer to the freezer
After about 30 minutes the bath melts should be firm enough to unmould. Store away from light and heat.
6. Foot Soak
Basic
When we relax our feet, we relax our whole body.
The simplest way is to use the Bath Salts recipe above but with different essential oils and a bit more oil.
Green colouring and peppermint or Eucalyptus oil- Muscle relaxation
Bentonite Clay Detox
Bentonite Clay is a unique clay due to its ability to produce an “electrical charge” when hydrated. Upon contact with fluid ,it rapidly swells and its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxin, heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals.
· 1/2 cup of Epsom salt dissolved in hot (but not boiling) water into a bowl with 10 drops of Peppermint oil
In another small bowl Add:
· 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay
· 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
· A little water to thin, if needed
Coat your feet in this mixture and let it dry for 10 minutes.
By this time, the water has cooled enough to put your feet in and the bentonite has dried. When you put your feet in the tub, the hardened clay dissolves slowly
Soak for about 15 minutes before gently scrubbing my feet with natural brush
7. Bubble Bath
Shop made Bubble baths can be among the most toxic Bathroom products with nasties like Propylparaben and Formaldehyde. This is a great alternative, but it may not bubble as much.
· ¾ cup liquid castile soap
· ¼ cup vegetable glycerine
· 5-8 drops of essential oil of your choice
You can add a natural colour if you like
8. Deodorant
The jury is still out on this one. Living in humid QLD I’m still not convinced. I find I use traditional deodorant in the summer and these in the winter. I hate the idea of the Aluminium in these commercial deodorants and would love to hear from someone who has found a great product for those of us lucky enough to live in the sunshine.
Shea Butter Deodorant
· 2 TBSP shea butter
· 3 TBSP coconut oil
· 3 TBSP baking soda
· 2 TBSP arrowroot powder (or organic corn-starch, optional)
· Essential oils
Place the shea butter and coconut oil in glass bowl- melt in the microwave
Remove from heat and add the baking soda and arrowroot if using.
Add the essential oils if using and pour into a glass container or into an old deodorant stick for easier use.
It may take several hours to completely harden.
9. Toothpaste
I’m afraid I’m still not sure about this one either. I do mostly use an organic toothpaste that I get at the chemist. Maybe I’m just programmed to the texture and taste of shop bought toothpaste. This is the best recipe I’ve found;
· ½ cup coconut oil
· 2-3 TBSP baking powder
· 2 small packets stevia powder
· 15-20 drops peppermint oil
· 10 drops myrrh oil
Melt or slightly soften the coconut oil.
Mix in other ingredients and stir well until the mixture cools.
Pour the mixture into a small glass jar per person
Dip toothbrush in and scrape small amount onto bristles.
10. Perfume
Perfumes can cost a fortune. How about a small roller bottle with your favourite oil blend in some carrier oil. You can have a dozen different fragrances for different moods.
11. Shampoo and Conditioner
Most shampoos have harsh detergents that strip hair of its natural oils. Conditioner is supposed to replenish the oil the shampoo just took out, but often it is just a coating of chemicals. Over washing leads to over exposure to chemicals and harms the hair. There is no set number of times you need to wash your hair as it depends on age, ethnicity, environment, and activity level. Generally fine and oily hair needs washing every second day whilst course hair only needs once a week.
50:50 Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse can help to clarify hair and cleanse the scalp. Deep oil treatments on hair ends help provide extra moisture, prevent split ends, and add shine. Coconut oil or olive oil are good options for this. Simply massage a generous layer of oil into hair ends and wash out after about an hour.
· ¼ cup coconut milk
· ¼ cup castile soap
· 20 drops Essential oils (such as peppermint, lavender, rosemary, or orange)
For dry hair:
· ½ tsp olive oil (or almond oil, optional)
12. Heat packs and draw smelly bags
You can buy wheat from most produce shops. So long as you have a basic sewing machine and are a very simple sewer you can manage a rectangle bag.
5 Cups of wheat
½ cup dry Lavender
Yoga eye patches are a similar thing- just smaller.
13. Reed Diffuser
· 1 glass container with a narrow opening (to slow evaporation)
· 60 mls of a light oil like apricot kernel oil or safflower oil
· 10 drops of rosemary and 20 drops of grapefruit essential oil works well in a bathroom.
14. Hand Sanitiser
10 drops witch Hazel per 30 mls of water in spray bottle,
10 drops of alcohol
15. Sleep spritzer
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Roman Camomile.
5 drops Vetiver
20 drops of alcohol
Fill rest of bottle with water
Sleep Diffuser:
3 drops Lavender or Peppermint
2 drops Roman Camomile.
1 drops Vetiver
16. Night time Rub
Restful evening oil rub- in roller
3 drops Lavender
3 drops Clarey sage
1 drop sweet marjoram
10 ml roller bottle with carrier oil
17. Toner
Facial toners can help shrink pores and balance oil production.
Witch hazel, has a long history of use, especially in skincare. It is naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, making it excellent for helping reduce the appearance of acne, redness, and skin irritation. It helps lock in moisture, making it a good choice for oily and dry skin, and is high in tannins that reduce the appearance of fine lines. Vitamin C helps tighten the skin and maintain the natural pH. You can add up to 3 times as much vitamin C but start slowly and work up to find your skin’s perfect balance. Over time, you can add slightly more vitamin C, but don’t exceed 1.5 teaspoons. This only last 7-10 days and is best kept in the fridge.
· 1/2 tsp natural Vitamin C powder – you can leave this out and put 1 ½ tsp of 190 proof alcohol
· 1/4 cup witch hazel extract
· 8 drops lavender oil
Combine all ingredients in a small glass bottle, spray bottle, or dropper bottle.
You could individualise your toner:
Sensitive skin – geranium, helichrysum, rose, lavender
Acne prone – tea tree, lavender, orange, rosemary
General healthy complexion – lavender, frankincense
18. Sunscreen
Many sunscreens contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as oxybenzone. This is bad for us and bad for marine animals. It has been banned in many locations world-wide. It is important to state that home-made sunscreens may not be as effective so the best rule is the stay in the shade when you can, reapply often, cover up and limit time in the direct sun when you can. This is not watewrproof.
· ½ cup almond oil
· ¼ cup coconut oil
· ¼ cup beeswax - add extra to make it thicker
· 2 TBSP zinc oxide - DO NOT INHALE.
· 1 tsp red raspberry seed oil , optional
· 1 tsp carrot seed oil, optional
· 2 TBSP shea butter, optional
· Essential oils- NOT CITRUS
· other natural extracts (not citrus)
Combine all the ingredients except zinc oxide in large glass jar.
Mix as they melt over a double saucepan or in the microwave.
When all the ingredients are completely melted, stir in the zinc oxide, and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage.
Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.
Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator to increase shelf life.
Trick: It’s the zinc oxide that is the magical ingredient. You can use any lotion and add a couple of tablespoons of non- nano zinc oxide ( I haven’t done this).
19. Sun Burn relief
Essential oils in aloe gel
20. Itch Powder
· 1 tsp sea salt finely ground (fine ground)
· 1 tsp baking soda
· 2 tsp bentonite clay
· 1 TBSP witch hazel
· 10 drops peppermint essential oil
In a small bowl or jar, mix together sea salt, baking soda, and bentonite clay.
Slowly stir in the witch hazel until it reaches a creamy consistency.
Mix in the essential oil
Store in an air-tight jar in the fridge and use within two weeks (one week if using water in place of witch hazel).
So, there's a few to get you started. I'll add more as I test them. I have a few in the test space at the moment. I want to acknowledge wellnessmama.com where I got some of these original ideas.
Have fun!
Annie
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