Greening your beauty routine is not only better for your overall health – it’s fantastic for the environment. With so many natural cosmetic alternatives, why sacrifice your skincare routine with harmful chemicals that can wreak havoc on skin? (remember our Toxic Beauty post?!) Below, we’ve outlined our favorite do-it-yourself beauty products that can easily be made at home with ingredients you likely have in your kitchen.
Body Scrub
Salt scrubs are one of easiest home treatments that truly deliver. Not only is slathering salt and oil all over your body exquisitely pleasant, but the exfoliating factor leaves skin refreshed, vibrant and baby-soft. We recommend the Citrus Salt Scrub from Everyday Roots. This invigorating concoction of natural ingredients will wake you up – great for the morning shower or after an intense and sweaty workout. Use once or twice each week to help maintain skin between professional treatments.
Ingredients: Epsom salt (or coarse salt crystals), olive oil, lemon or lime juice, and lavender.
Ingredients: Epsom salt (or coarse salt crystals), olive oil, lemon or lime juice and lavender. Mix all ingredients together and apply to the skin in the shower or bath, focusing on dry areas, like your feet, ankles, knees and elbows. Store the extra product in a mason jar for future polishing treatments.
Body Cream
Combat dry, damaged hands, cracked feet, and sun-dried skin with a soothing and repairing overnight body treatment. All it takes is a few minutes before bed for healthier, hydrated skin.
Ingredients: 1/2 oz beeswax, 2 oz coconut oil, 2 tablespoons (30ml) sweet almond oil, 4 tablespoons (60ml) mineral water, 1/2 teaspoon (6ml) lavender essential oil.
Over a low heat, slowly melt the oils (coconut and sweet almond) and beeswax in a large, heavy-based, stainless steel saucepan. Use a whisk (and beat vigorously) to combine the oils and mineral water. Remove the saucepan from the heat and continue stirring until the cream cools to room temperature. Add the essential oil and mix thoroughly until creamy. Massage into skin and leave overnight.
Hair Conditioner
Deep-condition your tresses with coconut oil. Leave in overnight or use before the shower, if you are pressed for time. Coconut oil hydrates and softens hair. It also provides shine, and some studies even claim that it helps penetrate the hair to make it stronger, which can contribute to hair growth!
Ingredients: Simply Place one cup of coconut oil into a bowl of warm water. Leave the cup in the bowl until the coconut oil melts, then massage the oil into your scalp all the way to the ends.
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