yes I realize it has been a few days - mostly because my adventure is taking me in a more radical direction than I had planned and partly because life got busier than I had anticipated(doesn't it always though?).
When I started looking into the "natural" health care items I found that most of them contained almost as many chemicals as the "regular" stuff. As evidenced by a website called skin deep(www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index) where you can look up almost any cosmetics company in the health care industry and their products, besides looking at the ingredient list yourself.
The same thing happened when I looked into what's in our laundry detergents, except it is much harder to find out what is in our laundry soap and detergents, because most laundry detergents do not list their ingredients on the box/container, neither do the containers of dish washer detergents or dish soaps etc.
The same thing happened when I looked into what's in our laundry detergents, except it is much harder to find out what is in our laundry soap and detergents, because most laundry detergents do not list their ingredients on the box/container, neither do the containers of dish washer detergents or dish soaps etc.
As I was looking for healthy, reasonable and local alternatives I found that most companies/products were not really what they were promoting themselves to be, and it started to almost get depressing esp. as I have studied what some of these toxins and chemicals can do to our bodies, systems and nature.
I started noticing that there were homemade recipes out there of shampoos, lotions, detergents etc. that were simpler, more nature friendly and definitely more sustainable for our planet.
I must confess that some of these I had already tried in the past with more or less success and I have kept up on some, and given up on others.
I decided to give it a go again, on a bigger scale this time - all of it at once - and writing a report of it here on this blog and telling you not just if it works but if it is sustainable in our 20ieth century society.
Here is my new regimen that I have decided on;
Laundry - I have made my own stuff with natural soap, mixed with washing soda and Borax. Once I figure it out and if it is any good I will give you the exact recipe.
All-Purpose, anti-bacterial cleaner - I've made my own with baking soda, vinegar, pure castile soap & essential oils.
Floor Cleaner - Same as above but I've added a small amount of washing soda.
Window/Mirror Cleaner - I mix white vinegar, water & lemon juice.
When it comes to personal health care I have always been more of a "wash & wear" kind of a person than a "have-to-have-make-up-on-every-second" kind of a person, but I still wear make up, do my hair and, shave my legs.
As far as deodorants/anti-perspirants go, I have found that it matters much more what I eat and if I work out regularly if I smell bad or not or perspire more or less, than what kind I wear - I have tried everything from Secret to Mitchum to Old Spice(yes I know it's a man's deodorant - but when you are desperate you try anything) to most brands that you find in the health food store including but not limited to the crystals. What seems to work better for me than anything else is - ESSENTIAL OILS - plain(neat), (just make sure it is a high quality grade like "young living"). Geranium seems to work as well or better than most and it doesn't sting or hurt when you put it on and is very effective - smells a little bit more flowery than I prefer - but that still is much preferable to stinking.
For a face wash - I use oatmeal in a re-usable teabag with a little bit of witch hazel and water and then I rinse with warm water.
For my hair - I am starting what I have seen labeled "the no-poo" way(not as bad as it sounds), no shampoo, only 1T of baking soda mixed into a paste with water and a drop of essential oil of my choosing, rubbing it into my scalp letting it sit for 1 minute rinsing with water and a final rinse of 1T of organic apple cider vinegar in 1 C of water.
For the rest of my body - either a natural, organic bar soap or castile soap - like "Dr Bronners".
For shaving - coconut oil.
For Lotion - coconut oil, for face and body and even hair if it is really dry. Or for my skin sometimes a natural lotion without alcohol/ethanol in it. The alcohol/ethanol is added not only as a preservative but mostly to build in a dependence on the lotion - it actually dries your skin out faster and makes it so you want to use more lotion sooner than if it wasn't added.
For Make Up Remover - Coconut oil or I use a more liquid oil like almond oil and dip a
q-tip in it and remove my eye-make-up.
I started this today and I have committed to stay with it for at least one month - not only to see the real benefits but also because sometimes it takes 1 to 2 months to get over any residual effects from the much more toxic substances we are used to using.
I will be reporting every couple of days to let you know how things are going. If it works - if my laundry stays clean, if I smell like a pig (-believe me my family will let me know if I stink or if their clothes stink or look ugly.) If it is a working option or just too complicated in today's society.
It got kind of long today - but I figure you will probably only read it if you want to anyway - but I promise it will be shorter next time!
Hejdå,
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