A fun, creative and easy way to be green and save some bucks is to make your own products with just a few simple ingredients.
You can easily make your own personal care products with pure ingredients, which are are often easier to find than specialty products, are vegan and cruelty-free, less expensive, less toxic
and have little or no packaging.
Many can even be purchased in bulk at natural shops worldwide.
Making your own products with a just few simple ingredients makes it easy to be zero waste while at home or on the road.
natural ingredients
Castile Soap
A pure soap with a million uses.
It cleans and deodorizes.
It's a great hand, face, body, baby, pet, and produce wash.
Castile soap is made from plants, instead of animal fats, so it's safe to use in most anything including grey water systems, septic systems and washing machines.
Castile soap can also be a great zero waste gift since its multipurpose and great for traveling.
Coconut Oil
A natural antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, organic coconut oil also be used as a moisturizer, hair conditioner, lip balm, and more.
And you get to smell like coconuts.
Add to smoothies or use for cooking or baking for an excellent source of heart-healthy essential fatty acids.
Bonus: can be also used to tell the temperature since it's a solid that turns liquid above 76°F (24°C).
Baking Soda
Plain old sodium bicarbonate is a natural ph-neutralizing cleaner and deodorizer that has so many uses.
Baking soda can be taken as an antacid, and also used as a cleanser, exfoliator, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, produce wash, household cleaner, laundry detergent, and much more.
Apple Cider Vinegar
A natural antimicrobial, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar can be used both for cleaning and as a diet supplement.
Apple Cider Vinegar is thought to have many health benefits, including reducing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol and helping maintain a healthy weight.
Drink 1-2 teaspoons in water as a health tonic.
Jojoba Oil
The liquid from the seed of the jojoba plant, iodine-rich jojoba oil mimics our natural sebum and also stimulates collagen.
It has many uses such as as a facial moisturizer, makeup remover, anti-wrinkle treatment, anti-acne treatment, anti-dandruff treatment, hair conditioner, cuticle balm, lip balm, and can also be used to help heal wounds, treat rashes, and fight infections since it's a natural fungicide.
Essential Oils
Essential Oils have many aromatherapeutic and health benefits, plus they’re great to bring when traveling.
Because of their potency, usually only 5 - 10 drops are needed per mixture.
These are my favorites because they're so versatile.
- Lemon: uplifting, detoxifying, anti-depressant, can improve mental clarity.
- Orange: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, natural insecticide.
- Lavender: mood calming, anti-inflammatory, natural insecticide.
- Peppermint and Cinnamon: purifying, assist digestion, increase mental alertness.
- Eucalyptus and Tea Tree: antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory.
easy recipes
Shampoo
- 1 part castile soap
- 1 part water
Toothpaste
- 1 part baking soda
- 1 part coconut oil
- few drops of essential oil (peppermint, cinnamon)
Deodorant
- 1 part baking soda
- 1 part coconut oil
- few drops of essential oil (tea tree, lavender)
Laundry Detergent
- 1 part castile soap
- 1 part baking soda
- 3 parts water
- few drops of essential oil (lavender, lemon)
Dish Soap
- 1 part castile soap
- 4 parts water
- few drops of essential oil (lemon, orange, tea tree)
All-Purpose Cleaner
- 1 part vinegar OR castile soap
- 4 parts water
- few drops of essential oil (lemon, orange)
With these easy recipes, you'll be saving bucks, having fun, and smelling great in no time!