Box of products I threw out!
I am now completely convinced of the following notion: "If you wouldn't eat it, don't put it on your skin!" However, on second thought unfortunately the majority of us are okay with eating all sorts of unbelievable chemicals and artificial junk, that perhaps this saying isn't all together that true. But, you get my point. If you are into coconut oil, arrowroot powder, apple cider vinegar, honey, tallow... just to name a few than these simple healthy food staples easily blur the line between kitchen and powder room.
This has actually been the most exciting and fun transformation for me as of late. I have been utterly ecstatic about trashing the old and bringing in the new. LOVE, my very own made by me beauty products! I feel like a chemist, okay well not really but I tweak here and putter there and find just the right combination that works for us. Now, I am not just magically a genius on this topic, of course. I know you all were starting to wonder. :) No, not at all I am not, not even close! I get all my recipes from the various blogs I follow. However, it all started for me with this blog: The Mommypotamus. I bought her lovely ebook and have just scratched the surface!
I will discuss further and in greater detail each item I have eliminated, what I have replaced it with and why. For now, I will start with deodorant.
I used Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Cool Essentials before and it was one of those things that just always worried me. Here is a link to the ingredient list.
This has actually been the most exciting and fun transformation for me as of late. I have been utterly ecstatic about trashing the old and bringing in the new. LOVE, my very own made by me beauty products! I feel like a chemist, okay well not really but I tweak here and putter there and find just the right combination that works for us. Now, I am not just magically a genius on this topic, of course. I know you all were starting to wonder. :) No, not at all I am not, not even close! I get all my recipes from the various blogs I follow. However, it all started for me with this blog: The Mommypotamus. I bought her lovely ebook and have just scratched the surface!
I will discuss further and in greater detail each item I have eliminated, what I have replaced it with and why. For now, I will start with deodorant.
I used Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Cool Essentials before and it was one of those things that just always worried me. Here is a link to the ingredient list.
First, horrible ingredient: Aluminum Zirconium. Why do they put aluminum in deodorants? Well, they don't, it is used in anti-perspirants. Aluminum blocks the pores, which in theory attempts to make a person not sweat. I don't know about you all, but I still sweated regardless of rolling this on my armpits. But more importantly, sweat is a NORMAL, DESIRED bodily function. To roll on a known toxic metal, seems insane, but I did it for a good 15+ years.
And, then take a look at the other ingredients. The only two that I can even pronounce are: Hydrogenated Castor Oil & (Sunflower) Seed Oil. Take a look at what Hydrogenated even means, and then tell me it sounds like something that should be in our deodorant let alone many foods. Sunflower seed oil, sounds just fine on its own and if I was told exactly what kind of sunflower oil was used. Not everything is created equal, we all should know that by now. :)
Now what if I gave you this ingredient list?
Of course, carefully and consciously choosing specific brands for each of these items makes it truly wonderful! Here is the recipe I am currently using from The Mommypotamus. I think for the summer I will be formulating a different version with beeswax from another great blog I enjoy: The Polvika Family
So why go to the trouble? Why worry about such things?
I am now, because I have ignored for far too long that our skin DOES absorb everything you put on it into our body. I have known this for a long time, but it is easy to just swipe the thought from my mind and say it doesn't matter- it's just a little deodorant. Furthermore, tumors have been shown to contain many of these cosmetic chemicals. Although, this does not necessarily prove that the chemicals are the cause of cancer, it is enough for me to rethink what I put on my skin. Also, a huge concern for me is how many chemicals found in cosmetics are hormone disruptors. Hormones play a huge role in the health of our bodies. It doesn't take much to throw off the delicate hormone balance of our bodies and a multitude of issues can develop.
Also, I am now going through the trouble (not altogether that much trouble though) simply because it gives me immense pleasure to make my own products, knowing exactly what is in each of them and feeling confident putting them on my skin and the skin of my small children (not deodorant obviously :)). It doesn't hurt that is pretty darn cheap, too!
Finally, I am just sick of the ridiculously long, unpronounceable and typically, deliberately deceitful ingredient lists of most everything. I am now of the opinion it is not necessary and no longer makes sense to me. DIY, sounds just about right to me!
And, then take a look at the other ingredients. The only two that I can even pronounce are: Hydrogenated Castor Oil & (Sunflower) Seed Oil. Take a look at what Hydrogenated even means, and then tell me it sounds like something that should be in our deodorant let alone many foods. Sunflower seed oil, sounds just fine on its own and if I was told exactly what kind of sunflower oil was used. Not everything is created equal, we all should know that by now. :)
Now what if I gave you this ingredient list?
- arrowroot powder
- baking soda
- coconut oil
- & maybe some beeswax and preferred essential oils
Of course, carefully and consciously choosing specific brands for each of these items makes it truly wonderful! Here is the recipe I am currently using from The Mommypotamus. I think for the summer I will be formulating a different version with beeswax from another great blog I enjoy: The Polvika Family
So why go to the trouble? Why worry about such things?
I am now, because I have ignored for far too long that our skin DOES absorb everything you put on it into our body. I have known this for a long time, but it is easy to just swipe the thought from my mind and say it doesn't matter- it's just a little deodorant. Furthermore, tumors have been shown to contain many of these cosmetic chemicals. Although, this does not necessarily prove that the chemicals are the cause of cancer, it is enough for me to rethink what I put on my skin. Also, a huge concern for me is how many chemicals found in cosmetics are hormone disruptors. Hormones play a huge role in the health of our bodies. It doesn't take much to throw off the delicate hormone balance of our bodies and a multitude of issues can develop.
Also, I am now going through the trouble (not altogether that much trouble though) simply because it gives me immense pleasure to make my own products, knowing exactly what is in each of them and feeling confident putting them on my skin and the skin of my small children (not deodorant obviously :)). It doesn't hurt that is pretty darn cheap, too!
Finally, I am just sick of the ridiculously long, unpronounceable and typically, deliberately deceitful ingredient lists of most everything. I am now of the opinion it is not necessary and no longer makes sense to me. DIY, sounds just about right to me!