The best shampoo you'll never find in a store

I'm here to let you in on an amazing deal for a fantastic shampoo that leaves your hair moisturized and feeling squeaky clean. It's also very safe to use, but you can't search for it on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database. The best part of all, it is super inexpensive!

This is a very, VERY exclusive opportunity. It's only available to you because it's actually made by you, in your home, with ingredients that you've likely already got in your pantry (or can find easily in most grocery stores).

I made the commitment to green up my shower routine a few months ago and have experimented with umpteen different combinations - baking soda paste dry washes (icky chalky mess), apple cider vinegar rinses (tolerable, but never made my hair feel absolutely clean), coconut oil treatments (hello greasy, stringy hair), "safe" shampoos from natural foods stores (buh-bye money and easily combed hair). I wasn't totally satisfied with any of those, but I wasn't ready to give up. Enter pinterest.

I can't express how much I heart pinterest. From ideas for gardening that I will likely never successfully implement in my yard to elaborate recipes that are intimidating yet enticing, you can find everything on that site. It is an especially good resource when researching ways to live clean and green. I've made a ton of homemade cleaners thanks to strangers pinning ridiculously easy "recipes". So, I was beyond excited when I came across a pinned photo of the back of a woman's head...her hair looked healthy, smooth, and beautiful. The pin promised access to the best homemade shampoo EVER or something to that extent. SOLD.

I would try to convince you that this is my beautiful head of hair, but I have no time for styling.

I originally intended to use my homemade coconut milk for this recipe, but I wasn't thinking straight and added vanilla to it for my kids to drink. Oh, well...Native Forest canned coconut milk is thick and creamy (while my homemade was not), plus their products are organic and BPA-free. This was so easy to mix together and I decided an unused, cute hand soap pump dispenser was perfect for this use.

Here's the recipe (adapted from wellnessmama.com):

• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 1/3 cup liquid castille soap (I used Dr. Bronner's almond)
• several drops of vitamin E oil
• Lots and lots of the essential oil(s) of your choice (I decided to rip off Aveda and do rosemary and peppermint oils)

Place all ingredients in the dispenser and shake.

You will need to shake the dispenser before each use. I use about two palms full of the shampoo each time because I have very thick and pretty long hair. This will lather up a little, which I like. Natural shampoos tend to not lather at all and conventional (read: chemical soup) shampoos lather a ton...this is somewhere in the middle. I make sure I rinse very well to prevent any build-up because I have extremely hard water. Occasionally, I'll follow a normal shampoo routine with an apple cider vinegar rinse just to be sure that everything has been totally cleaned out.

Since I started to use this shampoo, my hair has been much more manageable. I can run a brush through it without encountering tangles and my hair looks and feels great once it's completely air dried.

Give it a try and let us know how it worked out for you!

The Dangers of Sunscreen

Sun Exposure, Vitamin D, and Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most commonly used and trusted cosmetics used by parents.  But did you know the sunscreen you put on your and your precious children’s skin can actually cause more harm than good?  While they may prevent the redness and pain associated with sun burn, they may in fact increase your risk for skin cancer and may also disrupt the delicate hormonal balance in your body. 

Most conventional sunscreen products today contain harmful chemical ingredients that are dangerous and unsafe.  In 2007 the EWG (Environmental Working Group) published a list of the ingredients found in many conventional sunscreen products and their harmful effects on humans.  It is a shocking list!  If you look on the ingredient list of most sunscreens available out there, most contain many of these ingredients. ( This entry from Wikipedia has a lot of great information about sunscreen and is very well cited and sourced.  Please take some time to read it.)

This upset me last summer.   I was researching ways to protect my new baby during a summer of days at the beach, lake, and on my in-laws’ boat out on the ocean.  I wanted to protect his delicate skin from sun damage but I wasn’t willing to use harmful chemical sunscreens to do it.  Before he was six months old I used loose-fitting long sleeves and long pants along with a wide-brimmed hat and kept him under an umbrella.  As he got older and wanted to crawl in the sand I wanted to be able to use sunscreen on him.  I did some research on the EWG website and found that California Baby Sunscreen, which is available at Target, was a safe and effective sunscreen.  Though expensive, I was willing to pay the high sticker price for this product (close to $20 in some stores) in order to keep my baby’s skin safe. 

This summer I have tried something new.  I have made my own sunscreen!  I wanted to save money but had no desire to sacrifice safety and efficacy.  I first heard about making my own cosmetics from some friends in a mothers’ group on Facebook.  After hearing the recommendations of other moms, I decided to try my hand at making my own sunscreen and other personal care products.  It has been a 100% successful endeavor!  Not only does it WORK, I know exactly what ingredients are in the sunscreen and I am perfectly confident that they are not only safe but beneficial to my family’s skin.  
 

Homemade Sunscreen Tutorial

You need to purchase a few ingredients before beginning with your sunscreen recipe.  There are a lot of recipes available out there on the web.  Some are so complex they have my head spinning, others are more simple like mine.  I wanted to keep things simple and easy when I made mine, so I started off with a very simple, easy recipe.  

Gather together your desired ingredients from all or a combination of the following: 

• 100% pure zinc oxide powder (the only absolutely necessary ingredient) 
• Carrier oil(s) such as but not limited to coconut oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil,    etc. 
• Beeswax 
• Non-citrus essential oils

 

What this recipe basically consists of is a sunblock mixed with a carrier oil applied directly on the skin.  Zinc oxide is a total block when used undiluted on the skin meaning it completely blocks all sun rays by reflecting them away from the skin.  By mixing it with other ingredients you can control the SPF.  It protects from both UVA and UVB rays. For this reason you may want to consider allowing some sun exposure without sunscreen before sun burn occurs and before applying sunscreen.  More on that later.

Start by choosing your carrier oils.  I like any of the ones I listed above for different reasons.  Jojoba oil is incredibly luscious and very hydrating.  It makes your skin oh-so-soft and silky but it is also very expensive.  Shea butter is affordable and also very rich and moisturizing.  Coconut oil has many beneficial properties including antibacterial and antifungal properties.  It is very healthy and can help heal skin (not to mention it’s edible!).  Be sure to use only virgin, unrefined, organic coconut oil (and buy organic whenever possible of your other oils).   Sweet almond oil is commonly used by massage therapists and is inexpensive and effective.  I personally like to use a combination of shea butter and coconut oil.  I eventually plan to make a very small batch of sunscreen using jojoba oil for extra dry patches of skin.

 

In a double boiler, melt your carrier oils until homogenous.  Remove the bowl from the pot and whisk them together.  Add a few drops of your desired essential oils for scent (or omit for unscented lotion).  Add your desired amount of zinc oxide using this formula:  18.9% zinc oxide is SPF 32.  For my first batch I did one part shea butter, two parts coconut oil, and two parts zinc oxide.  This gave me 40% zinc oxide powder in my solution.  I calculated it out to be SPF 68 (40÷18.9=2.12, then 2.12x32=67.84).  This is what I used on my son for our first long day at the beach this spring.  We stayed out for 6 hours and he did not get even the slightest amount of sunburn.  I, on the other hand, waited two hours before applying my sunscreen and did get a little burned.  Oops.

I made a second batch of sunscreen a few weeks ago because I wanted to try a different recipe.  I had some beeswax on hand to use in making some different lotions and body butters and I had read that it can work by making the sunscreen water resistant.  So I wanted to try a slightly different recipe using beeswax and experimenting with a different combination of oils.

This time I used one part shea butter, one part coconut oil, one part almond oil, one part zinc oxide, and about 2 teaspoons of grated beeswax.  I melted the oils in the double boiler and then added the grated beeswax and stirred until it dissolved.  Then I whisked them all together and then whisked in the ZO powder.  Voila!  I opted not to add any essential oils because the beeswax made it smell delicious!  

Make sure to allow your concoctions to sit for at least 10 hours before using them.  They won’t settle into their more solid/semi-solid state for at least that long even if they are completely cooled.  The beeswax also helps the mixture to be more stable if you are using more liquidy oils such as jojoba or almond.  If 10 hours have passed and you find your recipe to be either too solid or too liquid, simply re-melt in the double boiler and adjust the ingredients to accommodate it.  I suppose you could even use olive oil though I have never tried it myself.

And now, as an end to my post about sunscreen and sun protection, please take a few minutes to read this article about Vitamin D and healthy sun exposure.  Healthy and safe sun exposure is important in allowing your body to make the necessary Vitamin D that it needs. 

Thanks for reading!  If you have any questions about my method or where I buy my ingredients, feel free to ask in the comments.  

Happy summer everyone!

~Erin~

(Me and L after a long day at the beach--notice his still-lily-white skin!)

How to Save - Personal Care Products

I’m calling this particular blog entry “How to Save,” which I’m sure led you to intinctively think “money”. However, that’s only one aspect of your life that you’ll find you’ll be able to cut back with these tips and recipes. You’re also going to be saving time, saving fuel, saving your health, and saving the planet. Obviously, making your own personal care products saves you money in one big way - you don’t have to buy the store shelf version of the item. However, when you start to think about it, you realize you’re also saving time at the store and having to go to the store less often which, in turn, saves fuel and fuel costs. Additionally, you can control what goes into your products. So, you’re not exposing yourself to parabens (http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/99-percent-of-breast-cancer-tissues-have-parabens-from-cosmetics/) and potentially hazardous chemicals (http://www.rodale.com/hormone-disrupting-chemicals?cm_mmc=TheDailyFixNL-_-868210-_-04022012-_-what_is_a_hormone_disruptor_anyway_text), thereby protecting your health. Finally, you’re not using and tossing packaging, you’re reusing what you’ve got on hand or, ideally, using a glass or stainless container that can easily be rinsed and used again.

While there are a TON of different recipes for different DIY cosmetics and other personal care items, these are a few that I’ve tried and love. The bonus is that these are things I use every day, sometimes two or three times a day, meaning that I’m really cutting back in all the areas mentioned above!

Eye Makeup Remover

As crunchy as I tend to be, I still love my heels and my makeup. I’ve been trying to wear less and less cosmetics since there are certainly chemicals and plasticizers present in my foundation and eyeliner, but to completely go cold turkey just isn’t in my future (particularly since I haven’t found the secret to reversing or freezing time and aging). I decided to, instead, ditch my Maybelline Eye Makeup Remover which I use at least four times a week. In the process, I found myself not having to use my toner, either - BONUS!

All you’ll need is water (practically free), vegetable glycerin (less than $10 per bottle and you’ll only need a smidgen per recipe), and oil (you can use coconut, almond, vitamin E, olive, avocado, baby oil...whichever you choose or happen to have on hand). I used an 8-ounce bottle I originally purchased for taking toiletries with me on vacation. It’s got a squirt spout, which is perfect for applying the remover to a cotton swab and swiping your face!

Here’s the recipe...just put all the ingredients into your chosen container, then swish around a bit and there you go!

1 ½ tablespoons vegetable glycerin
¾ tablespoon oil
approximately ⅔ cup water

Voila! All in all, the solution costs about $1 for an 8-ounce bottle of remover, whereas I was previously paying $5 for a 3-ounce bottle. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot of savings, but everything adds up!

Deodorant
Don’t be scared. I know everyone hates sweating and no one wants a deodorant which isn’t going to be able to stand up to heat and activity. I live in Texas where it got so hot last summer that our state was literally on fire. So, believe me when I tell you this stuff works!

The next time you run out of deodorant, don’t toss the container! Simply follow this recipe (adapted from littlehouseinthesuburbs.com), then press the mix into the container. Within minutes, you’ve got a smooth and effective perspiration-fighter!

¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup cornstarch
10 drops of your favorite essential oil (I used tea tree but I think next time I’ll try rosemary - love the smell)
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil

Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl until well-combined, then stir in the coconut oil, adding more a little bit at a time until you reach the right consistency for you. Remember that coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but starts to melt above 72 or so...be sure to store this somewhere that stays relatively cool. Also, word to the wise: this must be applied by hand. I’m okay with that, especially since a little bit goes a long way. I made this recipe about two months ago and I’m still only halfway through mine.

Mouthwash

Have you ever taken a minute to think about all the stuff you put in your mouth throughout the day? I’m sure you take steps to clean up your diet, so the food you eat is (hopefully) organic and chemical-free. But what about your oral care products? I didn’t really give it much thought until I realized that the ingredients label on my mouthwash is not required by law to be all-inclusive. And what the manufacturers choose to list there is enough to give me great pause. So, the last time I ran out, I decided to try my hand at DIY whitening mouthwash. I remember my mom using hydrogen peroxide as a teeth whitener when I was a kid; it was time I tried something myself.

I chose to use an empty mouthwash container, but as soon as I buy more small mason jars, I will switch to using one of those. I don’t expose the plastic container to heat (I simply rinse out with lukewarm water when I’m out), so I’m not terribly afraid of the consequences, but I’d still like to un-plastic my life as much as possible.

It’s a simple recipe, really. And one you can easily adapt to your own tastes. I use a mixture of ¼ hydrogen peroxide to ¾ water (filtered is best), then I add drops of peppermint extract until it tastes perfectly minty and fresh. I use this twice a day and I’ve noticed that my teeth look great and my mouth feels delightfully clean!

Recycled Bird Feeders

My 15 month old has just started daycare and I was so excited when I learned that his first activity would help celebrate Earth Day. I think it is never too early to teach them how important it is to take care of our earth. We can help them understand that everything we do (or don't do) and eat affects our earth. Earth Day reminds us to reduce, reuse and recycle, which helps eliminate pollution and save animals everywhere! The craft his teachers choose highlighted how to re-purpose materials we would typically just throw away!

It was so cute to watch and help Sammy's class make bird feeders out of recycled bottle waters. Each class took turns lining around a table.  We (the adults) cut out two holes thru the bottle. One on one side and one on the other. Right below those two holes, we made holes small enough for a straw to fit through all the way. Finally, a long piece of string was tied around the bottle top, so that it can hang on a tree. Once the straw was in place, string tied and names were written on them, the kids headed over to the fill up station and filled their bottle with organic bird food. The look on their face was priceless! I enjoyed very much helping every class, starting from my sons class all the way up to 1st grade. All different ages, responses, interests and attention but ALL with the same objective....to teach them how to take care of their planet for a better future!

While his class did this project because of Earth day, it would be a great thing to do with your kids anytime.

~Karla~

A green thumb… well hopefully anyways

Since we moved into our house, I have desperately wanted a garden.  I had my oldest son the first year we were in the house and I just never got around too it.  As a new mom, I had one thing on my mind and that wasn’t a garden. The second year in our house, I was pregnant and just didn’t feel up to it.  I did manage to plant some flowers in my front yard so I think I should get a little credit for that.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  I had my second son the third year we were in our house BUT I made my first attempt at gardening and failed miserably.

           My township sent out an email that they had community garden plots available and I snatched one up.  I knew it would be more space then I would need but I tried it anyhow. My plot ended up being the next to last garden plot and was quite a trip. I had a lot of momentum going in the beginning but it was virtually impossible to maintain with 2 children under 3 especially since my littlest was completely dependent on me since he was nursing. It is hard to get much substantial work done with an infant attached to you almost hourly.  This was pretty much his pattern day or night… can you say hello sleep deprivation?!

I had my hopes set on a raised garden in my backyard this year.  I had a spot in mind and while not perfect, I thought it would work well.  In February, our sewer system, both inside and outside of our house, needed replace. Yup crap literally and figuratively.  The only bright side was that, the plumbers removed a number of overgrown shrubs in our backyard, which left me with a nice sunny spot for a raised garden.  After a lot of research, I finally decided what I wanted and set out to build it.  Oh and by set out to build it, I mean my husband did it.  Thanks hubby!  I loved the way this DIY raised bed looked and wanted to model mine after it. After weeks, yes weeks apparently cedar planks are not as readily available as the internet tutorials would lead you to believe, I finally had a raised garden bed!  We had to make several adjustments.  While we could have used other wood, I really wanted cedar because of the climate in southwestern PA.  Cedar stands up very well to moisture and resists rot better than other woods. We placed chicken wire at the bottom of the bed to deter animals from burrowing up through.  As for the dirt, we used a mixture of peat moss, organic compost, and vermiculite.  This mix may sound familiar to some.  It is Mel Bartholomew’s recommended mix. I’m not sure if Mel would fully approve of my garden but I think it is going to work fine. I might be eating my words but only time will tell.

Close to done

Hubs putting down markers

 Needless to say, my 3 year old is stoked about it.  He says “Mom, that is a great idea.”  He was going through my square foot garden book a couple of weeks ago and all I heard was “Oh mom, we need carrots, and strawberries, and broccoli and...”.  How can you refuse that kind of request?  I am not quite sure how well strawberries will grow but I figure we might as well try. I am really excited that he is interested in it. There are so many great reasons to include children in gardening but that will be the focus of another post.

Discussing our strategy

So to all you green thumbs out there, do you have any advice for me?  I could use all the help I could get!