Homemade Deodorant: Friend or Foe?

Middle of summer. Great time to throw off the balance and try a new deodorant, isn't it? 

 I'll admit, I had qualms about trying to make my own deodorant. Won't it irritate my skin? How effective can this be? I sweat a lot, you know; what's wrong again with antiperspirants? The fact is, I've been hearing rumblings about how unhealthy antiperspirants are for a while now. And I've always hesitated to apply it more than once a day, after a shower or shave, or before bed.

While the researchers at the National Cancer Institute and The American Cancer Society agree that antiperspirants are non-carcinogenic (don't cause cancer), they also have no problems stating the fact that the aluminum used creates a "temporary" plug in the sweat glands under the arm. Isn't sweat, in moderation, through the armpits good for detox though? And these groups also make note of the connection of using antiperspirants after shaving (and starting this habit before the age of 16) may or may not be linked to breast cancer later in life. Both these fundamental scientists groups mention that parabens used as a preservative in deodorants and antiperspirants do build up in breast tissue and may or may not contribute to breast cancer. This sounds like there is still enough "what ifs" out there to question commercial antiperspirant use.

Mouth Health Revisited

Like I've said before, I haven't used commercial toothpaste in over 2 months, instead I get rid of bacteria through an ancient therapy called oil pulling (read my post here). However, I quickly became aware of the fact that coconut oil isn't the only thing that my mouth needs. Using just the oil pulling technique left me waking up with dry mouth. And I really began missing that peppermint fresh taste first thing in the morning or before bed after a salty snack. Enter an all natural tooth soap made by US company Rose of Sharon Acres. Ever wondered what kind of tooth cleaning options are out there besides sweetened and abrasive toothpaste?

Photo credit goes to Rose of Sharon Acres

Meet Tooth Chips Spritz - Liquid Soap for Your Pearly Whites with Neem Bark.What's it like? Let me tell you.

Homemade Pore Strips: Does it Work??

You can call me a skeptic if you want, but I just don't believe everything I find on the internet. Especially now that I am interested in homemade, natural, cleaner, green products and treatments. Enter the Homemade Pore Strip.

Product I LOVE: KinderHaven Farm Goat Milk Soap

There is nothing else better on the beauty product market than natural, nourishing, great-smelling, US made goat milk soap made by KinderHaven Farms. Plus, I've known this family forever so that makes it that much better.

Visit their website here

Why goat milk soap? No harsh chemicals; cleans better than regular body wash style products; instead of drying out skin, goat milk soap will literally nourish your skin. I had dreadfully dried out, cracked, and peeling skin on the bottom of my feet. After switching to my now favorite jasmine vanilla goat milk bar soap from KinderHaven Farms the skin on my feet is actually healing, not just kind of softening a little, after each shower. It has also greatly reduced the amount of body acne I had on my chest, shoulders, and back. I use it to wash my face also and my T-zone, combination oily skin has become wonderfully balanced.

One bar costs $4.95 (plus shipping and handling) and the soaps come in a wide variety of fragrances, like Emerald Tweed and Tanzanian Clove for men or Sun-kissed Currant and Lilac for women. There are even herbal choices like Lavender Oatmeal and Olive & Green Tea. The main ingredients are palm & coconut oils; goat milk & water; sodium hydroxide; olive, rice bran, soy & sunflower oils, flax seed & palm kernel oils; unrefined shea butter, silk fibers. If you keep the bar soap out of your shower and/or on a wooden soap dish it will last longer without washing away.

Buy this awesome soap here

How I Use It:

1. In the shower, lather the bar soap with a wet loofah. 
2. The soap makes a luxurious, soft, foamy lather.
3. It smells great.
4. May need to re-lather halfway through the shower.
5. Can also be used on face, in hair, or as a shaving lather.

 Love this stuff! Check out the website for more great products made by KinderHaven Farm!

Before You Get Rid of Shampoo...

I started my no poo transformation close to three weeks ago. That means I haven't used any natural oil stripping shampoos and hydration overkill conditioners in my hair. At all. And to be honest, I'm starting to miss it. I really liked not having to think about what I was going to wash my hair with or what the harsh ingredients in my favorite shampoo were doing to the longevity and overall health of my hair. Life was simpler a month ago. It was wash, rinse, repeat.