In October I made a trip to, what I feel resembles, a modern apothecary shop to pick up some ingredients to make my own lotion. I had found a recipe in a book of herbal remedies I recently obtained and wanted to try it out. Needless to say, it was somewhat of a failure. I tried a multitude of different recipes and methods, but couldn't quite get it right. So, I scrapped the lotion idea and dove headlong into finding recipes to make everything else I could think of: shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm...you name it.
Through trial and error I have found the recipes that work best for me. Instead of lotion, for example, I now enjoy using a harder body balm. My goal through this process has been to keep my ingredients at a minimum, to reduce the amount of things I'm purchasing and to add to the simplicity of life.
Conditioner and Shampoo (I've since gone back to using a organic, natural conditioner because of my lovely dry winter scalp)
Toothpaste (great consistency!) - unfortunately tastes like soap; I need to obtain some stevia to help sweeten and flavor it.
Perfume spray, deodorant (works great, smells great, since moved to a tin), lip balm, dry skin oil
Ingredients box (essential oils, glycerin, tools, coconut oil...etc)
Other products in my cosmetic cabinet: saddle sore/acne remedy (important for a cyclist), homemade lemon balm tincture for reducing stress and anxiety, lavender body balm, sleep pillow...
One may ask, why I've chosen to take on the hobby/lifestyle of making my own products. Here's my answer:
1) More sustainable - to the best of my ability, many of my products have metal containers and those that do not at least are at least reusable. I still am trying to figure out the best way to not use plastic in the shower; I've already broken a glass container. Commercial products, whether in tin or plastic, come in a new container every time you purchase them. Also, as much as I can my ingredients are local, therefore energy is not used to ship them to me. The same goes for the products themselves; unless your commercial products are produced and packaged locally, they have a huge carbon footprint to get to you.
2) Frugality - simply put, homemade products are way cheaper...by lots.
3) Chemical-free - my homemade products are 100% natural (literally, not in the marketing sense) and contain no chemicals. I'm sick of unknown ingredients and unpronounceable ingredients. Many of the ingredients in our cosmetics have properties of neurotoxicity, contribute to cancer (DEA ingredients turn to nitrosamines, which may cause cancer, also formaldehyde releasing ingredients), and are also environmentally toxic. [http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals/] I look at cosmetics the way Michael Pollan looks at food... eat food - use only the true natural ingredients.
Want to read more on cosmetic safety? http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/myths-on-cosmetics-safety/
Future recipe goals: sunscreen, soap (though usually very good locally made), makeup, cleaning supplies (simple with vinegar and baking soda)
This is way too cool! Keep up the good work.
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