Green Homemade Beauty Treatments

We’ve gone over how nasty chemicals are being found in our personal care products and how the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics database can help you find products with no (or at least fewer) carcinogens, allergens, and endocrine disruptors. I’ve even provided a list of my favorite products that are easy to find, moderately-priced, and have a low hazard score in the EWG’s database. If you’re ready to go a step further though, there’s another option that’s easier and cheaper with NO hazard score . . . homemade beauty products!

Here are some of my favorite all-natural beauty treatments that you can make at home. I don’t like getting too fancy, so most are very simple recipes that require little more than a trip to the pantry.

• Mix 1 part olive oil with 2 parts canola oil to create a makeup remover that’ will help prevent wrinkles and leave your skin feeling super soft.
• Instead of AHA products to even out skin, try rubbing either the pulp of an orange slice, a pineapple slice, or mashed strawberries on your face. Leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.
• For super soft skin apply half a mushed up a banana to your face for 20 minutes.
• Add a little sugar, oatmeal, or wheat germ to your regular cleanser for some added exfoliation.
• Lemon juice or witch hazel can be used to dry up a pimple. You can also mix them with water to create a toner.
• If you start breaking out, try applying a paste of baking soda and water for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
• Gently rub a mix of brown sugar and olive oil on your lips for a yummy lip exfoliation. Follow up with a soothing lip balm. I’m a big fan of Burt’s Bees myself.
• After shampooing, rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar followed by cold water. It’s worth putting up with the smell (it goes away once your hair is dry) for this kind of shine.
• If your hair is thick and prone to dryness, you can coat it with olive oil for a half hour before shampooing once or twice a week. Note: There are a lot of different recipes for homemade hair masks. I can’t really comment on them other than to say anything involving honey on your hair is not a good idea. At least not long, thick hair like mine. Learn from my homemade beauty faux pas!
• I always keep pure Vitamin E oil (check the label to make sure it’s not mixed with soybean oil or other diluting ingredients) on hand. It’s great for dry lips. When my skin gets especially dry in the winter, I add a couple drops to my regular night cream. Sometimes, after my morning moisturizer, I dab a tiny (and I mean teeny tiny; the oil slick look is not pretty) bit on the very tops of my cheeks for a subtle sheen.

Over time you'll learn which products work best for you and soon enough you'll be coming up with your own green homemade treatments. Have fun!