Go Green! Get Beautiful!

Unless you’ve been under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard, or may even be a part of, this wildly popular, and much needed, trend of “going green.” Everything, and almost everyone, is getting a little greener- from stores, like my beloved Target selling reusable shopping bags, to products, like Avon’s push to more natural ingredients in their mark. products (I swear by their mattifying lotion with sugarcane and pumpkin seed).

With my d.i.y. mindset, I did a little research to discover nature offers a multitude of natural and cheap remedies and solutions for everyday ailments, cosmetic issues and housework. In this hard-up economy, where sometimes the more “natural” the product, the more expensive it is, I’m happy to share my favorite d.i.y. solutions with you.

d.i.y. crea|tivi|ty’s all natural face mask

My favorite natural product is a homemade facemask I like to use once or twice week.

Ingredients:
-100% Natural Benotite clay
-Pure honey
-100% pure coconut oil- very little

I usually don’t measure my ingredients, so just mix it until you get the consistency you want, apply this to a freshly washed face. Spend a few moments massaging the mask gently into your face, being careful to avoid your eyes.

The clay works as a gentle exfoliate while the honey and coconut oil are great moisturizers.

Nice additions:

Peppermint oil- for a soothing, cooling effect
Pure Lemon juice- Lemon juice a great 100% natural skin lightener to help slowly banish mild skin discoloration.

d.i.y. crea|tivi|ty’s all natural hair mask

I have extremely dry hair, so deep conditionings, leave-ins and hot oil treatments are my best friends.

A staple in my d.i.y. hair arsenal: an all natural, hot oil deep conditioning treatment.

Ingredients:
-100% extra virgin olive oil (or coconut oil but I prefer olive oil for my hair)
-Pure honey

Again, mix these until you get the consistency you want, it will be slightly runny, because the concoction should be warm when you apply it.

Apply it to your hair in sections being careful not to make a mess.
Then wrap your sticky hair in a plastic shower cap and cover with a warn towel.

I usually let the mix soak in my hair for 30 minutes to an hour and then rinse out thoroughly following with a light sodium lauryl sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner as needed.

Other d.i.y. crea|tivi|ty natural remedies & tips:

NOTE: Please be mindful of your own allergies and the allergies of your family members before using natural remedies and be sure to do your own research.

Apple Cider Vinegar:
-Can be used as a cleaner, stain remover and polisher. I use an eco and child-friendly vinegar-based cleaner to clean my bathrooms.
-Try adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 3 tablespoons of sugar to a quart of warm water for a mix that is said to keep fresh-cut flowers blooming longer.
-According to WedMD, studies have show this acidic liquid can help with diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure.

Honey:
-My grandmother swears by a mix of honey, lemon and cod liver oil to keep colds away year-round. She made sure we got a tablespoon of it every morning.

Lemon:
-Grease remover
-When mixed with baking soda, it’s said to remove stains from plastic containers.
-A natural bleaching agent

Peppermint oil:
-Said to help digestive problems including irritable bowel syndrome.
-Can be a relaxing addition to a bath.
-Add a few drops of it to olive oil or coconut oil for a soothing massage oil.

Oatmeal:
-Great for your skin as a topical treatment. My mom threw me in an oatmeal bath every now and then to help with my eczema as a child.

You'll find more of Crea|tivi|ty blogs at Carolinaparent.com.