Beauty

All-Natural DIY Deodorant

If you’re anything like me, the need for deodorant in summer is an unavoidable seasonal product. Between the hazy humid Mississippi days and my daily workout routine, I need to keep deodorant stocked-up in our home. But in an effort to maintain a more zero waste household I make my own. So here’s a little as to why I make my own DIY, All-Natural Deodorant blend.

Over the past year, while on a journey to better health, I knew I wanted to switch my deodorant from my proven commercial brand, in an attempt to avoid cancer and Alzheimer’s causing aluminum byproducts. The issue for me came to price. I knew I wanted to look into better, more organic deodorant brands, but with prices exceeding four times the amount of my previous brands, this was simply not an affordable, non-couponed option.

So what to do? Either sweat like a horse or subject myself and my family to the possible long-term development of Alzheimers and breast cancer? Fortunately, through trial and error, I was able to create my own natural homemade deodorant recipe that works as both a deodorant and antiperspirant and is still all-natural and affordable.

I will admit that I’ve also tried several natural deodorant products and for me, they didn’t work. At all. And many natural deodorants costs four times the prices of my previous brand, it was a natural progression for me to try to make my own blend. And guess what? After a few weeks of using natural, I noticed an unexpected side effect. Natural deodorant helped prevent sweat more than my previous commercial brand. So, now I’m a user for life!

What I love most about this blend is that you can customize your deodorant to your scent preferences with essential oils, if desired or omit them for an unscented version. It’s also quick and easy to make. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons shea butter or avocado butter
1/3 cup arrowroot powder or organic corn starch
4 tablespoons baking soda (reduce to by half for sensitive skin)
15 drops essential oil

Directions:

Melt coconut oil and shea butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir continuously until melted for 2-4 minutes.
Once completely melted remove from heat and whisk in arrowroot powder (and/or corn starch) and baking soda.
Add essential oils.
Mix thoroughly and quickly. The mixture will start to thicken immediately.
Pour into two empty deodorant containers or mason jars.
Let your homemade deodorant sit until completely set for 2-3 hours at room temperature; this process can be sped up by putting your deodorant in the fridge for ten minutes.
Place lid on and use as you would any other deodorant.
Use within one year.

Some people react negatively to the baking soda and develop a rash or underarm discoloring. If this happens to you, I’d suggest stopping using the natural deodorant until you are able to resolve the issue. Many people cut the baking soda amount in half and notice that the irritation goes away.
Before starting a natural deodorant a DIY mask of bentonite clay armpit detox can help pull out some of the chemicals from past deodorant that led to rashes.
If allergic to coconut oil you can just omit this step. Coconut oil can also be substituted for almond, jojoba or avocado oil.

Everyone, I urge you to try making your own deodorant. You’ll feel better knowing you weren’t putting anything on your skin that you shouldn’t be in contact with, and your wallet will thank you too! If you do try it, let me know the outcome! I’d love to hear your story!

Here’s to natural products,

All-Natural DIY Sun Lotion

If you’re anything like me, you love all things summer. From gardening to family vacations, summer has always held a special place in my heart. One of my favorite warm weather activities has always been sunbathing. While I adore the feel of the sun on my skin and believe moderate amounts are important to our health, I’m no longer a fan of endangering my health by overdoing it. So, how can a savvy saver naturally and frugally protect themselves from the sun?

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DIY Migraine Relief Balm

When a migraine hits my world seems to halt to a stop. Between nausea, pounding heartache, neck cramps, sweating, and blurred vision the only thing that sounds remotely pleasant is closing my eyes, lying down in the comfort of my cool, dark bedroom, and falling asleep. Unfortunately, more than likely you are stuck in rush hour traffic, helping calm screaming kids, dealing with a crabby coworker, trying to put dinner on the table, or trying to get through your day when the pounding sets in, for which lying down just isn’t an option.

Since my late twenties, the above scenario was a part of my weekly scope of life. Worse still, my only options for ease and comfort was to medicate myself with overly prized prescriptions that were a crape shoot as to whether they would help knock out my migraine or irritate my stomach so badly that my migraine symptoms would subside in just enough time to flare up my acid reflux symptoms.

Recently as part of my healthy living journey, I have decided to kick my prescriptions to the curb and out more holistic, natural means of pain management and migraine relief. Getting a migraine infusion is a good option, but I have also come up with a natural solution that works pretty well in a pinch too. What’s my solution?

My recipe for migraine relief balm? Just a few simple essential oils, carrier oils, and a trusty half-pint mason jar. No fuss, no muss!

In my balm, I use Peppermint Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Lavender Oil, Arabica Oil, and Coconut Oil.

Please note: I am not brand loyal currently to any brand of essential oils. Please use whichever brands of essential oils you are most comfortable utilizing for this blend.

Here’s a little breakdown for each oil:

Peppermint contains menthol, a cooling element that helps restrict blood vessels around the skin and skull which helps relieve tension and resulting migraine headache symptoms.
Eucalyptus oil: Eucalyptus oil is a non-drowsy means of scent-based, brain-wave activity reducer, and also helps reduce fatigue, muscle tension, and neck soreness.
Lavender oil: Lavender oil, besides its relaxing scent nodes, is used to change brain wave patterns, as it is also a scent-based, brain-wave activity reducer that increases relaxation and relieves muscle tension.
Arabica Bean Oil: Arabica oil contains natural, unprocessed vasoconstrictive properties. And it is this form of caffeine that helps restrict blood vessel tension, which causes blood vessels to narrow and restrict blood flow, aiding in head pain relief within minutes.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil acts as both a carrier oil to help with the even and safe distribution of essential oils on the skin as well as acts as a natural means of balancing hormones, which is known to help aid in headache and migraine relief. Please note, for those allergic to coconut oil, grape seed oil can be substituted as well.

Here’s what you will need:

20 drops of Peppermint oil
20 drops of Lavender oil
20 drops of Arabica bean oil
20 drops of Eucalyptus oil
1/4 cup Coconut oil
Glass Measuring cup
Glass storage containers (I love the Ball half pint jars)
Spoon or honey stick (not shown)

Directions:

In a half-pint jar add 1/4 cup room temperature coconut oil.
Add all essential oils to carrier oil.
Fold oils into the carrier oil; oils can be adjusted to need and personal preference.
Let balm sit and meld for one hour to let oils fully combine.
Balm should be stored in the fridge to remain solidified.
The balm will remain viable indefinably.
Please note, to make your balm shelf stable, you can use a double boiler over medium heat to melt 2 tablespoons of beeswax pastilles, which can be added to your balm for on-the-go migraine relief. I also keep my blend in the fridge to help solidify the balm, and I prefer a cooling product when I have migraines.

How to apply:

Massage a small dab of balm onto your temples, back of the neck, and the headache pressure points (the skin between the thumb and forefinger), in small circular motions for 30-seconds per trigger area every 3-4 hours as needed. Remember, breathe deeply while applying balm to help with the added benefits of tension relief by way of aromatherapy.

So, that’s it, folks. I really cannot say enough great things about this balm. Not only is it natural and relaxing, but it’s also affordable and great for your skin, too! I hope you will all try it should the need arise.

Here’s to your health,

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Homemade Bronzing Powder

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DIY Organic Honey Eucalyptus Body Butter!

Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Relaxation & Rejuvenation series post, I wanted to share with you my recipe for Homemade Warm Honey Eucalyptus Whipped Body Butter. I make this body butter, using olive and coconut oils from Sam’s club, and cocoa butter purchased for free from Amazon.com using earned gift cards from survey sites, and store the butter in jars from the Dollar Tree! I find that this mixture is better than any body butter I’ve ever purchased in stores, and makes for a refreshing gift basket filler, gift closet staple, and as a simple thinking-of-you gift for family and friends! What’s really awesome is that an entire jar costs on $0.50 to create!

Here’s how I make it:

Ingredients:

1 cup of cocoa butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 half cup honey
12 drops eucalyptus oil

Instructions:

Using a double boiler, or glass bowl in a pot of water double boiler method, slowly and gradually melt both the cocoa butter and coconut oil until completely liquid.
Remove the mixture from heat, and fold in the olive oil and honey.
Refrigerate the mixture for three hours.
Using a mixer or hand mixer, add the eucalyptus oil to the mixture, then whip until white peaks form; the mixture should look like creamed butter.
Put the mixture into a glass jar, sealed, and refrigerate for one hour.
When ready to use, place the desired amount in a small bowl, and microwave for 3-5 second, until warm, and apply directly to skin, as needed.
Store any unused portions in the refrigerator; this mixture will last up to a year.
Enjoy!

So be sure to spend a little time today, enjoying all that is great about you!

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DIY Spa Pedicure, For Under $1.00!

Good afternoon, my frugal fashionistas! Its Sunday, and you know what that means, its Relaxation and Rejuvenation Sunday!

For today, I will be sharing with you my tips for an at-home, homemade spa pedicure treatment!

I began giving myself at-home treatments four summers ago, when my local pedicure salon changed hands, and the new rates for summer pedicures skyrocketed to sixty dollars a month! To me, that was ridiculous! I simply put my foot down and refused to pay such absorbent rates, pun intended! With that said, I can give myself a pedicure for under 2.00 a week!

Here’s how I have an in-home, homemade pedicure treatment for under $1.00:

Remove old polish: The first step in a home pedicure is to remove any old polish from your toes. Use nail polish remover to remove any remnants of old polish. If your old polish has stained your toe nails, hydrogen peroxide left on for five minutes will remove all stains!
Trim toenails: Use a toenail clipper to cut your nails straight across. Your toenails should not be longer than the end of your toe, to avoid ingrown toenails. After clipping, file straight across your nails, in only one direction, to avoid any damage and weakening to your nails.
Soak feet: Once you have trimmed your toe nails, prepare a foot bath for your home pedicure. This step is vital, as the bath is the true callus-buster! Here’s my homemade foot bath recipe:

1 Cup Buttermilk, warmed
½ White Cup Sugar
7 Cups Hot water
1/4 cup, 2 ounces, Epson salts
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil

4. Exfoliation: Once you’ve made this recipe, place the mixture in a tub, foot bath, bucket, or the like and then place two handful of marbles in the tub. Soak your feet in the tub, making sure to roll the feet across the marbles to both massage and loosen the calluses. Soak for 20 minutes, then remove your feet and pat dry.

5. Cuticle Care: After your foot bath, you need to attend to the cuticles around your toes. Using an orange stick dipped in olive oil, push your cuticles back, and remove any excess skin as needed.

6. Scrub Feet: Next give yourself a refreshing spa foot scrub, using my homemade recipe below:

1/2 Cup Table Salt
2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
2 Tablespoons Liquid soap
4 Drops Eucalyptus Oil
Mix the recipe together, and massage well into your feet using a pumice stone; I bought my stone at the Dollar Tree. Rinse well, and pat dry.

7. Foot Mask: Next you will make a foot mask, using my recipe below.

1/4 Ripe Avocado
¼ Cup Honey
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/3 cup warm water
Mash ingredients together, apply to dry feet and wrap in a ziplock bag. Relax for 20 minutes, then rinse and pat dry.

8. Paint toenails: Use nail polish remover to wipe toenails and remove any excess oils that may remain from your treatments. Nail polish does not adhere to oily nails. Packing peanuts work great as toe separators. Apply a base coat, allow to fully dry, and then apply two top coats.

9. Moisturize: Mix together your own moisturizer, which can be stored for pedicure use:

mix 1/2 cup coconut oil
2 drops eucalyptus oil
Rub lotion into your feet and enjoy!

And that’s all folks! This treatment is as luxurious as it is cost effective! Be sure to try this at home, and treat yourself to the best pedicure you will surely have had in some time!

Here’s to rejuvenation,

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DIY Summer Chamomile-Mint Astringent

Good morning, savvy savers! Here in Dixie we are experiencing heat advisory warnings, with temperatures reaching triple digits, and one thing is for sure… those temps wreck havoc on my skin. So, for this weeks Beauty On A Budget Series post, I wanted to share with you my go-to facial astringent recipe, my Chamomile-Mint Astringent!

Here’s how I brew my astringent:

Ingredients:

3 chamomile tea bags
2 cups of hot water
1 teaspoon of dried mint
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions:

Using a tea infuser, prepare the tea; use with the mint as well.
Once the tea is brewed, cool for 5 minutes.
Next, add the essential oil.
When applying, I use cotton balls, and apply the astringent in strokes, from my neck to forehead, and use a clean ball every so often.
Once the blend has full infused, I remove the tea from the cylinder, and store in my refrigerator, up to one week.

This astringent sets me back a whopping $0.05 each time I make it, as I can buy chamomile at my local Dollar Tree, and I purchase my eucalyptus oil through Amazon.com; in addition I grow my own mint! This blend is very gentle, safe, and affordable. For an added summer treat, chill this blend for ten minutes prior to use. I hope you will try it as well!

Here’s to putting your best face forward,