Homemade Deodorant - Extra

Tipnut.com has a great page on all the different types of ways of making homemade deodorant.
Check it out.. it's all pretty easy.

TipNut.com: Making Homemade Deodorant

As an update... I recently ran out of my own HD. The way I make it is basically just mix the baking soda and cornstarch into store-bought cocoa butter moisturizer, melt the two together and store in a jar. Works really well! I haven't had any time recently to make a new batch so I've been using the store-bought commercial crap. That's right, I said crap. You know why? Because I can actually FEEL the difference.

Immediately after using the commercial crap,: my skin was drier, itchier, shaving became more difficult, i felt... sticker. This was basically my own personal experiment and I can definitely say that making your own is only cheap as hell and easy... it's actually just SO much better for your poor tortured skin.

Homemade Deodorant - Easy

Are you like me? Do you cringe like crazy every time you run out of deodorant and have to go buy some? I don't know about you guys.. but sometimes having to do so makes me sick.. deodorant is really expensive and if you're a... naturally fragrant... person like I am, you can't NOT wear any. Plus the chemicals.. oh by the gods the chemicals in that stuff...

Well.. turns out there is a natural solution for that and it doesn't involve rock crystals, even more expensive "natural" deodorants, or any type of magic. Turns out.. this will probably be the easiest... and cheapest... thing you'll ever make at home.

Homemade Deodorant Powder

• 1 part baking soda
• 1 part corn starch

That's it. Mix them up in a flat, wide-mouth container and you have powdered deodorant. Whenever you put some on, you just tip two fingers (fore and middle, for example) in the powder.. you'll get enough of it caked on there to just go ahead and smear right under your armpit (or where ever else you put it on) and you're ready to get dressed!

This actually works, I kid you not. It lasts all day and keeps the smell away. It won't do anything for moisture, but it will keep you from stinking. If it can keep me from stinking, it simply has to work for others as well. Usually, I'd dab on a bit of lavender essential oil underneath my arms to create a pleasant smell.. you know.. just in case. I'd still recommend wearing perfume or a fragrance because smelling nice is well... nice. But it works!!

The only problem with this method is that it's a bit messy. It's a powder and that has a tendency to sorta get all over the counter. That's why there's a slightly more complicated version where you make this into a cream and I'll go into that in another post. 

This is cheap and easy enough that I think it's worth a try (over the weekend) just for the hell of it. If you do, let me know how it goes. 

Moisturizing Oils

The below recipe is one that I've been using for a few months and I have to say that it managed to actually soften my insane, psoriasis-ridden, wood-sanding elbows. This is a pretty luxurious oil blend that is a bit on the thick side but it actually absorbs pretty quickly and you can almost feel it sinking into all the layers of your skin.

Image by tinpalace

Luxurious Moisturizing Recipe:

• 2 parts (20ml) jojoba oil
• 2 parts (20ml) avocado oil
• 1 part (10ml) sesame oil
• 1 part (10ml) JASON Vitamin E mix or just pure vitamin E oil
• Essential oils for scent... I use about 10 drops of lavender essential

Mix the above in store in a dark glass container and apply right after the shower or whenever you need a quick moisturizing boost. It does leave the skin a bit shiny for a little while so probably not the best thing to use right before running out the door to go to work but perfect after an evening shower.

Moisturizing Recipe 2:

• 1 part jojoba oil
• 1 part avocado oil

This would be a fairly thick but high absorptive mix.. would be great on cracked heels

Recipe 3

• 2 parts sweet almond oil
• 1 part sesame oil

A lighter mixture that really great slick feeling of oil

Recipe 4 - Healing Mixture

• Avocado Oil
• Tamanu Oil
• Calendula Oil

This would probably turn out to be pretty thick... and pretty expensive... but if you combine those oils you'll have a super healing oiling that will probably be perfect for almost any skin situation. I haven't had the ability to make something like this yet.. but I'm hoping to try in the very near future.

The list goes on forever... the beauty about oil mixtures is that you can make anything. You can use 5 ingredients (like my fave oil mix so far), or just one of them. Some oils are said to help with wrinkles and age spots.. some absorb really deep into the skin.. some just feel heavenly. There's no right or wrong mix so it all just boils down to what viscosity, texture, and desired effects that you want. 

All of the above ingredients can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs if you want to one-stop-shop. 

Types of Oils and Benefits and Uses

This is just a small list of the oils that I've used and the notes I've made on them in my own notebooks. This is just the beginning of all the knowledge you can collect on these oils and should be used just as a starting point of reference.


Jojoba Oil [Simmondsia chinensis]

• Botanical extract of the jojoba tree and is actually a wax ester not an oil. This gives it a longer shelf-life
• Most similar to human skin oil (sebum)
• Store in a cool, dry place - not in the shower
• May get cloudy or develop floating wax particles (especially in cool weather), this is normal
• Has anti-microbial properties because it contains traces of iodine
• Spreads well (slicker) and absorbs well but too much produces shine
• USES:
• Moisturizer - on its own or with other oils helps skin, lips, cuticles, etc
• Cleanser - Not an eye irritant - can be used to remove mascara, lipstick, etc
• Hair Conditioner - use a few drops in current conditioner or on its own before blow drying to protect hair or after as a smoothing agent

Sesame Oil 

• Slightly heavier oil used to treat eczema, psoriasis, and arthritis
• Rich in Vitamin E and B
• Cell growth regulator and slows down cell growth and replication
• Antioxidents help reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• cut with Almond Oil to reduce scent
• USES:
• Moisturizer
• Massage Oil
• Suntan lotion - naturally blocks UV
• Healing - improves blood circulation which helps repair damaged skin cells
• Eczema and psoriasis treatment
• Acne treatment and prevention - oil pulling properties

Sweet Almond Oil

• Great emollient (moisturizer) - softens and smooths
• Suitable for any skin  type
• All purpose base oil - most popular
• Relieves skin irritation , rashes, burns
• NOT safe for people with nut allergies
• Can leave stains on sheets and clothes
• Can go bad (shorter shelf life) - mix with wheat germ oil to extend life
• Doesn't penetrate as deeply as other oils
• USES:
• Moisturizer - all purpose
• Soothe irritated, dry, chapped skin, rashes, burns, etc
• used under eyes to treat dark circles and ease crows feet

Tamanu Oil [Calophyllum inophyllum]

• Anti-inflammatory, anti-neuralgic, anti-biotic, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer
• One of the most amazing oils on the planet and considered often to be "liquid green gold"
• Treats a range of infections: ring worm, athlete's foot, etc
• Recommended in blends at 10-20% of total concentration to receive healing effects
• Penetrates all 3 layers of skin
• USES:
• Healing/First Aid - ringworm, athlete's foot, infected wounds/burns, cuts, sunburn, bites and stings, blisters, warts
• anti-inflammatory - reduces redness, swelling, rashes, sores, abrasions
• analgesic (pain relieving) - sciatica, shingles, rheumatism, puled muscles, sprains
• Beauty - natural deodarant
• treats acne, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, dry/scaly skin, removes/reduces age spots
• amazing for scars and stretch marks
• This is just about the most amazing oil ever.. google it to read about it's proven abilities.

Avocado Oil

• High in Vitamin E, A, B, D and momosaturated fats
• High in sterolins to reduce age spots, heal sun damage and scars
• Significantly increases collagen in skin
• Easily absorbed deeply so perfect for psoriasis/eczema
• Improves hair growth when rubbed into scalp
• Heaver oil lends to fattier feel to skin
• USES:
• Healing - very beneficial in psoriasis/eczema
• blocks sun - natural sunscreen
• Beauty - reduces age spots, heals sun damage
• moisturizer
• Regenerates/rejuvinates skin

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• All of the above and more. It's one of the great multi-use oils. It is on the heavier side though so it's a little messy to use for "cosmetic" reasons.

Then there's Coconut Oil... Safflower Oil.. Sunflower Oil... Grapeseed... the list doesn't end. Best thing is just pick one or two that sounds like they do most of what you want and go from there :)

Introduction to Oils

Out of all the things I've attempted (and succeeded!) in making has to be the oils. At this point, I see absolutely no reason whatsoever to use commercial moisturizers and creams.

Ever gone shopping and saw this luxurious cream that was "now with jojoba and vitamin e!"? Something happens with those words and the price tag immediately shoots up from the mere mention. The funny thing is, read the back list of ingredients.. out of the 30 in-pronounceable ingredients, way at the bottom they mention jojoba oil.

What's the point of that? If you want jojoba, avocado, or vitamin e in your moisturizer why not just cut out the middle man and go straight to the source? Why not just use the natural oils themselves and spare your body of all the crap they put in moisturizers that don't actually do anything?

A great deal of my journey started with making my own oil blends. Turns out that after the initial *gulp* that 4oz of jojoba generally costs about $8 or so... when you invest and get a variety of oils there is almost no limit to the different types of things you can do with them. Plus, the amazing thing about natural oils is that a small drop or 3 goes such a long way that you use a lot less of it than you ever thought.

Starting on oils can feel a bit intimidating and there is definitely a financial investment involved. To ease things, you can start by getting only one of the oils and trying that.. or you can get Neutrogena Body Oil and see if you even like using oils! Start small and if you fall in love, you can always build upon that.

Scrubs - Mocha Spice Sugar Scrub

This recipe sounds and smells utterly delicious and divine. 

Recipe:

• 1 cup light brown baking sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground coffee
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Generous pinch nutmeg
• Generous pinch ginger
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup Mineral Oil 

Mix it all up and go! Instead of mineral oil you can use almond oil, light sesame oil, or jojoba.

This smelled wonderful even if it looked a little.. brown. And it did a great job as a scrub. My skin felt smooth as silk but it was still a little too harsh for my very sensitive skin. Basically, as far as scrubs go, I believe I can only use oatmeal.. so if you have sensitive skin like I do use this lightly.

The only thing I did NOT like about this (and the main reason why I won't be making it again) is that the coffee ended up turning my skin brown. Coffee stains.. and it left brown streaks all over the bathtub. I'm not particularly squeamish about that sort of thing, but it actually required more cleanup than I want to deal with. It's a great recipe and smells and feels wonderful.. but having to scrub brown stains out of the shower curtain from it didn't really make me fall in love with it.

Still.. worth a try at least once!  

[Original recipe can be found here]

Scrubs - The Stupid Easy Salt Scrub

You can end up spending a ton of money buying scrubs at the store. The top selling body scrub at Sephora is about $40 and the cheap kinds use all sorts of unnatural ingredients.

Turns out that making a Salt Scrub is so easy.. it's stupid.


Salt Scrub Recipe:

• 1 cup Epsom or Sea Salt
• 1 cup of baby oil

The 1 cup of baby oil is subjective. All depends on how runny/coarse you want the scrub to be. Just start mixing in baby oil into the salt until you get the texture you want. Generally, it's one-to-one.

Personally, I hate the smell of baby oil. So I found out that Target sells pure Mineral Oil for about $2 in my area.  Baby oil is just a bit lighter mineral oil and fragrance, so you can just use pure mineral oil and add some essential oil for fragrance. All depends on what is more readily available to you.

This is a really easy salt scrub to make and my fiancée absolutely loved it. It takes about 5 minutes to make and lasts a while. You can put it in a decorative jar (I'm keeping ours in canning jars sold at Walmart) and it looks pretty as hell. 

The best way to use a scrub is to play music in the bathroom or leave the door open so music comes in from the outside. Sit on the edge of the tub and start at your poor abused feet and rub it in in slow massaging circles and work your way up. Play close attention to your feet, knees, and elbows. Relax and close your eyes and enjoy the sensations of the massaging rub in your body.

Unfortunately, I couldn't use this recipe on myself though. I tried and by the time I worked my way up to my knees, my poor sensitive skin was on FIRE! The salt was just WAAAAY too harsh for my poor skin. So be careful. If you have sensitive skin this might be too harsh for you. Despite the pain.... my skin felt oh so very soft after this. So I found sugar and oatmeal scrub recipes that I'll be posting about later for those with more sensitive skin types.