Many facial cleansers contain unnecessary or even irritating additives. Making naturally based cleansers at home is simple and often only requires a few ingredients. Below are some organic recipes for homemade facial cleansers that can be modified to meet specific skin care needs. Natural Beauty Community has many recipes for natural cleansers applicable for various skin types and facial issues. A suitable one for many is lavender facial cleanser which uses an oil method for gentle cleaning and only involves 4 ingredients. Lavender, grape seed, geranium and rose essential oils are all blended, then can be massaged onto the skin… read more

Modern mineral make up is planet friendly and not contaminated with lead and synthetics. Mineral makeup contains all-natural ingredients such as seed oil, flower extract, titanium dioxide and mica. Mica and other minerals are naturally occurring and have been praised for their color for centuries – the ancient Egyptians enjoyed wearing mica. With mineral makeup there are no synthetic colors, artificial fragrances or petrochemicals. Additionally, mineral makeup is a natural UVA/B ray blocker. Many companies now offer mineral solutions in makeup. Companies like MAC and Origins sell different products with about 80% minerals that are all natural. Other companies such… read more

Cold cream is used to dissolve and remove makeup and for softening the skin. A 2nd century physician from Greece, Galen, is accredited to developing the first known cold cream. Making your own lavish blend at home will provide an inexpensive, natural beauty treatment that doesn’t contain alcohol, dyes, fragrances or other harsh chemicals that aren’t good for the skin. There are a few versions of Galen’s basic recipe, but it is mostly stated as a combination of pure beeswax for softening the skin, extra virgin olive oil and pure rosewater. The oil cleanses and nourishes and the rosewater gently tones… read more

Want to show a little appreciation on Mother’s Day with a gift she will love? Presents with the added bonus of being ecologically mindful are especially thoughtful. Consider the following ideas for Mother’s Day gifts that carry a meaningful message. 1. Sustainable Jewelry Handcrafted jewelry is always a nice touch, and pieces that are sustainably made will be even more appreciated. Acorn and Archer has eye-catching selections made from salvaged woods and recycled resources. For mixed metal and silver designs, alice roche jewelry features polished products made with reclaimed materials. 2. Handbags and Purses Moms need bags for all of the things they have to carry around. REVEAL… read more

Saponin, found in the soap nut berry from the Chinese Soapberry tree, can be used as an organic alternative to chemically laden cleaners. The shells from the berry, called soap nuts, can actually make soapsuds without any additives. The natural ability of soap nuts as an effective cleanser has been known for hundreds of years, especially for laundry use. They are still currently grown and widely used in India and China, as well as other parts of the world. Soap nuts can be put in a sealed laundry bag and placed directly with clothes in the washing machine. These can… read more

Use of commercial hairspray is known to cause considerable damage to the environment. Hairspray contains volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs. These include chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, or CFC’s. Just a few sprays send these chemicals up to the ozone, where they will break apart thousands of ozone particles. This damage reduces our protection from UV rays and will eventually lead to global warming. That’s a pretty potent blow coming from 15km or so below. Hairspray’s immediate damage is found in its negative effects on your health. The formaldehyde found in many commercial hairsprays can lead to migraines, low blood… read more

There are endless products to beautify your skin. Creams can be outrageously expensive and also contain chemicals and fragrances that can irritate the skin. You can achieve beautiful skin from the inside out just by making some changes to your diet. Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate the skin creating wrinkles, so reducing your intake of these substances will always serve you well. The sun can also do irreversible damage to the skin so using a sunscreen every day will protect you. Reduce your stress and your skin will reap the benefits. Below are some key ingredients to achieve a healthy glow…. read more

Kiwifruit is a versatile food which can be eaten alone or added into many recipes. It is native to China but now plentiful in other areas around the world including New Zealand, Italy and California. Though relatively small in size, this fruit is packed with vitamin C, manganese and potassium as well as numerous other beneficial compounds and active health benefits. They can help with many ailments including depression, diabetes and macular degeneration and support cardiovascular health. They also contain actinidin, which is a protease that can be useful as a dietary supplement. Kiwis also contain enzymes that can break… read more

As the cold winter winds start to blow our skin starts to redden and chafe. Dry skin can leading to itching and irritation. Rather than letting the weather get under your skin, protect it before hand. Doing so not only prevents such harm but replenishs your skin as well. This can be done without stocking up on commercial creams and lotions. In many cases you needn’t even a recipe to create a natural alternative. One of the simplest and most effective ways to soften rough skin is to apply cocoa butter. The pure extraction of cacao beans, cocoa butter is a natural fat with a creamy,… read more

We know that rice is a healthy addition to a balanced diet. However, it can nourish you externally as well. This is done by applying rice to your skin. Doing so replenishes your skin with vitamins, giving it a luminous glow, while shielding your skin from sun damage. One of the most common ways to apply rice to the skin is in powdered form. Rice powder can be applied in a thin layer beneath foundation or even replace powder foundations altogether. Some beauty supply stores carry rice powder, but you can just as easily make your own. If you have a coffee grinder or food processor handy, use it on… read more