~Eco-Friendly Living~

~Natural Beauty~

Many of the toiletries and cosmetics you use every day for personal hygeine contain detergents and chemicals that are harmful to the environment.  There are literally thousands of brands of shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes, creams, lotions and potions to choose from.  Some you buy from the supermarket, others only from department stores or very exclusive salons.  When you buy toiletries or cosmetics, look for simple ingredients and packaging.  Better still, why not try these natural homemade recipes?

Hair Care

Keep hair and scalp clean and healthy the natural way.

Nourishing egg shampoo.  Beat 1 egg  yolk, then slowly beat in 250ml of water.  Work mixture well into your scalp and hair using fingertips.  Rinse throughly (with lukewarm water - we don't want that egg to set!) and dry.

Egg and lemon shampoo. Make shampoo by blending juice of 1 lemon with 1 egg yolk.  This gives a natural gloss to your hair.

Family shampoo.  Save all your leftover pieces of soap or grate a fresh bar.  Boil in 500ml of water and simmer til the soap has dissolved.  When mixture has cooled, pour into a wide-mouthed container.  A few drops of essential oil can be added for fragrance.  When the mixture is cold it will form a jelly.

Conditioners for dry hair.

      Add a couple of teaspoons of plain yoghurt to the final rinse after shampooing.

      Shampoo your hair, rinse and towel-dry then apply about a tablespoon of mayonnaise to your scalp.  Work it through thoroughly and leave it on for about an hour.  Shampoo your hair once more using as little shampoo as possible, then rinse.

      For very dry hair, warm a small amount of almond, olive or peanut oil by putting it in a cup in a bowl of hot water.  When the oil is warm, apply it to your scalp using your finger tips or a wad of cotton.  Ensure a good spread by continually parting your hair and patting the oil along the parts.  Dip a towel in hot water, wring it out and wrap it around your head.  When the towel cools, redip it in hot water and apply again.  Do this about three times over a half-hour period, then shampoo and rinse your hair.

Hair Rinse for shine.  Add vinegar of lemon juice to the final rinse - this removes all traces of shampoo and adds a lustrous shine.  Vinegar is recommended on brunettes, lemon juice on blondes.  Use the citrus rinse if you have very oily hair.

Rosemary Herb Rinse.  Strip the rosemary leaves from the stems.  Place a heaped tablespoonful in a jug and pour on 300ml of boiling water.  Allow to steep for quarter of an hour.  Strain.  Use the strained liquid as a final rinse after washing your hair.

Herbal Rinses  To prepare herbal rinses, boil a handful of your chosen herbs in 500ml of water, bring to the boil, cool, then strain.  Or place a handful of herbs in the bottom of a bowl, pour boiling water over them, allow to cool and strain.  You can make any herbal rinse this way.  Make a large batch at a time.  Here are a few suggestions for herbal rinses: chamomile for blondes, sage for brunettes, rosemary for fragrance and lustre, thyme for fragrance; and lavender for fragrance and to condition the scalp.

Dandruff.  If you suffer from dandruff, first look at your diet and general health.  You may have a vitamin B deficiency.

      Quite often dandruff is stress related.  In this case, relaxation techniques will be far more effective then medicated shampoos.

      Rub bicarbonate of soda into dry hair to help clear up dandruff.  Massage a good handful into your hair and scalp, and rinse thoroughly in clear water.

      Strong herbal hair rinses including rosemary, thume or sage will also help.

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Eye Care

• Eye cleanser.  A warm, lightly salted water bath is the most soothing treatment for sore eyes.  To make a water bath, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 500ml of water.  Allow the liquid to cool.  Apply to your eyes using an eye cup, a cupped hand, an eye-dropper or a dab of cotton-wool.  Blink the liquid around your eyes.

• Pick-me-up for tired eyes.  Add 3 teaspoons of tea leaves to 250ml of warm water.  Dab the solution into your eyes using a cotton ball.

• Soothing compress.  Use grated raw potato.  Put grated potato between 2 layers of gauze or fine cotton and place over your eyes.  Lie down for 15 minutes for best results.

• Eyelash conditioner.  Condition your eyelashes from time to time by applying a little almond or olive oil to them.

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Hand Care

• Lemon juice.  Lemon juice is good for whitening nails and will help get rid of excess cuticle.

• Olive oil.  A few drops of olive oil are all you need to keep your hands soft and smooth.  Add some salt to the olive oil if your hands are particularly dry and rough.  Rub hands together and work the mixture gently into your skin for a few minutes.  Wash off with pure soap and warm water.  This mixture can also be used on other rough spots like elbows or feet.

• Oatmeal is a good soap substitute.  Pour some into your cupped hand and add enough water to make a rough paste.  Rub gently over your hands in a washing motion and rinse off with tepid water.

• Chapped hands.  If your hands are chapped, rinse them with a little vinegar every time you wash.  Don't rinse the vinegar off, just pat dry - the smell soon fades.  Or try rubbing chapped hands with the yellow side of lemon peel, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

• Glycerine.  A drop of glycerine worked into the skin gives a protective covering to the hands.  Hands must be dry when glycerine is applied.

• Hand lotion.  Combine equal parts of strained ripe tomato, glycerine and lemon juice.  Rub this mixture into your hands for a few minutes - rinse with tepid water.  Or mix equal amounts of honey, lemon juice, glycerine and olive oil together.  Keep in a sealed bottle.

• Sugar.  If you've spent the day in the garden or cleaning the garage you'll find the dirt comes off more easily if you add a tablespoon of sugar to your handwashing water.

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Lips, Teeth and Gums

• Lips.  Use almond oil to keep your lips smooth and free from chapping.

• Teeth.  Give your teeth a special clean by using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice.  Mix these two ingredients into a smooth paste and use in place of toothpaste.  Rinse out with cool water.

•       A mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water will bring your teeth to a brilliant white.  A few drops of peppermint oil can be added for a minty flavour.

• Gums.  Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a half glass of water as a naturally cleansing mouthwash.  This is also good for use after dental work or if you have sore gums.  In these cases, make the solution a bit stronger - try 2-3 teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water.  Eating raw crunchy vegetables is also good for keeping gums in good condition.

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Baths

There are times when your tired body screams out for a long soak in the bath.  Try these natural preparations to help soothe those aching muscles and calm frayed nerves or just to pamper yourself.

• Oil bath.  All sorts of oils can be added to your bath.  Try olive oil, almond or vegetable oil.  These are good for dry skin or after a day in the sun.

• Aromatic bath oils.  Use strongly scented flowers like roses and lavender; and add to therapeutic herbs like rosemary, lemon verbena, chamomile, mint and thyme.  Pour 1.5 litres of light, non-smelling oil into a large bowl.  Add as many flowers or herbs as the bowl will hold and saturate the petals or  leaves.  Allow to soak for 24 hours.  Remove flowers or herbs with slotted spoon and discard.  Add more fresh flowers or herbs to oil.  Repeat with 6 batches of flowers or herbs, then strain liquid through cheesecloth.

• Oatmeal bath.  An oatmeal bath is soothing and cleansing.  Tie your oatmeal in a piece of fabric or put it in the toe of a sock and place in the bath while you run the water.  Rub it over your skin for best results.

• Milk bath.  Milk softens and smoothes the skin.  Add a glassful to the bath water.  Milk baths are also good for sunburn.

• Salt bath.  A handful of salt added to your bath water is cleansing and toning.

• Herbal bath.  Herbal mixtures are very relaxing and produce a beautiful fragrance.  Tie herbs in a piece of cloth and place in the bath while you are running the water.

• Bath bags.  Dry and mix thoroughly in equal quantities lemon balm, rosemary, lavender leaves or flower spikes, eau de cologne and pineapple mint, philadelphus flowers or whatever else is available.  Make small bags or sachets of muslin or fine net, filled with the mixture and fasten.  Throw the bags into a hot bath to scent the water.

• Deodorant.  Bicarbonate of soda is an excellent anti-perspirant.  Apply with cotton-wool after your bath or shower while your skin is still slightly damp.  Rub some essential oil under your arms after bathing.

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Feet

• Soothing foot bath.  Soak your feet in a few litres of warm water mixed with a cup of bicarbonate of soda or salt.  Alternating your feet between hot and cold foot baths for 10-20 minutes is also soothing.

• Swollen feet.  Cut a potato in half an drub over your feet in a circular motion.  Let the potato juice dry and leave overnight.  This will help reduce swelling.

• Thyme foot bath.  Foot baths are both refreshing and restorative.  Pick a handful of fresh thyme or if only dried thyme is available, use 3 tablespoons.  Have your small tub ready and add 1 tablespoon of thyme and 1 tablespoon of sea salt.  Pour in enough boiling water to cover the feet.  Allow this to cool until comfortably warm, then soak your feet in it. 

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Facial Treatments

• Cleansing.  Milk is an excellent facial cleanser for delicate skins.  Apply with cotton-wool and leave for a few minutes.  Rinse off in lukewarm water.

• Deep cleansing.  Pour boiling water into a bowl and add the herb of your choice.  Lean your face over the steam and cover head and bowl with a towel.  Use mint leaves for toning and refreshing, chamomile to cleanse and calm, lemon peel and juice for a more astringent blend.  This deep cleansing method is best for oily skins.

• Olive oil.  Work a small amount of olive oil (almond oil can also be used) into your skin using finger tips.  

• Sunburn.  Plain yoghurt applied to burnt areas is very soothing.  Just spread it straight from the fridge, leave it for a while and rinse off in warm water.  Vinegar rubbed over burnt areas gives relief.

•       Rub raw cucumber over sunburn or make a lotion by peeling and mashing the cucumber and mixing with a little milk.

• Parsley Honey is excellent to treat an oily skin.  Take 100g fresh parsley and 2 teaspoons of thick honey.  Wash and remove the stalks from the parsley and chop finely.  Pound the parsley in a mortar until it is moist.  Add this to the honey.  Keep mixture in a jar in the refrigerator.  When required, spread it evenly over the skin.  Let the pack stay in place for 20-30 minutes, then sponge off with warm water.

• Fruit packs.  To make a fruit pack, mash fruit to a pulp and apply it.  Leave pack on for 15-20 minutes then remove with warm water.  Following are some recommended fruits and their benefits:

Facial masks

      Beat together 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Smooth mixture over your face and leave for about 20 minutes.  Wash off with warm water and pat dry.

      Smooth on plain yoghurt and leave for 15 minutes.  Wash off with warm water.

      Mix 1 cup of oatmeal, 60ml of water and 2 tablespoons of honey to a paste.  Apply all over your face.  Leave to dry then rinse off with warm water.

      Beat 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of honey til it thickens.  Apply and leave for about 10 minutes or until dry.  Rinse off with cool water.