Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Friday, November 28, 2008

The Green Beauty Guide

We've discussed a number of times on this blog alternatives to beauty care products that not only reduce your impact on the environment by using less packaging and less chemicals, but also on reducing your cost.

Well, in this new book, The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances, author Julie Gabriel goes into great detail discussing not only the effects that synthetic products have on your body but she also shares with her readers organic alternatives that are affordable. She also details how to spot organic frauds and gimmicks since those are abounding like crazy with everyone jumping on the greenwashing bandwagon.

This book is chock-full of recipes for making your own cleansers, toners, facial scrubs, skin care, shampoos, conditioners, baby care and even sunscreen. Interspersed between the recipes is information on off-the-shelf products which lets you know the inside scoop on not only their ingredients but their effectiveness.

Now, normally, this is where I say that I'm doing a book giveaway, but I think this one's a keeper. Do not despair, however. If I find something I really like from the book you can be sure that I'll share it with you! Here's one to get you started:

Hand Rescue Cream

1/2 ounce beeswax
Juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

1. Melt beeswax in pan. 2. Add lemon juice and oils and stir with a wooden spoon until blended. 3. Transfer to a jar. Shake occasionally until the cream is cooled and uniform.

Don't forget to sign up for my Thanksgiving giveaway for $75 from Amazon!

Related posts:
Sustainable hair removal
Coconut oil hair conditioner
Sustainable shampoo

12 comments:

Marimoy said...

Ooh! More of these please! That sounds like it will work swimmingly.

Green Bean said...

Ahhh man, first Burbs hoards the book than you! It does look really awesome.

scifichick said...

This sounds really good! I hope there are more recipes that use just regular household stuff. I don't really have beeswax lying around the house, but maybe I should get some.

Anonymous said...

Oooh, I've been looking for something like this! My boy loves using Clearasil for his face because it's invigorating and has exfoliating beads, but I can't STAND it... I want to try and make a homemade one that's comparable, but not sure where to start. Is there a recipe in there that might work? Maybe I'll buy a copy, just for my growing green book collection...

Jenna said...

I've been hearing good things about this book all over. Looks like I've got something to add to my Christmas list.

By the by... any good suggestions for where to buy essential oils?

Nancy said...

Thanks for the lead on the book AND the "recipe". Very cool~

Nancy

http://nancyluvspix.blogspot.com/2008/11/q-t-pies.html

Oldnovice said...

I don't even keep lemon juice around the house, let alone beeswax and/or essential oils.

The baking soda and vinegar work to some degree on household cleaning chores, but failed miserably (as far as I'm concerned) as shampoo/conditioner or anything else associated with beauty products.

There's also a tradeoff here that must be considered. Shampoo (and I'm one who's apparently become addicted to the "for dandruff sufferers" varieties, having used them now for 40+ years without ever a cure, but certainly some sortof control) can be obtained quite inexpensively within a short walk of my home. Beeswax (and/or essential oils) would require at least a 20 minute car ride both ways and maybe result in a poor substitute that would be ignored in favor of the stuff that actually does something.

Great avatar there, Vanessa. I hadn't noticed it before.

Robj98168 said...

I keep telling you gals- I don't need beaty tips- You'all just hate me because I am beautiful; Although this looks like it woulf be great for my hands after working outside- minus the lavendar oil- do they make an Old Spice essential oil? Hai Karate???

Anonymous said...

Could you use pal oil instead of the beeswax. Just curious.

Crunchy Chicken said...

Rachel, darling, I have no idea what pal oil is, but since it's an oil it probably wouldn't work. The beeswax works as some sort of emulsifier in this concoction, making it thicker rather than drippy. So, if you like your hand cream to be actually a hand oil, then go ahead and use your pal oil.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm not only stupid in real life but on the internet too. Makes a girl feel like a rockstar. I meant palm oil. It's the latest craze in candle making so I was wondering if you knew if its properties were transferrable. I will ask the candlemaker.

Crunchy Chicken said...

Faux - If palm oil is solid at room temperature, it will probably work. If it's as hard as beeswax at room temperature, even better.