New to using natural products

[Mary]

Hi all,
I think I'm finally ready to start learning how to use natural products around the house and for body, skin, and hair care. Any suggestions for where to start?

A few questions for those who use natural things...
1. What do you use for shampoo? conditioner?
2. What do you use for lotion (or in place of lotion)?
3. What do you use for soap?
4. What do you use for deodorant? 

Thanks!

[Erin]

Excellent question, Mary! 

I know that The Paleo Mom has reviewed Vintage Traditions Body Balm, Morrocco Method hair care in the past. But she also has a post about "no poo".

Personally, I run products through the EWG.org/skindeep first and check to see how they rate and go from there. I *might* be a little neurotic, but it usually saves me from having to search Google for every ingredient to see if it is safe. There is also a lot of green washing and marketing ploys out there and I've fallen for it a time or two.

Anyhoo, up until recently I dabbled with no poo {both the baking soda/ACV rinse and just water}. My scalp didn't do well with baking soda and diluted ACV though my hair loved it. I did okay with just the water. The most annoying part is riding out the greasy period. Ponytails... I recently started using Pine Shale shampoo by Morrocco Method and their Euro Natural Oil Conditioner. So far I like it fine, yes the shampoo is spendy, but it is super concentrated and I only wash my hair every 3 days. The girl math works in my favor.

For deodorant, I use/carry Tom's deodorant {not antiperspirant} with me, but I'm nearly out so I ordered Primal Pit Paste to try. We'll see how that works! I may just end up making my own if I like it

For bar soaps, I buy natural/organic soaps from farmers market. I have used Tropical Traditions' organic coconut oil soap before, too. But I do make my own foaming hand soap using Dr. Bronners.

For lotion, I'll either use olive oil or coconut oil {I no longer use coconut oil on my face though}. I also use olive oil to remove makeup {on the rare occasion that I wear it} and I do oil cleansing.

I realize that was a wall of text, sorry! But hopefully it helps

[abtacha]

1. For the last two month or so I experimented with baking soda and apple cider vinegar. For the last two weeks I used 1 tbsp. BS and 1 tbsp. honey mixed with 1.5 cups of water as shampoo and two tbsp. white wine vinegar as conditioner every three days. This week I got myself some Morrocco Method and am trying that.
Anyways, what ever you read other people here are doing you basically have to try it out on your hair. I read somewhere that applesauce masks are THE cure for oily/waxy hair and it didn't work for me at all.
2. I use olive oil (the same kind I put on my veggies)
3. I'm still using normal hand soap but will probably switch to washnut soap some time soon. For the body I use water and some BS and ACV under my arms.
4. Right now I'm using one of those crystal sticks but am looking around for other recipes that work.

If you don't like the vinegar smell you can also try lemon juice. That does go bad though after a couple of days if you keep it in the shower. It lasts longer in the fridge.

Whatever you decide to start with see it as a journey. It's very unlikely that you will try one thing and works perfectly (if you do I will be so jealous )

[Mary]

Apr 17, 2014 16:40:29 GMT -5 Erin said:

Excellent question, Mary! 

I know that The Paleo Mom has reviewed Vintage Traditions Body Balm, Morrocco Method hair care in the past. But she also has a post about "no poo".

Personally, I run products through the EWG.org/skindeep first and check to see how they rate and go from there. I *might* be a little neurotic, but it usually saves me from having to search Google for every ingredient to see if it is safe. There is also a lot of green washing and marketing ploys out there and I've fallen for it a time or two.

Anyhoo, up until recently I dabbled with no poo {both the baking soda/ACV rinse and just water}. My scalp didn't do well with baking soda and diluted ACV though my hair loved it. I did okay with just the water. The most annoying part is riding out the greasy period. Ponytails... I recently started using Pine Shale shampoo by Morrocco Method and their Euro Natural Oil Conditioner. So far I like it fine, yes the shampoo is spendy, but it is super concentrated and I only wash my hair every 3 days. The girl math works in my favor.

For deodorant, I use/carry Tom's deodorant {not antiperspirant} with me, but I'm nearly out so I ordered Primal Pit Paste to try. We'll see how that works! I may just end up making my own if I like it

For bar soaps, I buy natural/organic soaps from farmers market. I have used Tropical Traditions' organic coconut oil soap before, too. But I do make my own foaming hand soap using Dr. Bronners.

For lotion, I'll either use olive oil or coconut oil {I no longer use coconut oil on my face though}. I also use olive oil to remove makeup {on the rare occasion that I wear it} and I do oil cleansing.

I realize that was a wall of text, sorry! But hopefully it helps

Thanks for the info, Erin! 

What is oil cleansing?

[Mary]

Apr 19, 2014 15:35:30 GMT -5 abtacha said:

1. For the last two month or so I experimented with baking soda and apple cider vinegar. For the last two weeks I used 1 tbsp. BS and 1 tbsp. honey mixed with 1.5 cups of water as shampoo and two tbsp. white wine vinegar as conditioner every three days. This week I got myself some Morrocco Method and am trying that.
Anyways, what ever you read other people here are doing you basically have to try it out on your hair. I read somewhere that applesauce masks are THE cure for oily/waxy hair and it didn't work for me at all.
2. I use olive oil (the same kind I put on my veggies)
3. I'm still using normal hand soap but will probably switch to washnut soap some time soon. For the body I use water and some BS and ACV under my arms.
4. Right now I'm using one of those crystal sticks but am looking around for other recipes that work.

If you don't like the vinegar smell you can also try lemon juice. That does go bad though after a couple of days if you keep it in the shower. It lasts longer in the fridge.

Whatever you decide to start with see it as a journey. It's very unlikely that you will try one thing and works perfectly (if you do I will be so jealous )

Thanks for answering my questions.

Yeah, I just haven't had the will power to experiment and explore using natural things. There's just so much to figure-out! I already feel like food requires so much prep, but now that that has gotten easier, hopefully I will start experimenting with this soon. 

[Erin]

Apr 22, 2014 12:51:53 GMT -5 Mary said:

Oil cleansing is a method to deeply cleanse your skin. www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

[elleneliza]

I'm in the process of using up products and will be experimenting with natural stuff and DIY recipes.

Shampoo: I'm going to try this recipe from Wellness Mama (love love love this blog): wellnessmama.com/3701/how-to-make-natural-shampoo/

Face wash: going to try oil cleansing with coconut oil

Moisturizer/Lotion: I just bought some grassfed tallow balm from Etsy. It hasn't come yet. I'm so excited!

Shaving cream: using coconut oil currently; it's working okay.

Deodorant: I use Crystal stick in summer when I wear a lot of tanktops- it works awesome, even when I'm active and sweating. It doesn't work so well in winter when I wear layers, though. I use Mitchum in the winter, but I hope to not do so next year. www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/crystal-crystal-stick-body-deodorant-4-25-oz-stick-s/ft-1004?sourceType=sc&source=FG&adGroup=40-60&keyword=FT-1004&cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Product+Listing+Ads-_-40-60-_-FT-1004&gclid=CNSbgPbm970CFbFaMgodlCkAPA&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Stell]

I still haven't moved away from commercial shampoo.

For soap I use....soap. Dr. Bronner's liquid or bars, handmade soaps (not the melt-and-pour kind,) Alaffia black soap, even Ivory. Ivory is just sodium tallowate - tallow saponified with sodium hydroxide. Basic soap right there. Nothing objectionable in the slightest.

For face cleansing, I usually just use Alaffia black soap and a microfiber cloth....but I've always had good skin, so that probably wouldn't work for everyone. I moisturize with emu oil.
My daughter has terrible breakouts, so was using Proactiv for a long time with no appreciable improvement. Her skin has improved greatly since she switched to the black soap, but even more so since she's started with the oil cleansing. She uses 30% castor oil, 70% sunflower oil.
We also use Fat & The Moon's Light as a Featha Cleansa available on etsy. She has a pretty sweet selection of natural stuff.

I'm a potter, so I make my own hand salve from lanolin, Shea butter, and coconut oil. It's pretty oily, though. Great for at night! Otherwise, never bothered with lotion. Icky stuff.

For deodorant, I make my own pit paste.
1 part coconut oil
1 part Shea butter
2 parts arrowroot powder
1 part baking soda
1 part kaolin clay
Essential oil for scent
Just stir it all up together. The oils need to be softened, but not melted. Just stir and stir 'till it's all smooth. Store in a glass jar. A little swipe of paste under each arm and rubbed in does the trick.

[Mary]

Wanted to say thanks again for the input. I just referred back to this today, and decided to try some Morrocco Method. I may try some of the other suggestions at some point...little by little.

[masonjones5711]

Hey there!



Exploring natural products is a great idea! For shampoo and conditioner, try ones with coconut or argan oil. Shea butter or almond oil work wonders as lotion substitutes. Look for soaps with olive oil or castile soap, and for deodorant, consider options with baking soda or coconut oil.



By the way, if you ever need help with essays or assignments, I've had a great experience with write my paper. Give them a try if you need academic assistance!