Update: Natural Body Care
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | June 17, 2008
I wanted to update ya’ll on the state of affairs here at Casa Jenn, specifically, the various choices I’ve made towards greening up my body care.
Deodorant: I don’t often use deodorant, mostly because I don’t often remember to apply it- but when I do, the Tom’s of Maine unscented stuff works pretty well, even in the summertime. Take my recommendation with a grain of salt, however, as Team Tiny Choices is not particularly adverse to the smell of sweat. I do want to try using baking soda, but kind of keep forgetting to give it a shot.
DIY Toothpaste: Back in February I mentioned wanting to try making my own toothpaste- and after a short wishy-washy, is-this-dangerous?, delay, I mixed up a batch. I don’t remember the exact proportions I used but I sure do remember that it was WAY too salty. I tossed out 3/4 of it and added more baking soda and vegetable glycerine to the jar, along with a drop or two of Peppermint and Tea Tree oils, et voila, I’m in love with my DIY toothpaste. I’m just now nearing the end of the batch, and next time- no salt! Bleh! Also, I’ve been using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, and I swear to you that my teeth are whiter and brigher.
Face Washing: I’d been addicted to Lush’s “Angels on Bare Skin” facial scrub ever since I spent a junior-year semester in England, and I’d been overjoyed when the chain finally made its way to the city that never sleeps. I wrote about them last September and shared my love… but that love has recently faded. I now find their products way too perfumed and smelly, and have taken to washing my face with plain ol’ baking soda. I find it to be a gentle yet slightly burley exfoliator, and it makes my skin nice and smooth. Easy Peasy, for sure! Karina has mentioned her favorite oil face washing method, which I haven’t tried, and I admit kind of scares me, but I’ve heard wonderful success stories about it.
Body Moisturizer: I’ve mentioned previously that I tend to use straight-up oil as a body moisturizer, and that’s still working for me. In the summer I prefer the lighter Jojoba oil, and in the winter Almond oil works better. Thanks to Karina, I’m now using pure shea butter as both a facial and body moisturizer and I just love the stuff! Absolutely pure, and absolutely decadent.
Hair Care: I admit to not yet replacing my current regular curly-girl shampoo and hair gel with a more natural version, but Karina has had a whole lot of success by switching out shampoo for a baking soda + apple cider vinegar wash. My apparent vanity makes me sad.
Facial SPF: Ya’ll were so helpful on my recent plea for a naturalish SPF 30! I went out and bought the Nature’s Gate stuff, which seems to be fine, and I’m reasonably comfortable (but by no means thrilled) with its 3-out-of-10 toxicity rating on the Cosmetics Database. A few hours after application I do end up with a slight taste of sunscreen in my mouth, but I’m wondering if that’s due more to my slopping slathering than the brand itself. So far, so good.
Have you made any green body care changes lately? Or, are there any that you’re contemplating?
[Image by Helga's Lobster Stew via Creative Commons]
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I just switched to the thai deodorant crystal, which is highly recommended by my acupuncturist and so far, 1 week in, seems to be quite effective. I tried oyin handmade’s funk butter and really liked it, but the baking soda is harsh on my sensitive and apparently delicate armpits, and I can only use it every other day or so. I also bought their honey-hemp conditioner, and I love it. I find that while my hair isn’t that curly, it really does get dried out. I haven’t used the vinegar/baking soda hair care for a while, it’s just way too time consuming, and I’ve been using a lush shampoo bar. I can’t wait to try my new oyin grand-poo bar though!
Wow, Oyin looks like a wonderful brand! Did you order stuff online, or run across them somewhere?
Ordered it online. I am not sure the shampoo bar will work out for me, plus I have some of the burnt sugar pomade? want to try it?
Just took a looksee at the products, and not sure they’re right for me, either. But thanks! I’m sure you can find a good home somewhere for them…
I recently made the switch to bar shampoo. I love it! I found it at Soapalaya Soaps on etsy. It’s fragrance free, and is a vegetarian soap. While I do have to have it shipped, (she’s from Louisiana), I feel that it’s still less distance than most of the bottled stuff, and it doesn’t have any packaging save for the paper envelope it comes in (recycle!).
My hair USED to be curly (long story about getting pregnant) and I totally understand the fuss that comes with that. While I still have some curl left, the shampoo bar works great, and dry out my hair at all.
Hey Nikkapotamus- I’ve always been curious about bar shampoo, so glad to hear the good review! I don’t really use shampoo at all, mostly, but if my hair ever goes straight again (yours went from curly to straight, mine from straight to curly!) I’ll give it a shot.
I love love love bar shampoo! it’s so easy to use, and so economical, and also so much less plastic.
I’ve switched back to bar soap for my face and body. It amazes me how much longer it lasts! I’m thinking of switching to bar soap for my hair once my current shampoo bottle runs out.
Hydrogen peroxide? That’s too brave for me!
Hey Nicole- great that bar soap doesn’t dry out your face, as it’s certainly a convenient way to wash!
And re: hydrogen peroxide- I dated someone who used it as a tooth-whitening solution (that was kind of his thing), and I thought he was totally over the top. Now that I’ve tried it myself, I’m kind of hooked. :)
wow, what is your hydrogen peroxide trick? do you dilute or use it full strength?
Full strength, just swish it around in my mouth until it gets too foamy and I have to spit it out. Fun!
Ever since I read about the “microbeads” in my face scrub I’ve been planning a change… so far I’m buying locally made bar soap instead of plastic bottles of body wash. Will find something else to use for a face scrub after the stuff I have now is gone… I’m horrified to know what’s in it but too cheap to toss it.
I am having the same issue with my face scrub. I am thinking of changing once I finish it up. Also, it contains salicylic acid in it, which is what I want, i.e pimple stuff to get on in there thanks to the exfoliation. I happened across a Burt’s Bees scrub that has willow bark in it, which is a natural source for salicylic acid.
[...] Tiny Choices talks natural body care. [...]
I’ve been using soap from seller PixieSoap on Etsy, who only lives a few towns away from me… she has a lot of very nice scents, and some very plain soaps, too. Right now I’m waiting for the arrival of my first lotion bar (shipping in a tin that she will refill upon request, rather than sending another tin) and shaving soap.
Speaking of shaving, just yesterday I bought a Preserve razor handle and some blades. Unfortunately, I don’t think the blades actually come from recycled materials (though the handles do), but I feel better supporting that (a) is local (they’re in MA, not far from where I live), (b) doesn’t test on animals, (c) recycles & uses recycled materials as much as possible and (d) uses minimal packaging. I use their toothbrushes, too….
…and on that note, since I read that post on toothpaste, I decided it was time to try something new (even though I was using Tom’s, which I guess is better than most). Lazy as I am, rather than concocting a new toothpaste myself, I decided to just use baking soda… and I love it! My gums were a little sensitive at first, but now I’ve gotten quite used to it, and the baking soda has removed a lot of plaque. I still need to go to the dentist’s to make sure I haven’t screwed anything up, though.
I’ve also switched to (mostly) Badger balm instead of lotion, at least for my hands. So nice for cuticles! I’ll let you know how the “lotion bar” works out, too.
I’m still trying to figure out the shampoo-or-not-to-shampoo issue. I only wash my hair every other day, which has always worked for me. I’ve also tried to wash hair with soap bars but it can cake on if you don’t rinse really, really well. Next I’ll try to buy a shampoo bar from somewhere, though I haven’t been able to find them at Whole Foods or any other “natural” stores I’ve been to in my area.
I guess I’ve made a lot of tiny choices!!
Wow, Brandy, lots of tiny choices! I’ve been meaning to try just using baking soda, and am glad to get your good review of it. It’ll be especially handy while travelling, when I can just bring a small tin of it along as my facial scrub and toothpaste!
a preserve razor with replaceable blades? tell me more!
Yeah, I meant to email you…after we talked and the blurb on their webpage seemed to imply that they are use-a-few-times-and-then-mail-them-to-us…I saw some reusable blades in the store, despite the non-mention on their website. So, viola! they do have replaceable heads. Tell me if you want me to get you some. I also found the lurvely toothpaste we love so much from the coop in pittsburgh at the same store!
i’ve got one of these guys: http://www.recycline.com/triplerazor.html
but the doubles have replaceable blades, too.
nothing too innovative about them, i guess… just like any other razor with replaceable blades. (i was using my venus for a long time before, but these are cheaper-plus all the reasons i mentioned above.)
just to follow up-the lotion bar is great for hands, but a bit too solid for body.
also, i found a really great shampoo bar at a whole foods in boston yesterday by J. R. Liggett. it is made with vegetable oils and no detergents, which means most people (like me) don’t need to use conditioner afterwords. i just used it this morning and i love it so far! my hair feels nice and clean, not oily like you might expect. also, this shampoo lathers like crazy. :)
ps: the shampoo bar is made in NH, which makes it pretty close to being local for me.
I switched to a crystal deodorant that I love on most days. Really sweaty days, not so much. I also switched to Tom’s fluoride- and SLS-free toothpaste in spearmint and I really like it. I can’t do hydrogen peroxide rinses because of some dental work I had done (implants, gum work).
I’ve had such a hard time finding a natural/non-toxic facial sunscreen, too! I’m currently using Mexitan’s SPF-50 formula. A much lower rating by the Cosmetic’s Database compared to the Neutrogena I was using. And you get more in the bottle for your money vs. the Nature’s Gate one. It goes on a bit white, so you have to really rub it in. So far, it’s something, but not ideal by any means.
I wash my hair with baking soda/cider vinegar rinse. I have curly hair and that works well. I did just cut it really short to save on time, etc. I also use a tiny bit (like the size of a pea) of honey with water as a gel. Not sure how that’d work with longer hair, though. And no, it doesn’t attract bugs to my hair.
I also use baking soda as a facial/body scrub. I agree on the very smooth skin. Haven’t thought of making that my only “soap”, though. Might have to try it.
Here’s the link on the Mexitan sunscreen. It’s rated 1 out of 10 in effectiveness at the Cosmetic Database (that’s very good). I got it at my local food coop. You can purchase it online, too.
Thanks so much for this info, Erika! I’m glad to know there’s a pretty good sunscreen option out there!
I have to admit, I’m not quite up to the whole homemade toothpaste, baking soda face wash level of commitment. I have really sensitive skin, alas, but I do try to get things that I trust are safe-not always an easy task.
I get a lot of face stuff from a mother daughter small business in Iowa: http://www.prairielandherbs.com/
They grow all their own herbs and get a lot of ingredients fair trade. They make almost everything and personally know the people who make all the other stuff, so you know you’re getting something you aren’t afraid to use. The only problem is the shipping issue, but I think they’re worth it.
I use the dead sea soap, the dryer sachets, and the sweetgrass room spray.
Hey Beth- so lovely to support a woman-owned small family business, and that one sounds divine. You go on with your tiny-choosing self!
Oh my gawd! Homemade toothpaste is an awesome idea! Thanks so much for sharing. I have been wanting to be rid of my Tom’s toothpaste and was having the hardest time finding another gluten free brand of natural toothpaste (i have celiac disease)… but if i made my own it would be 100% gluten free! yay!
On the note of deoderant and shampoo and such things, I haven’t used any of them in over 6 years. I squeeze a fresh lemon in my hair every once and while and rinse. I am not opposed to natural sweat, BO, or other smells- it’s the perfumey stuff that gags me.
Hey Leslie! Glad to share the natural-teeth love. Let me know how you like it, if you give it a shot! Lots of folks just use straight-up baking soda, as well, which is super easy.
If the homemade isn’t for you, I use this brand and LOVE it (I’m gluten-free,too): http://www.auromere.com/natural_toothpaste.html
Mouth: I use both homemade (don’t mind the saltiness) and Toms toothpaste, don’t use mouthwash, although I will try HO once or twice, just to see (when I get home from vacay).
Hair: Lush shampoo bar, but they have SLS and other stuff. My next one is going to be JT Liggett’s. I have really long hair, and apparently JTL’s stuff is good for that; no need for conditioner, although an ACV rinse is recommended by some. I’m using an organic Nature’s Gate conditioner now. I only wash every other day , max.
Face: Lush’s Dreamwash, which is sold as a body soap for sensitive skin, and seems to work well for me. If it like the JTL shampoo bar, I’m going to try their cleanser, next (again, to get away from the SLS); it seems to be mostly oils. I use baking soda as a scrub in the shower every other day. Love it. Best tiny choice I’ve ever made.
Body: Bar soap. I got a bunch of etsy soaps for Xmas, and I’m still going through those, but we usually use Kiss My Face soap in the shower (honey and olive oil)-recyclable paper wrap, no SLS, very few ingredients, smells/feels good. I have a commerical stick of deo/anti-p in the medicine cabinet, but I’ve quit using it the last month or so, with no ill effects. I don’t have the nerve to pitch it (part “what if I NEED it?” and part “that’s a perfectly good product; don’t throw it out”), so its just sitting there. I tried a crystal deo once and it made my pits rashy. Tried Lush’s Aromacreme, and while I thought it was pretty effective, I didn’t like applying it. I’m thinking I’m just going to be a little smelly/sweaty. Eh, whatever.
Still stuck on the Neutrogena SPF 45 moisturizer for my face (Kiss my Face lotion w/ SPF 15 for everyday on my body), but I’m looking into alternatives. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I’ve made my own soap and also made my own dish soap / laundry soap. I’ve been a dedicated lushie, but have recently become disenfranchised due to both the hype and the cost. I’m cheap and it kills be to pay 10 or more for a bar of soap.
I’ve done baking soda in the past for my hair but have never been really that happy with it. At this point I’d like to make my own shampoo
I’m a little late to this one, but I have to say that I love the topic!
I just switched to a crystal deodorant, and it’s either quite effective, or I can’t smell myself…
But as for the face, the Dr. Hauschka book recommends plain ol’ almond butter as a facial cleanser, and I’ve been using it for the past year. It’s working out great for my sensitive and slightly oily skin, as it gently exfoliates and rinses well.
I use Dr. Bronner’s on my body, and some sort of environmentally friendly shampoo and conditioner on my hair (the brand escapes me at the moment). No product on the hair afterward.