Making my own Make-Up

Did you know that I have been making my own skin care products for about a year and a half now and have even convinced Paleo Grandad to try a couple?  Besides the fact I am no longer putting a lot of chemicals onto and in my body, I have saved a lot of money which goes toward buying better quality food.

It didn't make sense to me to change my diet to healthier, unprocessed food and continue to dye my hair, take prescription medicine (or OTC pills), and rub chemicals all over my body.

I started with "no-poo" - I don't know who came up with that name - and then researched and made my own face cream, powder, face mask under-arm deodorant and toothpaste.  There are lots of recipes for eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow and blush, but I haven't tried those (yet!).  Mostly because my criteria for making my own products is that I don't have to spend a lot of money and already have the ingredients I need in my cupboard.  The "no-poo" (baking soda and apple cider vinegar) works well for me. 

I stopped dying my hair a few years ago when it finished going grey (see my picture above!) but was still using chemical shampoos which made my scalp break out and itch like crazy.  I switched to washing my hair with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar, alternating with chemical shampoo and gradually stopped using chemical shampoos altogether.  I got side-tracked once and used a shampoo for silver hair that actually made my hair greyish-yellow - not a good look.  Now I have now thrown out every chemical hair product I had and only buy baking soda and organic apple cider vinegar (I have worked it out to be less than $20 a year).  Here's how I do it.

No-Poo*

1. Wet your hair thoroughly.
2. Fill your cupped hand with baking soda (about 3 tablespoons) - I use Arm and Hammer, but any brand should work and sprinkle it over your wet hair.
3. Rub it in well - no foaming and its not slippery - which takes a little getting used to.  After all, if it doesn't foam (those chemicals at work), how can your hair be clean?  Trust me, it is.
4. After rubbing for a few minutes (as long as you would your chemical shampoo), rinse your hair well.
5. Now condition with the apple cider vinegar (I keep a bottle of half apple cider vinegar, half filtered water) in my bathroom.  You need about two tablespoons of the mixture poured over your hair and finger-combed through.  Don't rinse - you are not going to smell like a pickle, the smell is gone by the time your hair dries.

That's it.  I have short hair cut well enough that I can just let it air dry.  My hair is shiny and healthy and my scalp no longer itches!  *Note:  this method will not work for everyone (hi, Alannah!), but give it a try for a couple of weeks to see if it will work for you.  If it doesn't, there are a lot of "no-poo" recipes on Pinterest that you could try.  [See my Pinterest Board - DIY Granny]

My hairdresser kept trying to sell me (expensive) skin protects and I tried a few of her samples, plus many other brands, including Clinique, but they all made my skin break out and my pores clog.  Again I researched and experimented and came up with this moisturizer and I now have smooth skin, with (very) rare breakouts, fewer wrinkles and unclogged pores.  Here is my recipe.  Again, there are lots more on my DIY Granny board on Pinterest.

Face Moisturizer*

You will need an electric mixer, stand mixer, Nutri Bullet or stick blender for this - any of them will work.  I use the stick blender.

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil (I mine a large jar from Costco - the best price for coconut oil I have found).
• 1 tablespoon of shea butter (available from a health food store) - no additives
• 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil (available at a health food store)
• essential oil - lavender is good - optional [I use lavender flower hydrasol which I get from Galloways in Richmond)

1. Place the coconut oil in a blender glass for your stick blender (or whatever bowl for the type of mixer you are using).
2. Add the jojoba oil, shea butter and the essential oil or lavender flower hydrasol, if using.
3. Mix until the mixture is light and fluffy.  (Because coconut oil is hard at room temperature, it is going to go solid again.  Just take a bit out and warm it for seconds in your hand and it is ready to use.)
4. Put it in a small glass jar - I get mine at the dollar store.

You might think this would be greasy, but seconds after you rub it on your face, it has been absorbed and you can go ahead with the rest of your make-up (not you Paleo Grandad!). *Note:  You can also use this mixture for a face cleanser at night - cleanse and moisturizer at the same time.  If you are acne prone, you can also add a few drops of tea tree oil - not too many - it can be harsh on your skin.

Face Powder*

*I use all natural ingredients, but some people can be sensitive to them too - so you might want to do a skin test before using - the same applies to the moisturizer. 

• 1/4 cup arrowroot
• cinnamon
• cocoa powder
• jojoba oil (health food store)

Depending on your skin color, you can also add some turmeric for yellow.  I have a yellow tone to my skin, so I don't use it.

1. Start with the 1/4 cup arrowroot in a small bowl.
2. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (this is the red tone)
3. Start with 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder (brown
4. Mix everything together - careful, it tends to cover everyone in powder as you stir - we will fix that before we are finished.
5. If you need more red, add another pinch of cinnamon;  if you need it to be more brown, add more cocoa powder - test it on your wrist. 
6. Keep doing this until you get the color you want.
7. Once you are happy with the color, start adding drops of jojoba oil (Vitamin E oil would work too), stirring gently while you are adding it.  Stop when the mixture is just very slightly clumping.  The jojoba oil keeps the powder from flying all over - and on your clothes - when you are using it.
8. Put it in another dollar store jar.  Apply all over your face with a large brush.

I also make my own deodorant and toothpaste, which I will share another day.