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I started in the month of December to think about our household cleaners and detergents. How can we simplify these things? How can I clear the "cleaning clutter" under every sink? How can we save on expensive laundry and dishwashing detergents, hand soaps, and dish soaps? Well, that journey has been VERY productive and beneficial to my family so far and you can learn all about it in this post here.
What I didn't expect at the time was how my new found knowledge about household cleaners and chemicals would spill over into my personal hygiene! The more I learned about simplifying our household cleaning regimine, the more I learned about ways to simplify my personal hygiene regimine, ditching the dozens of beauty products I currently buy/store/consume, and sticking to just a handful of basic, time-tested ingredients! What if by using FEWER products, I could clear up my blemishes, smooth and tone my skin, moisturize and firm my face, and enjoy beautiful and healthy hair, skin, teeth, and nails?
Well, cue the entry of my new found love...COCONUT OIL!! Seriously, after Jesus, my family, and my friends, I absolutely love this stuff! Over the past month, I have seriously used this to clean and moisturize my face, polish my teeth, treat my hair, shave my legs, and I can't forget about simply eating it and using it as a coffee creamer (and if I were more adventurous in the kitchen, I'd use it in a mean Asian stir-fry or a luscious pineapple upside-down cake, but I digress...)
Check it out--this is my face yesterday with NO makeup on my skin. Just some eye makeup and lip gloss. No eye creams, concealers, foundation, powder, blush, NADA. I swear, it looks like I had Botox on my forehead and my skin is soft, clear, even, toned, and firm. Cool.
As far as coconut oil goes, you can honestly find it anywhere--grocery stories, Walmart, Target, BJs, Sam's Club, Costco, etc. You will want to look for any of the following buzz words on the label: "unrefined," "virgin," "organic," "cold-pressed." I have used refined but it lacks the coconut smell because it has been bleached and deodorized (ewww!) but if you HATE the smell of coconut like my son, give it a try. Coconut oil is rather strange in that it is SOLID at room temperature. However, it has a melting point of 76 degrees F so it will melt quickly and evenly into your skin!
For practical use, I scooped out a large chunk of coconut oil straight from the jar/tub and placed it in a smaller (and prettier) jar in my bathroom drawer. This is what I use for cosmetic purposes. The original jar is stored in the kitchen for cooking and to plop a tablespoon into my coffee to consume for general health.
Okay, as a quick disclaimer, I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that you can use OIL to CLEAN your skin! I was always taught to avoid oil at all cost on your skin, especially your face! If you struggle with that concept, too, just push through and give this a try! Definately check it out and learn more here as to the "why" behind this method!
To wash my face in the evenings, I simply scoop out a tablespoon or so into my hand (it melts fairly quickly) and apply it to my dry face in circles. I pay special attention to removing my eye makeup and rub my lashes between my fingers with the oil. When I have done this for a bit, I then wash it off with several passes of a warm wash cloth to remove the oil. I do this same thing in the mornings, but it is quicker as I do not have on makeup and I simply step into the shower to rinse my face with the hot washcloth as the water is running. If I am not showering right away, I will coat my hair with coconut oil and wear it in a bun for a few hours, then shower and shampoo. It leaves your hair very silky and serves as great hair masque/oil treatment! I also use a little bit of coconut oil on my fly-away ends after I blow dry and style my hair. I have ditched all the smoothing gels, leave-in conditioners, and heat-protectant sprays I was using, and so far, my hair doesn't seem to be missing them. (NOTE: Summer aka humidity might tell a different story but we are a-ok for the winter so far!)
To moisturize my skin after I shower, I simply scoop out some more coconut oil, melt it between my palms, and coat my arms and legs with it. (I like to close my eyes and inhale and pretend I am on some exotic, far away tropical island paradise...but I digress...). For my face, I honestly like to use the fractionated coconut oil (FCO) best. This is liquid at room temperature and I keep it in an empty screw-top jar. It just seems lighter to me and less likely to clog my pores, but I think it is more of a mental thing with me. I add 5 drops of lavender and 5 drops lemon essential oil to approximately 4 ounces of the FCO. The lavender acts as an anti-inflammatory (eliminating red blotches, eczema, rosacea, etc) and has anti-septic qualities that prevent acne. Lemon is invigorating and has astringent qualities, too (bye-bye toner!). I also plan to add frankincense as this does wonders for wrinkles! In fact there are a lot of recipes that involve JUST the coconut oil and frankincense. It is a pricier essential oil (I've seen it over $90 a bottle!), but not too bad at Native American Nutritionals .
Lastly, check out these pearly whites! I can't believe how shiny and white my teeth are by "oil-pulling" with coconut oil in the the mornings! This is my mouth mid-afternoon, after 2 meals and 2 cups of coffee...
Okay, goofy picture I know! But my teeth have never been this plaque-free! I honestly have that just-home-from-the-dentist feeling every day now! What I do is simply scoop out a teaspoon or two of coconut oil from my bathroom jar, pop it into my mouth, chew it up until it liquifies, and then slowly swish it in my mouth as I step into the shower. You will want to do this for 15-20 minutes. Yes, you read that right: 15-20 minutes! And yes, the time MATTERS (I checked into that!). By spending at least half of that time in the shower, I am distracted enough so that it doesn't feel quiet like an eternity! And if your cheeks get tired, just SLOW DOWN! This is not a race :) After 20 minutes, I spit it in the toilet and flush (don't spit down the sink or you will clog your drains over time!) and then rinse my mouth out a few times with warm water to make sure all the oil (and germs!) are down the drain. Then I brush with an all-natural toothpaste like Tom's. To learn more about oil-pulling for oral health, check out this great article here!
There's so much more I am either in the process of trying or want to try soon! Shaving cream! Deodorant! Body wash! Sugar scrubs! If YOU have any great recipes or ideas, please let me know, too! It is fun to learn about it and give it a try together :)
So to review, here are all the products I have ditched to date....foundation, powder, wrinkle-cream, eye makeup remover, eye cream, face masque, hair masque, night cream, face moisturizer, face cleanser, toner, mouth wash, concealer, heat-styling spray, smoothing hair gel.
Money saved? Probably in the neighborhood of $40-50 a MONTH! But that is not going to re-line our own pockets!
What could the Lord do with $600 a year?? Now THAT is an exciting prospect....!
Give it a try yourself and let me know if you have any questions! If I don't have the answer, I will try to find them for you! God bless and as always, thanks for stopping by!
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