Have you ever been on a grocery store aisle, picked up daily stuff, and thought that you could make all of those products at home by yourself? You might have your reasons from reducing the amount of waste you create by stopping purchasing products with plastic packaging to cutting off some domestic expenses. Whatever your reasons are, believe it or not, your toothpaste and deodorant can be made from simple ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. The other reason to make your daily products at home is also to avoid the harsh chemicals and toxins notoriously found in commercial products.
In this modern era when daily product shopping can be done with a few mouse clicks away, these conveniences oftentimes come with a price that you can feel in your wallet as well as in your health. Surprisingly, there are plenty of popular products that you can make at home, and doing so often can save you some money, make your body healthier, and keep the environmental sustainability. In this blog post, I put together the list of my favorite homemade products (basically the ones that were easy enough and worth the time).
Toothpaste
According to this one article I refer from Business Insider, in recent years, one of the ingredients in the best-selling toothpaste has come under fire for causing cancer in mice. When this statement is under investigation, you can make your toothpaste with homemade ingredients that are easy and good enough to eat!
Simply mix 1/3 cup of virgin coconut oil with ½ cup of baking soda and 7 tbsp of xylitol, a natural sweetener. I like to add some essential oils to give the paste a little bit of nice flavor (mint and cinnamon will do the trick). Baking soda here is useful to balance the pH levels in your mouth and provide a mild abrasive to clean off stains.
Deodorant
I have very sensitive skin and deodorant brands I purchase in the pharmacy oftentimes cause mild irritation on my under arm and that’s when I opt to make my natural deodorant. It is gentler for your skin, better for the environment, and easy to make! I mix ½ cup of coconut oil with 1/3 cup of arrowroot powder that you can order specifically online plus 2 tablespoons of baking soda. To keep me smelling good and fresh, I add lavender or grapefruit essential oils. Remember that you can adjust the number of ingredients above to create the right consistency of the deodorant.
Lotion
I usually take 1/3 cup of cocoa butter and melt it on low heat until it becomes liquid. Then I mix it with 1/3 cup of coconut oil until combined. Then mix 1/3 cup of shea butter, preferably in a blender. Since my skin is mostly oily and most of the lotions I use always end up being greasy on my skin, I like to add 2 oz of melted beeswax. I prefer my lotion to be fragrance-free but some drops of essential oils can be added to create your favorite type of smell. After you mix it all, let the mixture sits overnight in the fridge and the next morning you will get a nice homemade lotion with a thicker consistency that allows you to save up for some other times!
All-purpose cleaning solution
This magic mixture is almost guaranteed to be your all-purpose cleaning solution! Mix 1 cup of warm water with ¼ cup of baking soda or ¼ cup of white vinegar. Both the baking soda and the vinegar cut through grease, so this simple solution can be used for cleaning surfaces, glass, floors, and windows.
For deeper cleaning, you can use undiluted white vinegar or a higher ratio of baking soda to water. The advantage? This cleanser won’t contain the toxic ingredients found in commercial cleaning solutions or leave behind residue or chemical smell. Like the other recipe, you can always add an essential oil like lemon and lavender. Also, this recipe is highly cost-effective compared to commercial cleaning products.
Homemade bug repellent
I live in a tropical country where mosquitos can completely ruin an evening outdoors and chances are you probably would be in the same scenario where bugs can get annoying. Spraying commercial bug repellent feels like spraying poison all over my body and most of the brands tend to make my skin dry so I kind of thinking of switching to more natural products.
Fortunately, there are natural oils that repel bugs without all of the nasty chemicals. Simply mix about a cup of distilled water with 14 drops of citronella essential oil and 14 drops of Purification essential oil (a blend of natural mosquito repellents like lemongrass and rosemary). Pour into a small spray bottle and shake before each use. Spray it generously on your body and clothes but avoid your face. If you think it’s not effective enough, you can always add more essential oil. Oh, and be sure to label the bottle!
Homemade cold remedy
Mix 2 tbsp of organic apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp organic honey, and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and heat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Drink once a day as needed. This concoction will probably make you pucker, but it’s worth every bitter and sweet drop. It helps me a lot with a cold, sinus infection, and sore throat. If you plan on drinking this often, be sure to rinse your mouth out with water after to save the enamel of your teeth (since this mixture is very acidic!).
Homemade makeup remover
Just 3 simple ingredients! Tear-free baby shampoo, almond oil, and filtered water. Any skin-safe oil (coconut oil, olive oil, etc) can be used as a substitute for almond oil, but I personally always use almond oil because it is full of vitamin A, B, and E and isn’t as easy feeling as other oils. Almond oil can also reduce the appearance of dark circles and delay signs of aging. It’s also the perfect oil for skin and hair! Combine all ingredients in a small bottle and shake before each use. Use the cotton swab, ball, or pad to remove makeup, specifically around the eyes.
