Do It Yourself Body Care for the New Year

The (secular) New Year is here! For many, this is a time for resolutions. One resolution to consider is to make your own simple body care items rather than purchasing them at a store. Repurposing common household ingredients to make your own personal care products reduces reliance on petroleum based products (which contain fossil fuels, whose excessive use contributes to global warming). It also ensures that you are putting only natural ingredients on your body rather than artificial ingredients and chemical products. Making do it yourself body care products reduces waste as well, promoting the Jewish value of baal tashchit.

Below are a few simple recipes for make it yourself personal care products. Most use items commonly found in your kitchen. Enjoy.

• Do It Yourself Body Scrub: Use this scrub on your face or as a general body scrub. It works well as a moisturizer and exfoliating cream. Ingredients are 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup each of brown and regular cane sugar, a dash of lemon juice, a dash of vanilla. Mix ingredients together. Rub on skin while in the shower, massage, and rinse.
• Make Your Own Hair Conditioner: This simple recipe conditions well and is good for all hair types. Ingredients are 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 cup water. Combine ingredients in a clean repurposed squirt bottle. Double up on ingredients until you fill your bottle – the recipe above makes 8 ounces. Simply shake the bottle before each use and gently massage into the hair and scalp for a minute or two and rinse. After drying, your hair will not smell like vinegar.

• Do it Yourself Foaming Hand Soap: You will need an empty liquid soap dispenser. Ingredients are distilled or boiled water (enough to fill the dispenser except for one inch at the top); 2 tablespoons liquid castille soap; 1/2 teaspoon olive oil; essential oils of choice for scent (optional); Fill the soap dispenser with water to about 1 inch of the top (leaving room for the bulky foaming pump and the soap to be added).Add at least 2 tablespoons of liquid castille soap to the water mixture (NOTE: do not add the soap first or it will create bubbles when the water is added. Add the oil (optional but it helps preserve the life of the dispenser) and any essential oils if you are using them. Close and lightly swish to mix. Use as you would any regular foaming soap.

Resources: www.diynatural.com

www.wellnessmama.com

This blog originally appeared in jewishinstlouis.org at http://jewishinstlouis.org/body-care-new-year/

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