In an ideal world we'd be making our with plants available in our local environment. We usually feel a pull back to our natural innocence when reconnecting to the unity of all things. I certainly feel it.

When it comes to products there is so much choice out there that it can be really overwhelming. Many things that claim to be natural are actually full of harsh chemicals. What we apply to our skin is a big one! I use as little as possible.

The health food store is a great place to start...

My favourite company is 'Green People'. I use their shampoo and conditioner. They aren't cheap, although everyone who uses their products will tell you that a little goes a long way. They are definitely worth it. http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/

I use Dr Bronners liquid soap. A 400ml bottle will last me for nearly a year! A few drops will cleanse my whole body. It has a multitude of other uses too. http://www.drbronner.com/

I haven't use them although I noticed that the Uretkram range of body products has minimal ingredients (big thumbs up) and is relatively inexpensive. http://www.urtekram.dk/

Look out for products that are free from:

parabens,
SLS (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate)
synthetic fragrances
chemical antioxidants,
Petrochemicals
propylene glycol,
harsh foaming agents
colourants

It’s also worth looking at products that you can fill up in store, reusing your bottles.

Toothpaste - Not always easy to find a good toothpaste free of all the nasties that tastes good too. So experiment. Flouride free is a great place to start.

You could try skin brushing with a purpose made skin brush. It exfoliates dead skin and stimulates circulation. An invigorating way to start the day and discharge any stagnant energy.

I haven’t used deoderant for as many years as I can remember. I have heard that there are some great alternatives in the health food store though. It would be great to hear if anyone else has any advice or thoughts?

I found this informative reference list from the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op that may be helpful in learning about what we apply to our body.

* Emollients: Emollients are added in numerous body care products, especially those meant for skin care, because these substances help in moisturizing the body surface.
- Chemical petroleum based emollients include hydrogenated oils, butyl glycol, mineral oil, monostearate dimethicone, oleth 2, paraffin, stearic acid, petrolatum, potassium stearate and octyl palmitate.
- Natural oils and waxes that you should look for as emolliating agents include almond oil, beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, shea butter and olive oil.
- You can also use certain natural oils with caution. These include cottonseed oil (cotton is often grown with pesticides and about 25% of the global pesticides and insecticides are used in cotton farming), peanut oil (it can cause allergic reactions on the skin, hence do not use products containing peanut oil if your are allergic to peanuts) and grapeseed oil (check the means of extracting the oil as solvent extraction is the most preferred way of extracting the oil).

* Preservatives: Preservatives are added not only in food products but also in cosmetic products as these are also susceptible to bacterial growth.
- Chemical or petroleum based preservatives include butyl paraben, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben and dazolidinyl urea.
- Natural preservatives include essential oils, vinegar, grain alcohol, honey, vitamins A, C and E and grapefruit seed extract (GSE).

* Fragrances: There is hardly any cosmetic product in the market that does not have an aroma. Organic essential oils are the most important source of organic fragrance additives.
- Synthetic fragrances include amyl acetate (banana scent), benzophenone (rose scent), coconut fragrance, cucumber fragrance, and various fruit fragrances. Consistent research in the field of chemical fragrances has enabled companies to develop synthetics that smell exactly like the natural products and if you don’t read the contents properly, you can easily mistake them for natural fragrances.
- Organic plant extracts that have strong fragrances include extracts from cedarwood, lemongrass, citronella, orange, eucalyptus, tea tree and fennel. Organic essential oils are so effective that they form the basis of aromatherapy which has been practiced in ancient civilizations since thousands of years and is now gaining rapid popularity.

* Solvents: Solvents form an essential part of all body care products. Solvents dissolve one or more substances and hence you get a uniform solution, cream or gel.
- Common synthetic or chemical solvents used in personal care products include acetone, propylene glycol, benzene, butylene glycol and hexane.
- Water is the most efficient solvent as it is neutral in nature. Water is added in many cosmetic products in varying proportions.
- Other natural solvents include apple cider vinegar and grain alcohol.

* Colorants: Since cosmetic products are primarily used for looks, looks of these products are also important. Colorants are hence added in body care creams, lotions, gels, etc., to ensure consumers don’t reject them due to a dull color.
- Synthetic colors are obtained from coal tar.
- Natural colorants include saffron, turmeric, annatto, paprika, caramel and beets.

Source: http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-cosmetics/organic-cosmetics/guide-fo...

With regard to deoderants here I would personally only recommend using a rock salt crystal which is as natural as you can get.
There are a few different options but think really they are all much and such. I use Bioforce's(vogel) one Crystal spring.
These salts just stop the bacteria growing without stopping your body carrying out its natural processes like sweating and releasing toxins.
If on the very odd occasion you really feel you need an anti perspirant, thursday plantation do a sports anti-persperant with zinc and tea tree instead of aluminium.
Hope this is helpful

As the magic of synchronicity would have it I did actually purchase the natural crystal stick and the tea tree deoderant (before reading this!).

Thank you for the help and advice I am excited about learning and trying some of these natural products.

I know this is going to sound a little weird but...

After I woke up, I strongly guided not to use an products on my skin what-so-ever. So I stopped using soap, shampoo and anything else.

I found that if you're eating a highly pure diet (vegan, sugar free, wheat free, mostly raw), the body tends to emit less toxin anyway and is able to clean itself.

Not only that, but I was very strongly guided to use my own saliva if I'd been sweating heavily. Just think about it for a moment...what better product to digest animal fat? Maybe that's why other mammals such as cats, dogs and rabbits do the same. Interesting that?!

On a related matter, did you know that when a baby is born it is covered head to toe by an amniotic creamy substance called "Vernix"? It is a natural antibiotic, protects against UV light and keeps the skin moist and supple. Do you know what health service midwives do with it? They clean it off!!!

It simply proves to me that we have all we need within us. When we stop polluting body and mind with society's unnatural behaviours, we find we begin to return to a much more healthy, balanced, centred and authentic way of being.

Here's to natural skin care!

Chris

Thank you for mirroring that Chris.

I am really feeling the energy of the foods I choose to eat at the moment so it will interesting to see how the body's requirements change as my diet shifts to more energetically nourishing foods.

Thank you for reminding me of how everything is interrelated and interconnected!

Jamie

Its 'global handwashing day' today apparently - while it seems improbable that such a thing could exist, I'm frankly not that surprised in this society either! Its probably quite a synchronistic idea too - what is society trying to 'wash its hands of' this time?! Could it be environmental responsibilities again or economic commitments perhaps?

still it highlights once again for me an interesting issue that has been bought to my attention more than once recently, and that is about how to live practically yet still Spiritually in this place: essentially how to live in Truth day to day. We live in what certainly appears as an unnatural world or society and in what could be considered an unnatural way (in comparison to the ways of Mother Earth and the Natural world). And while this society still exists it seems that the use of products and practices (such as using soap) that could also in some ways be considered unnatural is ACTUALLY sometimes appropriate/natural in order to live within society! If society were more in harmony with Mother Earth and the Universal flow, then a lot of these products would be obsolete or irrelevant, but as things stand at present it seems that some of them are still appropriate. While the idea of having a 'global handwashing day' initially seems a little bizarre(!), it does seem that something as simple as washing your hands well, especially before preparing food, after contact with animals etc, is a surprisingly effective tool in healthy living. I've seen people take it to obsessive levels though(!), but done in a balanced way it seems an effective practice.

If you do feel to use cleaning products in this way, it seems appropriate to use something that's going to have minimal negative impact on the environment and your body. Apparently around 60% of what you put on your skin ends up in the bloodstream - so its probably worth looking at the products you''re using!
Personally I use a simple, natural (plant based) soap which should have minimal environmental impact. It also usually contains essential oils. If you do any research on essential oils you can see how effective they are (both in trials and experientially) against various germs, parasites, bacteria etc, especially oils such as cinammon, tea tree, lavender, thyme, and so forth. They've been used for thousands of years. It seems to be that the use of such products in conducive to living in this place. Especially at the season changes (going into autumn for example) i feel its a worthwhile practice to be aware of.
Good natural solutions to cleaning around the home are things like boiling water(!), vinegar, pure essential oils again (only need a few drops as they're very concentrated), baking soda, borax etc. There are many alternatives to conventional cleaning products. and you can either DIY or buy ready made natural ones.

I think the idea of using what may at first appear as unnatural or artificial products or practices (albeit in a balanced way) also encompasses the use of things like vitamin and mineral supplements, super foods, various forms of technology etc. Sometimes it just feels appropriate to do so (in a balanced and authentic way), in order to live and work effectively in this society. I feel this can still be done while minimising environmental impact, and actually facilitate your walking the path in doing so. The important thing to look at is what resonates with you, and how you can incorporate what feels right in balanced and harmonious ways.

1. Soap - it's important for the soap not to be detergent.. This kind of soaps is sold in organic stores - ayurveda soaps, handmade natural soaps..just read the ingredients

2. Lotion for face:
# coconut milk - wash your face with it instead of water and soap, don't wash with water

# before going to sleep - rosemary and lavender (buy leaves and "make tea of them", cool and apply with cotton ball
# oil + lemon on cotton ball
3. Body cream - I apply oils (almond, apricot, grape seeds) on a wet body and then pat dry with a towel..It' possible to add ~2 drops of essential oils to 1/4 cup of a carrier oil and apply it for a liitle longer, massaging until you get dry without using a towel
(eucalyptus, lavender, rose, rosemary...
I'll add in the next comment what oils good for what)

It's also possible to add lemon juice or/and a yolk..

4. The best creams are hand-kitchen made...Here are some recipies:

The simplest cream:
apply oil (wheat germ, grape seeds, apricot) before sleep (with cotton ball or fingers) - It's good for body, face, eyes, lips

But! Don't use the same oil all the time, change or mix them at least once in a week

I.Fruit cream:

*2 table spoons of fruits (currant, quince,persimmon, lemon, strawberry or any fruit you'd like, but! non-allergen to you)
**Grind them together
***Add a yolk and keep grinding
****1 tea spoon of honey
*****1 tea spoon of oil (one of the carrier oils)
******stir well untill the consistency is homogenic and keep in the refrigerator, not more than 3 days

P.s: read the general instructions in the end of the comment

II.Normal to Comb. skin cream:

10 gr of beeswax
2 table sp. of rose water
1 table sp. of shea butter
EO - ylang-ylang, lavender, tea tree, patchuli,bergamot - you can mix them, but overall quantity must be <= to 20 drops

3 table sp. of almond oil

*Put beeswax and shea butter in a clay,porcelain or pyrex bowl, place it over a heat bath on fire or put over low fire directly (do not bring to boiling point) and stir gently
**At the same time (or right after you're done with the beeswax bowl) do the same to the rose water (if it's possible, even over the same bath) - don't forget to put it away before boiling point
***when the shea-beeswax is melt and homogenic add almond oil and stir (with wood stick or something small and clean enough)

**** when homogenic - get of the bath (fire) and put in the glass box for your cream

(for example some old one from some cream you bought in the past, it's important that the box is well washed,disinfected (alcohol) and dry, and has a good cover to isolate as much as possible from the environmnet)
*****add the rose water, very slowly, by drops while stirring, be careful from phase separation
******when the consistence is homogenic - add essential oils (a few drops) - lavender, rosemary and camomile are good as a natural preservants

cover and cool

store in a refrigerator up to a week

Apply small amount

III.Just cream:

1 table sp. beeswax
1 table sp. of any carrier oil
2 drops of lemon oil

preparation as usually, store in a refrigerator <= 2 weeks

III.Night cream:
1 yolk
1/4 cup of thick double cream (or a high fat sour cream)
1 tea sp. honey
3 drops of tea tree oils

store 2-3 days in a refrigerator

5. Eye cream:
1 table sp. of olive oil (castro or corn)
3 drops of vitamin E and 3 drops of vitamin A
Apply morning and evening, pat gaently andremove the excess with a napkin

Here come the general instructions:
1. First comes the melting process - beeswax + firm butter (milk butter, shea, cocoa butter) - it's good to do it over a steam bath or directly on the fire (carefully) while stirring
2. Then adding fluid oils while stirring
3. Waters (mineral, herbal teas, rose water..) - it's important that a water is of ~ the same temperature as the oils + the addition must be slow, drop by drop, while stirring
4. Then cool in a ice bath
5. And only after cooling add essential oils
6. Store in a refrigerator ~ 5-7 days
7. Don't take the cream with your hands, but with a stick (clean)
8. The box is better be glass made with a good lid (you can cut a paper circle to provide a good sealing)
9. Be careful with creams containing essential oils some of them are sun-sensitive and you may end up with burns (I'll tell about such oils in oils "chapter")

Have a nice coocking

1. 1 table sp of soda (baking) + 1 pinch of salt - you can prepare a 50 ml box of it

put your brush under water, then touch the "powder" with it and brush!

2. You can add a little water to it until it has a paste texture, then add essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, camomile, rosemary,mentha etc. or add a herbal tea to it until paste tex.

I have to say that since I started to clean with "natural" staff, the cleaning routine became much more fun - it smells great, it's not scarry if you had some drops get on your skin..it's a pleasure if you use essential oils and this is how you get a healthy inhalation while cleaning! (instead of breathing chlorine, and chemicals in)

Three benefits:
1. it's pretty cheap
2. it's health and eco friendly
3. it smells better

Cleaning substances:
1. Vinegar
2. Lemon juice (concentrated)
3. Baking soda (bicarbonate)
4. Soda (carbonate)
5.Borax
6. Essential oils

Use of the 7:
1,2. Vinegar,Lemon concentrate : antibacterial, antiviral,antimould, good for wood and metal, removes raid from bathroom,toilet pan,good for cleaning dirty spots in laundry, softener (hair, laundry)
3.Baking Soda: any purpose, dishes, floor, laundry
4. Washing soda:the same like 3, but stronger effect
5. Borax:disinfection, antibacterial..
6. EO: disinfection, airfreshening

The 1st step is saving soapsuds (leftover)

For dishes and anything else to clean:
2. Add soapsuds to hot water + baking soda

For glass:
vinegar - 1/4 cup of vinegar in 2 cups of water

Floor:
soapsuds+soda+hot water
and the second wash is with 1 glass (200-250 ml) of vinegar or lemon conc. in 3-4 litres of water

Bathroom:
1 option: vinegar + water 1:2
2 option: 100 gr baking soda + soap + water + EO (lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus)
3: antibacterial spray - 1 glass of water, 1/2 tea sp of lavender oil, 10-15 ml of alcohol - I apply it with a rag on surfaces

Toilet:
1. 1 glass of borax, leave overnight, brush and wash
2. vinegar
3. 1 glass of vinegar and immediately after 1/4 glass of soda - leave it fir couple of minutes, brush and wash

Desinfection: tea tree oil

2 tea sp of tea tree oil+ 2glasses of water
(don't wash away with water)

add to laundry for anything that might have mould, fungus, etc (like towels)

Essential "cleaning" oils:
rosemary
eucalyptus
peppermint
hops
poppy
tyme

Laundry (for machine):
First get rid of the "chemicals" by washing in a hottest water possible for a laundry to stand + 50 ml soda (carbonate)

Washing mixture:
250 ml soap gall soap
125 ml soda (carb)
125 ml borax

125 ml of this per 1 wash

For rinsing:
125 ml vinegar

Whiteners for laundry:
2 tea sp of peroxide + 1 table sp of liquid ammonia

I also handwash - it's economical, you define how much water you need, you won't wash something very dirty with something pretty clean the same...

Warning: for any purpose if the water is hard, then combined with natural soap (no detergents) will create a "grey film" wherever used..

Boiling or filtering make water softer..

Enjoy!!!
Note: use gloves even for a "natural" cleaning

This is info for cockroaches fighters:

Even though I don't feel comfortable with killing staff, but there's no choice sometimes, so take into consideration, it kills them.

1 yolk from boiled egg
the same ammount of potatoe puree
20 gr borax

make small balls and put them where you would "spray" - behind, between, etc.

But I'm still fighting against ants, I didn't have problem with them going around and taking "things" untill they didn't spread all over and started biting me :0

So I'll have to find a way to tell them to find some place else..

I prefer scaring to killing, so if you have some ideas, I'll be glad

For massaging with a carrier oil:
If you have some question about a specific oil, ask.. I'll write about some of them:

Bergamot - antidepressant, expectorant,tonic,spasmolytic - warning:phototoxic! (no sun)

Jasmin - antidepressant,antiseptic,spasmolytic,calming

Ylang-ylang - antidepressant,antiseptic,calming , tonic,lowering blood pressure,increases the potency
- warning: if too much is used, head ache, allergic reaction, nausea

Lavender - antiseptic,diuretic,lowering blood pressure, calming,expectorant,healing, deodorant - warning: stimulates menstruation, not to use during 1st 7 months of pregnancy

Lemon - antiseptic, mildly diuretic,expectorant, improving liver functioning,lowering blood pressure, tonic, improving brain functioning- warning! phototoxic

Rosemary - analgesic,antiseptic,spasmolytic,stimulating blood circulation, stimulates menstruation,, tonic - warning! - not recommended during 7 months pregnancy, and with high blood pressure

Camomile - antiseptic,spasmolytic,diuretic,stimulates menstruation,calming, hepatoprotector,antiinflammatory, - not for 7 1st pregnancy months

Eucalyptus - analgesic,antiseptic,deodorant, diuretic,expectorant,stimulates brain functioning

Tea tree - antifungal, deodorant, stimulates brain functioning

There more many of them...
But that's enough for a "small" comment, isn't it?

I am so pleased to find these natural suggestions here! You truly are an Earth Mamma! Brilliant sharings. Most helpful.
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