3 Safe & Natural Homemade Personal Care Products

Did you know that many commercially available personal care products – even ones you put in your mouth, like toothpaste – can contain potentially harmful chemicals? Here are 3 safe, natural alternatives you can easily make at home instead.

From artificial sweeteners like aspartame, to chemical coloring and flavoring agents, to thickeners and texturizers, the products you use on your body every day are packed with hundreds of different chemicals – many of which, with repeated use and in combination with each other, may not be so good for your health.

Luckily, there are a lot more all-natural and less harmful products available on the market these days, especially if you shop online. However, many of these options are fairly pricey.

Did you know that you can make many personal care products at home using completely natural, safe, and inexpensive ingredients?

Here are 3 easy recipes to try:

If you think making your own toothpaste sounds difficult, or weird, it’s not! In fact, many people made their own toothpaste out of baking soda and water or other similar ingredients for many years before it became widely commercially available.

This recipe tastes a lot better than that, though! It contains extra virgin coconut oil for whitening and gum health, baking soda for cleansing, essential oil for flavoring, and xylitol for sweetness…. The hidden “superpower” of xylitol is that it’s actually GOOD for your teeth! That’s right. Xylitol actually fights plaque bacteria and neutralizes bad breath….

Homemade Coconut Oil Toothpaste

Mash together:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil (room temperature – slightly soft but not melted works best)
  
• 2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon coral calcium
• 1 teaspoon of xylitol
• 20-25 drops of spearmint oil

Adjust to your preference: add more coconut oil for a creamier texture, and adjust flavor and sweetness to taste. You can also try other oils for different flavors. Try anise seed oil for a licorice flavor, or peppermint if you prefer that to spearmint, etc.

Bugs bugging you this fall? Try this easy, all-natural bug repellent balm instead of those chemically insect sprays that always leave you feeling greasy and sticky. It’s super simple to make, and probably a lot healthier for you too!

Coconut Oil Insect Repellent Balm

Melt together:

• 1 part pure beeswax
• 1 part extra virgin coconut oil
• 1 part pure cocoa butter or pure shea butter

Remove from heat and stir in 25-30 drops of your choice of insect repellent essential oils such as lemongrass, geranium, and citronella. Pour into molds or tins and cool. When completely cooled, just pop out the bars and rub them on your skin before going outside, then store in a tin or jar with an airtight lid – will keep for months….

Lastly, just in time for winter, here is a great recipe to keep your skin soft and supple throughout the cold and dry months ahead! These lotion bars work great for moisturizing, they don’t have any harmful junk in them, and you can tailor them to your preferences using your favorite scents….

Easy Coconut Oil Lotion Bars

• Melt equal parts pure beeswax and coconut oil.
• Add your choice of essential oils for scent.
• Pour into tins, molds, or muffin cups and cool.
• Pop them out and rub them on your skin whenever it needs some extra love!
• Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

You can mix and match your own scents to suit your taste. Try combinations like lavender and vanilla for a calming rub before bed, or rub on some ginger or sandalwood for a warming scent on a cold morning….

……………………………………………………………