Your own natural beauty is unique to you. No one else can copy it. If you nurture it and value it, it will become your signature.

Many of the things we use every day are easy to make using simple, natural ingredients. Learning to make your own everyday products will save you money, provide you with better products, and help you to benefit our environment. I make a lot of my own health, and beauty products. While this can be a long, complicated process, it doesn't have to be. I use easy-to-find ingredients with quick easy recipes. In this article I will tell you about plain ingredients and give simple instructions for several common health and beauty products that will help free you from the burden and expense of high-profile commercial products!

There are a lot of "all-natural" cosmetic lines on the market now. Unfortunately, these specialty products are often outrageously expensive, and people give up on trying to use healthy things because they can't afford "the best". Fortunately, it is easy to make a lot of common health and beauty items. It takes a wee bit of effort to make your own, but it's well worth it. You will save a "ton" of money and be healthier for it!

One of the main ingredients I use is Dr. Bronner's pure liquid castile soap. This is a product that has been on the market for years and can be used for many, many things. My favorite DIY beauty product is a shampoo/body wash/shaving cream that I make using Dr. Bronner's castile soaps. Pure, liquid castile soap mixed 50/50 with a NATURAL OIL (see natural moisturizers) makes a fine shampoo. You won't need a conditioner! If your hair is oily, reduce this to 2/3 soap & 1/3 oil, or even 75% soap & 25% oil. (If VERY oily, just use the soap!)

Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps come in a variety of scents. Remember, these scents come from the essential oils of organically grown plants, not from a chemistry set! Here are a few of the "flavors" you can choose from:

Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap has a crisp refreshing scent and is a bit tingly when used directly. It makes a nice addition to the bath and is the good basis for a shampoo for dandruffy scalp.

Dr. Bronner's lavender soap has a delicious scent and is wonderfully relaxing as a bath additive. It is a good basis for a shampoo for oily hair.

Dr. Bronner's tea tree soap has a bit of a medicinal scent and would be a good basis for a shampoo for a dandruffy scalp or for use with any other skin conditions.

Olive oil, almond oil and walnut oil are affordable, easily available oils that are good for moisturizing, body, feet & hands. They should also be used as the basis for the all-natural shampoo and body wash using Dr. Bronner's soaps.

Olive oil is a bit heavy and very good for extra dry skin, especially in winter. Its rich scent makes it a good oil for products for men.

Almond oil is a light & lightly scented oil. It is nice to use for everything and especially nice in combination with Dr. Bronner's Almond Oil soap.

Walnut oil is my current personal favorite. It is inexpensive, light, and unscented. I recommend it for all uses. It is good used alone as a body rub after a bath.

Another good thing to have for after bath is powder. Corn starch/Baking soda mixed equal parts make a great body powder & deodorant. I make a couple of pounds for a couple of dollars! If you have time, you can mix the cornstarch and baking soda, then put the mixture in a tightly sealed jar with a sachet of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) to give the powder a nice scent. Let it sit for a couple of weeks, then remove the sachet. This mixture can be sifted through a flour sifter or run through the blender (in very small batches) if it is too coarse.

The use of these liquid soaps and natural oils will go a long way toward helping you achieve healthy shining hair and smooth, supple skin on your body, feet and hands, but what about your face? Clean, healthy skin is far more beautiful than layers of cosmetics, and it is easy to achieve! Pure soap, clean water, a washcloth, and pure aloe vera gel will do it! Depending on your skin type, some essential oils may be added to address specific needs.

Here are a few ideas! In addition to his excellent liquid soaps, Dr. Bronner makes fine bar soaps. Of course, you can use the liquid soap just as well, but I thought you might like this option. Here are some choices in the bar soaps:

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap is a good soap for oily skin. I use this in the summertime when I am working outside a lot.

Dr. Bronner's Lavender Soap has a lovely, relaxing scent and is nice to use when preparing for bed.

Dr. Bronner's Almond soap is a bit more luxurious and moisturizing. It is good for dry skin and good to use in the winter time when the air is dry and cold.

Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree soap is a bit medicinal and good to use for oily and problem skin.

Dr. Bronner's Rose Soap is a lovely scent treat. It is nice to use before bed or before a special occasion.

After washing your face with the Dr. Bronner soap of your choice, rinse thoroughly with warm water, then finish up with cold water to stimulate and tone your skin and tighten your pores.

You will want to follow up with a toner. You may be surprised to know that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a good toner. Witch Hazel is an excellent natural toner. Apply it with a cotton ball or splash it on after washing your face and before applying moisture. Witch Hazel comes plain or in a variety of scents. Choose a scent that complements your soap, or just use plain (that's what I use!)

Follow this up with Aloe vera gel. It is an excellent, oil free moisturizer. Apply it to your face after using Witch Hazel toner. If the aloe vera gel is not quite moisturizing enough for you, put a drop of organic oil in the palm of your hand, add the aloe vera gel, rub your hands together, and apply the gel to your face.

Using these simple natural ingredients will give your skin an honest natural glow that is far more attractive than any expensive concoction of chemicals you could slather over it. Your own natural beauty is unique to you. No one else can copy it. If you nurture it and value it, it will become your signature.

I am sure you have seen the many outrageously expensive products on the market today for whitening teeth. You may be surprised to know that baking soda is terrific for occasional extra tooth whitening. At about fifty cents a box, it will definitely save you money! If you use baking soda as an extra whitener, you can to add a drop of peppermint or clove oil to freshen the taste. Measure a teaspoon of baking soda onto a saucer, add ONLY ONE drop of essential oil. Mix well with a fork. Dampen your toothbrush & press it into the mixture. Brush & rinse as usual.

It is not a good idea to use this mixture every day because it can be a bit hard on your enamel! For every day use, you will want to find a good organic toothpaste. I have to say, that I find them a bit pricey for my tastes so I just look for a good brand with a short list of ingredients. The shorter the ingredient list, the better! If it's just a long list of chemicals, pass it by. Try very hard to avoid sodium laurel sulfate! It is hard on the central nervous system.

You can also make a nice, alcohol-free mouthwash with peppermint or spearmint oil. Just boil 8 ounces of purified, Brita water, pour it into a clean oven-tempered glass or stainless steel container, add 8 drops of essential oil. Let it cool, then put it into a glass jar with a tight lid. Voila! Natural, alcohol-free mouthwash!

A word of caution: Be careful when using essential oils. They are highly concentrated. Avoid full strength contact with the skin. This can cause a burning sensation.

Earlier, I mentioned Brita Water. I have used the Brita Pitcher for over 10 years, and I am very happy with it. Good, pure water is the basis of health and beauty. It is also the basis of many natural products. Brita is affordable, simple, economical, and guarantees the highest water quality! Using the Brita Pitcher is a simple, single practice that goes a long way to reduce your ecological footprint. It saves water, saves space in the landfill (plastic bottles), saves time and energy, and saves you money! All this while giving you 99% pure drinking water, guaranteed, every time! Break the bottled water habit. It is one of the biggest hoaxes ever perpetrated on the public, and it is tremendously detrimental to the environment. Get yourself a Brita pitcher and a water bottle, and save a ton of money!

These are the tips that work for me. I hope they have been helpful to you! Remember, beauty begins within!

Copyright: SuzanneBennett: October 30, 2008