The Oil-Cleansing Method

I am always looking for ways to eliminate toxic, unnecessary chemicals from my life and using natural beauty products is one of the easiest ways to do this. I'm super excited to share the oil-cleansing method with you because I am convinced it's going to change your life the way it has changed mine. And, it will also save you a ton of money and give you better looking skin in the process!

If you haven't heard of the oil-cleansing method before, it's definitely time you did.  The oil-cleansing method involves washing your face with, well, you guessed it: oil.  Most facial cleansers brag about being "oil-free" and the beauty industry has certainly taught us that "oil-free" make-up and cleansers is the way to go.

Here's the problem though: when our skin is striped of its natural oils, it produces more oil to compensate.  For those with oily skin, this means more breakouts, blackheads, and aggravated skin.  For those with dry skin or sensitive skin, it means the skin is going to get even drier and irritated.

Here's a basic chemistry lesson: like dissolves like.  Hence, oil dissolves oil. The oil-cleansing method is using oil to naturally dissolve the dirty oils on our skin without stripping it or using harsh chemicals. Genius, right?  Not only is it super simple, affordable, and better for your skin, but here is my favorite part: the oil-cleansing method is the best make-up remover I've ever found.  It removes mascara, eyeliner, foundation, everything -- all in one step!  If that's not enough to make you jump for joy, then I just don't know what is.


The key to the oil-cleansing method is castor oil which comes from the castor bean.  Castor oil is a great antibacterial and is the best for cleaning skin.  Depending on your skin-type, you will want to use a different ratio of castor oil to other oils.  Other oils to use include olive (which is perfect for all skin types), jojoba (all skin types), avocado (best for drier skin), and almond oil (best for oily skin). Experiment and see what works best for you.

I have dry skin and have had great results with using a mix of castor oil, olive oil, and avocado oil. I usually mix 2 cups extra-virgin olive oil, 1 cup avocado oil, and 1 cup castor oil in a a glass jar and keep this in my bathroom for easy access. (I would definitely recommend keeping oil for cooking and oil for skincare separate.)

I recommend mixing a small batch and then you can adjust your oil ratio as needed.  Once you discover what works best for your skin type, then you can make a larger batch. I've been using this for over a year now and I've noticed that it's made my dry skin significantly less dry and I've gone from using lotion several times a day to simply once in the morning. This is a huge change for me!

Here's how it works...

Method:

Once you've made your oil mixture, rub a small amount onto DRY skin (as it won't mix well with water), adding more as needed, and massage it around your face for about a minute.

Remember: there's no need to wash or remove make-up before applying the oil. (If you wear makeup, rubbing the oil onto your skin might make a gooey mess, but it gets better in the next step.) If you wear mascara and eye makeup, rub a small amount onto your lids gently to remove any makeup, just as you would use a makeup remover.

The next step is to steam the skin to help remove impurities from your pores. Grab a clean wash cloth and run it under warm/hot water.  Wring it out and place it over your face for about a minute.  Then use the washcloth to wipe away any oil that's left. And that's it!

You only need to do the oil-cleansing method once a day (preferably at night before bed) and then you can splash your face with water in the morning.  It's so simple!

Have you tried the oil-cleansing method before?  What oils work best for your skin?

Simply Gluten-Free Magazine and DIY Face Masks

Hey gluten-free folks,

I wanted to do a quick shout-out about an awesome new magazine, Simply Gluten Free Magazine, founded by Carol Kicinski of Simply Gluten-Free. You'll find amazing gluten-free recipes for meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegan diets (created by my friend Ricki of Diet, Dessert, and Dogs), as well as great articles on gluten-free news, travel, health and wellness, and beauty. 

You can find me in this month's beauty section (pg 76-77) whipping up some easy (and cheap) DIY beauty treatments! I wanted to give you a sneak peek of one of my favorite DIY Face Masks featured in this issue: a seasonal citrus, antioxidant skin-brightening mask. If your face is in need of a little pampering from the winter weather, look no further than this simple treatment using ingredients straight from your kitchen!

This mask combines kiwi with honey and lemon/orange juice to slough away dead skin cells, tighten pores, and reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. (And you thought kiwis were just for eating!)  This mask works for any skin type and you can even mix it with sugar to create a delightful scrub for your hands, neck, and chest. If you prefer to skip the honey, substitute 1 tablespoon of olive oil instead.

Antioxidant Skin-Brightening Mask

Makes about 4 masks

Ingredients:

1 medium ripe kiwi, peeled and pureed

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon fresh lemon or orange juice

Instructions:

Wash your face with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Mix pureed kiwis with honey and lemon or orange juice. Apply a thin layer to face using fingertips (avoiding the eyes and delicate eye area). Leave on until dry, then rinse well.  Moisturize as normal.

Store any leftover mask in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Mask will stay fresh for up to 5 days. 

How to Wash Your Hair with Baking Soda & Vinegar

Awhile back I blogged about the baking soda and vinegar hair care method and I wanted to give an updated post about this. Baking soda and vinegar is an incredibly simple and easy way to clean your hair without shampoo. Since I am always on a mission to reduce my exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and simplify my beauty routine, it felt right to be using a natural, time-tested method to clean my hair.

Now, you might be asking, what's so bad about shampoo? Shampoos can contain a lot of harmful ingredients. I am by no means an expert on this, but in my research, I've repeatedly found the worst chemical-offenders to be:

• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (used as a foaming agent in shampoo and is a possible carcinogen)
• DEA/Diethanolamine (an emulsifying agent that can create carginogenic compounds when combined with other chemicals found in personal care products)
• Parabens (used as preservatives to extend shelf life, but many of these chemicals have been linked to breast cancer)
• Fragrance (the word "fragrance" on a label can mean the presence of over 4,000 separate chemical ingredients; scary!)

When I found out what was really in shampoo a year and a half ago, I vowed to stop using it and so I switched to the baking soda and vinegar method.  This worked really well for about four months. Then I fell off the baking soda wagon.


As my hair grew out and I got a bit lazier, I began resorting back to shampoo and trying to find natural brands that didn't contain the ingredients listed above. The funny thing is that I eventually found my way back to baking soda because it actually works better than shampoo!

A few months ago I began struggling with my shoulder-length hair being really limp and flat due to the Seattle weather. I tried to remedy this with mousse and styling products, which then caused build-up. To remedy that, I started incorporating a clarifying shampoo every few weeks, but this dried out my hair, so I added in an intensive conditioner that only made the lifeless hair problem worse. Plus, with the winter cold, my hair was getting really static-y. Urgh.

I was ready to chop it all off and go back to short hair when I remembered the baking soda and vinegar hair care method. Could this solve all my problems? Yes, and it did.

After being back on this method again for three months I can honestly tell you that I will never stop using it.  My hair now has more body, volume, and strength than it did with all the crazy shampooing, products, and special hair care nonsense that I was doing before. And now my routine is incredibly simple: wash with baking soda, rinse with vinegar, blow dry, and maybe flat iron the front strands if I feel like it. That's it.

Now that I've been using this method for awhile, I've found that my hair doesn't get as oily as it did before (shampoos strip our scalps of natural oils so this increases oil production to compensate) and I only have to use this method every 2 - 3 days.  The baking soda and vinegar method is cheap, effective, simple and chemical-free and I think you'll love it as much as I do.

(Note: I've slightly changed my method since my last post. Read on...)

Method:

It might be hard to adjust to the lack of shampoo foaming action at first, but I promise this is worth it in the end. Start by mixing 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water.  I was making a large batch of this and then keeping it in my shower, but I noticed it wasn't as effective as the individual batches I used to make. Then a reader (thanks Heather!) informed me that water activates baking soda and so now I am back to mixing individual batches in travel-sized squeeze bottles (pictured above). I have shoulder length hair and use about 2 - 3 tablespoon of baking soda with 3x that amount of water. You can adjust this depending on your hair length. 

Baking Soda:

• Apply the baking soda and water mixture to dry or wet hair by squeezing a little at the roots and working to the ends.  
• Repeat this process all over your head.  
• Let it sit for 1 - 3 minutes then rinse with warm water. 

After washing and rinsing with the baking soda mixture, you'll want to apply a vinegar rinse. (I've found that white vinegar does not leave as strong of a smell compared to apple cider vinegar so that is what I use in my rinse.)  Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water. To minimize the vinegar smell, I also add lavender, peppermint, and/or rosemary essential oils to the vinegar mixture.  (In my last post I had more suggestions about how to customize your rinse fragrance.) I also mix a big batch of this ahead of time and keep it in a squeeze bottle in the shower. 

Vinegar Rinse:

• Tilt your head back, close your eyes (to avoid getting this mixture in your eyes), and distribute through your hair. If you have longer hair like I do, I like to then (still keeping my eyes closed) tilt my head forward and distribute more rinse through the ends.
• After a few seconds, rinse with cold water. 

One of the ways that I've changed my method is rinsing my hair with cold water after the vinegar rinse. The cold water helps to seal in moisture, smooth the hair, and add shine. I have straight hair and have noticed that this really made a difference with eliminating frizz and winter static. 

Since my hair is longer than when I used to use this method, I first noticed the vinegar smell leftover in my hair much more. To remedy this, I simply add two drops of lavender essential oil to my hair brush and run it through my hair as I blow dry it. Works like a charm! 

Have you tried the baking soda and vinegar method? Any tips that have worked well for you?

DIY Beachy Hair Spray

Summer is not the time to fuss.  Summer is the time for daytrips, beaches, being out in the sun and, if you are anything like me, eating as much perfectly-ripe fresh produce as you possibly can.  Summer is not the time for spending hours in the kitchen, or hours on your hair for that matter.  We have bigger things to do than worry about our hair.  Am I right? 

Enter DIY beachy hair spray.  This is a simple mix of sea salt and water that gives hair a fabulous texture and is perfect for the loose, beachy waves that every gal wants in summer.  For a nice finish that adds a bit of shine and helps to tame flyaways, I simply used a little coconut oil.  Not only did it give my hair a nice bit of texture, but I loved the smell of coconut.  If your hair is in need of a little pick-me-up, it's time for you to get your beachy hair on too.

For the look above, I used this spray on dry hair and then put my hair in solar rollers (which are super comfy!) for twenty minutes. When I unrolled them, I rubbed a little bit of coconut oil between my palms and scrunched the hair for a nice slightly-glossy finish. 

You can also use this spray on wet hair, lightly towel dry, then scrunch with a little coconut oil for loose waves.  If you want more texture or hold, simply add more sea salt to this mix.  

DIY Beachy Hair Spray

2 cups hot (not boiling) water

1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Mix the hot water and sea salt. Pour into your favorite spray bottle. Shake well before each use. 

Keep the coconut oil in a separate container and use a small dab on hair for "finishing" and smoothing fly-aways.

DIY Deodorant

For most of my life I was committed to using only natural deodorants.  I have tried every stick, spray, roll-on, and crystal I could find. The result?  Disappointment.  I hate to say it, but I never found a product that worked for longer than an hour.  In my frustration I found my way back to using conventional deodorant, stressing with each application about what I was putting into my body.  

Then I  heard from a friend that if you didn't use deodorant for a period of time your body will naturally adjust to it and you wouldn't need to use it.  Let's just say I tried that for a week and it was a failed experiment.  And gross. 

After searching around the internet, I discovered there are a ton of DIY deodorant recipes that use natural ingredients like baking soda, arrowroot powder/corn starch, and coconut oil.  I have tried several different batches of homemade deodorant using different proportions of these ingredients and different essential oils.  My first batch used peppermint oil which irritated my skin, my second batch had too much baking soda which also irritated my skin, but this final batch?  Just right.  

Since I live in a colder climate, coconut oil is usually solid (except in summer) so I had to gently heat it to a liquid so I could mix my ingredients.  When it cooled again, my deodorant was a solid gel.  I've heard mixed reviews from others who have put homemade deodorant into empty twist-up deodorant containers - some say it crumbles while others think it works fine.  I haven't tried this myself because I think it's easier to keep the deodorant in a small jar and apply by hand.  If you live in a warm climate, your mixture might not solidify (unless you keep it in the fridge) so it will be even easier to apply by hand because it will be in a liquid state.  

I have been super impressed with how well this deodorant works and it actually works better for me than conventional deodorant.  I think I have to say that again.  It actually works better than conventional deodorant - the ones with the aluminum!  If only I had known about this years ago. Sigh. I guess the perfect deodorant search is over.   

DIY Deodorant

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder (or corn starch)*

1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking soda*

20 - 25 drops lavender essential oil

Melt your coconut oil (if necessary) and mix with the corn starch and baking soda.  Add the essential oil.  Mix.  Transfer to a glass container.  Use up!  Will last 2 -3 months depending on usage.  

*Notes: My batch has less baking soda and arrowroot powder (or corn starch) than some recipes I've seen because I experienced skin irritation from these ingredients at a higher ratio.  If this mixture is not effective for you, you can increase the amount of baking soda and arrowroot powder by about 2 teaspoons. 

Hurraw! Balm Giveaway

Because I love you.  Because your health is important.  Because it's the holidays.  And because the nice people at Hurraw! are absolutely awesome...

I'm proud to be giving away three sets of Hurraw! Balm to three lucky readers! 

I first tried Hurraw! Balm this summer when I received one in my Vida Vegan Con goodie bag and I've been using it daily ever since.  Here is what I love about their lip balms:

• Hurraw! Balms are certified organic, raw, vegan (containing no animal products), cruelty-free, fair-trade, gluten-free, kosher, and contain no GMO's.  (Does that list amaze you the way it amazes me?)
• They are handmade in small batches and are infused with real seeds, pods, fruit zests, barks, and roots for flavor and natural color. 
• All of their ingredients are ones that I can pronounce and would use in my own kitchen, such as: coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, peppermint leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, raw chocolate, and vanilla beans.
• Hurraw's oval tube is much more comfortable for application than a typical round tube.
• None of their balms contain petroleum, preservatives, or artifical flavors. 

If you were around last month for my Beauty Food Friday posts, you'll remember my mini lecture that switching to natural, organic beauty products is one of the best ways to decrease cheimcal-exposure.  Everything that you put on your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream and most lip balms are made with petroleum jelly (a bi-product of oil drilling). 

Hurraw! Balms currently come in 18 yummy flavors (like chai spice, vanilla bean, and grapefruit) and they are shipped in super cute reusable tea bags.  If you order through their website and are sending these as gifts, they will even include a free gift message!  I seriously love this company.

Back to the giveaway!  Enter to win your own set of Hurraw! Balms by leaving a comment below before Saturday, December 3rd at 4 pm Pacific Time telling me one thing that you're going to do this week to improve your health.  Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday.

**Please note that this giveaway is already closed.  Thank you to all that entered!  You can see the winners here. 

Baking Soda & Vinegar Hair Care

Welcome to the final Beaty Food Friday, a special feature I am doing every Friday for the month of October that shows beauty products that can be made from everyday items in your kitchen.

I am super excited to share my final Beauty Food Friday recipe with you beause it's something new that I've been trying and I am loving it. That's right... we're talking about baking soda and vinegar for hair care!

Now, before you judge and think I've gone off to Hippieville (which, maybe I have... and maybe I like it there...), hear me out for a minute. I've done my research and I know that there are mixed reviews about the baking soda and vinegar method.  The top complaints I've heard are:

1. Ease of use
2. The strong smell from the vinegar
3. Dry, brittle hair

What if I told you that I have solved these issues?  And that this method is super cheap and will save you  money on shampoo?  And, that using natural ingredients on your head keeps hundreds of toxic chemicals off your body and away from your brain?  Trust me, it's time you get on board.

Method:

It might be hard to adjust to the lack of shampoo foaming action at first, but using the right quanties of ingredients will make this a lot easier.  Start by mixing 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water.  I have chin-length hair, so 1 Tablespoon of baking soda mixed with 3 Tablespoons of water was the perfect amount for me.  You can adjust this depending on your hair length.

To make application easier, I recommend mixing individual batches in travel-sized squeeze bottles (pictured above).  Apply to dry hair by squeezing a little at the roots and working to the ends.  Repeat this process all over your head.  Let it sit for 1 - 3 minutes then rinse with water. 

Once you get the hang of this and are able to judge the right amount for your hair, you can make a big batch of the mixture in a large squeeze bottle and keep it in your shower.  The baking soda and water will separate so make sure to shake the bottle prior to each application.  Super easy!

After washing and rinsing with the baking soda mixture, you'll want to apply a vinegar rinse.  Mix 1 part vinegar (both plain white vinegar and apple cider vinegar work well) with 4 parts water.  For my hair, I used 1 Tablespoon plain white vinegar and 4 Tablespoons of water.  I also mixed this in travel-sized squeeze bottles.  Tilt your head back (to avoid getting this mixture in your eyes) and distribute through your hair.  Rinse after a few seconds. 

The vinegar rinse does have a strong smell, so I like to mix 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 pinch of cinnamon, and 1 pinch of nutmeg with it.  This not only masks the vinegar scent, but it's a nice scent for fall.  I've also been enjoying different combinations of essential oils and if you are looking for a stronger scent I would recommend experiementing with different oils. My favorite combinations are:

• Rose Mint (1 drop rose essential oil and 2 drops mint essential oil)
• Vanilla Lavender (2 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of vanilla essential oil)
• Orange Rosemary (1 drop orange essential oil and 2 drops rosemary essential oil)

These amounts are for a single rinse so if you are making a larger batch, experiment and find the right amount of oils for you.

If you find that your hair is becoming dry, simply use some coconut oil!  You can apply it to your hair and let it sit for a few minutes before washing with the baking soda mixture or use it as an intense overnight hair mask.  

I found baking soda in the bulk section of my natural grocery store for $.92/pound.  A 16 ounce plastic squeeze bottle cost $2 and my travel-sized bottles cost $1 each.  This is a very accessible and affordable way to get rid of unnecessary chemicals in your life, green your beauty routine, and stay healthy! Now that I've solved all your complaints, you have no reason to not try this out at home! 

Note: I have an updated post about this method with revised tips. 

Carrot Face Mask

Welcome to the third Beaty Food Friday, a special feature I am doing every Friday for the month of October that shows beauty products that can be made from everyday items in your kitchen. 

When I was a teenager I was obsessed with finding kitchen ingredients and making them into homemade face masks.  You can bet that I came up with a mix of yummy and weird combinations, including: strawberries and honey, avocado and cucumber, and even lemon and raw egg whites.  Let me tell you, the last one did not smell pretty.

With the seasons changing, my skin's been feeling a little drier than normal and it seemed like the perfect time to try my hand at mask-making yet again.  This time I wanted to experiment with carrots because they contain a variety of vitamins and are said to be great for toning the skin.

This mask is perfect for any skin type because it can easily be adapted for dry or oily skin.  It's also a great way to use up an overripe banana!  If you have drier skin, the banana, agave, and olive oil are perfect for moisturizing.  And if you have oily skin, the lemon juice acts as a natural astringent and toner.  I really like combining these ingredients for a mask that tones as well as moisturizes, but feel free to experiment with different combinations.

Ingredients
2 medium carrots
1/2 medium banana
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon agave syrup
1 Tablespoon olive oil

Peel and dice the carrots.  Steam for 15 minutes, or until very soft.  Add the carrots, banana, lemon juice, and agave to a food processor and process.  While the blade is running, add the olive oil.  Process until smooth.

Apply the mask to your skin (avoid the eyes and lips) for ten to fifteen minutes.  Rinse with cool water.

Coconut Oil For Your Body

Welcome to the second Beaty Food Friday, a special feature I am doing every Friday for the month of October that shows beauty products that can be made from everyday items in your kitchen. 

Today's beauty focus is coconut oil.  Coconut oil comes from the meat of matured coconuts and is very heat-stable so it is perfect for high-heat cooking. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature (at least here in Seattle), but in the warmer months my jar of solid mass turns to a clear liquid.  It doesn't take much heat to change it to a liquid state so simply rubbing a little between your hands will do it. Organic, virgin coconut oil can be purchased at your local health food store or online (I use Tropical Traditions).  

Not only does coconut oil smell delicious, but it's completely natural so you can feel good about putting it on your skin!  Our skin is the largest organ in our body so everything that we put on it ends up in our system. Choosing organic body products without fragrances and parabens makes a huge difference.  

I definitely recommend having separate containers of beauty oil and cooking oil.  I simply bought one jar of oil and then transferred half to a glass container that I keep in my bathroom. A little goes a long way and coconut oil can last for almost two years without refrigeration so you definitely get your money's worth.  

I've been using coconut oil for years as a moisturizer - even before I started cooking with it!  Isn't that crazy?  There are a ton of different uses for coconut oil as a beauty product, including:

• face and body moisturizer

• hair conditioner

• deodorant

• shaving cream

• lip balm

• cuticle oil

• bath oil

• eye-makeup remover

How do you use it in your home or beauty routine? 

Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub

Welcome to the first Beaty Food Friday, a special feature I am doing every Friday for the month of October that shows beauty products that can be made from everyday items in your kitchen.  

If you are anything like me, I'm sure that you've been looking forward to pumpkin season and not only want to eat it, but are dying to rub it all over your face and body.  Lucky for you this body scrub is easy to make and will fulfill your lifelong ambition to cover yourself in pumpkin while exfoliating dry skin.

This scrub was super gentle on my sensitive skin and I even used it on my face (avoiding the eye area!) without causing any irritation.  This recipe lasted me about 2 - 3 showers and left my skin feeling super soft and even a bit moisturized.  This scrub also smelled amazing, but didn't leave an overpowering scent on my skin like some other body products can.  I love that it's all natural and incredibly delicious...  so delicious, in fact, that you might have to resist licking your face in the shower.

Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub

1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup pumpkin

Mix sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon together.  Mix with pumpkin.  Put on skin, scrub in circular motion, and rinse.  All smooth and clean!

Store any excess in the refrigerator until ready to use.