Pantry items for your face and hair for the new year

Our very first honey harvest.

Can you believe tomorrow is the first day of 2015!?  Yeah, me neither!  

If your resolutions or goals for this new year involves spending less, living better, simplifying, or being extra cautious regarding what you put on your body... I have some ideas for you!   If you know me at all then you know I like to keep things simple.  I don't like to buy things if I can make them myself (surprise!).  And as the keeper of our home, I do my best to keep our exposure to chemicals limited (especially regarding what we put in or on our bodies!)

I thought I'd answer two questions I get all the time: Do I wash my hair? (yes.  um, sorta.  usually.)  What do use on my face? Everything I use can be found in a well stocked pantry.  (score!)

FAVES FOR FACE

• WASH:

Raw Honey. It can be pricey, I know.  My husband was aghast when he found out I had been 'wasting' good honey on my face.  Oops.  But I've used it on and off for a few years and love it. I don't feel oily in the summer and I don't feel dry in the winter.  Win!  We had one of hive of bees this year and are expanding next year so I can probably start doing this again without feeling too bad about the honey usage.  (seriously, we're rationing honey so we can make it until the spring nectar flow!)  

My Honey Crunch soap.  (see a common theme?)
Or - the Bergamot and Clay - bentonite clay is a great for drawing out impurities.

I have a friend who is very happy only washing her face with hot water. (free!)
I know others who are happy with oil cleansing. 

• EXFOLIATING

I don't exfoliate often.  It's very harsh on your skin.  But when I do (1-2 times a month) I use a mix of honey and baking soda.

• MOISTURIZER

Coconut oil.  (this also has a natural SPF).  And it doesn't leave me feeling greasy.  Sometimes I'll use my Mom's Salve or sweet almond oil.  But coconut is my fave (the kids love it, too).

• A few other keys to great skin? 

 Keep active. Get enough rest.  Stay hydrated.  I also don't wear makeup (no foundation, powder, concealer, blush.  Only organic makeup on my eyes and lips - and only sometimes)

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FAVES FOR HAIR

• WASH
  

I don't use shampoo and I haven't in about (gasp) 4 years.  I alternate between baking soda and soap.  (there are pros and cons to both).  If these ideas leave you horrified, there are some great organic shampoos out there (free if SLS, silicone, fragrances, and more).  But, the prices of these leave me horrified.  I just can't pay it.  (although I have a friend how uses some of these and only needs to wash her hair once a week, so it keeps the price down)

How to do it?  How often?  I wash my hair 2-4x a week. It depends on the season.  I've noticed that I if I rinse between washes it gets 'yucky' faster.  When I used regular shampoos my scalp was oily and my hair was dry.  I no longer have trouble with that sort of imbalance.  

• RINSE

Apple Cider Vinegar!  Even better (and free) is homemade apple peel vinegar.  I use, maybe, 1 T /1 qt of water.  

A few times a year I'll make a hair tea.  I love to use burdock root (adds some 'slip' to your hair), rosemary (to promote growth, great for dark hair), and lavender (the smell!).  My husband says it smell like garden weeds.  It could be worse.  ;)

• DETANGLER

This is absolutely key for my 3 year old with the wild, wispy hair.  It knots and mats so quickly!  (like, overnight)  We have been using coconut oil with success.  At the advice of a friend, we started putting it on her hair prior to braiding and it helps the hair stay in the braid, too, rather than slipping out.  

• DRY SHAMPOO

Since I don't wash everyday, I sprinkle this on my roots and brush through my hair.  (I wash on day 1, it looks great on day 2, and I use the dry shampoo on day 3.  It can vary a bit, but this usually works for me.)  Arrow root powder or corn starch is all you need for light hair.  I add some cocoa powder to the mix for my dark hair.  There's the added bonus of smelling like chocolate.  :)

See, all pantry items!  Honey, AVC, baking soda, coconut oil, corn starch/arrow root powder, cocoa powder.  Maybe a bar of natural soap.  Simple, inexpensive and all real ingredients.  

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