Category: Cosmetics / Makeup

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Homemade Organic Dry Shampoo

FullSizeRender (1).jpgAbove is a photo of me using my dry shampoo a few days after getting my hair blown out. 

Ingredients:

  • Arrowroot Powder
  • Cacao Powder
  • Lemon essential oil – to get golden highlights
  • Rosemary essential oil- to promote hair growth
  • Eucalyptus- for a dry scalp

Directions:

  • Use more arrowroot powder for lighter hair and cacao powder for darker hair
  • Massage the arrowroot into your scalp & in first couple of inches of hair if desired.
  • Take note: I personally used arrowroot powder because I wanted to make my hair look lighter.
    • If you decide to mix in cacao, be aware some of this residue could come off onto your pillow at night. I am not sure if it would stain or if any type of bug would be attracted to if (in NYC). I haven’t experimented with this or seen this being an issue in my research but it could be something to keep in mind.

Many of my friends use dry shampoo or baby powder as a dry shampoo on days they want to skip washing their hair or to extend a blowout for a few days.  There have been many links to the talcum in baby powder and cancer. When hearing this, I decided to come up with my own powder very similar to baby powder but one that is beneficial for your skin, hair and body instead of being detrimental toward your health.

In the most recent lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson (February 2016), $72 million dollars was awarded to to a women’s family for using their baby powder which contributed to her ovarian cancer death after 35 years of use. See more in an article here.

For more, check out my instagram at @nychamptonshealth

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Homemade Organic Chapstick

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Ingredients: 

  1. Beeswax Pastilles – 1 tbsp
  2. Coconut Oil- 1 tbsp
  3. Shea Butter- 1 tbsp
  4. Essential oil 2 drops- optional

Directions:

  1. Mix ingredients & heat on stove until melted
  2. Use a dropper to put liquid into lip holder
  3. Put in fridge about 5 min until solid

 

Like most people, I used to use Chapstick Cherry flavor, which is filled with harmful ingredients.Some ingredients include: Arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, fragrance, propylparaben, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, menthol, methylparaben, 

My general rule when reading labels is that if I don’t know what something is, it probably isin’t good for you. Below are two simple ingredients to keep an eye out for and are in many products. I also bolded and underlined these ingredients above.

Fragrance:  The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reports that “95% of the ingredients used to create fragrances today are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and many other known toxins and sensitizers.” According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are potentially hundreds of chemicals in a single product’s secret fragrance mixture.

Parabens: Stay away from any word ending in “paraben” (as seen above). Parabens are used as a preservative in cosmetics, foods and drugs and are very commonly used. Parabens are known to cause endocrine disruption, cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity.

For more, check out my Instagram @dshamptonorganics

References:

“EWG.” EWG. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

“About Us.” National Academy of Sciences. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

“Parabens – Safe Cosmetics.” Safe Cosmetics. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

 

 

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Essential Oil Perfume

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I made my own personalized perfume with essential oils from Soapology located in the West Village, NYC.

Soapology has natural products including scrubs, soaps, candles, lotions, perfumes and a few more options are available. I also have their Walnut Polisher and find it to be a great light body exfoliant.

I decided to make my own perfume after finding out 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and many other known toxins and sensitizers- capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Its been a 5 months since I have been using essential oils instead of perfume. Now, when someone has too much perfume on, I am sensitive to the toxic smell.

It took me about an hour to come up with my own blend. I started smelling all of the different essential oils (they have about 50) and placed the ones that I liked on a side table. The two women working at the boutique store were very helpful in assisting me. The essential oils that I liked are shown in the photo. I finally narrowed it down to a Ginger, Yuzu, White Tea and Vetiver Blend. After choosing your blend, Soapology writes down the exact recipe saves it for future reference.

I made this blend two months ago in February and it still smells great! I have gotten compliments on it and use it often. This is a great light and sweet summer scent. Soapology also has pre-blended essential oil perfume options if you do not want to create your own. I bought the “Seductive” blend but the scent seems to have changed since I bought it two months ago.

After buying both perfumes, I learned that when making a essential oil blend perfume, you are supposed to use alcohol to preserve and meld the scents. A good alcohol option to use is a non-GMO spiced rum. Now that I have a blend I know I like, I might decide to buy these essential oils from a well trusted brand like doTERRA  and make it on my own.

Below are some benefits of each essential oil I used in my perfume:

  • Vetiver– A plant oil. Heave, earthy fragrance that is grounding, calming and stabilizing. An aphrodisiac.
  • Yuzu– a Japanese fruit with a citrus smell. Yuzu helps with anxiety, depression and nervousness.
  • Ginger oil– when smelt or when applied directly to skin, can help relieve aches and pains, as well as promote normal blood circulation and help with digestive problems.

There is a boutique store only a few blocks away from Soapology called Enfleurage in the West Village, NYC with many essential oils. This is a great place to buy essential oils if you wanted to make your own perfume at home. They do not blend essential oils here for you.

*With essential oils it is important to be buying them from a reliable brand to avoid a company including any type of fillers in the essential oils to lower their costs. It is also important to remember that “natural” and “organic” do not have any official meaning in the beauty industry when placed on products or verbally stated. To find out more about this see FDA on Organic Cosmetic Labeling. Also the term “therapeutic grade” is commonly used within the essential oil industry but also has no meaning and is also used for marketing purposes. It is important to ask questions to find out how the product is made and with what ingredients.  After doing my own research, doTERRA seems like a reliable brand. They have a lot of information available on their essential oils, where they come from and how they are made.  “Scientia Potentia Est.”

For more check out my instagram @nychamptonshealth

References:

“U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” “Organic” Cosmetics. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

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Homemade Natural Hand Sanitizer

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Ingredients:

  • Rubbing Alcohol 1 tsp
  • Aloe Vera Gel 1/4 cup
  • Cinnamon Essential Oil- 10 drops (natural antibacterial)
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil- 7 drops (natural antibacterial)
  • Distilled Water to get it to your desired consistency (in solid or spray form)

According to the Wall Street Journal’s article “Are Antibacterial Soaps Safe?“, since lab and animal studies both suggest these antibacterial soaps are unsafe, the FDA is recently taking a closer look at this $5.5 billion dollar industry. The FDA states that they will announce whether or not antibacterial soaps will be able to be sold as they are today. This announcement will be in September of 2016. If the vote is unfavorable toward companies producing antibacterial soaps, they will need to reformulate their line of antibacterial products without the harmful chemicals.

The article continues saying “We now know we can measure small amounts of ingredients in blood and that things you put on your skin can potentially be absorbed into the body,” Dr. Theresa Michelle states. Her advice for now? “Wash your hands with plain soap and water, because we do not have enough data demonstrating antibacterial soaps are any better” in fighting disease.

The below ingredients are currently under review. Since it is not proven these ingredients are safe to use on your skin, it would be a good idea to avoid using them, not only in hand sanitizes but also in other cosmetic products you use. All of the recipes I post on my website are all natural.

  • Isopropyl Alcohol- Used in the hand sanitizers nurses and doctors use various times each day, the high concentration and frequent exposure is a concern.
  • Triclosan- This was found in high levels in human breast milk and urine and may interfere with normal development and function in humans and animals.
  • Benzalkonium Chloride- This ingredient comes with potential hormonal disruptions and is a possible carcinogen.
  • Benzethonium Chloride- Possible effects on fertility issues, body weight at birth, growth and development.
  • Iodine- Should never be used on pregnant or breast feeding women.
  • Chloroxylenol- Has been found in internal tissues after skin application.

References:

Landro, Laura. “Are Antibacterial Soaps Safe?” The Wall Street Journal. 15 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016

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Natural Deodorant for Summer

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Ingredients:

  • Shea Butter (Organic)
  • Arrowroot Powder (Organic)
  • Coconut Oil (Organic)
  • Baking Soda (Organic)
  • Beeswax Pastilles
  • Witch Hazel
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Vitimin E
  • Essential oils.

Sandalwood is great for men and I like Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils for myself.

Directions:

  • Heat Coconut Oil & Beeswax on the stove.
  • Remove Coconut Oil & Beeswax off stove
  • Mix in all other ingredients

Why this is a great summer deodorant: Beeswax Pastilles preserve coconut oil so this deodorant is good for warmer months since coconut oil has a 72 degree melting point on its own.

When switching from antiperspirant deodorant to natural deodorant, ones pores start to unclog and function properly. Therefore, toxins are released and ones body odor may temporarily increase. This purging usually lasts about 2 weeks depending on the toxicity level in the body. Make sure to eat healthy and drink plenty of water to help the purging process be more odorless.

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Homemade & Natural Eyebrow Filler

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Homemade & Natural Eyebrow Filler
Ingredients:
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Cacao (Organic)
  • Castor oil  (Organic)
  • Arrowroot  (Organic)

Benefits of ingredients on your brows:

  • Castor Oil- Promotes hair growth and sets brows into shape
  • Arrowroot
  • Activated Charcoal – Removes toxins from hair and skin

In the photo, I included a picture of my old Mac brow gel. You can see how my new homemade brow gel is the same color. My homemade brow gel works just as well as my Max brow gel too but has ingredients that are beneficial for your body instead of toxic.

If you have lighter brows, use more Arrowroot powder.

 

For more, check out my Instagram @dshamptonorganics

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Multiple Usage Spray

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This spray has multiple uses:

  • Air Freshener
  • Spray on Sheets- Witch hazel kills bacteria while lavender promotes sleep
  • Clean Yoga Mat – use towel to wipe off
  • Body Spray- smells good & prevents mosquitoes/ticks for the Hamptons

Ingredients:

Witch hazel – 1/4
Lavender essential oil- 5 drops
eucalyptus essential oils- 5 drops
Filtered water- 3/4

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Homemade Organic Foundation Powder

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Ingredients:

  • Arrowroot Powder
  • Cacao Powder

It is difficult to find makeup with no chemicals in it even when its labeled “all natural”, the ingredients often consist of harmful substances. Did you know that the European Union has banned more than 1,000 ingredients from use in cosmetics while the FDA has banned ten?

Add more cacao for a bronzing effect. This foundation is for light coverage and will not cover any major blemishes.

This can also be used for under your eyes to avoid raccoon eye from mascara/eyeliner.

 

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Uplifting Coffee Body Scrub

 

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Wake up with this uplifting Coffee Body Scrub.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup ground coffee
  • 1 Tbsp epsum salt (can use sea salt)
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 9 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions:

  • Use 1x-2x a week- The epsom salts make this a strong exfoliant. If you want to make it less abrasive, you can use sea salt and use the scrub more often
  • When you let this sit overtime, the top gets dry & the coconut sinks to the bottom, so just make sure to mix it with a spoon before using.
  • No need for lotion after using this due to coconut oil.

Coffee is a great exfoliant for your skin. The caffeine in coffee stimulates circulation and has a tightening effect, which leads to a more radiant, glowing complexion and can help reduce cellulite.

I came up with this recipe myself. My friend brought me back delicious smelling coffee from Costa Rica and I wanted to find a use for it (since I haven’t been drinking coffee lately.) I really liked the smell and effects of the scrub so continued to make it with a Fair Trade and Organic Coffee brand. 

I prefer to use this in the morning or before going out. The coffee and peppermint mix is uplifting.

Click Here to see a video explaining why buying Fair Trade Coffee is the ethical decision.

*Note: I made this for a few friends and family members and everyone except for one friend loved it with no problems. One friend’s shower drain was clogged after using it after once use. I did some online research on this and found that coffee can clog your drain, but also found that people used coffee to unclog your drain, so I am not sure. I have been using this for two months and have not had any problems.

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Natural Wet Wipes DIY

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Home made natural Wet Wipes

Ingredients:

  • Aloe Vera- 1 tbsp
  • Castile Soap – 1 tbsp ( I used Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint)
  • Witch Hazel- 1 tbsp
  • Filtered Water 1 & 1/3 Cup
  • 6 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
  • Bounty Paper Towel cut in half

I stored these in an old face wipe plastic container and then put it inside a stone box (in pic). These are great to keep at home for anytime you would normally use a wet paper towel to clean something and to carry in your bag in a zip block bag when going out.