Natural personal hygiene. Or, beauty on the cheap and easy.

In addition to the natural household cleaners I've incorporated into our lives, I've also done some changes on the personal products front. Here are some of my favorites:

~ Homemade deodorant. At home, I use a mixture of coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch. I add my favorite essential oil if I want a scent. I mix up a batch and it lasts for quite awhile. This works just great for me even in the oppressive heat and humidity of summer. One of my favorite things is that the gross greenish/grey tint that was on my skin when I was using a store-bought deodorant (I am guessing it was from the aluminum) is now totally gone.

~ Natural deodorant. If I'm traveling, I use Desert Essence Dry By Nature deodorant. I prefer my homemade deodorant, but this will do when I need it on the road.

~ No-poo. I haven't used shampoo on my hair in about 2.5 years. I have gone through a few routines but have found that this method (baking soda dissolved in boiling water, followed with a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse). I have also done the "conditioner only" method, which called for scrubbing my scalp with a silicone-free conditioner to wash my hair. This was also a very effective method for me. I think my hair is the healthiest it has ever been and I love being able to mix my favorite essential oils into my baking soda mixture.

~Body wash/soap. For Corinne, we use diluted Dr. Bronner's (see previous post), with a dash of apricot kernel oil for moisturizing. I add lavender essential oils to help her calm and sleep. I use a bar of goat milk soap that I've felted like this.

~ Moisturizer. We use coconut oil (great for hand moisturizing, and also GREAT for diaper rash), apricot kernel oil (great for body), and calendula cream (for irritated spots and super dry skin) for our skin care. I particularly love coconut oil with lavender essential oil as a facial moisturizer. So relaxing and my skin looks amazing the next morning!

~ Feminine hygiene. This was one of my final holdouts for natural products. I'm sorry I waited! I currently use a combination of Diva Cup and cloth pads. These products have been fantastic for me. I save money, have peace of mind about protection, and feel so much more comfortable, physically. I won't go into details here but am happy to share more if you want to know.

~ Dental hygiene. I use these toothbrushes (they have natural bristles and replaceable heads). I really like them - they're quite soft and feel different than any other toothbrush I've tried. And I switch between these brands for toothpaste. I like them equally well.

I started out with these alternative products and methods because I wanted to decrease the number of chemicals/toxins in our family. I found that in addition to being better for our bodies and our environment, these types of products are either very cheap, or very easy to make. I also feel like our life is simplified when I use these products and recipes. WIN!