You could say that I’m pretty obsessed with toothpaste. I started making it a few years ago and it has since turned into a thriving bodycare business. Now I make almost all of the bodycare products we use, like rose lotion and hand sanitizer . This chai remineralizing toothpaste is my latest creation.

A sticky situation

You probably already know how bad conventional toothpaste is for you. All the fluoride, artificial colors and flavors can wreck havoc on your brain, thyroid and general health. But you may not know that most of the brands you’ll find at the health food store still contain glycerin. Now glycerin is a great humectant for your skin, and I use it when I make bay rum aftershave. It’s not so great for your teeth however.

Glycerin in toothpaste can leave a coating on the enamel. It’s estimated that it requires over 20 rinses to remove the glycerin from the enamel, so chances are likely that it will stay there for awhile. Manufacturers use it because it’s naturally sweet, and it helps to bind the dry ingredients smoothly together. It leaves a slick feeling on the teeth, but it also can prevent mineral rich saliva from strengthening tooth enamel. (source)

Coconut oil for the win

This chai toothpaste uses coconut oil instead of glycerin to leave that slick, clean feel. Coconut oil won’t prevent remineralization like glycerin can, and it also helps to restore tooth enamel. Since regular unrefined coconut oil is solid at room temperature, I also use fractionated coconut oil to soften the remineralizing toothpaste to a useable consistency. Trust me, without it you’ll end up with an impenetrable toothpaste brick.

More awesome ingredients

I’ve used clay based toothpastes before, and not all of them actually get my teeth clean. Bentonite clay is great for absorbing toxins and heavy metals in the mouth, but it doesn’t give much oomph when it comes to cleaning. I added some baking soda to help whiten and reduce plaque, but not so much that there’s gum irritation. And the calcium helps to restore the calcium you need for strong enamel.

The flavor comes from cinnamon and clove powder, with some cardamom, cinnamon and ginger essential oils added in. The essential oils really pack a germ busting punch and help give this a strong, but not overpowering flavor. Because who needs boring old mint when you can have chai remineralizing toothpaste?

Chai Remineralizing Toothpaste

• 2 T. bentonite clay
• 1/2 tsp calcium carbonate powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp clove powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 drop each cinnamon and clove essential oil
• 2 drops each cardamom and ginger essential oil
• 2 tsps each unrefined coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil

1. In a small glass bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Be sure to use stainless steel or non-metal utensils for this project, since the bentonite clay will pull the toxins from other metals.
2. Add the coconut oils and drip the essential oils into the coconut oil so that they mix into the toothpaste thoroughly. Use a small rubber spatula to mash the oils into the powder until thoroughly mixed.
3. Transfer to a glass container. Do not store this in the bathroom or any other warm and wet areas. Use a clean utensil, like a wooden popsicle stick to apply it to your toothbrush instead of dipping the toothbrush into the jar. When used and stored properly, this toothpaste should last 6 months.

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It seems like everyone is jumping on the natural bandwagon lately and makeup is no exception.
How can you cut past the hype though and find products that are truly natural and non-toxic? How do you know if your so called natural makeup is actually toxic?

My History with Makeup

In high school I had fun shopping the makeup aisle, trying different lip gloss colors and using heavy concealer for those teenage blemishes. My biggest concern with buying makeup was if I should get the volumizing or lengthening mascara. I never thought twice about the ingredients label, in fact, I don’t think I ever once looked at the ingredients.

In college I started wearing makeup less often to cut down on the toxins going into my body. I still held onto that jar of heavy foundation though for the occasional pimple. The past few years I’ve ditched conventional makeup altogether. Yes, even that last jar of foundation finally made its way to the trashcan last month.

How Natural Makeup Brands Stack Up

If you’re like me and trying to go the natural route when it comes to makeup, you may be surprised to see then that some of the “natural” options really aren’t so natural. Some of them have some truly nasty ingredients. Below I’ve delved into the ingredients of some popular natural brands to see how they stack up.

Tarte

This brand is sold at retailers like Sephora and boasts ingredients like chamomile, ginseng and green tea. However, there are some unsavory ingredients mixed in with the natural ones, making this brand not my top choice. Some of their products are fairly clean, even though they still contain heavy metals from certain minerals, while others are loaded with synthetic and toxic ingredients.

Amazonian clay BB illuminating moisturizer

• Retinyl Palmitate -Biochemical or cellular level changes, Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity
• Oxybenzone– Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Persistence and bioaccumulation
• Octinoxate– Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Persistence and bioaccumulation
• Phenoxyethanol– Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions

Vitamin infused lip gloss

• Fragrance– (which can be a chemical cocktail of anything) Ecotoxicology, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Miscellaneous, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive
• Retinyl acetate – Biochemical or cellular level changes, Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Heavy metals like tin and aluminum
• Artificial colors made with aluminum

EWG report , EWG report

Bare Minerals

This brand is heavily marketed on tv and in stores as being natural, but it has some ingredients I’d prefer to stay away from.

• Retinyl palmitate – Biochemical or cellular level changes, cancer
• Eugenol – Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Benzyl benzoate – Ecotoxicology, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Occupational hazards, Use restrictions
• Artificial colors – cancer, organ system toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation
• Aluminum powder – neurotoxin, Enhanced skin absorption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive),

EWG report, EWG report

Cowgirl Dirt

This brand was recently bought out and loyal customers are upset with some of the changes. More natural ingredients have supposedly been replaced by questionable ones.

• Retinyl palmitate – Biochemical or cellular level changes, Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Octinoxate – Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Persistence and bioaccumulation
• Polysorbate-60 – Biochemical or cellular level changes, Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Phenoxyethanol -Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions
• Ethanol – Enhanced skin absorption, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
• Sodium laureth sulfate – Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, 1,4-DIOXANE), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Diazolidinyl Urea – formaldehyde releaser that can cause cancer

EWG report , EWG report

Aveda

This brand used to be like the slick gunslinger in a western. You didn’t know what side they’re really on until you see what they’re made of. The brand has since made their ingredients available on their website, but I can’t say I’m too impressed.  There are some great natural plant extracts and oils, but plenty of toxic or unknown ingredients.

• Fragrance – (which can be a chemical cocktail of anything) Ecotoxicology, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Miscellaneous, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive

• PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE – That’s quite a mouthful. This ingredient doesn’t have any data behind it so we don’t have any idea if it’s safe. It could be a safe synthetic chemical concoction… or not.

• Methylisothiazolinone – Ecotoxicology, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Neurotoxicity, Use restrictions
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone –  Cancer, Ecotoxicology, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Use restrictions
• Artificial colors – Red 6, Yellow 6, Blue 1, etc. etc. There’s very limited safety data and scientists don’t have enough info to say if it doesn’t cause cancer or other health effects.

EWG report (source) (source)

Younique

Like the others this brand features some nourishing natural ingredients mixed in with some toxic ones. Here I’ve highlighted the Beach Front Bronzer and a mascara. Some of their products are pretty clean, but you have to be careful what you get and really analyze each product’s ingredients.

• Octinoxate– Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Persistence and bioaccumulation
• Corn starch – probably gmo and contaminated with toxic pesticides
• Talc – has been linked to cancer and the focus of many lawsuits right now
• Phenoxyethanol – Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions
• Vinyl dimethicone – “Flexible silicon polymers consisting of dimethicone copolymers that are linked together.” (source) It’s been deemed safe by EWG, but still not something I’d love to have on my face.- See more at:
• Phenoxyethanol – Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards, Use restrictions

Physician’s formula

• Aluminum powder – heavy metals like aluminum have been linked to neurotoxicity and diseases like Alzheimers. (source, source)
• Retinyl acetate – Biochemical or cellular level changes, Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Fragrance – A chemical cocktail of practically anything, typically neurotoxic
• Boric acid – Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Quaternium 15 (formaldehyde releaser) – Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Contamination concerns, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions
• Parabens – Biochemical or cellular level changes, Data gaps, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Use restrictions

EWG report

Bite Beauty

• Hydrogenated vegetable oil – highly processed and closer to plastic than oil (source)
• Hydrogenated castor oil – ditto to above
• Polypropanediol dimer dilinoleate – a synthetic chemical derived from gmo corn and soy products. Likely contaminated with round up and other chemicals sprayed on the corn and soy. (source) (source)

The bottom line with natural makeup

There are a lot of cosmetic ingredients that just don’t have enough (or any) safety data on them. Until I can know for sure that a synthetic chemical is safe, it’s staying off my face. Just because a brand pledges to stay away from a list of potential toxins, doesn’t mean they aren’t using other ones. On the other hand, some ingredients, like alpha tocopherol, may sound scary, but it’s really just vitamin E.

Best practice is to always read the back of the label and research the safety of the ingredients.

Truly healthy makeup

I like to be an informed consumer, but I also don’t like having to decipher and analyze every single ingredient label from the brand I’m using. To save myself time and to ensure I’m doing what’s best for my skin and my health, I like using clean makeup without all the nasties. I don’t want to end up with Alzheimer’s or cancer just from using some foundation powder!

Here you can find a collection of completely safe and non-toxic makeup recipes if you’re the diy type. If you don’t want to spend the time or don’t have the ingredients you need on hand, then there are other, healthy options you can buy. In fact, the makeup I’ve created for my body care shop, This & That Herbal is plant based, non-toxic and free of heavy metals. Unlike the other brands that advertise herbs and oils, I don’t include all the nasty stuff along with them.

You can read more about the plant based foundation powder here.

Read more about my plant based blush here. (this can also be used as eyeshadow!)

Were you surprised at the ingredients in your natural makeup? Let us know in the comments below!

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I’ve been in love with everything rose lately. I’ve been drinking rose tea, inhaling rose essential oil and I just made a rose hydrosol. I decided to put that rose hydrosol to good use and make this rose lotion recipe.

I’ve been hesitant to make a lotion for the longest time since I was afraid of messing it up. One of the first lessons you learn in science class is that oil and water don’t mix, so getting them to combine in a lotion can be a bit tricky. With a good mixer or blender though and a little bit of patience it’s totally doable.

I’ve made mint chocolate whipped body butter before that I love, but sometimes I just need something a little lighter. And while mint chocolate smells divine, sometimes it’s the subtle scents that draw you in. There’s something just so delicate and uplifting about rose.

Unwind and relax with rose

I’ve been super stressed these past few weeks and I’ve really been drawn to rose lately. Dandelions are usually more my thing. I never really liked the prim and proper rose, a flower that was coddled and probably went to the country club for luncheon. Weeds and wildflowers appeal to my intrinsic free spirit, so I was surprised to find my attraction to rose.

Roses are used to balance and strengthen the heart and help reduce feelings of anxiousness and inadequacy.  They are an anti-depressant and a nervine to combat stressful situations. So it makes sense that I would be drawn to rose right now. (source)

“Not only does it enhanced moods, decrease depression, induce sleep, decrease anxiety, and provide some pain relief, but it has also shown anticonvulsant activity and stimulation of nerve growth in dementia patients as well!” – source

I’ve been enjoying using this rose lotion recipe as a full body lotion on my thirsty winter skin. As I rub it in, I think positive, affirming thoughts and inhale the relaxing aroma.

You can buy rose hydrosol for this or make your own. Here’s the tutorial I followed to make my hydrosol. You’ll want to store this in the fridge and use it up in a few days for best results. You can find the lings to where I get my ingredients in the recipe list below, including the scale that I love.

Preserving your lotion

Since this is a lotion, you’ll need something to help extend the shelf life. Even though it’s only for home use, I added vitamin E at .5% for its antioxidant properties that help keep the oils from going rancid. You could also use rosemary antioxidant, though I don’t personally have experience with it. Be sure to store your creation in a cool place!

Given the known toxicity of many broad spectrum preservatives, I’ve chosen not to use them in my homemade products. From what I’ve been told by skincare professionals, adding a preservative does not guarantee it’s in the correct amounts to prevent microbe growth. The only way to be sure is to send the product in for professional lab testing, which most of us don’t have the funds to do.

By using an already preserved hydrosol that typically has a shelf life of 12-18 months, storing this in the fridge, and/or using it up within 2-3 months there really isn’t a concern for microbial growth. If this is meant as a gift, then be sure the recipient knows this information as well.

If you’re just uncomfortable with this idea and prefer to use a preservative, then you can find one online and follow the manufacturers directions for that particular preservative. Keep in mind though that this doesn’t guarantee the product will be as immune to microbe growth as products on store shelves. These have to go through multiple rounds of stability testing.

Homemade Rose Lotion Recipe

• 75 grams sweet almond oil – get it here
• 31 grams coconut oil – get it here
• 8 grams beeswax – get it here
• 4 grams vitamin e oil – get it here
• 10 drops  pure rose absolute – get it here OR 40 drops diluted rose absolute – get it here
• 1/2 cup distilled water or rose hydrosol – get it here
• 1 tsp glycerin – get it here
• Scale – the one I use

1. In a small saucepan combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil and beeswax. I place the saucepan on my scale and hit the tare button then add my ingredients, hitting tare after each one for easy measuring.
2. Heat the oils and beeswax over super low heat, as low as it will go. Once it’s completely melted pour the oils into your blender or stand mixer bowl. I used my stand mixer.
3. Add the vitamin E and essential oils at this point, don’t worry about stirring it in. Pop this in the fridge for about 15 minutes, or until it’s thickened and creamy looking. Don’t let it get solid though.
4. In a glass measuring cup with a spout, combine the glycerin and water or hydrosol.
5. If you’re using a mixer, use the whisk attachment and begin to whip the oil mixture on the highest speed. Slooooowly drizzle in the water mixture. You want a very thin stream so you don’t break the emulsion. Continue whipping until it’s thoroughly combined, about 1 minute after adding the water. You’ll want to scrape down the sides with a spatula a few times and mix some more.
6. If you’re using a blender, turn it on high and then slowly drizzle the water mixture into the middle of the vortex. Blend for 30 more seconds after you’ve added all the water.
7. Store at room temperature or in the fridge in clean glass jars.

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My other half struggles with an irritated scalp. I had been applying coconut oil mixed with some herbs, but that was incredibly messy and it took awhile to apply. I’ve since come up with this soothing scalp spray for irritated skin and we’ve seen such a huge improvement.

The beauty of apple cider vinegar

Since apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and antifungal, this makes it the perfect candidate for an itchy, irritated scalp spray. Unlike man made toxic antibiotics, vinegar doesn’t kill off all the good bacteria in the body, just pathogenic ones.  It not only eliminated the dandruff, but it also balanced the scalp’s ph for a healthier scalp and hair.

Its natural acidity discourages build-up on the scalp and adjusts skin pH when applied topically. The acidity of apple cider vinegar changes the pH of your scalp, so it’s not an ideal environment for yeast, fungus or bacteria to grow. (source)

Our skin naturally has an acidic ph of about 4.0-5.5, so we want to use something that has an acidic ph like vinegar on it. I’ve been using it in my 1 minute clear skin toner as a quick way to get better skin.

Essential oils

This past year I’ve discovered and really fallen in love with my essential oils. I concocted a moisturizing and skin clearing honey facewash that features essential oils, but I really wanted to add them to a scalp spray. I happened to find a recipe from this website, but I knew I wanted to change it up a bit.

These essential oils combine beautifully to create a blend that’s soothing, calming and really really works!

Scalp Spray For Irritated Skin

Ingredients:

• 4 drops patchouli
• 10 drops frankincense
• 10 drops geranium
• 1 drop clary sage
• 11 drops lavender
• 1 drop ylang ylang
• 9 drops bergamot
• 3 drops melaleuca
• 6Tbsps apple cider vinegar (preferably raw)
• 3 Tbsps filtered or distilled water
• Spray bottle

Directions:

1. 1. Combine all of the ingredients together and shake well to combine. I like to shake the bottle a little before each time I spray.
   2. Use a comb to part a section of hair close to the ear and spray the scalp with the vinegar blend. Move 1/4 inch over, part another section and spray the scalp there. Continue working in sections until the entire scalp has been covered.

1. This may sting a bit at first, but if it’s very uncomfortable, dilute with some water and try again.

P.S. Want to know all the nitty gritty details of how to make your own natural skincare products? Check out the Herbal Academy’s botanical skin care course here.

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