DIY Skin Care

In keeping with my quest for creativity and to tune into Ms Gut, I enrolled in a DIY Skin Care workshop (No I will NOT end up like Kath Day Knight with my workshop and TAFE certs lining my walls). On a Sunday. I know.


But having scraped my lousy self out of bed I rocked up and was actually pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had. Let it be known, I'll have my Choos with a side of organic DIY, chars.


Fact: there have been relatively minimal studies conducted into the long term gradual systematic build up of synthetic chemicals within the body!!! Meaning that some synthetic chemicals that cannot be metabolised by the body will remain stored in our systems causing any number of ailments and detriment to our bodily temples. Shame.


Products to run for the hills from:


1. 1.4-dioxane
A carcinogenic contaminant - over exposure can lead to irritation, headaches, dizziness, narcosis, blood disorders and damage to the liver and kidneys. Really horrible shit.


2. Cocoamidopropyl Betaine
Can cause dermatitis, eye and skin irritation, occupational allergies


3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfact (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfact (ALS)
Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and can cause eye damage, central nervous system depression, laboured breathing, diarrhoea, severe skin irritation, even death. This surfactant may also damage the skin's immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame.


4. Paraben preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl)
Extends the shelf life of products and widely known to be toxic relating to skin irritations, allergies and has been found to be encapsulated by tumours within the body. Horrible shit.


5. Imidazolidinyl urea
Releases formaldehyde which is a carcinogenic.


The GOOD NEWS is there are plenty of luscious alternatives to use that won't have such an adverse effect on us:


Essential Oils
Vegetable Oils
Beeswax
Emulsifying wax
Vegetable glycerin
Kaolin
Xanthum gum
Castile soap - soap made from olive oil
Exfoliants such as almond meal, sugar, epsom salts, poppy seeds, walnut shells etc.
Grapefruit seed extract
Rosemary extract
Vitamin E
Floral waters - used instead of normal water to boost healing properties.


AND I have loads of DIY recipes to share with you so you can make your own! Yessss

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Citrus Zest Body and Foot Scrub 

(makes 100g so feel free to double or triple up if you're into your scrubs)

Mix:

4 tbsp raw sugar

2 tbsp poppy seeds

3 tbsp apricot kernel or sweet almond oil

Then add 6 drops each of lime, lemon and mandarin essential oil.

   Stir, scrub, glow.
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