Product roundup time. A while back I was talking about all the stinky junk that’s sitting on the store shelves, and not in my house. So what’s in my house? I’m glad you asked! This will be a series of two posts, today’s focusing on personal care items, and the next installment will be about other around-the-house stuff. So here’s the play-by-play.

Shampoo: I haven’t used shampoo and conditioner to clean my hair for over a year. It was just such a battle to find a product I could use that not only wouldn’t give me a headache, but also wouldn’t bother Clay – we seem to have different sensitivities to smells. On top of that, shampoo just gets darn expensive. To wash, I now use a baking soda and water solution, and for conditioner I use an apple cider vinegar and water solution. (Get the low-down here) My hair is so healthy, and so manageable. I don’t even need to use styling junk anymore. Although, sometimes I do use a touch of coconut oil to smooth out the few crazy hairs on top. Go easy on the oil, it will make you look greasy fast.
Clay, while very supportive of the things I do around here, isn’t really interested in going this route. He’s been using this Nature Clean Unscented stuff. We use this on the kids as well.
Hand soap: For a long time, we used our shampoo as hand soap as well. Then we found Kiss My Face fragrance free moisture soap, and it has replaced the shampoo in the soap pump. No parabens, (plastic-softening, hormone-disrupting chemicals) or sodium lauryl sulphate (makes things sudsy, but is also really drying on your skin). It’s really nice soap, and (say it with me now) doesn’t stink!
Lotion: I should have one more item pictured in this photo, but I’m not in the mood for a re-do. As far as mainstream lotion goes, we use Aveeno. Don’t spend more on the baby version – it’s the same as the regular one pictured here! Recently I started using coconut oil as a moisturizer, and while it does take a little more time to soak in, it works really well. I like that it’s one ingredient that I can pronounce, and it’s something you can (and should!) eat, so I feel good about it soaking into my body. Another thing we use around here is shea butter, which is amazing, though it can get pretty pricey if you don’t have a sister who brings it straight from Africa for you :)


Deodorant: I don’t even remember how long I’ve been doing this, probably about 9 months. I make my own deodorant out of coconut oil, baking soda, and corn starch. It is honestly the absolute best deodorant I have ever used. No chemical laden antiperspirant can compare with how this homemade stuff works! I first read about it here, which gives a great explanation about the ‘why’, and the ‘how’ (recipe) is here. I used to keep it in an old deodorant tube, but it really is easier just to put a little on your fingers. Once a day. No stink. Even in summer. Seriously.
Facial Cleanser: Sorry, no photo for this. I wash my face with oil. Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? You can read all about the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) here. It really works. My skin is so happy when I give it a little love.
So there you have it, a nutshell of what goes on my skin. I love being able to find a lot of the ingredients I need for getting clean in my kitchen. I feel so much better about putting stuff on my body that I know is safe to go in my body. I’m no expert, but hopefully the links I provided shed some light, and if you have questions please ask, I like talking about this stuff :)
Hey, does anyone have some insight on toothpaste for me? Most of the ‘natural’ toothpastes are flouride free – what’s so bad about fluoride? I know I could find out if I just looked for info, but if someone out there can inform me, then that’s easier.
And stay tuned for my giveaway coming up! My next post will be my 300th, and I’m gearing up to give away something fun in honour of the occasion :)