DIY Plant Based Beauty

  Today it is easier than ever before to choose a lifestyle full of all natural ingredients that is in line with your health choices. If you are a vegetarian this means you enjoy plant-based products but also eat dairy and eggs. A Vegan lifestyle is a spin off this but also vegans avoid all animal products, which means many popular natural home ingredients such as honey, eggs and dairy are all to be avoided. The good news is there are so many more plant-based ingredients to choose from such as agave syrup, natural oils, and nut milks that you do not have to give up anything when it comes to keeping your hair and skin clean and well cared for.

  Gluten free is also becoming a popular diet choice and people who have cut gluten out of their diet have seen benefits to their overall health and energy. It makes sense when choosing a diet lifestyle, you also will want to look at the cosmetic products you are using on your body and the ingredients they have.

  One advantage of making your own cosmetic products and treatments is that it puts you in control of the ingredients you are using and applying to your skin. If you are choosing to live a Vegan, Vegetarian, or Gluten Free lifestyle then you will also want to incorporate it into your beauty products. Creating your own products will also make you a better “Label reader” as often time there are hidden ingredients in the products that you are buying that you normally would not want to use.

  You may not realize that some of your favorite products have ingredients you may not agree with. Synthetic and animal-based ingredients that you have been avoiding in your diet choices but still using on your body. Our skin is our largest organ and what you use on it does affect your overall health. If you are someone that is trying to avoid a certain ingredient such as gluten in your diet you are going to want to do the same when it comes to your skin and hair care products.

Dermatitis and other skin conditions are common in people who have been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity. Make sure you look at the ingredients on the products you are using. Wheat is sometimes listed as “Triticum Aestivum” which you may not realize is in many common products such as toothpaste and shampoo.

Here are a few recipes that are all natural and have plant based not animal ingredients and only natural scents and color for you to try:

Shea Butter Body Lotion

Shea butter is an ivory-colored natural fat that comes from African shea trees and is used much like cocoa butter. In cosmetics it acts as a moisturizer and emollient and has anti-inflammatory properties. Shea butter can treat all types of skin conditions, from scars to chapped lips, and is useful in treating acne because it is nongreasy and easily absorbed by the skin. It provides mild UV protection from the sun, but it is not a replacement for your sunscreen. It can be found in natural food stores in the skin care section.

1 /2 cup distilled water

1 /8 teaspoon borax powder

1 /4 cup shea butter

1 /2 cup almond oil

Bring the water to a boil. Place the borax powder in a clean, heatproof bowl, pour the boiling water, and stir well. Set aside. Place the oil and shea butter in a microwave-safe or small saucepan on the stove top. Gently heat the mixture until melted and stir to mix. Pour this mixture into a blender or food processor and blend on low speed, slowly add the hot water solution in a slow, steady stream. Blend on high until well mixed. You should have a milky white lotion. Pour the mixture into a clean container to cool. To use: Massage into your skin.

Yield: 6 ounces

Plant Based Lip Balm

There are several all-natural plant oils and waxes that can be used to treat your lips naturally and avoid using beeswax or lanolin. Shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and castor oil are all beneficial at soothing dry, cracked lips giving them natural shine and protection.

1/2 teaspoon castor oil

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon shea butter

1 /2 teaspoon cocoa butter

1-2 drops peppermint essential oil for flavor (optional)

In a heat-resistant bowl or small saucepan combine all ingredients and gently heat until melted. This may be done in the microwave, be careful to do boil. Stir well and pour into a small container. Let cool completely. To use: Spread on your lips with a clean fingertip.

Yield: .75 ounce

Coconut oil body polish

This scrub is perfect for skin that needs some exfoliation but also a bit of TLC. The raw sugar is naturally cleansing an antiseptic and the coconut oil helps deep condition your skin. After using this treatment your skin should feel softer and smoother.

1 cup raw sugar

1 /2 cup coconut oil

1 /2 teaspoon vitamin E oil

2-3 drops essential oil (lavender, rosemary, peppermint) optional

In a small bowl mix together all ingredients and stir well. Spoon into a clean container. To use: Standing in the tub or shower massage into your skin. Be careful as the oil could make things slippery so you may want to stand on a towel. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Yield: 8 ounces

Dry Shampoo

Many shampoos have hidden ingredients like wheat that if you are trying to be Gluten free may not work for you. Make sure before using any new product to read the label and look up any ingredients that do not sound right to you. Dry shampoos are becoming a popular alternative to regular “wet” shampoos especially helpful if you workout during the day or are traveling.

  Using a dry shampoo can be a bit messy, so make sure you stand on a towel or lean over a sink while shampooing. Here are some to try:

1 tablespoon baking soda, coarse sea salt, cornstarch, or rice powder

  Massage the powder directly into the scalp and through the hair. You may want to lean over a sink as you apply the powder. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes. Using a clean, dry brush, vigorously brush, using upward strokes, to remove all the powder.

Yield: 1 ounce, 1 dry shampoo treatment

Vegetarian Cologne

This cologne uses fresh plant and herb leaves to create a light garden scent. It is light, fresh, and can be used as an after-bath splash or any time you can use a fragrance boost.

4 tablespoons fresh tomato leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest

1 teaspoon fresh bail leaves

1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves

1 cup witch hazel

Place all the fresh leaves and lemon zest inside a clean jar or bottle. Pour the witch hazel over them; shake gently. Cover the bottle top and let sit in a cool, dark spot for 2 weeks. Strain the liquid and discard any solids. Pour the liquid through a fine strainer or coffee filter into a clean bottle. To use: Apply as you would any cologne product. It is especially refreshing if kept in the refrigerator.

Yield: 8 ounces

Avocado Facial Mask

Fresh avocados soften rough, dry skin. They are a classic facial mask ingredient full of natural fats and protein they help stimulate your skin’s own natural production of oil. All skin types can receive help from an avocado facial and make sure to save the pit. You can plant it and have your own avocado plant or grind it up and use in body scrub recipes.

1 /2 fresh avocado, mashed

1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir well until you have a smooth creamy mixture. To use: Spread on clean face and neck and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.

Yield: 3 ounces, enough for one treatment