It’s always fun to make an easy project that the kiddos can help out with. This awesome homemade sidewalk chalk is fun, nontoxic, and it even uses an upcycled container to make it less messy to draw with. You can customize the colors however you like. It’s a cute crafty project that keeps being fun even once you’re finished!

You have to love a project that takes only 5 minutes of hands on time. And the result will give you hours of drawing fun. As a kid I used to spend forever in the driveway coloring away with sidewalk chalk. I only wish I had been able to make the chalk myself, because it would have made my creations twice as personal. That’s why I knew this would be a perfect kid-friendly craft.

I’m a huge proponent of going green- I write about green cleaning all the time. I love having an opportunity to reuse containers I have finished with, because I’m always trying to reduce waste. That’s why I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Tom’s of Maine during Earth Month to bring this awesome upcycling project to you as part of the #LessWasteChallenge!

I’ve been a fan of Tom’s of Maine for a long time. I love their natural personal care products. I’ve even written about their awesome deodorants before. All Tom’s of Maine products are made without artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives. Even better, they’re not tested on animals. These are all things I look for when I’m shopping for personal care products.

You can get Tom’s of Maine Products at Target. They even have some awesome Target exclusives, like the fragrance free bar soap for sensitive skin that I got.

And what’s super exciting is that Tom’s of Maine is working even harder to make their products environmentally friendly and sustainable. Tom’s of Maine is committed to reducing waste caused by their products. All their packaging is recyclable through TerraCycle- a company that recycles things that aren’t usually recycled. Visit Toms of Maine’s website for more information.

I’m taking the #LessWasteChallenge to reduce 1 pound of waste a week- and you should too! That’s why I made this awesome upcycling project to help me reuse old containers instead of throwing them away. What will you do for your #LessWasteChallenge? Make sure to share your creative ideas using the hashtag so everyone can be inspired by your awesome ideas!

Here’s my awesome project that I came up with to reuse old containers and reduce waste:

homemade sidewalk chalk Ingredients and supplies:

• Tom’s of Maine Deodorant Container
• 2-3 teaspoons tempera paint
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup Plaster of Paris
• Spatula
• Mixing bowl

Step One: Clean out deodorant container

The first thing to do is clean out any remaining deodorant from your deodorant container. If you twist the container up all the way, you can remove the plastic deodorant holder and scrape and wash all the leftover deodorant out of there. I was able to do this using a small knife and a scrub brush and dish soap.

You’ll want to leave the deodorant “residue” in the rest of the container to keep the sides slick.

Then just replace the now-empty plastic deodorant holder, and twist it down to the bottom of the container.

Step Two: Mix ingredients

Now it’s time to actually make the chalk! You’ll want to mix 2-3 teaspoons of tempera paint with 1/4 cup of water. Then stir in 1/2 cup of plaster of paris.

The amount of paint you use will depend on how dark you want your chalk colors to be. Lighter chalk is great for writing on dark surfaces like a black chalkboard, and darker colors are great for lighter sidewalks. I mixed blue and red paint to make a darker purple color. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.

I told you it was easy!

Step Three: Add to container

Once your homemade sidewalk chalk ingredients are mixed, use your spatula to add the mixture to the deodorant container. You can push down as you add it to make sure you don’t leave too many air holes in the container.

Step Four: Let dry and draw!

All you have left to do now is set your chalk aside to dry. You’ll want to leave it for at least 12 hours to be completely dry before use.

And then go ahead and start drawing!

As your chalk runs out, simply twist some more up in your deodorant container for fun and less messy drawing. If your chalk is being a little resistant to twisting, you can use a butter knife around the edges to loosen it up a little.

I love that I was able to reuse my old deodorant container this way. I never know what to do with finished personal care product packaging (try saying that 5 times fast). I hate throwing them out. So lucky my DIY-ing made it easy to upcycle and repurpose this deodorant container.

It’s so fun to draw with too!

It was so much fun to mix my own chalk colors. I find that most sidewalk chalk is lighter, but I don’t have a dark driveway, just light concrete sidewalks. So the darker color of the chalk really pops on the concrete. Plus I’m just a sucker for purple.

Who would have thought that this homemade sidewalk chalk was in a reused deodorant container?

I can’t wait to see what other upcycling projects I come up with as part of the #LessWasteChallenge. My mind is already churning and thinking of ideas.

Good luck making your own homemade sidewalk chalk, and have fun creating less waste!

Don’t forget to check out the Cartwheel offer on Tom’s of Maine products at Target.

The post Homemade Sidewalk Chalk appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

I love making things- be it a cute DIY project, natural beauty recipes, a cleaning product, or even a decorative printable. And I know there are lots of other DIY-ers out there who agree with me! So this holiday season, I thought I would share some awesome homemade gifts that people ACTUALLY want.

I’ve given out almost every single thing on the list as a gift, and with great responses to all! In fact I have yet to give #1 to a person and NOT have them ask me to make them more.

So, here are my favorite 15 awesome gifts you can make:

1. Aloe Vera Moisturizer

This is one of my favorite homemade gifts. Regardless of gender, everyone needs a good quality moisturizer in the winter. This aloe vera moisturizer is so gentle, and yet so moisturizing, that it works with most skin types.

As I mentioned above, every SINGLE person I have given this to as a gift has asked me for more. So I thought it makes sense to start the list with my favorite. I always have plenty of aloe on hand to make this in the winter!

supplies you’ll need

2. Peppermint Body Butter

This peppermint body butter makes a perfect Christmas gift. It’s festive, cute, all natural, and amazingly moisturizing. The pink stripe is actually made without any food dye and the recipe is without any artificial additives. It’s so natural you could eat it and be fine- but I wouldn’t recommend it, even if it smells amazing.

supplies you’ll need

3. Gingerbread Candles

Nothing says Christmas more than gingerbread! I love the smell so much, I knew I had to replicate it for an awesome holiday candle. Candle making may sound intimidating, but trust me, it’s easy! The custom blend of scents smells like freshly baked gingerbread, and is sure to get anyone in the holiday mood.

supplies you’ll need

4. Custom Sign

I love making custom signs! This DIY may be a little more difficult if you aren’t a crafty person, but it is definitely doable. These make such a great gift because they are completely customized. Plus once you figure out this method you can use it to make all kinds of homemade decor for yourself and others.

supplies you’ll need

5. Mint Chocolate M&M’s Fudge

I made this awesome mint chocolate fudge recipe and it is SUPER delicious. It makes a great gift that you can make in bulk for friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. Lars became the hero of his office when he brought this fudge in last year. The mint chocolate flavor is perfect for Christmas, and the fudge is actually cute to boot.

supplies you’ll need

6. Laundry Detergent Tabs

These laundry detergent tabs are awesome! They are completely green and natural, and they’re easy and inexpensive to make. They make a great gift for someone you know loves to live a natural lifestyle. Who doesn’t love clean clothes, right?

supplies you’ll need

7. Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

Can you tell how much I love giving natural beauty products for gifts? They always get an amazing response. This cocoa butter body lotion is so deeply moisturizing. It feels so luxurious and expensive. It will make your giftees feel like a million bucks while only costing you a few!

supplies you’ll need

8. Homemade Lip Balm

Everyone uses lip balm, right? This homemade lip balm makes a perfect gift. I gave someone a tube once, and they told me it was “better than Bert’s.” So that’s a pretty great endorsement! It’s an easy gift to make for stocking stuffers, or as part of a gift basket, or when you just want to give someone something small.

supplies you’ll need

9. DIY No Sew Reuseable Duster

Everyone has to dust. But who likes buying disposable duster heads? They’re so costly and wasteful. This DIY washable duster head requires no sewing, and works like a charm. Since they are so easy and inexpensive to make, they make a really great gift.

supplies you’ll need

10. Green Tea Scrub

Green tea is amazing for your skin. This awesome green tea scrub is so healthy, and it smells amazing. Anyone would love to get it as a gift. This one has been highly requested by friends and family. It makes your skin feel fresh and moisturized.

supplies you’ll need

11. Etched Soap Dispenser

A cute dish soap dispenser next to the sink really makes it look better. You would never notice how big a difference it makes until you replace a plastic bottle with this adorable etched soap dispenser. That’s why it makes such a great gift- everyone uses dish soap, or hand soap.

supplies you’ll need

12. Aloe Vera Face Wash

This aloe vera face wash makes a great gift alone or with my aloe vera moisturizer. It’s one of the more popular posts on my site, and people really seem to love it! I used it exclusively for over 2 years, but I’ve since added a few more products to my rotation. It’s a great gift for the natural beauty maven you know!

supplies you’ll need

13. Peanut Butter Cookies

Everyone loves cookies. These peanut butter cookies are so easy to make with only 3 ingredients, and they are gluten free! They are a great gift that you can make in bulk to give to lots of people, or for just one person. Or for yourself. Because you might not want to share these awesome cookies!

supplies you’ll need

14. Essential Oil Kit

Essential oils are awesome because they can be used in so many ways. If you make a kit by putting together a few classic oils, and maybe even a diffuser, it makes a great gift. You could even do seasonal ones, like a christmas themed kit with cinnamon, ginger, and pine.

supplies you’ll need

15. Homemade Shower Soothers

The height of gift-giving season is also the height of cold season. These DIY Shower Soothers are a perfect gift that someone can use when they’re sick, or just for a relaxing shower that smells great. You can package them in a mason jar- which would look adorable! Who wouldn’t love that?

supplies you’ll need

The post 15 Awesome Homemade Gifts that People Actually Want appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

The holidays are coming fast! I always get nervous about having people in my home for the holidays. Especially at this busy time of year, things get messy and disorganized quickly. In my dream world I would have days and hours to clean everything up, but I usually only have a short time to fit it in. There are a few sure fire things I do to prep my house for guests to make it visitor ready in 30 minutes or less.

This list is prioritized in the order that tasks should be done. The first few make the biggest difference, so if you have a limited amount of time you can focus on doing as much cleaning as you can in order. Make it through as many steps as you can in 30 minutes.

You can also tweak the order to suit your needs. If your house is one major dust ball, you can always move that up higher on the list, and the same applies to any of these. Although I do always recommend starting with “manage the clutter” because it makes the biggest difference.

If you do it right, you’ll be able to fake a super clean and guest-ready home in 30 minutes!

1. Manage the clutter

Do you know why all the awesome decor pictures in magazines and on Pinterest always look amazing?

No clutter.

There’s no papers strewn about, or toys on the floor. No empty glasses are left sitting on the coffee table, and no board games are sitting out half finished on the kitchen table. Surfaces and floors are clear of clutter.

To me, this is the step that makes the biggest difference. When all your clutter is out of sight, your house will look at least 50% cleaner.

So the first thing you should do is gather all the clutter in any areas guests will be, and put them in some kind of box or basket. A laundry basket can work well for this. And then put the basket out of sight, in a closet or in a corner of the room.

And voila, your house will appear magically cleaner!

And think broadly in terms of what you can consider clutter. Even if you usually have 10 jackets hanging on the hooks by the front door, those can be put away for guests. The same goes for shoes. Entryways are always important to have extra room when guests come, because their things will end up adding to whatever clutter is there already.

This isn’t a long term solution, just a quick fix. In general if you specify a location that every item in your home belongs, you’ll find you have much less clutter. Maintenance is usually the easiest way to keep your home guest ready.

2. First impressions

First impressions matter!

Whatever the first impression of your home is will affect how comfortable your guests feel in your entire home. If you make the first impression positive, they will think the rest of the house is cleaner. Psychology is strange, but it works.

So consider what your guests will see first, and make sure that space is clutter free and clean. For me the biggest thing is my kitchen island, which you can see from the front door. Keeping it clean and clear of debris and any clutter makes the entire house feel cleaner. Even something as simple as moving a recipe print out from the island to the counter makes it feel cleaner.

3. Sweep and vacuum

It’s amazing what a difference it makes to have clean floors. Your home could be covered in clutter, or spills on the counters, and as long as your floors are clean, it won’t feel icky or dirty.

If your guests come in and take their shoes off, they don’t want to be stepping on yesterday’s crumbs (all though I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of this at times!) Walking on a floor that doesn’t have any dust or crumbs makes you feel like the house is clean, no matter what else is going on.

For us one of the major floor messes is dog toy stuffing. Our pup likes to tear up his toys faster than we have the energy to pick up all the fluff. Just getting the fluff off the floor makes the house look and feel much cleaner.

So even if your floors aren’t amazingly gleaming and shiny, just getting dust and debris off will make a huge difference. Walking on a clean floor is a sure way to make your guests feel comfortable. I’m in love with our dyson vacuum which makes vacuuming go so quickly.

4. Tackle odors

Smell is such a powerful sense. A house can look clean, but if it doesn’t smell nice, nothing else matters. Luckily smells can be a pretty quick fix.

Scented candles, a quick spritz of some homemade febreeze, or simmering some apples and cinnamons on the stove can make a big difference.

5. Clean all surfaces

Do a quick wipe down of surfaces in rooms your guests will see. Clean up bathroom and kitchen countertops, and also wipe down any coffee or side tables. A quick cleaning will make such a big difference. My reusable cleaning wipes are perfect for this.

I think the bathrooms make the biggest difference. When there is no dust and hair all over the place, it feels so much cleaner. Getting the toothpaste gunk off the sink really just makes it look that much better.

Clean surfaces will make your guests feel comfortable to rest their hands or arms on surfaces. After all, there’s nothing that feels ickier than accidentally placing your hand on something sticky. Clean surfaces are the way to go.

6. Dust major areas

If you have time to make it to this step, your house will already be looking almost guest ready. Dusting is just a little extra bonus to your hosting-friendly home.

Hopefully your house isn’t super dusty, but if it is make sure to give it a little extra oomph with homemade dusting spray.

You know best where dust collects in your house. Focus on visible areas (don’t worry about tackling the top of the kitchen cabinets this very second). If you have time to, dusting the baseboards will make your house feel so much cleaner. But that’s really just icing on the cake.

7. Mop floors

Nothing says clean like a good shine! Taking a few minutes to mop and shine wood, laminate, and tile floors will make your guests think that your house is the height of cleanliness. I make an awesome homemade wood floor cleaner that really gives it an awesome shine.

If you make it all the way to step 7, your house will be spic and span. Or, at least your guests will think it is. They don’t need to see the giant box of clutter in the closet, right?

Anyways, this last step will give your house that extra boost. Shiny floors are the ultimate “this house is so clean” message. The look and feel of them is so inviting.

So there you have it! Use these steps to get your house guest-ready in 30 minutes or less. No one has to know how messy you really are, right?

Enjoy hosting!

My favorite cleaning supplies

The post Cleaning for the Holidays in 30 Minutes or Less appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Everyone knows when fall comes around that it’s time for all things pumpkin! Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, or even pumpkin spice lotion. I’ve been wanting to make a pumpkin scrub for a while now because pumpkin is amazing for your skin, and I finally got around to it. And seriously, it is my new favorite pumpkin anything.

This scrub is all natural and full of ingredients that reduce inflammation for your skin. It feels and smells amazing. It is a nice gentle exfoliant that gets rid of that extra dead skin and reduces inflammation to boot. Pumpkin lovers rejoice!

I love using skin products that are healthy and natural. Making your own products ensures that you are getting something healthy that is good for your skin. And you can save money on them too!

So if you’re ready for a little fall themed spa day, keep reading to see the full tutorial.

I like to explain why I chose the ingredients in my products, so you can understand what this awesome scrub does for your skin!

If you click any of the ingredients you will find either the exact product I used in this recipe or one that I recommend.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin: Full of vitamin A which soothes inflammation, and vitamin C which is an antioxidant that remedies damage from free radicals. Enzymes in pumpkin help break down dead skin cells for extra exfoliating power. Vitamins E and T help reduce inflammation.
• Sugar: A natural gentle topical exfoliant that gently removes dead skin to make way for newer healthier cells. A natural source of glycolic acid that also helps exfoliate.
• Turmeric: A power house for reducing inflammation. Full of cucurminoids which are powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Essential oils (optional): For scent, and can have added benefits depending on which oils you use. If you want the pumpkin spice feel for this mask, use 1 drop cinnamon essential oil, 1 drop ginger, and 1 drop nutmeg.

And you’ll need a few supplies:

• A mixing bowl
• A spatula
• Small air tight jar

I promise that it is super easy to make. You can watch how it’s done in the video below.

Keep on scrolling for the full recipe!

This stuff is a real powerhouse. Each ingredient has powerful benefits for your skin, with the pumpkin and turmeric combining to make it a great anti-inflammatory. Soothing inflammation is one of the best things you can do for your skin.

Since this mask is so effective at exfoliating, you’ll want to follow up with a good sunscreen to protect those new cells from damage!

This scrub seriously feels amazing. The texture and feel are super luxurious.

It feels like a $50 spa treatment, and for less than $2 for you to reproduce. Chances are you have all these ingredients in your kitchen already!

Looking at these pictures kind of makes my mouth water. You’ve gotta love a skincare product that is healthy and natural enough to eat!

Seriously though, this scrub is so easy to make that you have no reason not to! Your skin will thank you.

Let me know how making your own pumpkin face scrub goes for you!

supplies used in this post

The post Homemade Anti-Inflammatory Pumpkin Face Scrub appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

First of all- what is green cleaning? As I see it, green cleaning means using products that are not harmful to your health, the public’s health, and the environment. It means using simple, natural, clean products that work. It means using products that you can feel confident about.

I know some people are hesitant about green cleaning- it’s a big undertaking. It doesn’t have to mean making all your own products, but it does mean considering the ingredients, the manufacturing, the packaging, and the long term environmental effects of the products you use. But trust me- it is simpler than it sounds!

If you’ve clicked this link, I’m assuming that you’re at least a little interested in green cleaning. There are plenty of benefits of green cleaning- more than I can list right now! I can tell you that I haven’t regretted making the switch to green cleaning one bit. It has been so great for me and my family. I definitely love it! So, here are what I think are the top 3 reasons you should be green cleaning:

1. Your health

I can’t be the only one who has felt terrible when using conventional cleaning products. I used to have to take breaks and sit down when scrubbing my shower because the fumes from the products would make me dizzy and give me a headache. You (or your family) shouldn’t ever feel worse because you want a clean home. There’s something very wrong with that picture.

The not-so-great ingredients in conventional cleaning products can range from mild skin irritants, to endocrine disruptors, all the way to full blown carcinogens. You shouldn’t have to wonder whether a cleaning product is going to give you cancer!

Green cleaning means using only products that will not negatively affect your health. In fact, some of them would even be safe to eat (although I wouldn’t recommend it!). Healthy ingredients and healthy products can make you feel confident about what you have in your home.

2. The environment

There are so many different ways that conventional cleaning products can harm the environment- from the manufacturing process, to the way they are packaged, the way they are transported, their ingredients, and how they accumulate in the environment after you use them.

When it comes down to it, you want to be confident about what you are sending down your drain and out into the world. You’re heard the horror stories- especially about aquatic life. Some cleaning products we use can really do a lot of harm to the environment. Simple alternatives are almost always better.

When it comes down to it- all the benefits of green cleaning are connected. If you’re putting less harmful things in your trash and your water, your health will benefit. After all, there’s just about nothing else as important as clean water. Humans, plants, and animals can’t survive without it.

Green cleaning means using products and supplies that are not doing to damage the environment.

3. Saving money

Green also represents money- and that’s no accident. Becoming a green cleaning home can save you real money. Almost all of my green cleaning recipes cost significantly less than their conventional counterparts, like my awesome dishwasher detergent tabs that only cost 9 cents a load!

Cleaning supplies can be costly! They can really eat up a good portion of your household budget if you aren’t careful. And companies that sell cleaning supplies are probably telling you that what you have isn’t enough or that your home wont be clean if you don’t use commercial cleaners. Honestly, it just all adds up.

What if I told you that you can clean pretty much your entire home with some dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar. Sure, I use more than that to make more effective cleaners- but simple is great. And so much less expensive! A little hot water and dish soap go a long way- for your wallet!

Green cleaning does NOT mean breaking the bank to keep your home tidy!

So- are you ready to make the switch?

Then download my free guide- the 5 Step Switch to Green Cleaning! Just click below to sign up and download!

some of my favorite green cleaning supplies

The post Why should you start green cleaning? appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Green tea is amazing for your skin. It’s no secret that I love this awesome ingredient! That’s why I wanted to make a new face wash that made use of green tea. It is great for people with sensitive skin, and it is naturally anti-inflammatory. Plus the green tea can reduce the appearance of pores and make your skin look fresh and happy!

As someone with sensitive skin and redness myself, I like to be careful about what I put on my skin. Making my own face wash helps me to be confident that I know exactly what goes into my products and also know that they are healthy for my skin and most importantly, safe. (And it doesn’t hurt that it also usually costs less to make things myself).

I’ve previously made a honey face wash, and an aloe vera face wash. I loved both (and I still do). But I’m loving using green tea in my recipes so much lately that I wanted to make another. And this green tea and honey face wash does not disappoint!

In combination with my green tea face scrub, this seriously is amazing for my skin. But don’t be intimidated- it’s super easy to make. And even better, it only costs $4!

This recipe only has natural ingredients that are good for your skin. If you want to know where to buy these ingredients, just click on the name of the ingredient. Here’s why I chose them:

• Green Tea Powder: Full of antioxidants and vitamins your skin needs, anti-inflammatory to reduce redness and irritation, the caffeine in green tea helps tighten skin and reduce the appearance of pores
• Honey: A natural humectant (draws moisture into the skin), naturally antibacterial, full of antioxidants
• Soapwort Extract: Has a high concentration of natural saponins (help clean your skin), gentle suds, gentle natural face wash
• Avocado Oil: Full of vitamin E and antioxidants that are healthy for your skin, natural moisturizer
• Essential Oils: Can have different benefits depending on the oil. I used chamomile in this recipe, but lavender, tea tree, and geranium are all also good anti-inflammatory oils.

Since the face wash has so much honey, it may feel a little stickier than you are used to, but it doesn’t make it any less amazing! When you wash it off you’ll see just how wonderful it is. Your skin will thank you!

I’m in love with this amazing face wash. Try making it yourself and let me know if you love it too!

supplies used in this post

The post Homemade Anti-Inflammatory Green Tea Honey Face Wash appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

A few years ago, when I discovered how unregulated the cosmetics industry is, I started making my own natural beauty products. I wanted to avoid nasty additives and ingredients that aren’t properly tested. I didn’t want to mess around with my skin, so I did lots of research. I’ve since fallen in love with certain ingredients that I find myself going back to over and over.

Since then I’ve gone from following tutorials and making other people’s recipes, to making small changes to those, to creating my own recipes from scratch. I’ve got a ridiculously large stockpile of different oils, butters, clays, and waxes. You don’t need to get as large a stockpile as I do to make your own stuff though! You can use a few simple ingredients to replace pretty much any of your personal care products.

So, these are my 10 favorite ingredients that I LOVE to put in my homemade natural beauty products:

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe will get my top spot pretty much forever. It’s a nice lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, full of antioxidants, and it reduces redness and irritation. I like to use an all natural aloe vera gel, but lots of people just pop a leaf off their own aloe plant and use it straight from there.

Some of my most popular recipes feature aloe: my aloe vera moisturizer, aloe vera face wash, and aloe vera sunburn soother.

2. Avocado oil

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about why avocado oil is so popular lately. It might be my favorite carrier oil. It feels less greasy than some other oils and it is rich in vitamin E. I often add vitamin E to my recipes, so using avocado oil means you’re getting that already.

I’ve used avocado oil to make a green tea face scrub and my aloe vera sunburn soother.

3. Beeswax

Beeswax is great for so many reasons- I don’t know how those bees do it! Between beeswax, honey, and being amazing pollinators, they really are some of the most useful creatures out there.

Anyways, beeswax is an awesome ingredient in homemade recipes. It basically forms a protective barrier over the skin which keeps the moisture in. It can also help make some lotions semi-waterproof. And it’s an emulsifier, which means it allows oils and waters to mix when making homemade natural beauty products.

I’ve used beeswax in pretty much everything… but some of my favorites are my homemade sunscreen that’s good for your skin, my green tea eye cream, and homemade all natural lip balm.

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil has to make the top ten of most natural beauty mavens. Although, I think it’s being overshadowed lately by avocado oil. Regardless, coconut oil is much beloved, and for good reasons.

It is naturally anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, and it is a GREAT natural moisturizer. It’s supposed to be one of the best oils for your hair because your hair absorbs it easily. Plus it smells amazing. Because it is solid but soft at room temperature it can balance out the texture of a lot of lotions.

Some of my favorite recipes with coconut oil are my peppermint body butter, homemade hot oil hair treatment, and my all natural lip balm.

5. Cocoa butter

If you’re a chocolate lover, you’re bound to love cocoa butter. The amazing chocolate scent gets me every time. Plus it melts at skin temperature, so it makes a great ingredient for thicker lotions and body butters. Cocoa butter is a great emollient (prevents moisture loss) and is high in antioxidants. When its cold enough, it whips up to a wonderful texture.

Some of my favorite recipes with cocoa butter are my silky cocoa butter body lotion, my pumpkin spice lotion, and peppermint body butter.

6. Essential oils

I’m not one to talk about the health benefits of essential oils, but they do make great ingredients in homemade natural beauty products! Whether its just for scent, or to add some extra benefits to your products, they are a great addition. I am a huge fan of Rocky Mountain Oils, because I believe they have the best oils for the best price (if you want to know more reasons why I love RMO, you can click here).

Essential oils have different beneficial properties depending on which oil you use. Lavender is one of my favorites because it not only smells amazing, but is a great anti-inflammatory oil. You can add essential oils to most homemade natural beauty products, but some of my favorites are my homemade soothing scalp mask for dandruff and irritation, my aloe vera face wash, and pumpkin spice lotion.

7. Green tea

Green tea is amazing for your skin, whether you drink it or put it directly on it. I love using recipes with green tea in them because it does so many great things for your skin. It is naturally anti-inflammatory and full of antioxidants. It also has a small amount of caffeine which can tighten pores.

My favorite products with green tea are my green tea face scrub and my green tea eye cream.

8. Mango butter

I’ve only recently started experimenting with mango butter and now I’m wondering what took me so long! It’s a wonderful emollient oil that is solid at room temperature. It has a faint scent of mango (yum), and it does a great job at moisturizing. It’s also non-comedogenic, which means it is highly unlikely to clog pores and cause acne.

I’ve only featured one recipe so far with mango butter, but it is a great one! It’s my miracle mango moisturizer.

9. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is very cool, because it has properties of both an oil and a wax. It’s a great lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer. It is also non-comedogenic, which means it is highly unlikely to clog pores and cause acne. If it were less expensive I would use it all the time. Because it is a wax it also helps emulsify and improve the texture of lots of homemade personal care products.

Some of my favorite recipes with jojoba oil are my all natural facial sunscreen and my aloe vera face moisturizer.

10. Argan oil

Argan oil is definitely one of my favorites, but it ranks a little lower because it is pricey. If it were more affordable, it would be one of the main ingredients that I use in the bulk of my recipes. I often use a small drop of it on my face for a simple moisturizer.

Argan oil is great because it moisturizes your skin without leaving you feeling greasy. It is absorbed quickly. It is also non-comedogenic, which means it is highly unlikely to clog your pores and cause acne. The silky soft feel of argan oil is one of the reasons I love it so much.

I’ve used argan oil in my anti-frizz aloe vera hairspray and my homemade beach texturizing hairspray.

So there you have it- my top ten ingredients for making your own natural beauty products! What do you think? Are you ready to stock up? Good luck!

The post Top 10 Ingredients for Making Your Own Natural Beauty Products appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

Every once in a while my skin just feels dull. I know I’m not the only one who gets this way- especially when I’m stressed out. It helps to have a little something on hand that I know will make my skin look bright and glowing again- which is why I love this detox face mask so much! I use it whenever my skin is feeling a little down and it always does the trick.

With all natural ingredients, it is great at gently exfoliating your skin and removing impurities. My skin always feels SUPER clean after I use it. And even better than that- I feel it helps reduce redness in my skin. When I follow it up with my mango moisturizer, it always makes my skin soft and dewey. You can’t ask for much more in an all natural face mask that you can make in 5 minutes!

All the ingredients are designed to clean and detoxify your skin:

• Bentonite clay: When mixed with water it is great at absorbing toxins, impurities, bacteria, and chemicals, while adding healthy minerals to the skin
• Activated charcoal: Absorbs over 100 times its weight in impurities and chemicals
• Hibiscus powder: Rich in antioxidants, reduces hyperpigmentation, rich in alpha-hydroxy acids which help exfoliate gently
• Lavender powder: Naturally anti-inflammatory, helps kill bacteria that can cause acne

I call it the Flower Power Detox Face Mask because it’s the hibiscus and lavender that really goes that extra mile to help detox and reduce inflammation in your skin! I believe that the flower powders from Mountain Rose Herbs are the best quality, which is why I get mine there.

And it’s super easy to make- it takes less than 5 minutes!

I love to use this face mask to give myself a little spa day- I combine it with my homemade hot oil hair treatment and really just pamper myself. And I’m always glad I did. It really helps so much when my skin is going through a bad phase.

Well- what are you waiting for? Let me know how your homemade detox face mask goes for you!

supplies used in this post

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