Green Beauty - Basics: Why Switch?

If you’ve followed the blog for a while you’ll know that I am a huge fan of green products. I’m constantly on the hunt for new companies and products to use. I thought I’d give you all a little overview on why I decided to switch to green products and some of the ingredients I try to avoid.To begin with, I have SUPER sensitive skin. I’ve always struggled with finding products that don’t irritate and that I can use consistently. I’ve struggled with this in all areas from makeup to hair/skincare and cleaners to laundry detergent. This week I’m going to be discussing green beauty with you. I have found several companies and products that I absolutely love and I can’t wait to share them with you!I have tried pretty much every different sort of makeup, and with my sensitive skin it always ends up irritating me. I just ended up assuming that I wasn’t ever going to be able to wear makeup, and that I would have to rotate my skincare for the rest of my life. I started reading ingredients to try and identify what I was allergic to. Have you ever read the ingredients on your skincare or makeup? Well if you want to open Pandora’s box go ahead and stop right here and do so…See! Do you know what half those ingredients are? I certainly didn’t! I decided it was high time to switch from ingredients I can’t pronounce to things healthy for my skin. Here is a short list of things I try to avoid:Silicone – this is a common ingredient in haircare or makeup products. Silicone sits on the top layer of the skin impeding its ability to let the skin breathe. It keeps the moisture contained within the skin and will often cause breakouts or acne flare ups if used with sensitive skin. I’ve found my skin to be much clearer when I don’t use products that contain this ingredient. If you’re checking labels you need to keep an eye out for –cone –conol –siloxane, Dimethicone is the most common ingredient you will see.Parabens – studies have linked parabens to increased occurrences of breast cancer. It disrupts the reproductive and endocrine systems. They are used as preservatives in makeup and skincare items.SLS – Sodium Laurel Sulfate, it is a product commonly found in skincare, toothpaste, bodywash, and haircare. It is a detergent and surfactant that give the product lather. Some studies have indicated that SLS is a possible carcinogen and can disrupt hormone levels.Phthalates – this helps other ingredients dissolve into a consistent solution. However, studies have shown that it disrupts the reproductive and endocrine systems. It will often show up in a product under “fragrance” since that is so vague.Carmine – this is actually an ingredient used by many “natural” makeup companies to get a vibrant, true red color. It is made from crushed up beetle shells. It can cause allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin.These are just a few of the MANY ingredients I try to avoid. I have made it a habit to read the ingredients list on any new product I’m interested in and research anything I don’t recognize. I would suggest you get in the habit of doing this too. It will help you decided what it right for your family and what you want to keep them from using. In addition to avoiding these chemicals listed above, I also try to make certain my beauty products are gluten free, cruelty free and vegan. This just helps me narrow down products when I am searching since I know they have a higher probability of not containing anything I avoid.Tomorrow we’ll be discussing getting started on switching over to green beauty products, ie which are the most important and what you should switch first. Our bodies are exposed to so many harmful chemicals every day, the more of these chemicals we can take out of our regimen the healthier and happier our skin will be. You will also find that when you begin taking the irritants out of what you apply to your skin, the happier your skin will be.Is this something you’re passionate about? Let me know below!

Homemade Bug Repellent

Alex and I really hate using bug sprays with Deet. However, it seems to be necessary, especially when we go to Northern Minnesota. There is a running joke among Minnesotans that Minnesota‘s state bird is not the Loon as commonly thought…it is in fact, the Mosquito. While I have yet to be able to test this big repellent in Northern Minnesota, it works fantastically in the southern half of the state and here at home in Iowa.This recipe will make 2oz worth of bug spray. I’ve included quite a list of essential oils for this recipe. However, you may not have all of these on hand. If you do, great! Use them all. If not you can pick and choose what you have on hand and use those. In my option one of the reasons this recipe works so well is the fact it includes citronella essential oils. This does make it smell strongly, but in my opinion it’s worth it. Here are a few EO’s that work well:

• Mosquitoes: Peppermint, Lemongrass, Lemon, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Geranium, Clove, Sage
• Ticks: Geranium, Eucalyptus, Myrrh
• Gnats: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Spearmint
• Horse Flies: Tea Tree, Rosemary, Peppermint, Lemon, Lemongrass, Thyme

I purchased these blue glass spray bottles from Amazon. It is highly suggested to use glass bottles when your blend contains EO’s. This will keep your oils from breaking down and will help your blend stay potent for longer. When you go to use your blend simply spray liberally all over your body and clothes as you would with a regular bug spray. Simply make sure that you shake the bottle each time before you spray.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:87]

Root Makeup - A Review

A couple of months ago I heard about a fantastic small Makeup company called Root. They are a small Iowa based company that specializes in natural, vegan, gluten free Mineral makeup. Root products are created especially for sensitive skin and are made in the USA. According to their website:

“We use only the best natural ingredients & none of the commonly used fillers by other mineral makeup companies. Bismuth Oxychloride is one of the most common fillers used by our competitors. If you've ever had a bad reaction to a mineral makeup it most likely contained Bismuth Oxychloride. By removing this harsh filler we leave you with JUST the minerals you want on your face in the first place.”

My personal makeup journey has been one fraught with pain…literally! Due to my hyper sensitive skin I stopped wearing makeup several years ago. I was having adverse reactions to the stuff I was wearing and could not find anything my skin liked. I tried everything from Almay to Bare Minerals and nothing worked, I was still having itchy reactions no matter what I used. My routine pretty much got down to putting on lipstick/balm, mascara, concealer and maybe eye shadow. I even tried making my own makeup in an attempt to have things to wear, I’ve posted some of these recipes here on the blog. This grew old after a while though, since I didn’t really love smelling like cinnamon, beet powder and ginger. The combination tended to give me headaches.However, this has changed since I found Root. My skin is so very happy with all the Root products I have tried so far. I will never go back to any other product again! I love all the different colors and the vibrancy in all their products. I find that Root products last WAY longer on my face than anything else I have ever tried (I have a tendency to rub my eyes throughout the day and it causes my makeup to rub off).

One unique offering that Root has is all of their powder products can be worn as either a powder or as a liquid. You simply tap your powder foundation into its lid and wet it with a drop or two of water. This gives you fantastic coverage no matter what type of foundation you prefer.Today I am reviewing five of my favorite Root products. While I have tried many more I feel these products are the best places to start if you are looking for a new mineral makeup. I will of course keep you readers apprised of any products I try in the future that I end up loving.Root has generously offered a FREE SHIPPING coupon code to the readers of Housewife’s Whimsy. Simply visit their website: www.rootpretty.com and use the code “whimsy” at checkout for free shipping on any order. This is the perfect time to try Root if you’ve been waiting. You will seriously never find a better, all natural, makeup than this.What about you? Have you tried Root makeup and loved it? What are your favorite products? Is there something you really wish they offered? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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Pearl Powder Foundation:Root’s Pearl Powder is the product that started it all. This powder is seriously the best foundation I have ever used. I prefer to use it dry but the wet coverage is also amazing. They have several different color options so if you haven’t used this before you will want to order samples to find your perfect color match. I had the privilege of stopping by their store in Waverly, Iowa and being color-matched by one of their employees.My Pearl Powder is a 6. The color blends seamlessly with my skintone. I am highly impressed by the extent of their color options available. On their website they have instructions on how to pick your perfect color. This foundation provides a perfect base for the rest of my Root products. I use a Kabuki brush to put it on dry but Root also sells a Pretty Blender if you prefer that method.One thing to note is that while Root does not list an SPF on their packaging they state on their blog that their product does contain an SPF:

“We get asked all the time whether our makeup contains SPF.  The answer is yes!  Our Pearl Powder Foundation, Bronzes & Setting Silk contain titanium dioxide or aloe powder which are natural sunscreens, however we do not label our makeup with a SPF.Why?  It wasn't an easy decision to leave out a specified SPF but after researching we found studies that showed NO makeup can truly guarantee the SPF they put on their label.  This is because makeup is unique in that everyone uses a different amount & applies it differently.  That being said we don't use an added sunscreen for normal daily wear but always recommend wearing a sunscreen under your makeup if you plan to be in the sun for an extended period of time.  Follow the directions on your sunscreen & apply it first, then apply our makeup over top for even more sun protection.”

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Setting Silk:Root’s Setting Silk was one product that I was on the fence about originally. At first I used my Pearl Powder on its own, and while it worked well and I had no complaints I decided to try the Setting Silk since they recommend it. This product is a translucent powder that goes on over your foundation and under your blush/bronzer.I was astonished at the difference I saw using the Setting Silk over my foundation. Not only did I get a more uniform coverage, I actually felt a difference in the “dryness” of my face throughout the day. I was very surprised when I wore the Setting Silk on a warm day and my face stayed way drier than normal and I still had foundation on at the end of the day.I highly recommend you purchase this product, although it is not necessary, you will feel a huge difference the days you wear it.

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Sadie Blush:In my opinion the Sadie blush is one of Root’s best colors yet. Most of their previous blushes have been pretty HOT pink. And while those colors are also amazing, the Sadie blush is the best blush color I have ever used. It is a peachy pink color and goes on pretty lightly but with plenty of color coverage. It is fantastic for when you are going for a natural face.

This is one of Root’s Spring 2015 colors and it is a must have for your makeup collection. I certainly hope this product stays around past Spring!

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Tan Rose Eyeshadow:Tan Rose is the best eyeshadow color I have every found. It is the perfect combination of beige and pink and is pretty much my dream color. It is one of the first Root products I tried and it totally hooked me. Root eyeshadow has amazing coverage and is quite long lasting. Like most of their products you can apply this product either wet or dry.

I love to pair the Tan Rose eyeshadow with Root’s Merlot eyeshadow. This gives you a great neutral dramatic daytime eye. If you only purchase one shadow from Root Tan Rose should be it!

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100% Line Liquid Eyeliner:This eyeliner is amazing. Once you put it on (and it dries) it Does. Not. Move. I have a nasty habit of rubbing my eyes throughout the day and every previous liner I’ve used has flaked and rubbed off throughout the day.Root’s liner is completely different, it is practically impossible to remove. However when I go to remove this at night with Coconut Oil it comes right off! The only downside to this eyeliner in my opinion, is that it only comes in black right now! I personally prefer to wear brown liner, but I’ve definitely been wearing black since I found this product. The applicator on this product is a felt tip on a long applicator. It is very useful and easy to use.

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This post has not been sponsored, all opinions are my own. I purchased all of the products I reviewed today. I have not received compensation in any form for the writing of this post, I simply found a product that I really love and wanted to share with you!

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Honey and Shea Lotion

I created this lotion a few weeks ago as a present for a few ladies who came down to visit us. This is honestly the best lotion I’ve ever used. It takes care of my extremely dry hands and smells heavenly! I’ve used several different base oils to make it moisturizing. When you use this lotion, as with any homemade lotion, it is slightly greasy. However, once you let it dry it doesn't leave any trace of the oil.

When making this lotion you want to make certain to remove the oil/beeswax mixture from the heat just before the beeswax is completely melted. You will need to continue stirring until everything has completely melted together. This will keep your lotion from burning and becoming ruined.

I used canning jars to store the lotion. I glued a piece of scrap-booking paper that I had cut to size to the jar lid and then glued the lit to the band. This creates a beautiful little gift.

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Honey and Shea Body Lotion:½ Cup Sunflower Oil½ Cup Fractionated Coconut Oil½ Cup Sweet Almond Oil½ Cup Safflower Oil½ Cup Beeswax3 Teaspoons Raw Honey2 Teaspoons Vitamin E Oil4 Teaspoons Shea Butter¾ Cup Distilled Water25 Drops Lemon Essential Oil30 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil15 Drops Clove Bud Essential Oil20 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil10 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil7 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil

Combine the oils, beeswax, honey, vitamin E oil, and shea butter is a medium saucepan, set over low heat.Gently stir until the beeswax has melted.

Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl. Pour in the distilled water.

Using a hand mixer mix together the oil and water until it resembles lotion.

Let cool to the touch then stir in the essential oils.

Once the lotion has completely cooled spoon it into clean jars. (This recipe will make approximately three 8oz containers.)

Moisturizing Under-Eye Oil

I have been searching high and low for a moisturizing under-eye oil since I switched over to natural beauty products. I tend to have bad dark circles under my eyes every morning. I started using Vitamin E oil a few months ago and that helped a lot with my dark circles.I didn’t feel it was complete though. It had good moisturizing properties but I wanted it to be extremely healthy for my skin. I decided to try adding frankincense essential oils since that is supposed to be excellent for maintaining healthy skin. I’ve noticed that by adding the essential oil the puffiness has been even further decreased and my skin shows more vibrancy. Make sure to apply this oil only at night since Vitamin E oil is very thick and works best when you are resting. If applied during the day you may experience more breakouts.

I took a 5ml glass roller ball container and put in 25 drops of Frankincense essential oil.  I then filled the container up the rest of the way with Vitamin E oil and put the top on. I shake it before I apply it each night under my eyes.

Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion

Since I struggle with extremely dry skin during the winter I love being able to make my own lotion combinations.  I made this Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion for my extended family at Christmas. I put it into small 8oz mason jars and gave them as presents.While my Lavender Lemon Lotion has more of a body butter this recipe has more of a lotion consistency.  It gives a nice coverage and dries quickly. The lotion is a tad bit oily when you first put it on but it absorbs quickly and is very hydrating.

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Organic Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion:1 Cup Coconut Oil½ Cup Sunflower Oil½ Cup Sweet Almond Oil1 Teaspoon Shea Butter½ Cup Beeswax¼ Cup Distilled Water30 Drops Lemon Essential Oil30 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil15 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Melt the Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Sunflower and Sweet Almond Oil, on the stove, stirring consistently.

You want to take the mixture off the stove right before the beeswax has fully melted. Finish the melting process by continuing to stir the mixture until everything has melted.

Once melted pour into a bowl add the distilled water and essential oils.

Mix with a hand mixer until it looks like lotion (approximately 1 minute).Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Spoon into an airtight container.

Homemade Mascara

Mascara is the final touch for me when I decide to wear makeup. I was unhappy with the types I was buying at the store since they are full of chemicals. When I was researching mascara recipes on the internet I came across a lot that had a coconut oil base. Since coconut oil is liquid above 76 degrees I didn’t feel that this was the right base for me.I decided to use Aloe Vera Gel since I use it for hair gel when I need it. This has been a great alternative for me. I think that it sticks better. This is NOT waterproof mascara by any means. I have also found that it flakes slightly after a long day of wear. Do not leave out the cosmetic clay, this will help it adhere to your lashes, and you can add more activated charcoal to get a darker color.

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Mascara:2 ½ Tablespoons Pure Aloe Vera Gel½ Tablespoon Bentonite Clay6 Capsules of Activated Charcoal

Thoroughly mix, store in a clean empty mascara container (I purchased a new one on Amazon).

You can easily fill the container by turning an empty egg carton over, slicing small holes in the spots where the egg goes and putting the container inside. This will keep it upright and easy to fill. I filled it by putting the mascara in a ziplock and cutting off the edge. I then squeezed it into the tube until it was full.

Homemade Lipstick

Lipstick is one thing that I love to wear all the time. This homemade lipstick gives you a very light coloring. It is also very hydrating for your lips. I chose to go with pink since it is what I normally wear, but if you wanted something darker you could add cinnamon or cocoa powder to get a dark shade. You can also add some Vitamin E oil to make it even more hydrating for your lips.I found a very easy way to fill the empty tubes. I cut an empty egg carton in half and turned it upside down. I cut small holes in the bottom of the carton and stuck the tubes inside. This held them upright and made them way easier to fill. I did have a little trouble with them overflowing but it came off the tube easily with a warm damp washcloth.

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Natural Pink Lipstick:1 Teaspoon Beeswax1 Teaspoon Shea Butter1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil¼ Teaspoon Beet Root Powder

Melt the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil over medium heat.

Once everything is melted add the color.

Pour into empty containers.This is a bear to clean but putting soap and water in the pot immediately will help with that.

Homemade Eye Shadow

Eye shadow is one of my favorite things to wear. You can totally change your look by simply changing the color of your shadow! I tend to stick with neutral colors though when I do wear makeup.  You can use different spices to get different color shadows.If you’d like to get a pink shadow use beetroot or hibiscus powder, if you want a yellow color use ginger or turmeric. Cinnamon will give you a reddish brown color and cocoa powder will be pretty dark. Use arrowroot powder to get a silky smooth base and bentonite clay to help it stick.I’ve use a combination of the spices listed below to come out with three different neutral colors that work for my coloring.

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Eye shadow:Arrowroot PowderCinnamonGinger½ Teaspoon Bentonite

Mix until you get the coloring you want. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Blush and Bronzer

The other two powders I use aside from foundation are blush and bronzer. These recipes use the same natural premise as the foundation.  You can create whatever shade you want by adding additional beetroot powder (for blush) or cocoa powder (for bronzer).The Bentonite clay helps the makeup adhere to your skin and stay longer. You can use any type of cosmetic clay you may have on hand.

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Blush:2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder½ Teaspoon Bentonite Clay1 Tablespoon Beetroot PowderMix until you achieve the color you are wanting. Store in an airtight container.

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Bronzer:2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder2 Teaspoons Cinnamon1 Teaspoon Bentonite Clay½ Teaspoon GingerMix until you achieve the color you are wanting. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Foundation

After converting my shower products to all natural I decided to try and make my own makeup.  I don’t tend to wear a lot of makeup mostly because a lot of makeups tend to irritate my extremely sensitive skin. I decided to try making my own makeup to try and help keep my skin from getting irritated. I also wanted to take out the nasty chemicals that are in the makeup.Each person’s recipe for foundation will be different. I have super light skin so this mixture works for me. If you have darker skin you can add more cocoa powder, if you have more of a yellowish tint you can add additional ginger.You can use any type of cosmetic clay that you have on hand. The clay will help the makeup adhere to your skin and stay. This can also be turned into concealer by taking some pure aloe vera gel and some of your foundation mixture and mixing until you get the correct consistency.

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 Foundation:5 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder1 Teaspoon Bentonite Clay1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder1 Teaspoon Cinnamon½ Teaspoon Ginger

Mix until the color matches your skin. Store in an airtight container.

My No-Poo Experiment

I decided to try going shampoo free to see if I could completely rid my shower of nasty chemicals. After doing a lot of research I decided not to try the baking soda wash since there are so many stories emerging about the baking soda destroying hair.I researched and found an alternative from Kanelstrand: Rye Flour Shampoo. This blog does a fantastic job of explaining in scientific terms what your hair needs out of your shampoo regime. If you are thinking about going no-poo you should definitely check out this site to learn more about his.However, my hair did not like the Rye Flour shampoo. It was quite unfortunate. I was really hoping to come out of this experiment with an alternative to shampooing. I started off by clarifying my hair since I’d been using products with silicone in them. My experience went something like this:Week 1: Woah! Greasy hair galore! Hopefully my hair will get used to this soon.Week 2: Still greasy hair. It won’t lay flat at all and since I’m not using silicone products any more I don’t want to regularly straighten my hair.Week 3: Still extremely greasy.Week 4: A month of greasy hair, this is getting old.Week 5: Not getting any better.Week 6: Still greasy! With the holidays coming up I need to actually wash my hair so I look acceptable in pictures.The one good thing to come out of this experiment was the Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. I will NEVER go back to conditioner again! Take 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 8oz of water. Pour it over the hair, let it sit for a minute then rinse out. I haven’t had any sort of vinegar smell from doing this and my hair has been SO soft and manageable. ACV is a natural detangler and will close your hair cuticles just like conditioner. The key to getting this to work is to comb your hair after shampooing it before applying the rinse.I also found this natural shampoo that I would recommend if your hair isn’t enjoying no-poo. It is Tea Tree Triple Treat shampoo. It really cleans my hair and it doesn’t have any of the nasty chemicals I’m trying to avoid. I would highly recommend this shampoo along with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse.  Your hair and scalp will thank you for it!

Lavender and Lemon Shower Gel

One thing I’ve had trouble finding an alternative to has been my Bath & Body Works shower gels. I have used shower gels for years and I love their ease. I tried using Dr Bronner’s Soap in bar form for a while but I just didn’t like the final feeling it left on my skin.After not finding anything that quite fit what I was looking for I decided to create my own. I used Dr Bronners bar soap as the base to keep the shower gel all natural. I added Coconut Milk for a moisturizing element and Vegetable Glycerin in order to get suds. I used the same essential oils as my lotion so that I have a cohesive scent throughout my body products.

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Lavender and Lemon Shower Gel1 Cup Grated Soap Flakes1 Cup Water¼ Cup Coconut Milk (Not the stuff in the refrigerated aisle, the real stuff from the can)2 Tablespoons Vegetable Glycerin20 Drops Lavender Essential Oils10 Drops Lemon Essential Oils5 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oils1 ½ Teaspoons Xanthan Gum (Optional, this will thicken the shower gel so it is more like a shave gel)

Grate the soap flakes in a food processor.

You can store the left over soap flakes in a Mason jar for your next batch.

Put the soap flakes and water on the stove and stir until melted.

Once melted add the coconut milk, vegetable glycerin, and essential oils. (If you are adding Xanthan Gum to thicken it to a shave gel add this now.)

Once it is thoroughly mixed pour the cooling liquid into a container. (If you make shave gel put it into a wide mouth Mason jar, this will make it easy to get it out later.)

Wait until the shower gel has fully cooled to use!

Homemade Natural Deodorant

Natural deodorant can be so expensive so I wanted to try and find an alternative that I could make on my own. Not only would this save money but I would also be able to get a deodorant without all of the nasty additives. I tried a couple of different recipes and I found on that works very well for my body.You can try different levels of baking soda and essential oils in order to get an odor coverage that works for your body type. Because I have such sensitive skin I have used very little baking soda since it is so abrasive. During the summer you can add a tablespoon of beeswax to help it keep shape since Coconut Oil is liquid above 76 degrees. If you don’t add beeswax in the summer you will want to keep your deodorant in the fridge.

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Homemade Natural Deodorant:2 Tablespoons Baking Soda¼ Cup Arrowroot Starch5 Tablespoons Coconut Oil4 Drops Lavender Essential Oil3 Drops Lemon Essential Oil2 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil Melt the coconut oil in the microwave, you want it to be liquid so everything will mix evenly.

When the oil is melted add the baking soda, arrowroot starch and essential  oils.

Pour the mixture into a clean deodorant container or a container with a lid.

Use as you would normal deodorant. I find that it takes a few extra minutes to dry. I've never had any issues with smell as long as I use it consistently.