DIY

Soap is incredibly amazing and useful. There are many ways to make your own homemade soaps and shampoos, but do you know there are plants out there that do most of the work for you? Some people prefer to make or buy lye to make their soaps, but working with lye in its pure form can be dangerous if not handled properly.

But, fear not: I am not simply referring to the flowers out there that add scents to the soaps. Instead, I am talking about raw fresh soap straight out of nature. In this article, I will teach you about a few plants that can be used to scrub up with.

The short, cold days of winter make the season a vulnerable time – we get sick, we tend to feel languid and slow, and we become more sensitive, both emotionally and physically. I’m talking quite literally; I become sensitive to how my skin feels, to tastes, and especially to smells. It makes sense, given that we tend to spend more time inside during the winter months.

Foundation and blush are great for really giving your skin an overall glow. That said, it can be hard to find all-natural versions at an inexpensive price. With these recipes, you'll never have to worry about running out of your favorite foundation or blush: You'll know a recipe you can make on the fly to replace it in a jiffy!

Foundation

A lot of the shampoos and conditioners out there are filled with toxins (and are costly!). To save a buck and ditch the chemicals, try making your own shampoo and conditioner with these recipes. Just remember that everyone's hair is different: What works for me may not necessarily work for you. In order to find out what your hair truly needs, I suggest experimenting with the herbs you use in these recipes. Try different herb combinations and see which ones your hair responds to best. Personally, my hair loves coconut oil, rose, and peppermint.

Candy canes are a wonderful holiday treat to enjoy this time of year, but they're not always healthy. They're loaded with sugar and corn syrup: Try making these as a healthy, fun alternative. This recipe in particular will make you approximately 18 sticks. If you wish to make more or less, just double or halve the ingredients. The finished result won't look as perfect and flawless as pe-made candy canes, but they'll definitely be healthier.

Ingredients:

Making use of the rainwater that falls freely from the sky provides an arsenal of benefits in and around the home. You can purchase a rainwater barrel and system or you can do-it-yourself. It is far less expensive to create it and set it up yourself than it is to buy a kit. It isn’t hard to do, either, as long as you have the right materials and tools. Come learn how you can save money and become one step closer to self-sustainability – I promise you’ll learn something useful.

Supplies List

30-50 Gallon Barrel

Herbs, Herbs and More Herbs:

Celery:

Average Cost Per Pound In U.S. and Midwest Region

$1.37

Time to Reach Maturity

130-140 days

Scraps To Garden:

Did you know the average woman eats 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime? To make sure you're not eating chemicals, try these crafty recipes for all natural lipstick and lip gloss. The best part is, they'll certainly save you a buck or two in the long run. Lipstick and lip gloss not your thing? You can always give these away if you'd rather not use them. Either that or learn to craft eye makeup instead! Either way, you're bound to look (and feel) fabulous.

On Halloween, it's okay to play with your food: Better yet, put some on your face. Here's a simple, chemical-free recipe for face paint you could (almost) eat. After all, would you rather risk putting toxic heavy chemicals on your face? In 2009 a study conducted by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found lead, nickel, cobalt and chromium in most children's face paint.

Some may say cleanliness is next to godliness, but scientific experts are suggesting that too much cleanliness can actually wipe out the beneficial microbiome from our bodies. Beneficial microbiome are considered important bacteria that help us with our every day bodily functions. Other researchers even suggest that washing too much and over-bathing, especially using harsh antibacterial soaps, can lead to problems with the immune system.