BAY CITY, Mich. -- Traditional beauty products are flooded with chemicals, artificial colors, and fillers that can cause major damage to your skin over time, in addition, if you are blessed with sensitive skin you may be allergic to the main ingredients in average cosmetic products. Experiencing redness, irritation, and breakouts after using a foundation or face scrub is your skin's way of letting you know it's time to go natural. While organic product lines are easier on your body because of their natural ingredients, they can be super expensive! Graff Bay City cares about your health and your wallet, so we've compiled a list of fun, all-natural beauty products you can make at home.
1. Eyeliner
Homemade eyeliner? You might think we're joking, but we're totally serious, this recipe is super easy to make and if your eyes get itchy a couple hours after applying liner you should definitely give it a try.
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 4 teaspoons aloe vera gel
- For color: 1-2 capsules of activated charcoal for black, or 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder for brown.
Thoroughly mix all ingredients, and pour into an airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place and use with a clean brush so you don't get any bacteria in the mixture.
2. Rose Face Tonic
Witch Hazel is a miracle liquid, full of astringent properties, it can be used to lighten blemishes, improve circulation, heal wounds, firm up, de-puff, and brighten the skin. This spray-on tonic is infused with rose petal, which has long been regarded by Middle Eastern women for it's balancing and healing properties, particularly on sensitive skin.
- 1 bottle of organic witch hazel
- 1 handful of dried, organic rose petals
- Glass mason jar
- Glass spritzer bottle
- Small Funnel
- Cheesecloth
Fill the mason jar halfway with the organic rose petals and cover completely with witch hazel, screw on the cap and shake vigorously. Let sit for 24 hours or until the rose petals turn white. Place the funnel into the neck of the spritzer bottle and drape the cheesecloth inside the funnel. Strain and squeeze any excess liquid left in the roses through the cheesecloth. Use this spray to cool your skin after a workout, or with your regular skin-care regimen.
3. Bronzer
We all strive to achieve that perfect, summer glow, and this recipe helps you get the tan without the chemicals. You will need to adjust the measurements based on your skin one, so this recipe may be one that you have to tinker with for a bit.
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder (for glow)
- 1 tsp cocoa powder (for depth and darkness)
- 1 tsp nutmeg powder (gives a sun-kissed brown)
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
- 15 drops of your favorite essential oil
Adjust the levels of ingredients to your shade, break up any clumps and mix well, add the essential oils to hold everything together and thicken the mixture, or if you prefer a loose powder, leave them out. Place in a clean, empty compact and pack it in firmly.
4. Shaving Cream
Most shaving creams are 80% water, but the foaming and moisturizing agents that make up the other 20% are definitely not ingredients you want anywhere near your skin. The two main offenders are propolene glycol, which is a humectant that can also be found in antifreeze and brake fluid and mineral oil which is a by-product of petroleum - otherwise known as gasoline. These ingredients have been linked to blocking pores, irritating the skin, and even causing cancer. Making your own shaving cream at home is a lot easier than you'd think, all you need is a few, simple ingredients and a hand mixer.
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup liquid castle soap
- 2 tablespoons cocoa or shea butter
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 drops of your favorite essential oil (we recommend tea tree for it's cleansing properties)
Gently heat the coconut oil and cocoa or shea butter together so they melt and then pour them into a mixing bowl. Add the castile soap, baking soda and essential oil, using a hand mixer to whip the ingredients together. This will create a lovely, foamy cream that's perfect for shaving and isn't full of harmful chemicals.
5. Eyeshadow
If the eyes are the window to the soul, shouldn't we be protecting them? You'd think so, but many of the main ingredients in your average shadow palettes are extremely damaging to your skin and eyes. Aluminum powder is used to give most eyeshadows their color, this toxin inhibits your body's ability to expel mercury when it's released into your bloodstream by your eyelid pores. When combined with thimerosal, an eyeshadow ingredient that's literally based off mercury, your body becomes one giant mercurial hub. Talc and coal tar are some other harmful chemicals found in most eye makeup ingredients, both are labeled as carcinogens and have been linked to lung, bladder, kidney, digestive tract and ovarian cancer. Try out this all natural eyeshadow recipe in three shades to keep your peepers free of harsh, unwanted chemicals.
Pale Pink
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried beet powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon shea butter
Mauve
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder
- 3/4 teaspoon allspice
- 3/4 teaspoon dried beet powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon shea butter
Golden Brown
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder
- 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon shea butter
Start by placing the arrowroot in a small mixing bowl, add your spices/powders and mix until you've achieved your desired color. Add in the shea butter and use the back of a small spoon to mash the butter into the powder against the side of the bowl until you achieve a soft, creamy consistency. The shea butter will keep the eyeshadow on your lids and provide a glossy effect. Apply with a small brush like you would any other eyeshadow.
Skin is our body's largest organism, and we should be caring for it just like we would any other part of our makeup. When it comes to choosing beauty products, make sure you read the label before you buy. If ingredients are listed that you don't recognize, look them up! Many of us spend so much time filtering what we put in our body, that what we put on our body isn't a priority, even though they're equally important. Try switching out our harmful cosmetics for an all-natural alternative, or giving some of these DIY recipes a try. What are your favorite all-natural beauty tips? Comment and let us know.
Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.
