Is your bathroom overflowing with products? You’re not alone.
It’s not surprising when there are so many beauty and hygiene options out there—it makes it easy to buy a lot more stuff than you need. This can lead to a crowded cabinet filled with potentially expensive soaps, lotions and creams that are probably going to expire before they get used.
Such a waste, right?
Plus these products are usually chock full of a list of toxic ingredients so long that it wouldn’t fit in a tweet. Not the sort of stuff you want absorbed into your body or the earth, to say the least.
Luckily, there are many household items you can use to replace these products that are healthy and natural. Investing in multi-tasking products can save on space, time and money. Not only that, but if you pick healthy ones, you are also eliminating the amount of chemicals your body absorbs.
Still sound too good to be true? Just take a look at these 6 powerhouse products that you can use safely on you, your family and around the home.
Whether you have a plant or a bottle of gel, this natural substance is an invaluable addition to any beauty routine. In addition to its popularity as an after-sun product, aloe can be used for shaving, hair styling and moisturizing skin. Try mixing some in with your regular moisturizer or makeup foundation to add smoothness, hydration and make it last longer. Also makes a great after-sun gel mask: apply a thick layer to sun-scorched skin and leave on as long as necessary, rinsing with water afterwards. Best of all, this formula is suitable for internal and external use—meaning it’s extra safe, especially for sensitive skin and for kids.
This is likely something you already have in your cupboards for cooking. However, it is also excellent for cleaning a variety of surfaces, including your skin! Mix a teaspoon with your shampoo in the shower to get an extra squeaky-clean wash that’s great for oily scalps or removing product build-up. It also makes a great fine-grain scrub when combined with soap. Just mix it in with a dollop of body wash or coat your bar soap for a subtle gritty texture that’s great for exfoliation, neutralizes odors and isn’t too hard on gentle skin. Dust on feet or in shoes for quick odor relief. I like to mix some with essential oils in a cup and put it in my closet for added freshness.
This popular conditioning agent is well known and widely used, with good reason. Safe for both eating and topical use, it provides rich moisture when used in your beauty routine. Warm up a few tablespoons, apply to hair for 20 minutes and wash out for salon-like shine that costs pennies. Or simply rub a tiny amount in palms until evenly distributed and run through dry hair before styling. Can be used alone or with essential oils as a luxurious body moisturizer. Mix a small amount with aloe for a light facial moisturizer. Apply to lips for shine and conditioning, or add a bit of sugar for an exfoliating scrub (both are safe to ingest!).
Check out our 50 other ways to use coconut oil here!
A classic age-old remedy used in baths and for cooking, Himalayan crystal salt is remarkably cheap compared to the fancy bath salts sold for high prices in the beauty aisle. Make your own version by putting a cup in a hot bath and adding lavender essential oil or any other oils you like. It also makes an intense body scrub on its own or mixed with coconut oil. Additionally you can dissolve a few tablespoons in warm water and pour into a spray bottle to make a natural sea salt spray for hair, adding essential oils for scent and aloe for moisture.
This essential oil, or EO, has a massive reputation for being gentle, versatile and an amazing aromatherapy scent. Mentioned in many of the recipes above, lavender can be used on its own or added to a plethora of other products to reap its calm-inducing effects. Make a simple room mister or fabric freshener by mixing a few drops with water and pouring into a spray bottle. Spray onto your pillowcase for help with troubled sleep, or place a few dots on a tissue and stick inside the pillowcase. Use 10 drops in a salt bath for a wonderful, natural detoxifying soak that will leave you calm and refreshed. Add a drop or two to a tablespoon of carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut and use the solution as a moisturizer, leave-in hair conditioner, hair mask or massage treatment. Rub a drop of lavender EO on temples and wrists to use its powers as a natural perfume. For a great deodorizing solution that works for feet, shoes, carpets, furniture or anything else that could use freshening, mix 5 drops with three tablespoons of baking soda and put into a shaker.
6Dr. Bronner's Organic Castile Liquid Soap
This legendary liquid soap has a cult-like following, and for good reason! As it states on the bottle, it has many cleaning uses all over the house. It makes a great shampoo, body wash, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, bubble bath, hot towel massage or shaving solution. It can be used on counters and tables for general cleaning. Best of all, it comes in several different scents, including unscented for those with sensitive noses.
What do you use these products for? Or, better yet, what other products do you think should be added to this list? Let us know below!
