Going natural doesn’t mean smelling stinky

Smell great AND use something that's natural. Yes, it can be done! Eliminating products with questionable ingredients has been a step by step process – I did not go through my house and throw everything out without anything to replace it (ok, maybe with a few things, but not everything). The ingredients in my deodorant/antiperspirant worried me before I decided to change my cleaners so I have been playing with various alternatives for years. This recipe is by far my favorite! But first...

Why care what ingredients go on your skin? The skin is our largest organ designed to protect us from external contaminants, regulate body heat, and manage nutrient levels and water loss. Many chemicals reach our bloodstream (and later our organs) via absorption through our skin. What goes on our skin is as important as what goes in it.

NOTE: While the amount of toxic chemicals found in one product used for a specific period of time, might be deemed acceptable enough to get the product on the shelves, scientists are finding it difficult to test over extended periods of time with vast amounts of chemical and product combinations. Just think of how many products you have used over the last year, never mind the last five. Logic tells me when the human body is bombarded from multiple sources over a long period of time, these toxins will have an impact.

Here’s a quick look at the toxins found in commercial antiperspirants/deodorants:

• Aluminum compounds (chlyorohydrate and zirconium tetrachlorohydrex) – neurotoxin
• Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl)– disrupt the body’s hormone balance
• Propylene glycol – damaging to the nervous system, heart and liver
• Phthalates – may disrupt hormone receptors, linked to birth defects and increase the likelihood of cell mutations
• Triclosan – is classified as a pesticide by the FDA and as a possible carcinogen by the EPA

Want to more in-depth research on the ingredients in your deodorant? Take a look at the SkinDeep database.

This is how antiperspirant works. Sweat is a natural function intended to rid the body of toxins – why stop it, especially with something toxic?

When you are super stressed out while sitting in the hot seat, your body will sweat regardless of what deodorant or antiperspirant you use. Plus, sweat itself does not have an odor, the bacteria in the skin cells does. Sometimes diet and not drinking enough water can affect it as well.

So, if we are supposed to sweat and going to sweat anyway in those crazy uncomfortable situations (which let’s be honest is when you are trying to hide it anyway) – what are we really worried about? Smelling stinky, right!?

I am not an expert on any of these ingredients or the research that surrounds them, but I am confident that there are non-toxic ingredients that are gentle on the body and the planet, plus are easy to find and simple to put together.

Natural deodorant ingredients from the pantry or a quick trip to the store. Start with a small batch to ensure that you like it (which you will, so feel free to double this recipe from the start)

• 1oz or 2-3 Tbsp Coconut Oil – virgin, unrefined and organic are best. Coconut oil is naturally anti bacterial, plus it is a moisturizer. Remember it melts into a liquid at temperatures above 75° F.
• ¼ cup Baking Soda – Absorbs odors
• ¼ cup Arrowroot Powder – Helps keep the silky texture. Some people use cornstarch, but I suggest arrowroot.
• Supplies include small mixing bowl, fork (whisk or hand mixer) and an air tight storage container (2oz or ½ cup size should do it)
• Cool variations if you have the supplies on hand or want to get them:
• ⅛ oz Beeswax – Besides being great for your skin, this will keep your deodorant solid in the container even during warmest months.
• 4-6 drops Essential Oils – optional  Not necessary for your odor fighting needs, but a great variation and you have lots of scents to customize it to fit your preferences. Depending on the oils you choose you will add more anti bacterial and deodorizing strength to your deodorant. Of course there is the obvious reason – it smells nice. Suggestions of my favorites are citrus (deodorizing and uplifting), lavender (anti-bacterial and smells so great) and Laurel Leaf and Grapefruit (great for lymphatic system, deodorizing and uplifting). Some other ideas: lemongrass, vetiver and tea tree.

Instructions: In a small mixing bowl, sift together the baking soda and arrowroot then add to the coconut oil and mix until well blended. Transfer it to your airtight container. If it is hot out, you might want to stick it in the fridge to harden it. Variation – If adding beeswax, melt beeswax in a double boiler* stirring often, then add the coconut oil. When beeswax and coconut oil are melted and combined, add the arrowroot, baking soda and essential oil, then pour into your storage container(s).

Additional supplies Use mini deodorant holders instead of a jar from home. Check out SKS options

*Create a double boiler by heating water in a small saucepan until it is at a low boil then place your glass pyrex measuring cup into the boiling water. Leave the handle out of the pot so it is easier to pick it up when you are done.

ENJOY your new deodorant!

RESOURCES

Environmental Working Group Cosmetic Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/)

Aluminum, antiperspirants and breast cancer (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013405001613)

Using Plants to Make Pretty Colors

I love trying new things with plants!  I wanted a hands-on project that was lots fun and part science. Thoughts of combining a cool project with a unique souvenir (T-shirts scream vacation souvenir, right?!) using natural, non-toxic ingredients that are gentle on the planet. Using plant materials to create natural dyes - win/win!

The rest of the train of thought leading to my newest idea was a bit winding so I won’t confuse (or bore) you with the  entire stream of thought that inspired using plants to create natural fabric dyes.

The shopping list was super simple - colorful fruits and veggies from the market, loose dried flower petals (in bulk tea isles), plants growing in abundance in your yard (think blueberries when they are in season), etc. Next, grab those not so white shirts from the closet that should really be on the ‘throw me away list’ or grab some white undershirts the next time you head to the store. FYI - white towels, cloth, scarves, etc. are also great options. Stick with white or cream colored natural fabrics like cotton, muslin, wool or linen.

Here are some blogs I found during my late night research:

List of plants and the colors of dyes

Where I got the idea to use  Turmeric -  side note - really like this blog, might have to start following it on a regular basis

Another source of info

DISCLAIMER - This was a fun project and our first try so you might not want to follow this verbatim without doing your own research.

Due to other planned activities and short attention spans of at least one participant, this was a multi-day project for us. Day 1 was creating the dyes and Day 2 was prepping the fabric and then dying it.

Again, I repeat, this was all new and we had no real idea how everything would turn out so we tried a few things at once in the hopes that at least one thing would look good at the end.

Pull out the different supplies (vinegar or salt, rubber gloves and pots)  and ingredients. We tried beets (1-2 lbs cut into small chunks), dried Hibiscus flowers, (1-2 cups) carrots,  spinach  and kale, dried lavender flowers (1/2 cup) and dried turmeric powder (1/2-1 cup). *If you are picking materials from the wild, please be careful. The point is to be gentle on the planet, not to strip an area of a plant.

MAKING DYE

-Plant material to water ratio will depend on what you  are using. My measurements  are above. The spinach & carrots were a last minute addition after finding them in the fridge and I used small pots with twice as much water as plant material.

-Bring water and plant material to low boil and then simmer for 1 hour. I left everything  in their pots to cool, then stored in large baggies over-night.

-Before dying, strain the plant material and add it to your compost bin.

PREPARING FABRIC

-The fabric needs help holding on to the dye - why my favorite shirts do not need help holding on to the random other stains that I dribble here and there just doesn’t seem fair though.

-You need to make a ‘fabric fixative’ using vinegar or salt. For  berries use salt  (1/2 cup of salt to 8 cups of cold water) and vinegar for plant materials (1 part vinegar to 4 parts cold water).

-Simmer your cloth in the fixative for an hour then drain and rinse until the  water runs clear and/or their is no longer a vinegar smell to it. Remember, the water is hot and  the cloth will be too until you run water on it for a while.

-New fabric/clothing should be washed and dried before  starting this process.

DYING FABRIC

-If tie-dying your fabric, now is the time to tie it up or rubber band it.

-Add your fabric to the dye (we had to reheat our dyes since they  sat over night) and  let it simmer/sit for 15 minutes to 1 hr depending on the color that you want to achieve. Remember that it will dry 1-2 shades lighter

-Ring out your cloth and lay it out to dry

-Wash separately, then it is ready to wear. Or if you are impatient like us, just put it on and show it off after you are all done!

RESULTS - Success!!!

The turmeric and hibiscus were awesome! The beets were not as deep as expected, but that could be because I had too much water and not enough beets. The carrots and spinach need more experimenting to see if I can get a darker dye. I can’t wait to try this again with other plant materials - cinnamon and blueberries  are top on my list.

Definitely something to do again! It is a fun project with or without kids. It is a neat way to give white cloths a second chance, but I am not sure it will be a  foolproof way to cover stained material.

HAVE FUN!!! Try something new, take a new path, plan on making mistakes and deviating from your original plan, then at the end celebrate the mess that you made. There is beauty in the learning and creating - especially if it is a memory.

Laundry Soap is Easy

Really it is easy! Promise!

As my knowledge and research on essential oils expanded, so did their place in our lives and our home. It started with lip balms and lotions and has expanded to all corners of our life. 

Even with all of the essential oils I have around, changing a product in our home still comes with some basic, but strict guidelines. Is the new product…

• Cheaper or the same price as store bought?
• Convenient – either fun for me to make or just plain fast & easy to throw together?
• Effective? It has to work (windows have to be clear, counters clean, soap scum removed, etc.) or why change.

Essential oils are in every room of our house, but we still bought our laundry soap. I was a bit hesitant after an epic fail with my attempt at dish washer detergent. Granted, I was doing it off the cuff and the dish washer was on its last clunking leg (dishes all done by hand now so no need to perfect that recipe yet). 

Tried and true on mountains of dirt-encrusted, dog-smelling, sweat-soaked laundry-- Months later, it still makes me smile when I add the laundry soap to the washer.

I started with this basic recipe for Powdered Laundry Soap.

2 cups of Washing Powder

2 cups of Borax

1 4 oz bar of coco castile soap

Optional 1-2 tsp of essential oil

Instructions:

1-Grate your bar soap using a cheese grater or if you are doing multiple bars use a food processor (cut into smaller chunks first)

2-Mix grated soap with Washing Powder and Borax

3-Store in air tight container or baggie

To use:

Scoop out 2 Tbsp of mixture per large to extra-large load of laundry.

Note-All of my research states that this recipe should be safe on front load/high efficiency washers, but I do not have one so I have not tested it.

To learn more about essential oils and Krista Jean, visit http://www.kristajean.com/. 

My First Post!

The blog is new, but the journey started years ago.  Always listening and absorbing information about products, ingredients, otc meds, etc. led to asking questions and research and later a discovery of essential oils and aromatherapy.

Starting in my early twenties, I was especially struck by all of the things that you shouldn’t use or eat while pregnant. If nitrites in lunch meat are bad for you and the baby in utero, then why oh why am I eating them on a regular basis? If ingredients in that basic bottle of lotion on my counter are questionable in my prechild-bearing years, why am I going to put it on my newborn?

As the questions continued, I usually followed up with hours of research. Every half-answer I found led me to more questions (never ending… no wonder the idiom about curiosity and the cat is still so widely used).

My type A, over-achieving self was searching for ‘The Right,’ one-size fits all solution. Others must have asked these same questions—How did they solve it? What do they buy? What do they eat?  Oh, yeah and how did they find the solution while not falling prey to false marketing or wiping out their savings accounts?

Note to self – This crap is expensive! Why? Damn, another question! Must stop internal commentary, shut off the computer and go to bed.

Want to know my answer???  There is no ‘Right’ answer.  The control freak in me is still annoyed by this.  I want the gold star for getting it right and doing it well.  Instead of one right answer, I have a world of possibilities.  Ha! What fun and how frustrating at the same time! Yet another reminder that life is what we make it—a balance—The right choice for today doesn’t have to be tomorrow’s answer.  I continue to learn and to try ingredients, strategies, communication styles, products, etc.

While essential oils and aromatherapy were one of my great finds on this journey, they are not the only discovery. My website (http://www.kristajean.com/) will focus on essential oils while my blog will focus on the journey of discoveries.

Again, Welcome! This is a journey… Mine, my family’s, my friends’, my community’s and now yours.  Ready?! Set?! Goooo…