On my kids I use store-bought soaps, usually Burts Bees baby bath, and I also use Burts Bees diaper ointment and Tom's all-natural toothpaste. I also use Tom's deodorant on myself, and everything else I make at home. I've spent numerous hours experimenting and have found some pretty great recipes. Here they are:
lotion:
I use organic olive oil on my kids' skin after baths. Before drying them off, slather them with the oil then blot with a towel to dry. Their skin will feel dewey soft. This should also be used on babies instead of regular baby oil (usually made with mineral oil), and make sure you put it on baby's head as well and massage into their scalp. It will prevent cradle cap (I've had great success with this....two kids, no cradle cap). I also use olive oil after my showers. It's much quicker than applying lotion since I just slather it all over before toweling off.
for dry, chapped areas I make a mixture of lotion and vegetable glycerine. My favorite is California Baby sensitive skin baby lotion, since I feel safe putting it on my baby's face and hands. If he ingests some (from sucking on his hands) it won't hurt him because the ingredients are natural and organic. But you really can use any lotion.
- mix 1 part vegetable glycerine with 4 parts lotion. Store it in a covered container for up to 5 days, or refrigerate it and it will keep for longer. I make only small batches so I know it won't go bad. With homemade mixtures you have to be careful to avoid the growth of bacteria, so I would recommend using only clean hands when using the lotion, and use good judgement. If you think it may have gone bad, throw it out and make another batch.
hand soap:
- mix 1 part castile soap, 1 part glycerine, and 1 part distilled water. shake it up. you could use tap water but I've never done it and I'm not sure how it would affect shelf life
face wash:
I love Burts Bees orange essence face wash, but if you prefer to make your own here are a couple alternatives:
- mix 4 parts glycerine with 3 parts olive oil and 1 part orange essential oil
you don't have to be exact. when I mix these up I only measure by eye. also, feel free to use different essential oils. for instance, lavender oil is also good on all skin types.
- you can actually use olive oil to wash your skin. i found that this was too drying for me and may be better suited for oily skin. apply olive oil to your skin (organic is best) and massage into your skin with your fingertips. this really loosens up the dirt and makeup and oil. lay a warm, wet washcloth over your face for several seconds to let the steam saturate your skin, then use the cloth to wipe the olive oil from your skin. this can be drying because oil is the best at dissolving oil (kind of a strange concept to grasp). this may be best for acne-prone skin. if it over-dries your skin you can apply a little olive oil after washing your face with it (again, a strange concept, but some people swear by it).
facial moisturizer
I live in Wisconsin where the harsh winter weather and dry indoor heat do a number on my skin. We all know how important moisturized skin is, especially if we want to have that radiant, youthful look. Here are two options:
- I pour a drop of glycerine in my hand, then mix it in my hand with a little tap water (about 4 times the amount of glycerine). apply to your face. it will be very thin and your face will feel wet, but don't dry it off. within minutes the water will be absorbed into your skin and your face will feel dewy and soft. i've had a great complexion since I started doing this.
- you can also use olive oil to hydrate your skin. it works even for oily skin (sounds weird, doesn't it?) i do find that the glycerine moisturizes better than the olive oil, but I have naturally dry skin. those with an oily complexion may have better luck using the olive oil.
shaving gel
- use pure aloe vera gel for shaving
- you can also use castile soap, although it can be more drying
