Looking and Feeling Young

The other day, I got (what most people would call) a compliment on my looks. They said that I "didn't look 42", and "looked at least 10 years younger".

In addition to having some feyness, some healthy fat on my bones, and not smoking (anymore); I also didn't tan relentlessly when I was younger (yay, gothdom!). These things help a lot in keeping bodies healthy and not overly ravaged by time. But I also attribute my youthful appearance to what I eat and put on my body as well (and chasing a preschooler!).

I do not use commercial beauty products anymore, and I think this helps a lot. To clean my body and "make it up", I use natural products, most of which are much less expensive than commercially bought stuff and so much better for your body. I no longer use a foundation- and the last time I did, I was using tinted moisturizer by Dermalogica or Dr. Haushka. I don't put on a lot of makeup- and when I do use it, a liquid eyeliner (body shop), and a lipstick (I have amassed quite the collection) are about it.

I am still using the "no poo" and "no conditioner" that I wrote about last June. I think my hair is healthy and shiny. I also make our deodorant, our first aid creams, our cold medicines, and our moisturizers. I am in the process of making a migraine remedy making tincture of feverfew, white willow bark, and California poppy.

I have dry skin and I used to shower then oil my body (just a combination of good-for-skin oils, with olive as the base). Now I use a sugar scrub exfoliant that has plenty of oil and essential oils (I switch it up for fun- sometimes it is lemongrass for purification, sometimes I want tingly cinnamon!) and moisturizes as I wash. A month's supply of sugar scrub is about 21 cents- and once you invest in essential oils, you will have most of the ingredients around to keep yourself in supply. I only shower every few days because of my dryness. So I need to moisturize in between bathing. In the summer, I need a lotion (that I make myself)- but now that I am back in dry midwestern winter, I actually use raw unrefined shea butter on my face daily! I personally think it makes my skin radiant, and before it completely soaks in (it is solid at room temperature), it forms a weather barrier on my face that really helps prevent tiny eczema patches.

Speaking of eczema- I don't really get it anymore (again, I attribute whole foods and natural toiletries)- and if there ever is a tiny bit, it comes in smaller than a dime. Carrot oil or shea butter takes care of it immediately.

So, what does our family eat? There's a joke going around that "natural foods" and "organic foods" are simply what our grandparents called "food".

Here's an example: this week, when we had tacos, we went out of our way to get corn tortillas without crap in them (most of the standard supermarkets here carry tortillas with unpronouncible ingredients- bleh!). I cooked a pork roast (that came from a pig that was purchased in advance, raised on a farm in Appalachia, and slaughtered and processed with the cuts and preparation we specified) in the crock pot all day with onions, cumin, oregano, and salt. I soaked overnight, then simmered pinto beans all day and pureed them in the food processor with leftover bacon fat from our nitrate free, grass-fed bacon, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and cumin. We ate it with crap-free loca; Amish sour cream from the co-op, fresh made salsa (not by me, but local) and cheese. While the meal took all day to cook, there was little actual hands-on work for it. It was delicious and I have leftover pork for lunches and refried beans in the freezer for future meals.

So to make a long post short, I guess my "secret" is simple living and avoiding overly processed stuff. What are your secrets to staying healthy and young?

Tangible Witchcraft: DIY Toiletries

At the turn of the secular year, I made a decision to try an all-natural solution for my hair: DIY shampoo and conditioner.

Not only do most shampoos and conditioners have all sorts of toxic crap in them (some quite dangerous), but they come in those plastic bottles that ruin the environment too. Did you know that for every pound of plastic produced there is a pound of toxic waste? And plastic recycling is a feel-good sham, frankly. I wanted to rid myself of that toxic burden (personally and for the planet), see if I could do something for myself, and save some money in the process.

I searched and searched and the easiest place to start was a simple solution for each:

Not Shampoo:

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda to 1 cup water

Baking soda is a natural alkaline that cleanses gently. While the "Nopoo" recipe above is more liquid-y than what most folks are used to when cleaning their hair, I find that using a squirt bottle directly aimed at the scalp and then rubbing the scalp (I have a round brush to massage my scalp in the shower- it feels awesome and cleans wonderfully!) does the same job, without overly stripping the hair. My hair runs dry if overwashed, so I stick with this basic recipe. If you try this recipe and find it does not get enough oil out, up the ratio of baking soda to water until it works for you.

Not Conditioner:

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 cup water

Apple Cider Vinegar literally smooths the scales on hair to make it easy to comb through- it de-tangles even my snarly long hair! I apply it liberally all over my scalp and hair and let it sit for a moment before combing out my hair under running water. Tada- tangle free hair! Bonus- it leaves your hair smelling clean, but not scented. I find my hair kind of smells like strawberries.

The deodorant container I saved,
washed and ready to be filled.

So how did it work out? I was skeptical that these recipes could work for me, but you know what? They did. I bought the toiletry industry's line abouthow their products were irreplacable. I was duped!

Before, I was spending almost $10 a bottle on an all natural, SLS free, cruelty free shampoo and conditioner for my hair (that I had to go to a specialty store to get). Now, I spend pennies a month. I now no longer use any of those bought products, but simply use ingredients that are already in my kitchen (and temple) anyway.

Today, I decided to up the ante and create a deodorant for myself. Now, I am not the stinkiest girl, but I don't want to be either! Simply making others deal with my funk is not a good solution for me. So I found a new recipe, also simple:

Not Deodorant:

Coconut Oil, Baking Soda, and essential oils (optional).

Notice how I did not give ratios or measurements? It's because it widely varies on the coconut oil you are using and the temperature of the room that you are making it in. Don't panic- it is really an easy recipe.

1. Simply spoon out as much coconut oil as you think you will need (I make enough to fill a plastic deodorant dispenser that I kept from the last one I ever bought.)

My box of essential oils.

2. Add baking soda until it is a thick, stiff paste that will not fall off your fork (it defies gravity). You will be surprised at how much soda the oil will absorb to get to this point.

3. Then you can add essential oils if you wish.

Note: Just because you like the smell of a particular oil doesn't mean that you can use it in a deodorant. This is a sensitive place on the body- you should test to be sure your underarms can handle exposure to that ingredient before making a batch. (Use a carrier oil with a drop or two of the essential oil before applying to your underarms as a test.)

Note: You may need to keep the deodorant in the fridge in warmer weather, as coconut oil becomes liquid at very low temperatures.

All filled and ready for the fridge!

DIY is witchy, but you can get really witchy with this project, infusing the products with intention and ingredients to help manifest certain outcomes. Herbs, minerals, all kinds of ingredients can be added to the water, vinegar, or oil before making a product.

This, of course, adds a step and some time needs to elapse before assembling your toiletries (allowing the herb, mineral or what-have-you to steep and impart its properties to your medium). But it is worth it! Make yourself some money drawing, love-inducing, psychic-vision-enhancing toiletries!

My first batch of "Nopoo" was plain. Now I add herb vinegars to the water instead. My first batch of deodorant had a blend of vetivert, musk, and acacia oils. Can you guess my intent with those (besides smelling yummy)?