I was recently inspired by a local radio interview about how to achieve healthy skin. It has dramatically changed my approach to my skin care routine!
The interviewee’s main concerns were centered on the harmful ingredients lurking in many of the high-end skin care brands and that really made me sit up and think. I sourced a list of the harmful ingredients to watch out for and cross-checked them against those in my well known, and very well respected skin products. I was astounded find more several of them listed on my skin care range!
I’ve now gone 100% organic in my skincare routine and combine this with a morning face brush and evening face massage. I have so far made my own facial oil (using avocado oil mixed with essential oils) and toner (using raw organic apple cider vinegar, distilled water and essential oils) – all readily available items that don’t cost the earth.
However, skin care is not only about the face! We also need to take care of our bodies and our hands in particular. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to protect you and those around you from getting sick. Clean hands reduce the spread of germs and other bacteria easily found in public spaces like trains, buses and classrooms. Extra effort is required in the winter months during the cold & flu season.
This month we celebrate National Hand Washing Awareness Week and so what better way to do this than create your own 100% organic liquid soap hand wash! We all know how important it is to wash our hands, but does anyone ever really think about soap ingredients? Many hand soaps and sanitizers contain harmful parabens and synthetic colours which strip our skin of it’s natural oils, so at least when you make your own, you are 100% sure of what’s going into the making of it!
Hand made liquid soap
Easy to produce in bulk and placed in pretty glass jars with a pump dispenser they make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and spread the word about the importance of washing your hands regularly.
Here’s a basic recipe using essential oils of your choice to personalise the scent for yourself, or your friends and family.
Ingredients
- 12-ounces of Water (distilled or boiled is best)
- 2 Tablespoons of 100% organic liquid soap e.g. Castile Soap
- ½ tsp liquid base oil such as olive, almond or jojoba
- Essential oils to add fragrance e.g. frankincense, lavender, ylang ylang
- Glass or plastic clear bottles with dispenser pump
Method
- Fill the soap dispenser to about 1 inch of the top with distilled water leaving room for the bulky foaming pump and the soap to be added.
- Add at least 2 tablespoons of liquid castille soap to the water mixture, not the other way round
- Add the base oil and any essential oils if you are using them.
- Close and lightly swish to mix.
- Use as you would any regular foaming soap.
I recycled a couple of existing glass soap dispensers to make my, but there are bottles of all shapes and sizes available on line if you don’t have anything suitable to hand.