A Few DIY Recipes

Homemade Deodorant:
5-7 Tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup baking soda
6 drops tea tree oil (or another oil of your liking) I prefer tea tree for its antibacterial properties.
Container to put it in (I like one of these)

1. Combine arrowroot powder and baking soda in a medium sized bowl.
2. Slowly add in coconut oil and mix it in with a spoon until it is well incorporated. The consistency should be solid, not too wet, but easy to be applied. Add more arrowroot/baking powder mixture if it is too wet.
3. Add the tea tree oil and mix to combine.
4. Put it into a container. I like to use a glass jar with a lid that seals but is easy to take on and off.
5. Apply to your underarms by scooping small amounts out with your fingers. This seems strange at first, but you get used to it quickly. Apply it just as you would apply a lotion.

Why homemade?
It doesn't contain any harsh chemicals, parabens, aluminum chlorohydrate, propylene glycol, talc, or other harmful substance found in most commercial deodorants. In fact, this stuff is so safe you could eat it!
All those nasty substances above that are found in most deodorants you buy at the store have been linked to all sorts of issues like Alzheimer's, cancer, contact dermatitis, skin irritation, kidney and liver damage, and more. Not to mention the homemade stuff is cheaper, works well, and smells great!

Homemade Lip Balm:
2 Tbsp beeswax (approx. 1 oz)
1 Tbsp shea butter
2 Tbsp coconut oil
A few drops essential oil (peppermint, lavender, sweet orange, and lemon all work well)
12 lip balm containers or 5 small tins
dropper

1. Melt the beeswax in a small pan over low heat. Add coconut oil and shea butter until everything is melted. Add a few drops of essential oil.
2. Use the dropper to add the melted liquid into your lip balm containers. Add a few extra drops to the top after filling as the ingredients will shrink as they cool.
3. Cool completely then cover with a cap and enjoy.

Why Homemade?
Commercial lip balms may contain chemical preservatives, petroleum based products ("mineral oil"), parabens, synthetic fragrances, and more depending on the brand. These have been shown to cause hormone disruption and cancer in animals.
Also, this DIY stuff is cheap, easy to make, works really well, and is a wonderful gift!

Homemade Insect Repellent:
1 oz. Neem oil
1 gallon water
1 tsp liquid soap
50-75 drops essential oil (peppermint oil, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, lemon, or cedarwood all work well or a few can be combined)
Spray bottle

1. Shake up all the ingredients in a large container or a gallon jug.
2. Fill up a spray bottle as needed.

Why Homemade?
It doesn't contain ingredients like DEET, picaridin, permethrin, and others that are found in most commercial repellents.
These chemicals are neurotoxins and have been linked to impaired cognitive function, seizures, insomnia, mood disturbances, severe skin reactions, nausea, headaches, muscle weakness, cancer, and more. DEET can actually dissolve some plastics, leather, and remove nail polish and permanent marker. What is it doing to our skin and the rest of our body once it gets absorbed through our skin? Yikes.

Homemade Moisturizer:
5 Tbsp coconut Oil
1 1/2 Tbsp almond oil
15 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
1 – 2 tablespoons grated beeswax (less for softer cream, more for firmer cream)
Container to store it

1. Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring to a boil.
2. In the top, combine the beeswax, coconut oil and almond oil. Allow to melt and stir to combine.
3. Add the essential oils and stir again.
4. Put it all into container and allow to cool completely before closing.

Why Homemade?
Commercial moisturizers and lotions often contain parabens, phthalates, fragrances, petrochemicals, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, synthetic colors, and diazolidinyl urea or iodopropynyl butylcarbomate. Petrochemicals have been found to cause anemia, kidney and nerve damage, damage to the brain and spinal cord. Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates actually dissolve the natural oils on your skin. The opposite of what you want when you put lotion on your body! Not to mention they also have been found to damage the immune system, denature proteins in our bodies, damage skin and cause inflammation.

Diazolidinyl urea or iodopropynyl butylcarbomate is used as a preservative and is a formaldehyde releaser. Formaldehyde has been labeled a human carcinogen, but because its precurser is the one used in lotions they have been able to get away with allowing it as an ingredient. This chemical has been banned in Europe because of its connection to cancer, causing allergic reactions, headaches, damaging eyes, irritating mucous membranes, causing headaches, depression, dizziness, and immune dysfunction.