Homemade Face Cleanser

MAKING YOUR OWN CHEMICAL-FREE FACE CLEANSER IS EASY

Have you ever checked the ingredients of you favourite skin cleanser? Most of us would struggle to pronounce some of the ingredients, let alone know what they are or where they come from. 

Many substances used in skincare manufacturing (such as EDTA, sodium lauryl sulfate and formaldehyde) are harmful to our bodies. In many instances they are known carcinogens (substances known to cause cancer). 

You can avoid these harmful substances simply by making your own skincare products at home. It’s fast, cheap and so simple to do. 

I whip some a batch of this skin cleanser every month or so. It's gentle and effective, you can apply the product to the skin every day - it's both nourishing and deep cleansing to clear out clogged up pores. 

If you find the skin is too oily, simply cleanse you skin at night and by morning the oil will have absorbed into your skin, leaving it soft a smooth. 

ABOUT BENTONITE CLAY

Bentonite clay is formed by volcanic ash and contains many minerals including silica and magnesium. It acts to detoxify the pores of the skin due to it's difference in electrical charge. This assists it's drawing action to pull excessive oil and gunk from the pores to give you softer, smoother and clearer skin. To learn more about Calcium Bentonite (green clay) - we recommend reading more here. 

USING NON-METALLIC EQUIPMENT

Bentonite clay strips heavy metals from the body and from any minerals it comes into contact with….including your aluminium or stainless steel cookware.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbs coconut oil Ÿ 
• 2 tsp raw honey Ÿ-  I love this brand 
• 1 tsp baking soda - this brand is great
• 1 tsp bentonite clay Ÿ - I recommend this brand
• 3 drops essential oil of your choice Ÿ- I love ylang ylang or geranium oil
• Dried flower petals
   

METHOD

1. Mix all ingredients in a non-metallic bowl and store in a glass jar.
2. Leave ample room in the jar as the mixture will swell as the clay expands.

APPLICATION

1. To use simply wash your face with warm water.
2. Apply a small amount to the skin (about the size of a 20 cent coin).
3. Massage into the skin and wash off with a warm wet face cloth. 

Keeps for up to 3 months in a sealed container. I prefer to use a glass jar for a container but you could also use a food grade plastic one. In the warmer months the oils will separate, simply stir to recombine.

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The BEST Homemade Multipurpose Cleaner

Here at Westside Wellness, we think it's important to know exactly what goes into our cleaning products. Why? Because our skin and lungs are one of our major organs of detoxification/elimination and absorption. So whatever we come in contact with via our skin and lungs (through inhalation) is going to be processed by our body, which can lead to detrimental effects. 

Some cleaning products contain nasty abrasives, fragrances and whiteners to help give the appearance that they are 'doing a good job', but really what they are doing is providing an onslaught of nasties that we really don't want to be breathing in and touching. We also don't want these products entering our water ways where they cause massive detriment to the environment.

What's the solution? Enter our enzymatic, citrus cleaner. It is easy peasy to make, and a great way to reduce waste by reusing citrus peels (before they make their way to the compost). We use citrus peels and vinegar and let the combo ferment for 6-8 weeks. During this fermentation period, enzymes from the citrus peel is released and the mother from the apple cider vinegar and natural sugars from the citrus peel increases the fermentation resulting in a potent cleaning product! Now there are other recipes on the internet, using sugar and yeast, but for us this is way easier as we pretty much always have white and apple cider vinegar hand.

Once you get into the swing of things, you can have several jars on the go, staggered so you always have spray on hand.

INGREDIENTS

• a wide mouthed, large glass* jar with lid

• left over citrus peels- lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange etc **. Enough to fill said jar

• 500-1000 ml white vinegar (enough to fill jar)

• 2 tbs apple cider vinegar w/ mother

METHOD

1. Thoroughly wash your jar in hot, soapy water. Rinse soap off well. 

2. Cut your citrus peels into quarters.

3. Place citrus peels in jar and pour in the white and apple cider vinegar. Push down the peels and make sure they are covered with liquid.

4. Place lid on, write the date and put the jar in a dark, cool place. Leave for 6-8 weeks.

5. Once fermented, pour your multipurpose spray into a spray bottle using a nut bag or muslin cloth to strain out any citrus flesh.

*Due to the enzymes release, it's best to use glass for both fermenting and to use as a spray. A little hack we discovered is that spray bottle guns fit most glass drink bottles that had a plastic lid!

**We keep our citrus peel in a container in the freezer until there is enough to fill a large jar.

Orange Coconut Deodorant

Homemade deodorant is actually simple to make. It takes less than 3 minutes to whip up a batch....but best of all it actually works!! I had tried crystals, natural roll on, alcohol based and all sorts but this has been the only product that keeps both the sweat and the stink away.

All you need to do is source a few ingredients and store them in the cupboard ready to bring out when you need to make some more up.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil
• 3 tbs arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
• 1 tbs baking soda (I like this brand)
• 20 drops of orange essential oil (or an essential oil scent you prefer)
• Glass jar for storage

METHOD

1. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Stir well, about 3 minutes for the mixture to become well-combined, depending on the temperature.
3. Place in a glass jar, label and keep in a cool, dark area (especially during the warmer months).

Makes about 1 cup which will last last for at least 3 months.