Category: Natural living

  • Homemade Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

    Homemade Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

    Easy Homemade Sugar Scrub

    We try to limit our sugar consumption. Try. That’s not to say we always succeed (hello, homemade ice cream), but in general, Skittles and M&Ms are not part of the meal plan. So when we buy the 10-pound bags of brown sugar at Costco, we have to do something else with it. Like use it on our skin (sugar scrubs seem to be all the rage these days, and you know how I love to jump on the latest trend).

    I used to use a number of different face washes for acne and oily skin, and nothing really seemed to do much. Then I had the shampoo revelation, and wondered if I was over-drying my skin with the chemical-laden cleansers, which in turn made it produce more oil. So I quit the OTC stuff and started washing my face with a mix of oil and sugar (oil sounds counterintuitive, but it really works). Now I mostly just rinse with water and scrub once a week or less, and my skin has never been more clear.

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  • A Cold Sore-fighting Lip Balm

    A Cold Sore-fighting Lip Balm

    Homemade Cold Sore Treatment (with Lemon Balm)
    If you’re one of the unfortunates who struggle with the occasional cold sore, you know how annoying they can be. Fortunately, I don’t, but S tends to get one or two a year, and that cracking and oozing just doesn’t look like a whole lot of fun.

    Cold sores (or fever blisters) are caused by the herpes simplex virus. They often start with a tingling around the lips, then a day or two later, the full-blown blister. Based on seeing my wife with them, they’ll last about a week or so. She’s tried a bunch of OTC and prescription cold sore treatments, and, at least to my eyes, nothing really seems to offer any kind of significant help.

    A couple weeks ago, I did a post about lemon balm, and if you recall, one of its benefits is being an antiviral. And sure enough, there are a number of studies that demonstrate lemon balm’s positive effects on cold sores. Following my normal course of action, I decided to take that and run with it.

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  • Basic Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

    Basic Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

    Homemade Lip Balm - lifefromthegroundup.us

    As I skim through the archives, I realize that I write a lot about personal care products. I suppose that, to some, this could be grounds for taking away my hypothetical man card.

    But even manly skin needs attention, especially on this frozen tundra that is Northeast Ohio from November until April. And I’m not ashamed that even during the worst of times, my hands are smooth, my teeth are clean, my hair is shiny, my face is smooth, and I don’t stink. All while I split logs and grunt. So there.

    Yes, I’m on a mission to replace everything in the bathroom with my own creations, and next up on the list is this surprisingly easy homemade lip balm.

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  • Homemade Lotion (Non-Greasy and Moisturizing!)

    Homemade Lotion (Non-Greasy and Moisturizing!)

    Non-Greasy Moisturizing Homemade Lotion

    Last January, we whipped up a super-decadent body butter to help counteract that harsh northern Ohio winter air. It’s a nice thick lotion (similar to lotions you can buy online) that can make even the driest of hands smooth again, and against my better judgment, I even called it body butter for the ladies.

    But part of what makes it work so well can also make it a bit of a hassle to use. It contains a lot of coconut oil, which is great for skin, but takes a while to be absorbed. It’s perfect for applying right before bed, but not perfect if you’re trying to knit or practice calligraphy.

    So if you’re looking for something a bit lighter for the summer months, or just want to drink your coffee without dropping the mug, here is a great homemade lotion (non-greasy and moisturizing) alternative for you! This one’s made with shea butter and almond and jojoba oils, which are much more easily absorbed. And of course, it doesn’t contain anything you can’t pronounce, unless you’re adding helichrysum or ylang-ylang essential oils, or you’re like me and prefer to say jojoba with a hard “J” sound. (To learn more about the amazing benefits of essential oils, see my Essential Oils page!)

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  • Shea and Coconut Homemade Body Butter

    Shea and Coconut Homemade Body Butter

    January. The coldest month of the year, at least here in the Northern hemisphere. And all that bitterly cold air means dry air, which means rough, dry skin. Wind-burned, chapped, cracking dry skin. But fear not, because I’m here to save your hide with this homemade body butter, made with moisturizing Shea butter and unrefined coconut oil.

    What’s homemade body butter, you ask? Good question. I was wondering the same thing.

    Shea and Coconut Oil Homemade Body Butter - lifefromthegroundup.us

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