Frugal Fundamentals III, Healthy and Beautiful Savings!!!

I love saving money, and I have not only found ways to save by making household cleaners, but on health and beauty aids as well. Here are my personal favorites, and I do use them myself and alot.

Number one Favorite is Argon Oil, I can not stress it enough. I use it as an all over moisturizer, before I apply make up, after the shower, and in my hair. Read up on it, it is good, good, stuff. You will also be helping the women who are the sole harvesters of this oil,  

*All argan sold today is produced by a women's cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing health care and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil

Toothpaste

2 tbs. baking soda

2 tbs coconut oil

25-30 drops of peppermint essential oil, I like it minty! (check any other oil you may use to see if it is safe)

2 single packs of Stevie sweetener

Mix all ingredients well in a small air tight container. I just dip my toothbrush in it. It does not foam, and it DOES have a baking soda taste, but it works great, and leaves your teeth feeling wonderful. I just store it in my bathroom. The coconut oil melts almost the second it touches your mouth, and it doesn't leave an oil feeling, however be sure to rinse your sink with warm water, because it will solidify again when it gets cool.

Honey Scrub

This is a very good exfoliate,  and you don't have to worry about chemicals and fragrances, it is all natural.

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup grits, or medium ground cornmeal,( for a more gentle scrub)
1 vitamin E capsule
2 heaping tbs, Almond or Olive oil

Put ingredients into small jar, cut off end of vitamin E capsule and squeeze oil into mixture, mix well.
Use anytime that you want to exfoliate, good for all over body use. Apply with fingertips in circular motion, rinse with warm water. Does not sting or irritate, and if it gets in your mouth, you won't mind the taste, lol.
Store in fridge, as it contains no preservatives.


*Honey has actually been used since the times of ancient Egypt, for it's healing properties of the skin.
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Soaking Salts

Here is one of my favorite bath salt recipes

Aromatherapy Bath Salts Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Dead Sea salt, regular sea salt or Epsom salt, or a blend of two or three of these salts. Sea salts typically come in several grain sizes. Combining multiple grain sizes can make your salts more appealing. Keep in mind, however, that more course grains do take longer to dissolve in the tub.
• 15-24 drops of your selected essential oil or essential oil blend. Be sure and take heed in the safety data for the oil(s) you choose to use. 
• 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil or other carrier oil for moisturization (optional)

Directions:

Place the salt mixture into a bowl. If you have chosen to include the optional vegetable oil to your salt recipe, add it to the plain salts and mix well with a spoon or fork. Then, add the drops of your chosen essential oils. Again, mix very well. Add the mixture to a pretty jar, salt tube, or container that has a tight fitting lid. Salts that are kept in a container that is not air tight will lose their aroma more quickly.

After a day, you may wish to mix well again to ensure that the oils are well incorporated.

To Color to Your Salts:

For the most natural bath salt recipe, leave your bath salts uncolored. Certain exotic salts including Hawaiian Red Sea salt and Black Sea Pink salt are naturally colorful. Try mixing these salts with with Dead Sea or plain sea salt for a speckled effect.

If you would like to add color to your salts, FD&C liquid dye or mica powder can be added before you add the essential oils. When adding FD&C grade liquid dye, be sure to add only a drop at a time and stir well. When adding mica powder, only add a tiny amount (1/16-1/8 a teaspoon is usually sifficient) and stir very well. Using too much dye or mica powder can discolor the water and discolor skin, so be very careful. Leave bath salts at a soft pastel color. It is also important that you make sure that you are using skin-safe colorants and that the user of your bath salt blend does not have any allergies or sensitization with the colorant that you have chosen.

To Use:

Add 1/2-1 cup of the salts to running bath water. Mix well to ensure that the salt has dispersed well in the tub before entering. To keep the essential oils from evaporating too quickly, you can add the bath salts just before getting in the tub instead of while the water is running. Sitting on undissolved chunky bath salts, however, can be uncomfortable, so make sure the salts have dissolved well before entering.