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As more and more people are inclined to read the ingredients not only on their food packaging but on their healthcare and personal hygiene products, too, more and more people find themselves looking for healthier, and cheaper options to keep their teeth, hair, and toes clean.
There is a DIY recipe for almost everything you have in your bathroom cabinet or on the shelves around your shower. Many of these homemade products require no special ingredients and can often be made with things you already have in your pantry.
Take a look at this compilation of OGP articles that help and inspire you to start concocting your personal hygiene products at home.
1. Teeth Whitener
A recent study showed that 80% of Americans aged between 18 and 49 want whiter teeth. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, more than $1.4 billion was spent on over-the-counter tooth-whitening products in 2016. There is nothing wrong with wanting that gleaming smile, but it’s worth looking at some of the side effects of store-bought teeth whitening kits and how you might go about it using more natural methods. Check out How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth.
2. Low-Waste Oral Hygiene
For most, grabbing a tube of toothpaste, a brush, dental floss and a bottle of mouthwash from the supermarket or pharmacy is pretty standard. Some, however, have reasons for looking for alternatives that are considered healthier, better for the environment, and even cheaper. Fortunately, there are some great homemade recipes and products on offer that help to sidestep some of the issues that storebought products cause without scrimping on the freshness of your breath or the health of your gums. Take a look at these Low-Waste Oral Hygiene Ideas.
3. Mouthwash
As well as regular brushing and flossing, lots of people use mouthwash as part of their daily dental routine. Commercial mouthwashes can be purely cosmetic, meaning that they simply act to freshen your breath temporarily. Others are therapeutic and are used to treat certain oral conditions such as gingivitis. If you enjoy making your own beauty and hygiene products, you can add homemade mouthwash to the mix. There are various ingredients that you can use to make a mouthwash that is freshening and can even help with basic oral hygiene. Learn How to Make Your Own Natural Mouthwash.
4. Foot Soaks
Whether we have an active or a more sedentary lifestyle, we tend to put our poor feet through the wringer. We either squish them into shoes, suffocate them with socks, have them run us all over the place, or sometimes just neglect them a bit. All you need to offer your feet a little luxury and care is a tub, a few simple ingredients that you will probably have around the house already, and a bit of time to dedicate to your toes! Check out these Homemade Natural Foot Soaks.
5. Hair Rinses
We can buy shampoos and other hair care products that tout herbal and botanical ingredients. However, there is a simple, cheap, and package-free way to introduce herbs to your haircare regime without having to buy any products. You can use fresh herbs from your herb garden or dried herbs from your kitchen cabinet to make simple hair rinses. Remember that if you are using dried herbs, you will need to use a lot less as dried herbs are more concentrated. Read on to learn How to Make Herbal Hair Rinses.
6. Bathtub Teabags
Soaps, bubbles, salts, and oils are just a few of the things we can toss into our bathtub water. Such accouterments can transform bath time into your little spa-like event. Another way to enhance your bathtime experience is by making your bathtub teabags. By doing this, you can personalize your soak with all the ingredients that you love, and your body can benefit from. Take a look at this article to learn How to Make Your Own Bathtub Tea.
7. No-Poo Lifestyle
For many, the idea of ditching shampoo sounds disgusting, a recipe for greasy hair full of gunk and perhaps a funky smell to go along with it. To others, however, the “no poo” lifestyle has become a real deal thing. And, the latter group might have some ideas worth considering. How does your hair get clean? Are we using shampoo for a reason? Does your hair stink? What about removing my styling products? It seems questionable at best. But, many of these questions have answers, and those who are going “no poo” have their reasons. Read on to learn all about Ditching Shampoo for the “No Poo” Lifestyle: Less Chemicals, Less Trash, Healthier Hair.
8. Skin Toners
Whether it’s soap, moisturizer, make-up, or nothing at all, we all have our skincare preferences and needs. Toner, however, might not be something that is as commonly used as other products. Toner is a watery liquid of some sort that is used primarily to get rid of residue left by some soaps and make-up, help balance the skin’s natural pH, and help reduce visible pores and tighten the skin. It may also help to cool and soothe inflamed skin. Check out these 6 Natural Skin Toners You Can Make at Home
Related Content:
- Low-Waste Oral Hygiene Ideas
- Natural, Healthy Foods That Fight Fungal Infections
- 5 Awesome DIY Beauty Projects For Your Used Coffee Grounds!
- 5 DIY Alternatives to Conventional Hair Sprays, Mousses, and Gels
- DIY Coconut Banana Cream Pie Hair Mask
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