The all powerful baking soda! Use #2: Exfoliating Facial Scrub

Baking Soda makes a very nice, and gentle facial scrub. Something to use once a week, or even every other week if you have more sensitive skin, to get the dead skin cells off you face. Leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh.

All you need is a sink, water, baking soda, and a face! (that sounded kinda morbid)

I take a small handful of baking soda, moisten it with a bit of water, and then apply to my face, using my fingers to rub in small circular motions. Staying away from the eyes. In the past I've also used a facial brush to apply the baking soda.
And when I feel my skin is free of dead skin cells, I rinse thoroughly with water. Then after patting my face dry, I apply a liberal amount of moisturizer, and I may later apply some more, if my skin feels at all dry.

I have also used this all over, but usually I like a good sugar scrub for that.

Pacifica, Brazilian Mango Grapefruit, Solid Perfume

I really like the idea of solid perfume. And this one smells wonderful! Everyone wants to smell nice, don't they?.........at least I know I do.
I have found very few perfumes that I actually like. A lot of them give me a bombing headache. But this one has such a natural, sweet scent. It's like a grapefruit and a mango at the same time. Just more convenient than caring one of each around.
And of course, natural, natural, natural. It could smell like heaven and I'd have to pass on it, if it was not.
They have other scents, such as Tahitian Gardenia, Tuscan Blood Orange, and Hawaiian Rudy Guava, among several others. I think I would like to try that last one next.
PacificaCandles.com

Aubrey Organics, Pure Aloe Vera

I had been looking for some aloe vera that was free of unwanted ingredients. And here it is, Aubrey Organics, Pure Aloe Vera. I don't think you can get this stuff more natural than this, unless you squeezed it out of the plant.

Ingredients:
Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe) leaf juice
Citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract
tocopherol (vitamin E).

That is all.

It is not as thick as you might expect, but if you've ever examined the actual leaf that this stuff comes out of, when squeezed, it comes out in a relatively thin liquid, and I appreciate the fact that they didn't add anything to thicken it. And of course it smells like plain aloe vera.

AubreyOrganics.com

Kiss My Face, C-weed soap

Ahhh, I love the smell of this soap. Just like a orange popsicle. I would have just kept the bar to smell, but we ran out in the bathroom.
I used to only use body wash type soap, but lately I've kinda gotten out of that, and went more towards the bar type. I think it's because I've found more variety of it in the healthy beauty product department. And it has less of a need for preservatives.
I picked this my bar up at a cute little health food/sandwich shop in Mora Minn. So if you are ever in that area check it out, Bread and Honey it what it's called. Such a small town, ask anyone and they'll probably be able to tell you where it is.
But otherwise they also have it at KissMyFaceWebstore.com.

J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary, Mango Body Cream

In the past I noticed this brand at wal-mart, and the ingredients weren't quite up to my par. But I guess they've started this new line of products that are more natural.
I came across this bottle of Mango Body Cream at Whole Foods. It also comes in vanilla, lavender, lemon, and aloe and green tea. I think that when I run out of the mango, I'll try that last one, I've been a bit crazy lately for anything green tea.
Not that there is anything wrong with the mango, it's quite nice. And the lotion's been great, very thick and creamy. But not to oily, soaks right into the skin. Great for using on your hands after you've washed the dishes or something. I don't swim in pools very often, so I haven't tested this out, but I imagine it would feel super nice all over, after all that chlorine.

www.jrwatkins.com

The all powerful baking soda! Use #1: Hair Rinse

Baking soda makes a real nice hair rinse. Gets all the built up junk out and makes the scalp feel quite nice, tingly you might say.

Prep: Before hand, brush your hair vigorously.

Application: Situate oneself in either the tub/shower or with head under the facet.
After wetting hair completely, take a handful of baking soda, moisten it with a bit of water, and apply to head. I would avoid getting much on the ends of your hair, it can be a bit drying.
Use finger tips to massage scalp. Apply more water or baking soda whenever you feel the need. And then after you feel you've scrubbed your whole scalp and massaged long enough rise thoroughly with water. If you have extremely dry hair, them I would recommend now apply some conditioner.

I have read of some people doing this method once a week, and then not needing to shampoo there hair ever. But I found that if I did it more then every few weeks it caused my hair to get pretty dry and static-ee. Though I would say that my hair is normally on the dry side, and needs a bit more moisturizing. So if your hair is more on the oily side, you might want to try it more often.

Weleda's; Almond Moisture Cream

This has been a very nice lotion for the summer. In the winter I have dry and patchy facial skin, and then in the summer it gets pretty oily in the t-zone. I guess it's what might be called combination skin :p So, something a little lighter is just what I needed. It also said, on the side of the package, that it's great for sensitive skin. And being fragrance free, it only have a very light almond smell.

I actually came across it at Target, which kinda surprised me. Usually the only thing the larger stores carry is maybe a few Burt's Bees products. But then when I got home I checked out weleda.com, and it looks like they have a lot of other great beauty products online.

Jason Toothpaste, Natural PowerSmile

I love this toothpaste! It's got a powerful minty taste. Makes my mouth feel extra clean. And keeps my teeth fresh and white. I may someday actually try another brand, but this one does such a wonderful job, I'm afraid I'll regret the change!

I've boughten it at our local health food stores, or Whole Foods Market. But it can also be purchased at jason-natural.com

Burt's Bees; Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

I don't have a huge problem with dry cuticles or brittle nails, but there are times, especially in the winter, when my fingers really need some special attention. And this stuff has always done a great job for me. Not to greasy and soaks in nicely. Plus the smell is great! Reminds me of lemon bars.

BurtsBee's.com says "This natural nail treatment softens cuticles and fortifies nails. Sweet almond oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter moisturize. Then beeswax seals in the goodness. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails appear and smell incredibly clean and beautiful. And, with regular use, your nails will become stronger and dry cuticles will disappear." And I second that.

Aubrey Organics, Amino Derm Gel Clear Skin Complex

This stuff is great! I've been using it over a week now, and I definitely see a marked improvement.

Of course I use this along with daily cleansing and then plenty of moisturizer afterwards.

Since last spring, I've been having a problem with these little bumps on my forehead and chin, basically in the T-zone. They weren't the red and sore kind, just little bumps. But still, they irritated me to no end! Now they are greatly minimized and my face looks just plain old fresher all over.

When I saw it at one of our local health food stores, "Clear Skin Complex" caught my eye and I knew I had to give it a try!

The thing I love most about all Aubrey Organics products is they're so very natural! I haven't found another brand that can compare to them.

You may be able to find this at a health food store, like I did, or you can purchase it at AubreyOrganics.com.

Burt's Bees, Beewax Lip Balm

I go through lip balm very quickly, or at least it doesn't last long around our house (my youngest sibling likes to apply it very liberally, by the finger full) But I can't blame her, she gives me an excuse to satisfy my lip balm addiction and try out a new one.

Of all the different brands that I've tried, (I've lost count, it'd probably be faster to name the ones I haven't tried) nothing has ever surpassed Burt's Bee's, Beewax Lip Balm. It is, in my opinion, the best! I love the minty smell, and the cooling feeling it has when you put it on. I've tried some that felt thin and oily on my lips. But not this one, the balm is just right, not too soft or too hard.


It has a bunch of great ingredients like ultra-emollient lanolin, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and beeswax.

It come in this cute little tin, and also the tube, that they say is made out of recycled plastic!

This lipbalm has become very popular, so you never know were you might be able to get your hands on some. But if it's no where to be found in your area, you can purchase both the tube and/or the tin at SalvatoreOrganicSolutions.com
>The Tin
>The Tube