Farm-Fresh Personal Care

Since beginning our health journey and incorporating fresh foods into our diet, I have become intrigued with non-toxic alternatives for personal care products. The average adult woman uses 12 products each day. This amounts to more than 500 chemicals in various forms applied each day. Is it possible to nourish our skin, face, and hair without adding to the toxic load?

Two years ago I challenged myself, "If I can’t eat it, I won't use it." What if I eliminated all of my beloved toxic products? My self-imposed plan has led to a rewarding lifestyle. I now have thicker, shinier hair, smoother skin, and healthier gums and teeth.

The bright, colorful, alluring labels of store-bought personal care products promise rapid wrinkle repair, luminescent skin, and smooth, silky hair. Washing away the flakiness on our scalp is somehow supposed to wash away our cares.

What do these products contain? Triclosan. Retinyl palmitate. Parabens. What are these? Petroleum-derived chemicals. Surely it's a stretch to say we're unknowingly putting gasoline on our face every morning, but are these chemicals safe? Are we paying a price for our "ageless skin"?

Natural alternatives abound. Here's a small sample.

Avocado: Avocados contain sterolins, proteins proven to reduce the appearance of age spots and sun damage. The oil derived from avocados helps slow down the inevitable loss of collagen that occurs with age.

Eggs: Egg yolks are high in lecithin and protein, both of which do wonders for your skin. For a simple hair treatment, whisk together two egg yolks and apply to dry scalp for an hour each week. Watch the luster and shine return.

Green Juice/Apple Juice: Fruits and vegetables offer vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like bioflavonoids, as well as beneficial fruit acids. Freeze a portion of your juice in ice cube trays and use one cube daily as a skin toner.

When we embrace the fullness of farm-fresh ingredients for personal care, we no longer need the questionable products. More often than not the products lose their promise and allure.

Overwhelmed by the idea? Start small. How about a simple avocado face mask?

Recipe:

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp. coconut or olive oil
• 1 tbsp. organic honey (warmed if needed)

Peel the avocado and cut it into pieces. Mash with the honey and the rest of the ingredients until you have a smooth and creamy paste.

Apply to face and neck, staying away from eye area. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm and then cold water. Wipe dry and feel the difference!

This post shared at Wellness Wednesdays.