city, without removing the lipids that are vital to the role of the skin as a barrier from the
environment,” says Dr. Sivak of Skin Actives, who recommends blending a no-nonsense cleanser by
combining sea kelp bioferment, some nice plant oils, and a small proportion of a mild surfactant, such
as castile soap.
GREEN BEAUTY SHOPPING LIST
When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I make sure to pick up some staples that can be used in
homemade cosmetics:
- Avocado (for instant facial packs and masks)
- Baking soda (quick face and body scrub)
- Eggs (for masks)
- Epsom salts (for soothing baths)
- Chamomile tea (for baby diaper wash, toners, masks, and hair rinses)
- Lemons (for facial exfoliants, hair rinses)
- Cornmeal (great filling agent for masks and scrubs)
- Milk of magnesia (indispensable for acne, canker sores and irritated skin)
- Organic mayonnaise (a great moisturizer and foot mask)
- Milk (used in masks, baths, hair packs) continued
- Oranges (to be used in a flavorful bath; peel can be used, too)
- Green tea (makes great toner, goes into masks, eye compresses, baby diaper wash)
- Honey (a luxurious mask on its own, can also be added to hair treatments). “I always tell people to
spread honey all over their faces,” says Suki Kramer of Suki Pure Skin Care. “Works for so many
things!” - Sour cream (a wonderfully nutritious exfoliant)
- Sea salt (makes a great body scrub)
- Extra virgin olive oil for hair masks and body scrubs, extra light olive oil for facial cleansers and
moisturizers, both preferably organic - Strawberries (useful for bleaching teeth and making a nourishing whitening mask)
- Oat bran and oatmeal (scrub, cleanser, bath bomb—you choose)
- Tomatoes (great for invigorating hair packs)
- Greek-style plain yogurt (makes a great mask; can be added to cleansing creams)
- Powdered milk (can go in many lotions, potions, and bath preparations)
- Sugar (choose organic brown sugar that can be used in facial scrubs, hair treatments, and hand
exfoliants)
Try the following original recipes to discover how easy it is to create organic cosmetics in your own
kitchen.