Shampoo, Conditioner & going au naturale

 Mum and her long hair

It's official! I am fully au naturale with my body products. My sister is calling me a hippy, and well, that's ok with me! (She is not far behind me, I think!!).

It started around this time last year, the going natural. And it started because of my skin. As a kid, I had the best skin - never a zit to be seen. At 21, I started getting zits. Big ones. Not just little things that would go away in a day or two, but big red sore things that would never do anything, except grow of course.

I completely stopped with dairy. I went on the Pill. Nothing. I tried natural & non- natural skin care. Nothing. A different Pill. Malaria Tablets (??). I was wearing so much make-up to hide these big blistery burn-like things, which made it worse. My doctor sent me to the dermatologist, who told me I had Cystic Acne, made me sign a waiver form saying I wouldn't get pregnant during the course of my antibiotics, and put me on a strong dose of (Ro)Accutane for 6 months. That stuff is awful. But my zits went away. After the medication had finished, I was a different person. Twenty-four, and finally clear skin. Three months later it was back.

I went back on Roaccutane. Did I mention I also got depression and nearly slammed my car into a tree? (Side Effects of that drug are depression, and I was the happiest chick you would know before that). Well, I got better, thankfully, but after a second dose of the drug-from-hell (people warned me!), I swore I would take it no more, even if my zits came back. Which, of course, they did. I tried out Proactive. Anyone use that? Stop using it. The Benzoyl Peroxide brought out the pigmentation on my skin in the form of Melasma - you know, that thing some PREGNANT women get? Only I had it for four years. I was sent off to the dermatologist again, and had done a little research on skin lightening products thinking I might try that, but read that Hydroquinone was banned in most countries except the US. Didn't want that, and told the doctor so. She assured me the stuff she was gonna give me didn't have any nasty ingredients in it, and in fact, used it herself. I looked it up when I got home - it contained Hydroquinone. I didn't go back to that "Specialist".

All this stuff is horrible for you. And it feels like you are fighting a losing battle. I never thought about my poor liver, until recently. I'm hoping it will love me again soon.

Last year, I had a bit of a breakdown about it. How could I be turning 34 and STILL have pimples? STILL have times where I wouldn't go out because I was embarrassed? How come I never had them as a teenager, and was getting them as an adult? What did I start doing that could have brought this on? I eat fairly healthily, I exercise most days, I drink water. You know, all of that.

These were the things I came up with that I started doing in my early 20's:

1) I started using sunscreen like it was my religion.  I had a friend who died when he was 24 from Skin Cancer, and I started paying attention to the ads everywhere about protecting yourself against the sun's harmful rays. We got / get that BIG TIME in Australia.

2) I started taking multi-vitamins, also very religiously. Swore by them.

3) I also started wearing make-up, using moisturiser, make-up remover, eye cream (yes, since I was 22!)

4) I dyed my hair and used lots of 'stuff' in it. 

You know, the things we do as adult women for grooming.

I started thinking (a little bit more seriously) about how our skin is our largest organ, and that everything I put on it, goes into my body. (Sorry, Mr Liver). I got grossed out by the ingredients that are so harmful, that we don't know what they even are, and yet we lather ourselves in them. I mean I haven't bought chicken or eggs that aren't free-range since I was the same age! And I just put whatever on my skin?

Whew, this post is long! Are you still with me?

I stopped using sunscreen. Stopped wearing make-up. Stopped putting zit cream on, even a topical blob. Stopped using anything but natural soap in the shower. Better. I started researching alternatives to skin care - olive oil face masks was something I tried out at first! My skin exploded! (They said it might, those internet forums!) I mean, seriously, it was an explosion on my face. For about 6 weeks. Then it started looking a little better day by day.

I stopped taking my multi-vitamins, and switched to natural eye cream. Better.

I started using natural shampoo & conditioner. Better still. (Except my hair was still super greasy, which was a recent & annoying development I was hoping would change).

I didn't wear make-up unless I really had to (still can't go make-up-less to gigs!! yet!)

And then, I started with the natural deodorant.

Oh, and I have been back practicing yoga on a try-to-daily basis (about three - four times / week).

The verdict? It is getting there. Really and truly is. The brown pigmentation is fading. When I do get a pimple, it is like a normal persons pimple that sorta comes and goes without too much hassle. It doesn't hurt. I see me in the mirror again, and think I am pretty. I am glad that I can acknowledge that before I get too much older! I know, beauty comes from the inside, and maybe it shouldn't have upset me so much. But when there is something going on and you don't know how it came to be and how to fix it, it is upsetting.

The hippy-tip factor has come with the hair. Really recently, like in the past couple of months, I have started making my own shampoo and conditioner from Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar. My hair is so much lighter (in colour and volume!) and stays cleaner much longer. And it is so cheap!

Ok, it doesn't lather up like shampoo, but you will get a clean like your Great-Grandma had - thank Bessie Pearl (well, Mum really, she is the one who told me about it. She said I have to rinse with cold water as well though, but not going there just yet!). She has been telling me for years how bad shampoo and conditioner is (especially conditioner, in her opinion), and how her hair used to be so beautiful and thick, and how it is so thin now - nothing to do with age in her opinion). She's always finding articles, or shows on tv about it and telling me. I was kinda hoity-toity and told her that I DO use natural shampoo / conditioner now. But, she was right!

How come there aren't any regulations (like FDA or something!) about skin care & beauty products? It's not through your mouth, but it goes into your body. It's still ingested, right? I took a class in natural skin care a couple of months ago and a girl in the class was asking how you could just sell beauty products with no approval from the government or anything? She couldn't grasp at first how NONE of these products have to be approved, let alone the good, natural ones!! If there are good ones out there, let me know about them, - I will try them! (As long as they're 100%...).

So, the regimen now? I will tell you mine below if you are interested.

In the meantime, it's a recipe of sorts, and this is what Bessie Pearl did - Natural Shampoo and Conditioner.

Shampoo

1 Tbs Baking Soda in a cup

Add warm water and stir

I add a little Tea Tree Oil, as my hair has been super oily lately

Pour it on, massage your scalp, leave for a minute or so.

Rinse


I added Peppermint Tea to my mix yesterday - it was lovely!

Conditioner

One capful of Apple Cider Vinegar (you can use more, but it smells too vinegar-y to me)

Add warm water and stir

I add a drop of Apricot Oil & a squirt of honey

Pour that on into your ends and leave on a minute or more

Rinse

And that is it. How awesome! How cheap! My hair feels great! After you get out of the shower it sounds a little brittle, like cellophane or something, but after it's dry, it is amazing!

There are many other posts with other recipes that you can find online if you want to go down the rabbit-hole with me!

just after starting to use natural hair stuff (not making my own here yet!), and in amongst the bluebells of england to boot!

Natural soap (I use Corrynne's or Australian Scent. They are both super amazing. And I think my skin especially loves me for it, because it reminds it of home!! I truly believe that - you know like how people say if you have allergies you should eat local honey? I like that one too! I think my skin likes Australian ingredients!). I use it to wash my face with aswell. I also quite like some of the Burt's Bees stuff, but only buy the 100% natural stuff. I am sure there are so many more wonderful products out there...

Australian Scent Balm of Gilead at night, with a couple of drops of Apricot Oil, and St John's Wort Oil.

I use the Balm of Gilead in the morning as well, if it feels like my skin needs it.

Burt's Bees eye cream

Corynne's detox paste once a week, or longer.

Arm & Hammer deodorant. Or Corrynne's clay deodorant

I am starting to learn how to make my own stuff too. It is SO easy. We should all know how to do this - did they know all this in the Olden Days of Bessie Pearl?

No perfumes!