Three Green Beauty Alternatives

Yes, I'm the granola from Maine, but I come out of the woods periodically so I know that some women spend hundreds of dollars on products for the skin, and I just don't get it. I wash with homemade soap...but just about any boutique, craft fair or natural food store carries soaps like these. If winter winds dry out my face, a little coconut oil works fine, and someone at the Bangor farmers market makes a wholly natural lip balm that's cheaper than Chapstick. What else does anyone need?

As for the armpits, I just don't sweat, so soap & water work for me.

This is my favorite post yet! so many funny comments and yet also lots of information.

 I have had the "who let the gorilla in here?" smell every dang time I used natural and organic stuff under my arms.  (After 20 years of using Secret, I joined Mercola and started learning that I was poisoning myself with that crap. So began the journey of finding the right stuff  so I could smell like a girl and not a garbage pile.)  I tried 'em all, fancy schmancy to some neighbors concoctions that she swore would do the trick. (it did, if I wanted to mate with wildlife!) Finally, in desperation about a year and a half  ago I slapped some baking soda on a washcloth and sent a prayer to the Goddess of All Things That Smell Good and went out to shop in July at a Farmers Market in full sun on an 85 degree day.  

Lo and Behold, I didnt have swarms of flies around me or randy bears giving me the eye! I smelled like a clean human! I have had the best luck with it, I am just so annoyed I didnt know about this sooner!

 If I use Arm and Hammer, the powder is too coarse and irritates so as someone else mentioned I grind it up into a finer easily dissolved powder. Store brands seem to be finer too, so I buy those.

If you aren't into making your own soaps, or simply don't have time or access to some of the supplies you might need, try One Group products.  They are certified organic to food grade standards by the USDA, International, Japan and Australia's certifying boards.  They are the greenest company I have ever even heard of.  Their products are packed in organic cornstarch packing peanuts, they offset their carbon emissions on all their shipments, they use wind and solar power strictly in their plants, they donate to the David Suzuki foundation (a school for environmentalists and much more), they are switching over their 100% recycled bottles to compostable bottles, etc.  They have body care, oral care, facial care, cosmetics, and the best probiotic I have seen (sorry Dr. Mercola- this one is better).  They also give you a full disclosure of all the ingredients, and will tell you everything you care to know about their methods.  No secrets, no need they are so pure.  Check out Onegroup.com to find a rep nearest you.

OK. From my own observations and experiments this is what works for me. First of all, I have to wash my hair everyday. It's fine and limp. If I don't wash it then it sticks to my head. Secondly, I have not been using deoderant for at least 3 years now. I wash with soap, then before I go out I wash with soap again and I put a product called Spray Mist on. Ingredients:Purified water and mineral salts. Works fantastic! As far as natural products for the face go, I can't use any homemade facial ingredients. I have sensitive skin and I have had a reaction to just about everything that Mercola has recommended from his papaya cream to the coconut oil.  It works for him because he has the skin of a male which is tougher and not as thin and fine as a females. What works for me are creams that have as few ingredients in them as possible with the main ingredients being glycerin and hyaluronic acid. I have used natural and mainstream lines with a lot of success. I have light Irish/German skin with auburn colored hair and I am 44 yrs old.

As a beauty consultant, educator author and a product developer of natural therapeutic skin care, I have a few comments. The use of "natural" soaps, such as castille  is a very harsh and breaks down the natural lipid protection of the skin. (the result is inflammation, dehydration and/or atopic dermatitis). Manufacturers mislead by listing the ingredient as "organic saponified olive oil" (or coconut or palm). NOT TRUE. A saponified oil is one that has been chemically altered with sodium or potassium hydroxide, an alkaline compound (now a semi-synthetic). The correct name for a saponified oil is sodium cocoate or palmitate, or similar name depending on the alkaline and oil used. There are better cleansers that don't dry the skin and are just as "natural," such as decyl glucoside, sodium stearoyl lactylate, and others. Olive oil alone is an excellent cleanser.

Some cleanser names may contradict Dr. Mercola's comment on if you "can't pronounce it, don't use it." The name is simply the correct scientific nomenclature describing the process and the resulting compound. Nature has many hard to pronounce scientific names including Butyrospermum parkii, the proper name for Shea (butter) used in natural creams.

Though the Environmental Work Group's Skin Deep site is a good idea, it often contains bad research and misinformation. I find Skin Deep more harmful than useful as it often creates unnecessary fear and paranoia toward useful naturals such as lecithin and Vitamin E.  Another problem is too many sellers of so-called natural skin care use it to promote their brands. A lot of times these companies are producing cheap, ineffective, overly processed products. They use their low score, and EWG funding to promote their useless skin care. Do you really use skin care because it's safe? Skin care should be actively improving your skin, just like a healthy whole food diet.

Does anyone else use Castille Soap?  My wife's family has used it for years.  I have been converted.  It contains coconut oil, is great in hard water and a little goes a long way in washing hair.  The coconut oil leaves the skin smooth.  Using it to wash my hair has enabled me to stop the use of hair gels and creams.  

I  have that "pregnancy mask" on my forehead and nose, and I am not nor have I ever been pregnant! What the heck is that?? I am using a slice of fresh lemon everyday on it, it is lightening the splotches up, and as a side benefit, it keeps the bugs from my woods the hell off me! ( I thought it would be sooooooooo much fun to move to Maine and live in the woods.  Bwwwwwwwaaaahhhhhh!)

 I also found a natural method -well as natural as a band-aid can be-to get rid of skin tags. Those are disgusting. I dab the offending creature with apple cider vinegar and then put a band aid on it. Five days later (depends on size) it is gone.  I had one that decided to grow to the size of a grape-real sexy - and the doc said CANCER CANCER CANCER!!.  That one took 12 days and 6 band aids, but the SOB is dead. (the skin tag, not the doctor...)

i have a 2 month old son who is breaking out in white heads and pimples not only on his face but on his arms.  I do breastfeed.  Is it something I'm eating?  How do i get rid of it?  They ooze puss and its terrible!  I was wondering if burtsbees.com are really as natural as they say?  Or i suppose anything is better than average baby wash?  Please help i don't know anything about skin!  I don't know what to wash him with.

About all the b.o./acne/smelly feet, etc. concerns:  I have found that what you put in your body, must come out.  If you eat "crap", you're going to exude crap back out through your pores, etc.  When I am eating healthy and avoiding dairy (in my case - dairy might be okay for others), my skin is clear and less oily and I don't seem to smell bad (no one has complained anyway).  Sometimes I fall back into my old ways and eat a fast food meal and/or a bunch of chocolate, and within no time at all, my face is broken out and I figure I better be reaching for the Arid extra-dry again.  

About oily hair, I used to wash it daily and it would seem to be oily even before the day was over.  I think it was the harshness of the products or something causing an overstimulation of the oil glands (just my theory).  Since I've began to color with henna and use very mild products, I can now go without and it doesn't look oily.  I alternate between using a shampoo bar from the place I buy my henna online, an "organic" clarifying shampoo (no SLS, parabens, etc.) and just rinsing with water only.  I am told my hair looks great.

I 've discovered a great sourse of  all natural, truly vegan hair care products: www.morroccomethod.com. I don't use any store-bought skin care, instead I make my own face scrubs, masks, moisturizing oils, baths, body washes, hair tratments. it is really not so difficult and fun - you can order bulk ingredients from sources like MountainRoseHerbs.com or like, and spend a few hours with your kids or friends mixing your own skin care. Another sourse of natural remedies for the skin and hair is the Edgar Cayse Foundation( www.baar.com carries a lot of their stuff)

Grapefruit seed extract is not natural it just sounds natural.  Numerous scientific studies published in well known journals (just google it)  have concluded that the antimicrobial activity seen in grapefruit seed extract is from contamination of synthetic antimicrobials!  Grapefruit seed extract is a manufactured product from the garbage produced from the citrus industry.  It's about as natural as Jello.  Don't kid yourself just because the name sounds natural...

Furthermore, using plain old soap is not exactly intelligent.  Commercially made soap is a detergent and is full of chemicals and will strip the skin of oils.  Talk about a product that has hard to pronouce ingredients...

Uranium is 100% natural and I can pronounce the name but I'm not going to wipe that all over my face and body.  

Ok - I stopped using deodorant with aluminum about 7 years ago. I could Not find anything natural that worked. I felt like I stunk all of the time. It seemed like the mornings I forgot to use my natural deoderant were better than the mornings I did. It seemed like the deodorant was trapping moisture against my skin and increasing the smell. I tried Thai salt, Tom's of Maine, probably 10 different brands.

So I just stopped using deodorant and thought I would just wash multiple times a day. I only had to do that for about 2 months before my body adjusted. Now I wash in the morning, and unless I'm outside in the sun sweating, I don't have body odor.

I only wash my hair every third day - but I often wet it in the shower the days in between. I think that helps distribute some of the scalp oils. If I'm not going anywhere on the third day, I don't wash it that day either. I've also stopped using a tablespoon of shampoo per wash. I use maybe a teaspoon and wash only my scalp - I don't run it through my hair. That dries it out and strips it. My beauty pagent friend (in her youth) told me that. We both have hair to our mid backs. She wondered if my problem with it being dry and always looking like it needed a trim was because I was soaping the ends. What a tip! My hair looks so much healthier!

Here's another shocking hair tip. I've had auburn/red/strawberryblonde hair my whole life, depending on the season (sun bleaches it in summer.) In the last year it became really washed out and hardly even red at all. In fact I thought it was the early stage of gray to just lose any life in my hair. I found out through other symptoms that i had a really severe iron deficiency for a long time. I started on colloidal iron which was awesome in bringing back my energy etc. After a few months my mom noticed that my hair color was back to normal. I was really surprised and realized it was. My naturopath told me that redheads store more iron in their hair. ?! Seem true to me!

I have been using YL products for several years now.  I am 63 years old and all my grey went away.  I am amazed!  My hair was nearly all grey on the top with the rest mostly brown and red highlights.  The top started turning blond, then light brown with a lot of red highlights.  All of my hair is now back to my natural color which is lighter than before with lots of red (I was born a redhead).  I receive many compliments about my beautiful hair and people do not believe it is all natural.  The products I used continually for many years from Young Living are the Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner, Shower Gel, Hand and Body Lotion and their Ningxia Juice, other products I change off and on from muscle testing including some of Dr. Mercola's.  I also use their deodorant sometimes.  I used to not sweat at all but have found now that I have cleaned my body better that I do sweat for the first time in many years and can tolerate the sun better.  This is not an endorsement for any special product, everyone just has to find what works best for them naturally.

Be careful with so-called organic health products.  Most organic shampoos are just detergents, like non-organics. Very bad for the hair.  Even the non-detergent organics are usually loaded with alcohol and silicones anyhow.  Very bad again.

Most organic toothpastes are also loaded with detergent, just like their non-organic brothers.  Look for toothpastes that do NOT contain any detergents.  I just use peelu vegetable fiber toothpastes.  

People who don't handle baking soda on their skin well can try dabbing salt water on their pits.  

Baking soda diluted in water is great for cleaning hair gently and it makes curly hair even curlier!  White vinegar in water makes a wonderful hair rinse and conditioner.  Some use the vinegar instead of baking soda for washing hair.

For daily face cleaning, a clean cotton washcloth to gently buff, followed by a clear water rinse will take off old skin cells and old oils while leaving fresh oils on.  Just invest in a pile of cheap cotton clothes and do this once a day.  People with troubled skin will see a difference soon.  Soaps and facial cleansers with soaps and detergents have no place on the face at all.  They will cause acne.

I make a paste of soda andHydrogen Peroxide 3% and it really makes your teeth feel clean.  I have also found that a few times a week to wash your face in soda really makes it feel clean and it is so cheap.  Whe you get a build up of hair products use soda to wash your hair.  Diane Hoaker

oh- and somewhere I have read that vinegar is useful as a deodorant.

Thirty years ago I heard that NOTHING of synthetic products should be placed on the face. A model said she used NO products except natural nut oils. She cleansed her skin by splashing warm water many times to open her pores and cleanse them.

I have followed this for 30 years. I use only almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc for moisterizers.

I use only water to cleanse my skin.

I have great skin and you all should try this different way of skin care.

Why is it nearly impossible to find WOMEN'S deodorant withOUT anti-perspirant in it? We are killing ourselves to "smell pretty", and maintain our clothes. I've tried the baking soda. When I sweat it seems to turn into ammonia! pew! Am using the "crystal" the natural alum type. Have read it is fine and it works very well. If it is bad, let me know! Have resorted to using men's sport stick deodorant (not anitperspirant) and it works also.

I often just massage natural conditioner into my frizzy, dry-type hair and it lifts the dirt without stripping the color or drying it out. I also add oil afterwards.

I used to have oily skin, but now have to put castor oil around my nose or it turns red and PEELS all winter! No other oil, including coconut works as well.

I wish my teen daughter were not so susceptible to marketing and her peers! I have prevented her from using anti-perspirant, but have caved when it comes to commercial shampoos and conditioners. At least they get rinsed off. I wish Tyra would get her consciousness raised even more. This is one health-conscious lady my daughter listens to.

I use baking soda and it works perfectly as a natural deodorant.  i think the odor molecules are acidic and the baking soda probably neutralizes them by turning them into non-volatile sodium salts

I stay away from toxins as much as possible!  You'll be amazed what you can do with baking soda and vinegar!  Just google it and you'll see.  I'm using a wonderful line of certified organic products for skin and body and I couldn't be happier.  All my rashes and blemishes went away, and so did my itchy skin.  

Go to www.yourskin.biz to check them out.  I've been a customer for quite some time now and use them on my kids too!

Stay away from chemicals!  And get your amalgams out too!!  Mercury levels are really high in people.

Stay Healthy.

I "wash" my hair a few times/month (yes, I work out too) with a solution of 1Tbs baking soda dissolved in about a cup of warm water. Pour it over your head, 'scrub' as you would a regular shampoo and let it sit in your hair while you shower...works wonders. Rinse, of course, before you get out. :) I do follow up with an organic conditioner.

I really like JASON brand products personally. They don't use anything that is even slightly questionable and they work well.

I have 2 questions:

1. I use Crystal deodorant sticks (natural mineral salts & ammonium alum).  It says on the package "all natural protection". Does anyone know if it is toxic?

2. What would be the best natural home-made way to wash my face? I use coconut oil to remove mascara and to moisturize.

For shampoos, I buy organic ones without the toxic ingredients (hopefully) and it seems to work :)

Hi all,

Can anyone provide me with names of organic shampoos/conditioners and body washes that are gluten and chemical free?  And, has anyone who has used these products, found they made a difference in scalp conditions?

Thanks, Audy

After two years of trying, I've finally got my natural beauty routine sorted!! I'll share my brands I use but will add that I have no financial interests here - I just know how hard it is to find things so these are my favourites.

For you ladies who are after a natural cosmetics range, I finally found one, and it's nicer than any other makeup I've used before - toxic or not - anyway. Everday Minerals is the name, they're Texas based - you order from their website - and it's super cheap, only has three ingredients in the majority of their stuff, the colour range is huge, the people are really helpful, andit goes on beautifully and lasts all day. Really, really nice stuff.

I wash my hair every second day or daily as it gets so oily. It isn't the shampoo, this is just my hair and the fact I walk a lot every day so it tends to get a bit sweaty. I use an organic, natural shampoo with essential oils of geranium and lavender, and a conditioner from the same range but with seaweed in it. My hair is shiny, soft, full, and healthy - and the stuff is cheap, to boot!!

For my skin I use a UK brand called Ren (renskincare.com)... they're not cheap (but not too pricy) and absolutely gorgeous. Their range has a list of chemical ingredients they exclude longer than any I've seen, but they still use cutting-edge technology and research to make good products. My skin hasn't been so clear and smooth and soft in my life until now. I'm not too keen on the haircare though, it isn't as nice as the rest.

To moisturise face, I use organic Rosehip oil. You only need two or three drops and it'll have your skin glowing and acne gone - as well as scars and fine lines - within a week of using it. Wonderful stuff. It makes a good makeup primer too.

I wish I could find a nice toothpaste - I just use a fluoride-free, SLS-free, herbal one, but have yet to find anything I truly like. I heard baking soda is too harsh for teeth...

And ammonium-alum rock crystal for the deodorant!

Its so wonderful that in today's world that we have Non-toxic personal items such as haircare products, skincare and makeup but unfortunately most never go through the extensiveness to do clinical studies and research. SHAKLEE is a #1 leader in healthcare, nutrition and beauty & skincare products. The only true ORGANIC company out there that can stand up to their products and back everything up with their clinical blood studies, research and the support or world reknown doctors. The MINERELLES cosmetic line by Shaklee is mineral based and is a moisturizer wit a natural color tint and No additives, harsh chemicals or talc . The ENFUSELLE skincare is remarkable and literally is the only skincare product I know that takes years off of your skin and face. I have been a make-up artist and health consultant for many years but have NEVER seen greater products on the market then what SHAKLEE offers. The products are unreal and many salons, dermotologist and doctors and chiropractors and other medical practioners and famous athletes, NASA, and others are using and standing behind the products. For more information please contact me: Lenette2064@yahoo.com

I am a Skincare Specialist and Massage Therapist and in my practice I only use organic and wild-crafted products/ingredients and as a last resort natural or non-organic.  My All Time Favorites are;

http://www.lilyorganics.com/

www.aubrey-organics.com

http://www.terressentials.com/

and for oral health

www.perfect-prescription.com/dentalhygiene.php

I can't recommend any of these lines highly enough.

For Rosacea, Aubrey Organics has a Blue Green Algae Skincare Regimine.  Results have been great!

Aubrey also has a fabulous roll-on deodorant and they make many different shampoos for different hair and scalp types.

The skincare lines for Terressentials and Lily Organics are Amazing!!!

For my massages I make my own recipes with organic oils and herbs.  Formulations vary according to skin type and soft tissue needs.

Another new and upcoming product line is Pure Vitality Organics Organic Obsessions which at the moment has the best anti-aging chirally-correct ingredients out there.

Hope this helps!

Lorismi....just thought I'd let you and everyone else know the recipe I have been using for my deodorant. I had tried about 10 kinds of organic deodorants and nothing worked so thought I was stuck with using Dry Idea for the rest of my life! My armpits stunk without it!  Last fall on this site someone sent in this resipe...3/4 C.distilled water (warm), 1/8 C. witch Hazel ( I use witch Hazel...natural grain alcohol is best...."Thayers" brand is the most natural), 2 tsp. baking soda. I sometimes add a drop or 2 of Young living essential oil of lemon or whatever is a deodorizing oil. I pour it into glass spray bottle and spray under the arms. It works! It took a few weeks to really work but I was tired of all the aluminum and junk in other deodorants. I will spray a couple times a day. Pertaining to shampooing...I wash mine about every 5th or 6th day with Giovanni shampoo and creme rinse. Let the hair get greasy for a few extra days and after a couple weeks of doing this one is able to go longer without washing it! It does work!!

I have finally found a safe and effective deodorant without aluminum - Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract Deodorant Stick.  It really works and I live in a hot climate.  Other countries do not have the harmful chemicals that are put into products made in the USA and sometimes these countries think they are doing something better by copying the products made here - which is a big mistake.

In 2005 I was diagnosed with breast cancer - after surgery and chemo, radio therapy and herceptin treatment I found that I was allergic to all deodorants - even tea tree based ones brought me out in a rash that burnt and then peeled.  Very uncomfortable.  After a while I found a "stone".  In fact that is what it is called - its comes in a de-odorant shaped push up container just like the sticks, but is actually a mineral salt.  You just dampen the top and rub it over your underarm.  My husband has started using it as he found that it works better than all the other stuff he has tried at stopping any smell.  We live in the tropics in Australia and it gets pretty stickly here in the wet season, but we found that this stuff still stops the smellies.  It works by stopping the bacteria florishing and that is what makes the smell.  

Don't know if you can get it elsewhere, but most supermarkets and chemists sell it here as well as the health stores.  Only costs $5 and lasts for a year.  Actually the one I have now is still going strong and have been using it for more than a year - for two of us.  Much cheaper than any other de-odorant.  It has no scent so if you want to smell nice you will have to use perfume.

Beware before purchasing L'Bri, it is not all pure and natural. (I live about 35 miles from Mukwonago, WI) I sold L'Bri before I really studied Naturopathy. There are many unhealthy and carcinogenic ingredients in their products. Unless they have significantly changed their product line and ingredients, I would not buy from them or their products again. Yes, their main ingredient is aloe, but the other ingredients are not so healthy or natural. Research before you buy.

Young Living distributes only organic, therapeutic grade essential oils and products. My mom got me into their products a long time ago and now I distribute them. I love their oils most of all.

When it comes to facial care, I don't wash my face at all and only moisturize with organic olive oil. I will occasionally exfoliate with an organic scrub made of oatmeal and ground up nuts (not the shells). For toothpaste, I use non-aluminum baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. It is cheap and has helped me fend off cavities that were forming in my teeth. I wash my hair about three times a week with either an organic shampoo or Dr. Bronners and rinse on the days I don't wash. For underarm deodorant, I have tried everything organic and haven't found anything effective I really like yet. I have used the mineral rock this morning and put some other organic stick over it. In 90 degree humid weather, I can't be stinky and offensive when working with patients and their families. I think I will try the baking soda and the Spray Mist. Any other ideas?

I have been on the search for truly natural body care products that I didn't have to formulate myself for a long time now!  After recently moving back home to WA state, I discovered a local line of products called "Uncle Harry's".  I've been having fun experimenting with a variety of their products, and so far, have loved them all!  

The product line includes EVERYTHING you might need for self care from deodorants (Ingredients: Rose water, colloidal silver water, lavender, tea tree oils) to shampoo (Ingredients: Organic African black soap, organic apple cider vinegar, organic jojoba oil, organic lemon, lavender, rosemary, tea tree oils and reverse osmosis water) and hair gel/conditioner (Ingredients: Purified water, apple cider vinegar, irish moss, bladderwrack, vegetable glycerine, and orange oil) to toothpaste and tooth powder (Ingredients: Calcium carbonate (natural chalk), mustard seed powder, sea salt, natural plant essences).  

If you can't find it at your local natural food store, I just checked and you can purchase the products from their website: http://www.uncleharrys.com/ .  I hope this helps some of you!  

I just started making a very strong decoctionof sage and rosemary. after I wash my hair i have put it on and left it without rinsing. My hair feels very soft and it is supposed to in time begin to cover grey.

I also melt a couple spoonfuls of coconut oil and add a lot of baking soda. This is my deodorant AND my toothpaste. It works great (much to my suprise) And,"Look Ma, no cavities.

I use baking soda and vinegar for all my cleaning and use peroxide for stains they don't get out.

There is a company who is known for their amazing essential oils, the only place i get mine. They have amazing natural shampoo and conditioners, skincare, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss using natural ingredients and high quality essential oils. The company is Young Living, their whole line is fantastic.

If anyone knows of anything that helps with Roschea that is natural and also dermatitis on the scalp.  I've been using coconut oil on my skin and at first it helped but now the Roschea is back.  I haven't used a deordant in a long time now and have no odor.  I read that it's the combination of the chemicals with the perspreration that makes the odor and it appears to be true.  I also would like to find out where to get the rosemary shampoo and other products.  Thank you, Nickie

I'm from Canada and a shampoo product I like is Nature Clean. Not sure if it's available in the US or not (don't see why it wouldn't be). It's a good shampoo. Their other products aren't so good (detergents for laundry and dishes, etc.). But their shampoo and conditioners are good. Unscented, no sodium laureth/lauryl sulphates which some believe are harmful as detergents (though they are rampant in natural care products, though I'm not a fan of most natural care products I think they're just a cash grab and a complete scam).

I've tried apple cider vinegar as a rinse after shampooing. That makes your hair soft, but be careful not to get it in your eyes, it burns!! It's supposed to replace conditioner and take out any residue. I've only gotten around to using it a few times.

A friend says that lemon juice works as a natural deodorant too. Another one says lavender essential oil does too. I find that lavender masks the smell but I'm not sure if it removes it... I just wash with soap and water as often as I can.

I forgot to pack my anti-perspirant on a recent camping trip.  I lived without it and so did all the other people around me.  I'm converted!

I had tried so many "natural" deodorants and wasted alot of money on stuff that didn't work or irritated my skin (mineral salts-ouch!) .  Then I discovered "Alvera" brand. It's mostly aloe vera gel, it's inexpensive and keeps you fresh smelling for 24+ hours even if you perspire a lot due to hot climate, exercise or menopause. I find that I am actually perspiring less over time; I've been using it for almost three months now... Admittedly it does not claim to be organic. Do you think that most aloe sources would be contaminated with pesticides and such?  I wouldn't think so... also,  with oily hair that smells if I sweat and don't wash it...I am still looking for my HG shampoo.  I admit not yet having tried baking soda (hmmm) or soap nuts...

I forgot to ask:   What about a  RETINOL  based serum or moisturizer for fighting wrinkles/ age spots and firming?  I specifically am looking for Retinol because it's the best for these problems.   I KNOW, I don't NEED it, but I have CRAZY wrinkles, early on, in my family and I want to LOOK PRETTY.  So sue me.  

Retinol is, what? Pure Vitamin -A?  So who does this in a moisturizing cream that's all natural?   Please help, I'm trying to get-off the pharmacy crap that has crap in it.

HELP! HELP! HELP!  

I used to wash my hair daily, then as one of my "skin oil tests" (I have/had chronic acne) I tried cutting it back to every other day. I noticed that my scalp/face seemed to secrete less oil. I rinse it daily tho.

As far as acne, the breakthrough was Dr. Mercola's no-grains recommendation. From there I've been tweaking & tuning.. the hair washing being one of them.

With the deodorant.. Not sure I'm that gutsy.. yet? I stopped using anti-perspirant years ago--and wonder if that's what might've been causing some of my lymph nodes to swell up a bit. They seem fine now, fwiw.

Is there a way to get rid of grey hair?  I read so many articles that report ways to do this but none of them has worked.  Hair dye is the one product that I would really like to stop using; however, grey hair is worse for me than hair dye.

Great article and some great comments, but Don't use peroxide on your teeth or in your mouth.  It can weaken your teeth and eventually will make them hurt.  I know because I used to do this to whiten them as a teenager.  Then years later, I read that dentists say it's the worst thing for your teeth, other than sugar, because it does something to weaken them.  Dentists use a different type of peroxide or a very weak peroxide solution in their offices, not the same as what we buy in the pharmacy.  Unfortunately, now my teeth are very thin in some places and even a bit transparent on the ends.

Witch hazel is a great toner, but is this good for you to use?  Anyone know?  

I have to agree 100% on the hair topics, esp about not washing it everyday.  I have coarse hair, very thick and needs conditioning a lot.  Ironically, I used to think that MORE products would help it, but it's LESS, and less washing.  African-American girls that I know have extrememly coarse hair, and they don't wash it for weeks to keep it Heahlthy.  They say, natural oils help it MORE too.  I should have tried this years ago, but I kept listening to hair stylists, who just want to sell us chemical products.

Also I have a B.A. in cultural anthropology and I have to agree in the hair and scent gland comment.  Besides, that is where scent glands are concentrated, underarms and pubic area, it COLLECTS human "smells" if you will, along with being "hot" body areas.  Anytime sweat collects or pools in an area, it breeds BACTERIA, so you MUST wash these areas, at least with water.  And waxing the hair off is MUCH better than shaving, but both is good for keeping Bacteria down.  I've read many different doctors reporting that keeping the hair down or off is good to keep bacteria/ stink down, that is there to attract a Mate.

And Pokanoket (Wampanoag Indians in NE) used natural plant based soaps to bathe and fish oil for their hair and skin.  Supposedly it was a kind of fish oil that didn't smelll muc

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yes..this is so true. its freaky just how many toxic chemicals are in just about everything available to buy. I only use pantry worthy oils or fruit for my skin otherwise i use products from a company who are totally pedantic about purity like i am. Ive used products from nourishorganics and found them to be pure and the closest thing to living food. its crazy that even organic products on the market are now full of synthetics or are watered down. unless you can find certified organic, synthetic free, food-grade, living and unprocessed products just get into the pantry.. fruit, edible oils, vinegar, bicarb etc..!

I have just received some soap nuts/berries in the post to try in my washing machine. I have also been told that they can be soaked in hot water and the strained liquid used as shampoo. (No suds, though)

I will try them both in the washing machine and my hair.

I have also been told that coconut oil massaged into the scalp before bed stimulates hair growth and makes the hair stronger, and that a splash of white or cider vinegar in the rinse water will make hair shinier.

LOL! Baking soda and black or dark-colored shirts. Never going to happen ;)

Dr Mercola STOP promoting Grapefruit Seed Extract because it's no better than Parabens!

Read on: terressentials.com/truthaboutgse.html

Besides, Aubrey's products have awful textures and odours which doesn't have to be the case even if a product is natural and organic. They're just old formulations that need to be revisited!