If you make creams and masks at home, you are doing something good for your skin – and for the environment.
Have you ever counted how many beauty products are lying around in your bathroom? For women aged 18 and 19, it’s an incredible 91. And the national average is still 40, according to the Personal Care and Detergent Industry Association. At least nine to ten of these are used every day: shower gel, body lotion, shampoo, deodorant, day cream, cleansing milk, toothpaste, soap, hand cream.
Make natural dry shampoo from clay
Dab 5 tablespoons of white clay (for blonde hair) or 2 tablespoons of white clay mixed with 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder (for dark hair) onto the hairline with a shaving brush, leave for a few minutes, then brush thoroughly.
Soothing detox face mask with clay
In a bowl, mix 10 ml of rose water with four teaspoons of organic honey (vegans can use three teaspoons of aloe vera gel) until it forms a smooth, homogeneous mixture. Then work in three teaspoons of clay with a small whisk until all lumps have dissolved.
Clay is available in different colors, depending on the mineral composition: green and white is ideal for normal and sensitive skin, yellow for oily skin, pink for impure skin and red for demanding and dry skin.
Apply the mask to a clean, moistened face (the neck and décolleté will also benefit from the extra care!) and allow to dry. Then remove with a washcloth and plenty of warm water. Extra tip: Stir in ½ teaspoon of superfood powder, e.g. matcha or goji. This enriches the mask with valuable antioxidants.
Make your own gentle toothpaste.
Mix a teaspoon of birch sugar (creates an alkaline environment in the mouth and protects against tooth decay, plaque and tartar) with a tablespoon of sage hydrosol until the sugar has completely dissolved. Gradually stir in 1½ tablespoons of pink clay using a milk frother. If you like it fresh, add a drop of peppermint essential oil. Pour the paste into a sterilized jar – it will last for about four weeks. To brush, use a small spatula to put a pea-sized amount on your toothbrush.
Fruity face polish and creamy body scrub
An enzyme peeling removes dead skin cells without rubbing and makes the complexion radiant: mix a tablespoon of pureed papaya (the papain enzyme it contains makes the skin particularly soft) with a teaspoon of aloe vera gel, apply to the cleansed face, leave on for about ten minutes and then remove with lukewarm water.
The creamy body scrub removes greying and small spots and makes the skin soft as silk: Mix 50 g of powdered sugar, 30 g of shea butter and 45 g of almond oil with a hand mixer and place in the freezer for 20 minutes. Then beat the mixture again until it is nice and creamy and fluffy. Add twelve drops of essential grapefruit oil and pour the mixture into a glass. Massage the body scrub onto damp skin in circular movements in the shower and rinse off.
Tip: Sea salt and cane sugar are tried and tested ingredients for a body scrub. Finely ground almonds, oat flakes or powdered sugar make the scrub gentler.