If You Care About Your Health and Your Wallet

DIY. Who doesn’t like a few extra coins in their pocket at the end of the week? but it’s not the only reason. In some cases, the cost of not making it from scratch is a lot more than just money. While that bottle of face cream from the dollar store might be easy on your bank account in the immediate, your health and the environment are paying the price for all that “convenience.” And it really isn’t so convenient when you consider how easy it is to make at home.

DIY Deodorants

In addition to frequently being testing on animals for unwanted skin reactions, aluminum-based antiperspirants and deodorants have been linked to a rise in breast cancer rates around the world. Our bodies need to sweat; it’s how we eliminate toxins. To block that natural process, to keep those toxins inside of us, is just plain dangerous. The simplest and most efficient way to keep unwelcome odors at bay is to dip moist fingertips into a small bowl of baking soda and apply it to the underarm area. That’s it: no mixing, no recipe, just baking soda. Its natural properties will keep you smelling fresh.

Feeling creative? You can always add two to three drops of your favorite essential oil and mix for a fun fragrance.

DIY Perfume Is Easier Than You Thought

Speaking of fragrances, many of the synthetic chemicals found in fragrances, including expensive big-name brands, have been linked to hormone disruption and even cancer. Parabens, found in many fragrances, are also found in pesticides. You wouldn’t spray pesticides on your skin daily, why do it with your perfume? Use distilled water (200 ml) with a few drops of essential oil and a tablespoon of vodka instead. Shake before using it.

DIY Sinusitis Remedy

If the changing seasons have you sniffling, you may be thinking a trip to the doctor is your only course of action for relief. And if your symptoms last more than a few days, that may be in order. But if you’re in the initial stages of discomfort, why not try to save yourself from a course of damaging antibiotics or worse, a steroidal nasal spray. Bring a kettle of water to a steady boil and carefully pour it into a heatproof bowl. Add two drops of tea tree oil. Bend forward over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Breathe deeply. The antibacterial properties of the tea tree oil will help combat any unfriendly bacteria, and the steam will keep your nasal passages moist and feeling healthy.