While we're talking about beauty etc. I wanted to do a craft project that showed you how to make your own organic, homegrown cleansing products. But there is just TOO much good stuff out there!!! So I thought I'd do a little beauty round up and you can make your own line of cosmetics.
In Ginger Garrett's Book "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" she provides recipes and advice on Cosmetics that were used during bible times. On her website she provides a shopping list for when purchasing items and creating your own cosmetics.
Shopping List
Here are a few of the items I recommend in the book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible. You’ll
notice I divided the list by chapter, and some items may appear more than once if they are
mentioned in several chapters.
Weight
Almonds, whole, raw
Flax seed, whole (grind fresh daily in coffee grinder)
Fish
Cinnamon
Cloves
Figs
Vinegar (any flavor is fine)
Whole grains
Skin
Oatmeal
Goat’s milk
(I recommend Meyenberg Powdered Goat’s Milk, which is found at health food stores
and WholeFoods)
Honey
Olive Oil
Apricots, pistachios
Pomegranates
Walnuts
Raisins
Dark chocolate chips
Frankincense essential oil*
Myrrh essential oil*
(* it’s less expensive to buy the type that is mixed with jojoba oil)
Hair
Flaxseed
Coconut oil
Vinegar
Rosemary, or rosemary essential oil
Cosmetics
Minerals
(There are lots of brands to try, but you might want to start with this blog, which has a
link to affordable mineral makeup: http://www.innerbeautygirlz.blogspot.com. I
especially like the eyeshadows, bronzers and blushes from this line. For foundation, I
recommend sampling brands at a nearby beauty store.)
Olive Oil
Aloe Vera plant
Spritzer bottles
Perfumes & Scents
Candles
Essential oils: choose your favorite scents
Sugar for creating a sugar scrub
Linen spray
Ingredients Watch List
Even in familiar, trusted brands, we simply don’t know what we’re really using. The simplest of products can contain an enormous number of chemicals. These chemicals aren’t just used in cosmetics, either—they have double lives. My former “gentle” eye makeup remover contains chemicals also found in antifreeze, pesticide, toilet bowl cleaner, furniture stripper, tire cleaner, and gas treatments.
The more you know about what you’re buying, the less pretty you feel. The problem isn’t chemicals—after all, you could say we’re made of chemicals—but the problem is with synthetic chemicals that may be affecting us in ways we don’t yet understand.
Below is a partial list of ingredients you’ll want to watch for on labels. For more information, and a detailed explanation of each ingredient, please see Beauty Secrets of The Bible.
1. Parabens
A preservative used in almost all beauty products, parabens have been linked to breast cancer. It is still unclear whether
parabens simply accumulate in breast cancer tumors, or actually incite tumor growth. Check back on my website, www.
gingergarrett.com for updates as information becomes available.
2. DEA
The National Toxicology Program found an association between topical applications of the cosmetic ingredient DEA (and DEA-related ingredients) and cancer in laboratory animals . DEA is diethanolamine. A closely related chemical is TEA, ortriethanolamine.
3. Phthalates
A Harvard study has linked phthalates with abnormalities in sperm and adult male infertility. You may have seen labels on children’s toys promising to be “phthalate free.” The scare was significant enough to prompt manufacturers to get rid of any phthalates in toys that could be chewed on or handled by babies. However, the cosmetic industry continues to put them in products that adults, including women of child-bearing age, use daily, and the CDC has reported elevated levels of phthalates excreted in the urine of women of child-bearing age. Phthalates include dibutylphthalate (DBP), dimethylphthalate
(DMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Because these can be used in fragrance, and fragrances don’t have to list the individual components, this ingredient is not always easy to detect on a cosmetic label.
4. Sodium lauryl sulfate
This is a detergent used in shampoos and soaps. It can be harsh and can cause irritated skin and a flaking or irritated scalp.While not toxic, I don’t like to see this as a main ingredient. If it is the first or second ingredient in a product, look for a milder alternative.
5. Petroleum
Petroleum and petroleum products (mineral oil, petrolatum, petroleum) are used in many cosmetic preparations, and there is a lingering debate over whether petroleum products are completely safe or effective. Advocates for banning petroleum say it does not allow skin cell turnover and increases premature aging, and that potential contaminants from the manufacturing process can cause a health risk.
6. Slaughterhouse Waste
Ingredients manufactured from slaughterhouse-waste may include tallow, oleic acid, glycerin, collagen, keratin and gelatin. There are currently twenty-five facilities in the United States that convert slaughterhouse waste into cosmetics raw materials. Your best bet is to look for labels that say “No Animal By-Products,” or “100 percent vegan.”
TOP TEN ANCIENT BEAUTY SECRETS©!
Excerpted from Beauty Secrets of the Bible by Ginger Garrett
1. The ancient women cared for their skin with oatmeal and milk, and Cleopatra was
legendary for her milk baths. To recreate her recipe, try this at home:
Rich Milk Wash
1 cup powdered goat’s milk
1 cup quick-cooking oats
Process in a blender or food processor until extremely fine. To use as a facial scrub, use 2
tablespoons, moistened with warm water. Gently rub into skin and rinse. (You can also
add these into the bath.) The lactic acids in the milk are a natural source of alpha hydroxy
acids that help fight the signs of aging, and the oats soothe and manually exfoliate the
skin. Together, these ingredients will leave your skin unbelievably soft and supple.
2. Honey was extremely valuable in ancient days and a symbol of divine blessing.
Women applied it to their skin, along with oils, as part of their bathing ritual. “Honey is
not sticky when used on damp skin,” Christopher Watt, facialist to the stars, says. “Honey
works to give the skin a beautiful glow and to plump up fine lines. It’s a natural
humectant and exfoliant, and gives the skin better absorption of product.”
Try the ancient healing power of honey at home:
Honey Tonic
Apply 1–2 drops honey to wet fingertips and massage onto wet face. Do not rinse. Pat
dry. Use wherever fine lines, or blemishes, are a problem.
3. Ancient women invented mineral cosmetics, and used eyeshadows, face powder, blush,
and lip tints. Look for minerals that contain titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mica. Avoid
cheap fillers like talc and also bismuth oxychloride. Remember, rocks don’t “go bad” and
so your minerals, if truly pure, don’t need preservatives like methylparaben.
4. Ancient women did more than perfume themselves before a romantic evening: they
perfumed their beds. The most common scents included cinnamon and spices, which
modern science confirms may work to increase a man’s arousal.
To recreate the scented linen secret, try this at home:
Romantic Linen Spray
In a clean spritzer bottle, place spring water and 3-6 drops of your favorite essential oil.
You can also substitute pure baking extracts, such as vanilla, anise, and cinnamon.
5. Ancient worship rituals included burning incense to God. The rising smoke was
believed to carry the prayers of the faithful to heaven. Certain incense blends were
created to be used for sacred temples and forbidden to be used elsewhere. The ancients
knew that scent sets the mood, allowing us to let go of our immediate concerns and return
to a sacred setting more easily.
Try it at home:
You can duplicate their peaceful, relaxing atmosphere by using a special scented candle
during your meditation or quiet times of reflection. Do not use the scent for anything
other than these special times of relaxation and restoration.
6. Part of the gifts of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus, myrrh was a precious perfume oil
in the ancient world. Renowned for its ability to soothe skin and fight wrinkles, myrrh is
still available today in the essential oil section of any health store. You can take
advantage of this ancient wonder by using myrrh as a facial spritz to moisturize, refresh,
and combat wrinkles.
Try it at home:
Myrrh Facial Spritz
In a small spritzer bottle, combine purified water with 1–2 drops of myrrh essential oil.
Use this spritz to set your makeup, refresh your skin throughout the day and replenish
moisture, and also for a fast stress-relieving break.
7. Vinegar was as common as wine in biblical days, and different varieties were made by
the addition of herbs. Vinegar has been in the news lately for its suspected ability to slow
carbohydrate absorption and encourage stable blood sugar. It may also contribute to a
modest weight loss.
Try it at home:
Vinegar Tonic
Take two tablespoons of vinegar before meals, twice a day. Many people find raspberry
vinegar to have a better taste than apple cider.
8. In biblical days, flax was a common food source and material for linen. Today,
researchers believe the omega-3 fatty acids in flax may help the body regulate leptin,
which helps you lose weight and burn fat more efficiently. Because ground flax seed is so
rich in fiber, it may help keep your blood sugar stable and help you avoid low-blood
sugar munchies.
Try it at home:
One to two tablespoons a day. For maximum benefit and taste, buy a coffee grinder and
whole flax seeds, and grind a little fresh every morning to add onto your cereal, toast, or
breakfast shake.
9. Cinnamon was used as a sacred anointing oil and perfume. Modern research tells us
that consuming cinnamon plays a role in regulating blood sugar. By adding cinnamon
supplements to your diet each day you may help boost your glucose metabolism, prevent
blood sugar spikes, improve cholesterol levels, and help your body return to its natural
weight.
Try it at home:
The studied dosage is the equivalent of ¼ to ½ teaspoon daily. Supplements are a
convenient way to get your cinnamon each day, and are quite inexpensive. Cinnamon
sprinkled on your food may not be as beneficial, since saliva contains a chemical harmful
to cinnamon.
1 Cinnamon, Clove Improve Insulin Function, Lower Risk Factors Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease,”
Medical News Today, http://www.medicalnewstoday.commedicalnews.php?newid=41026# (accessed May
27, 2006)
10. Pistachios were both eaten and used to make skin preparations in biblical times. They
are believed to have been part of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built by the biblical
king Nebuchadnezzar and considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Today, we know pistachios are rich in carotenoids, the phytonutrient that can help “block
sunlight-induced inflammation of the skin, which leads to wrinkles.
2” As an added bonus,
“one ounce of pistachios contains more fiber than a half-cup of spinach and the same
amount as an orange or apple.
3” More fiber means you’ll stay full longer, which helps
with appetite control.
Try it at home:
Consume 1 ounce per day, preferably from raw pistachios.
© Ginger Garrett, Beauty Secrets of the Bible, September 2007. Information is for
entertainment purposes only, and does not substitute for medial advice.
I LOVE LUSH products. They are vegan and Organic, they use several of the recommended ingredients from Gingers list and they smell DIVINE. If you can find one of these stores around you you are a lucky girl!!!
Shea Moisture: Organic uses Frankincense and Myrrh
Burts Bees
I do like The Body Shop because their stuff is Free Trade. But read the ingredients of the products before you purchase. I heard that some of their products use animal bi-products, but they claim to not do animal testing?! Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.
The following recipes use the ingredients Ginger Suggests above
DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub
Citrus Facial Scrub
Mood Mists
Orange Spice Foot Mask
Homemade Bubble Bath Recipes
http://www.beauty-soap-and-bubbles.com/bubble-bath-recipes.html
Cleopatra’s Milk Bath
Pamper yourself with this luxurious bath!2 cups powdered Milk (dry)
1 Tbsp. dried
Orange Peel
2 tsp. dried
Lavender Flowers
2 tsp. dried Rosemary
Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a clear glass bottle. Use 1/2 cup of the mixture per bath – soak for 20 minutes. Tie a ribbon and a sprig of dried flowers to the jar for a ready gift!
Find more
here
Savon de Marseille
Olive Oil Soap
http://www.marthastewart.com/269933/savon-de-marseille
15 Natural Beauty Recipes Using Everyday Foods
http://inspiringpretty.com/2011/02/25/15-natural-beauty-recipes-using-everyday-foods/
Detox Baths
http://www.20somethingallergies.com/detox-bath-method-and-recipes/
Rosewater Toner
http://www.beautybets.com/2011/04/rosewater-toner/
DIY Bath Bombs
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/how-to-make-bath-bombs-diy-wedding-favors/
Tea Bath
http://www.marthastewart.com/356756/diy-summer-spa-treatments/@center/276964/60-days-summer#/186733
LUSH DIY
http://www.mariasself.com/search/label/Homemade%20Lush
http://www.themotherhuddle.com/1-minute-to-soft-hands-olive-oil-sugar-scrub/
http://lifeasmom.com/2012/12/diy-on-a-dime-mix-lavender-milk-bath.html
Have some good clean fun!!!
