Green and DIY Makeup Alternatives

Go Green in 2014: Week 50

I'm not much of a makeup person, and I haven't really "gone green" in this area, but I've done a bit of research to find some of the best recipes for those of you who are up to doing it yourself. Play around with the various recipes to find your favorites, and to find those that work for your skin tone.

Concealer and foundation

You can use various kitchen ingredients to make your own concealer and foundation, like cocoa powder and clay. Here's a recipe for a DIY healing concealer and another for DIY natural powder foundation. You will probably have to play around with the amounts of each ingredient to get the right color for your skin tone.

Eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara 

Depending on the desired color, your eyeshadow and eyeliner ingredients can vary. Here are four recipes for homemade eyeshadow, and here's one for non-toxic eyeliner. And I found this great tutorial (with lots of photos!) on making your own mascara.

Lip color and blush

While researching, I came across this little gem of a site with TEN lip color - lipstick, lip balm, etc. - recipes. They look like so much fun, I just might have to give them a try...especially the crayon lipstick recipe. And finally, here's an all-natural, homemade blush recipe. Keep in mind that everyone's skin tone is different, and that what works for one person may not work for another. Experiment and play around until you find something that works for you!

Removing makeup the green way

I recently came across an amazing product that I just have to share: the makeup eraser. It's basically a microfiber cloth that removes makeup, dirt, and oil from your skin - and it does it well. Plus, the back side has longer fibers for exfoliating to achieve smoother skin. You don't necessarily have to buy this exact product if you have access to a good quality microfiber cloth. You don't need to use makeup remover with the makeup eraser around, and the best part is you can simply wash it with hot water and reuse it many, many times. If you're interested, you can find out more at makeuperaser.com (Disclaimer: All opinions are my own, and I don't get paid for promoting this product).

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Your challenge: This week, think about switching to a greener makeup routine.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Natural Remedies for Minor Ailments

Go Green in 2014: Week 49

I rarely take prescription or over-the-counter medicine, except for more serious ailments. For the most part, I prefer to let minor health issues resolve on their own...well, with a little help from "natural" home treatments.

Now, keeping in mind that I'm not a doctor and this is not meant to diagnose or treat your ailments, I would like to share a few things I have learned on my green journey. Since it would take a book to cover every minor ailment, I will just choose a few to cover in this post. If you would like to learn more, there are many resources that can help you treat a variety of symptoms naturally.

Here are a few ebooks that might be helpful.

Chest congestion

I once had so much chest congestion that I could hardly speak. I tried everything I could think of. Finally, one night, I boiled a pot of water and added a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the water. Draping a towel over my head, like a tent, I leaned over the pot of steaming water and breathed in the steam for about ten minutes. That night, I ran a humidifier while I slept, and the next morning, almost all the congestion cleared out. Now, whenever I even start feeling congested, I inhale steam daily until I feel better.

10 Natural Cold & Allergy Remedies

Minor cuts and scrapes

Melaleuca oil (tea tree essential oil) is a powerful healing agent for minor injuries. It is also a fast-working spot treatment for acne. I like to place a drop or two on a cotton swab and dab on the affected area a couple times a day until it's healed. I don't even own store-bought topical ointments anymore; I always use the Melaleuca oil or MelaGel (you can learn more at melaleuca.com). 

Dry or sore throat

At the first onset of a dry or sore throat, I start drinking chamomile tea with local honey (real honey; not the kind that comes in a bear-shaped bottle). Of course, I drink plenty of water, as well, and suck on hard candies or cough drops if needed. If you develop a cough, try swallowing a spoonful of honey before bedtime to soothe your throat.

Warning: Never feed honey to a child under one year old; it could trigger botulism (source).

Headaches

Headaches are tricky for me. Although effective, I don't like popping pills to get rid of them, so I will often let them get out of control before giving in and taking a Tylenol. However, if I catch it right away, I can occasionally get rid of a headache naturally. Sometimes, smelling peppermint essential oil can help. You could try diffusing it if you have a diffuser, or place a drop on your skin...just make sure you are using a high quality oil if you decide to use it topically. Reflexology can also help, as can a neck or shoulder massage if tension is the source of your headache.

What are some of your favorite natural, home remedies for minor ailments? Please share below if you have found an effective treatment for a problem that can be treated at home.

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Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Your challenge: This week, consider using natural remedies or treatments for any minor ailments that may come up.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Non-Toxic Nail Art Ideas

Go Green in 2014: Week 48

Most nail paints and enamels contain harsh chemicals that aren't exactly "green". But that doesn't mean you can't have fun with your finger- and toenails. There are a few different non-toxic ways you can decorate your nails; here are some that I have discovered.

Chemical-free nail wraps

I recently ordered nail wraps from Jamberry Nails (jamberrynails.net) and tried them out. For the most part, they're great: easy to apply (once you get the hang of it), easy to remove, and best of all...they are green. They are basically stickers with a non-toxic adhesive that is heat-activated. Once you apply the wrap, you can trim it down to the length and shape of your nail.

They are somewhat expensive at $15 per sheet, but you can get 2 manicures, 2 pedicures, and a few accent nails out of each sheet. They can last up to two weeks on fingers and much longer on toes. They come in tons of different designs (see picture for an example). They can be removed with heat, or with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, all of which are non-toxic.

The only real problem I had with the wraps was upon removing them: They left my nails pretty dry and cracked (which is probably largely due to the dry winter air) so I had to cut them short and give them time to breathe for a few weeks.

Non-toxic nail polish

I'll have to be honest: I've never tried a "green" nail polish or lacquer, but here's what I found out with a little research.

There are various brands of non-toxic nail polish: Piggy Paint, Acquarella, Honeybee Gardens, and several others. They are free of toxic chemicals, such as toluene and formaldehyde. They don't tend to last long, but on the plus side, they are easy to remove with non-toxic removal methods.

Non-toxic nail lacquers

When researching, I came across the Scotch Naturals website (scotchnaturals.com), where you can learn more about their non-toxic nail lacquers. They are similar to nail polish, but seem to be more durable. This particular brand carries products that are vegan, fragrance free, paraben free, biodegradable, and free of the previously-mentioned chemicals.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried any non-toxic nail art methods? Please share your experience below.

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Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Your challenge: This week, consider swapping out your regular nail polish for a new non-toxic nail art method.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Green Holiday Gift Shopping Ideas

Go Green in 2014: Week 47

The holidays are coming up quickly, and you may be wondering how you can go green with your gift giving....

Although I've hardly begun my shopping, I have been trying to come up with some ideas to lessen my environmental impact once I get started. Following are a few things I have done in the past, as well as some new ideas for this year's holiday gifts.

1. Support local shops. Shopping locally is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint because it helps conserve resources, such as those related to transportation. Plus, you will be helping to support the local economy.

2. Make your own holiday gifts. "Doing it yourself" is not only a great way to conserve resources, but it's usually pretty inexpensive and much more personal. In my experience, people tend to appreciate handmade gifts much more than generic, store-bought items.

3. Shop for gifts made with recycled materials. There are all kinds of neat gift items that are made with recycled materials, such as flip flop doormats, recycled metal jewelry and wall art, reclaimed wood furniture, and so on. You could even combine ideas 1 and 2, and make your own recycled material holiday gifts.

4. Give away seed packets. Seed packets are a great way to help someone become more eco-friendly, whether they are for flowers, veggies, or herbs. If you want to take it a step further, you could give potted herbs, perhaps to someone who enjoys cooking.

5. Buy gift cards to local stores. Gift cards are great because they are small, and the recipients can then buy whatever they like. This greatly reduces waste (have you ever received something that ended up collecting dust for several years before you finally gave it away or sold it in a garage sale?).

6. Give reusable cloth napkins or "unpaper" towels. Someone who goes through a lot of paper towels, such as someone with kids or pets, might appreciate the monetary savings associated with reusable napkins. Learn more here. Cloth sandwich and snack baggies are also a great idea.

7. Shop for non-toxic toys for kids. Wooden toys may be safer than plastic ones, because plastic often contains toxic chemicals - however, if the wood is painted, do your research to be sure it is non-toxic. Learn about three chemicals that could be in your child's toys.

8. Purchase dryer balls or soap nuts as gifts. Instead of dryer sheets or fabric softener, I use wool dryer balls to soften my laundry. Soap nuts, which come from the soapberry tree, are also a great gift idea for someone who might be interested in switching to a more green detergent alternative.

9. Make sure gifts are practical or useful. If you're not sure someone will use your gift, maybe you should reconsider it. Items that go unused are wasteful, so if you really don't know someone very well, consider simply asking what they want or need.

10. "Wrap" gifts in reusable bags. You will likely want to wrap your gift, whether it's green or...not so much. Reusable cloth bags are useful because they have so many purposes: grocery shopping, traveling, or just storing certain items (I like keep my yarn in a reusable bag for easy transportation).

What are some ways you have gone green with holiday gift giving? How do you plan to do so this year?

Photo courtesy of Flickr / FutUndBeidl

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Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Your challenge: This week, if you haven't already, start your holiday gift list with as many green and environmentally-friendly items as you can come up with.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Ideas to Make Your Own Natural Food Coloring

Go Green in 2014: Week 46

We don't really use food coloring in our house, but it can be helpful when it comes to adding a touch of color to your food; cupcake frosting and colored eggs are a couple examples. However, many store-bought food dyes have been linked to various health issues (source). Wouldn't you rather know what is in your food coloring? You certainly will if you make your own!

Here are some ideas for natural, homemade food coloring.

Red

For red or pink food coloring, you can use a number of different red colored foods, but if you're looking for a flavorless dye, beets are your best bet. You can either use juice from canned beets or you can juice the raw vegetable. Raspberries and pomegranates are a couple other ideas, both of which will add a little flavor to your food.

Orange

Some people use orange juice to make natural food coloring, but they don't have much color. Try carrots instead for a nice orange hue. And don't worry about the flavor if you are coloring frosting; carrots are naturally sweet.

Yellow

Use turmeric powder or saffron flowers to make yellow food coloring. The yellow is pretty intense, so start small and add a little at a time. You may also want to taste test each time you add these spices since the flavor could potentially overpower a sweet food.

Green

Spinach will impart a pretty green hue to a natural food coloring. You could either juice them or use a food processor to get your green dye. And as with carrots, spinach will not affect the taste.

Blue (and purple)

To make blue and purple food coloring, try some cabbage. For purple, boil the cabbage until the water is a dark purple, and use this water as a natural dye. To make blue food coloring, slowly stir in a little bit of baking soda at a time until you have the desired hue. The baking soda and cabbage water will react, creating a nice blue.

Have you made natural food coloring before? What did you use to make it? How did it turn out?

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Clever Cupcakes

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Your challenge: This week, consider making your own non-toxic food coloring rather than using store-bought dyes.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Switching to Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Go Green in 2014: Week 45

My husband and I bought new light fixtures for our dining room and living room last weekend, so we have been working on installing them. It's exciting! Our old fixtures were, well, old. I'll admit, there have been a few setbacks, but in the end, I love having updated lighting.

Now, the light fixtures themselves aren't necessarily "green" or "not green". It's the type of light bulbs you use that really matters.

Why switch to energy efficient light bulbs
 
An energy efficient bulb might cost you a little more upfront, but they will save you money and electricity in the long run. Besides, the incandescent bulb is becoming more obsolete, thanks to a 2007 U.S. law (Energy Independence and Security Act) that was set into effect to phase them out. Since we moved into our house, we have been slowly switching to energy efficient bulbs as the old ones burn out.

Now that we have covered the reasons to switch out your lighting, let's take a look at the different options we have.

Types of energy efficient light bulbs

You probably envision those curly-cue light bulbs when you think of energy efficiency, but they aren't the only option.

1. CFL. Compact fluorescent lights (the curly bulbs you might be picturing) are pretty inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes to fit various fixtures; they also come in warm and natural hues, so you aren't stuck with that cold, bluish tinge in your living room. They do contain a small amount of mercury, which isn't a problem when handled correctly.
2. LED. Light emitting diodes are durable and have a long life span; you could get up to 11 years on continuous (24 hours per day) operation from them. They do tend to have a lower, more direct output, though, so they may be better for certain applications than others.
3. Halogen. Most people don't think of halogen when they think of energy efficiency, but they use less energy than an incandescent bulb and they are great for specific applications. Halogen lighting is a favorite in art galleries or in a reading area where it reduces eye strain. Like incandescent bulbs, however, halogen generates heat, which could potentially cause damage in the surrounding area.

What type of lighting do you have in your home?

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Your challenge: This week, consider moving to energy efficient light bulbs as the old ones need to be replaced.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

How to Safely Off-Gas New Furniture

Go Green in 2014: Week 44

Did you know that particle board and plywood furniture is a source of off-gassing? First of all, what in the world is off-gassing?

Off-gassing is the release of chemicals from items, such as new furniture, that we bring into our home (I'll list a few more offenders in just a bit). Formaldehyde is part of the glue that binds particle board together, and its gases are released into the air for a period of time. This can be unhealthy when new particleboard or plywood furniture is brought into a small, closed-off room.

What are some ways we can avoid inhaling these toxic fumes?

How to safely off-gas new furniture

Besides buying solid wood furniture rather than particle board, here are a few ideas to avoid the buildup of harmful chemicals in your home.

• Buy gently used furniture that has already had time to off-gas.
• Weather permitting, leave the furniture outside for a few days (or at least a day) to off-gas.
• Leave the furniture in an unused room for a few days and open the window, at least as long as the weather permits.
• If you must bring it inside, open up windows for as long as you're able, as a way to circulate air.

What are some ways you have safely off-gassed new furniture?

More surprising sources of off-gassing

Furniture is not the only source of chemical off-gassing, though. Here are a few others to look out for.

• Dryer sheets
• Air fresheners
• Commercial cleaning products
• Nail polish remover
• Electronics
• Non-stick pans
• Laser printers/photocopiers

The best way to avoid breathing in unhealthy fumes is to avoid these products where you can. For example, switch out dryer sheets for wool dryer balls and store-bought air fresheners for homemade alternatives. Make your own cleaning products. Use cast iron or stainless steel pans.

What are some ways you avoid chemical off-gassing in your everyday life?

Photo courtesy of Flickr / bfi

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Your challenge: This week, consider the ways you can avoid off-gassing, whether from new furniture or other sources.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**