At the time, we were mitigating food and environmental stressors with our oldest child. As a first time mom, worn down from a baby who cried two thirds of the day, navigating brands and their parent companies wasn’t on my radar.

It wasn’t until after our second child was born and their health issues were leveled did I become aware that some of the natural brands I was purchasing weren’t independent. Rather they were owned by larger (sometimes well-known) companies. Unfortunately, those companies didn’t exactly align with our values, represent a healthy, holistic image, or offer much transparency. 

Now, that alone doesn’t mean the products themselves are “bad”, but for me it caused a pause. As a small family farm, I know what a blessing it is to receive local support. But I also know the constraint of needing to stick within budget. 

When I was able, I took the time to research some of the natural brands I was using. Sometimes, friends farther along in their health journey had answers, sometimes it meant doing some digging online, and sometimes it was just frustrating.

It can be really hard to juggle stewarding health, finances, and values. As I continued to learn, I tried to be intentional about where I spent our dollars. I wanted to offer healthier products to my family, support independent companies with honorable intentions when able, and not blow our finances.

The following guide is simply to help you make informed decisions that align with what’s most important to you. 

Quick Note on Stewardship

I mentioned earlier that balancing stewardship of multiple things can be challenging. God has convicted me that choosing what we put into our bodies and use around our homes is part of stewardship.

Scripture reminds us:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31 NIV

This doesn’t mean every decision needs to be perfect. I would love to have a house full of small independent brands based on integrity. But our budget would be pressed too thin, and on occasion, some natural products didn’t perform as well with well water. 

Just do the best you can with what you’ve got. Pay attention, ask questions, do research, advocate for better options, and offer yourself (and others) grace when choices are limited.

Difference between Large Corporations, Private, and Independent

Large Corporations typically own multiple brands across various industries (sometimes hundreds). Decisions are often centralized: marketing, sourcing, product strategy, and pricing may be controlled at the corporate level. Some brands are able to maintain their original formulas and practices, so looking for transparency is key.

Privately held companies are not publicly traded and the shares are owned by founders, family members, private investors and/or equity firms. This doesn’t indicate who controls the decision making, values, formulations, or whether investors influence the brand.

Independent companies are usually founder-led or family-owned. This means there is no controlling stake by larger conglomerates, which provides greater autonomy over sourcing, formulations, long-term decisions, and overall mission. However, “independent” is not a legal designation.

• Conglomerate-Owned – part of a larger corporation (e.g., Unilever, Nestlé, General Mills)
• Publicly Traded – shares sold on stock exchange; financial priorities may influence decisions
• Privately Held – not publicly traded; ownership may vary
• Independent / Founder-led – mission-driven, privately held

How To Use This Natural Brands & Ownership Guide

If this seems overwhelming or stressful, here is your gentle reminder to pause and breathe. My top tips are listed below. In addition, feel free to save or print this PDF Natural Brands & Ownership Guide for personal reference.

• Start with one category at a time
• Support independent companies when able
• Don’t make decisions based on fear
• Pray over information gleaned
• Listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance

Independent Natural Brands

These companies are currently independently owned. Ownership can change over time, so it’s helpful to check a brand’s status periodically, especially if independence is important to you. This list can serve as a starting point as you explore brands that align with your values.

Supplements

• RidgeCrest Herbals
• Gaia Herbs
• WishGarden Herbs
• Pure Synergy
• Earthley Wellness

Personal Care

• Fatco
• Toups & Co Organics
• Rowe Casa Organics

Household Cleaners

• Branch Basics
• Meliora Cleaning Products
• Truly Free
• Biokleen

Foods

• Siete Foods (independent at time of writing)
• Primal Kitchen (acquired by Kraft Heinz. Included here because many assume it’s still independent)

If you’re wondering where to begin, I’ve shared more detailed looks at the natural personal care and makeup products I’ve personally used and trusted over time, as well as a simple peek inside the natural remedies we keep on hand in our own home. Those posts are meant to offer real-life examples and encouragement as you apply this guide in practical ways. Use what feels supportive right now, and return to the rest when and if it’s helpful. Small, intentional steps still matter as you care for your home and family.

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We weren’t planning on having more children, so it was a concept I never took seriously, but teasingly agreed to. Imagine my surprise, when five years later, a little plus sign told me a homebirth might actually be on the horizon.

My mind quickly shifted back to those three questions. Could we actually swing a successful homebirth? Despite my surprise pregnancy being considered high risk due to being a geriatric (38 years old, really?) and the presence of fibroids, we kept the option open.

After hitting the 20 week mark and a second positive ultrasound, we decided to “jump ship” and find ourselves a midwife. We did encounter a few hiccups, but it’s still one of the best decisions we ever made. If you’re considering a homebirth, I highly recommend it! Here are a few reasons why.

A Relaxed Momma Leads to Successful Homebirth

I’ve given birth to four wonderful children. This last one, by miles, was the most relaxed I ever felt. I simply can’t put into words how calm things were and how it translated into accelerated healing afterwards. Y’all, I was cooking a meal for my in-laws to enjoy with us not even a full three days after giving birth. I felt amazing! There were two main things factoring into my sense of calm.

a great midwife

The biggest factor, was having an experienced midwife we connected with on many levels. She was unflappable and had a vast history of working with an Amish community of women, who often went into childbirth with possibly a couple check ups and no ultrasounds. The midwife also had previous successful homebirths with women of older ages and with fibroids. All that to say, she was used to “operating on the fly”.

Although my OBGYN had given the clear and relayed the fibroids shouldn’t interfere; I would be lying to say it never hovered in the back of my mind. So, we discussed my situation, talked about possible outcomes, and developed plans for different scenarios. There was no rushed feeling of only having twenty minutes with the doctor, or emailing back and forth through portals. Simply face to face conversations with lots of laughter.

Being able to meet in our own home was also a huge plus. No carting kids to Grandma’s house every couple weeks. Instead we got to listen to baby R’s heartbeats as a family from the comfort of our couch. Seeing my children’s faces light up while hearing the chug-chug-chug is something I’ll never forget.

natural remedies options

Although it was never officially diagnosed, I did teeter with gestational diabetes in the second and third trimesters and had UTI’s. My OBGYN was leery of using whole food supplements to help my body regulate and fight, but reluctantly, she let me.

Where I felt stressed out talking with the OBGYN about these things, I felt at complete ease with our midwife. I didn’t have to “convince” her healthy, natural foods have just as much power to heal as chemical cocktails. I was very much aware “a time and place for everything” might mean needing to do things the conventional way, but I always like to try natural remedies first if possible.

There was freedom in knowing I was working with someone who was “fighting” with me and trusted me to know my body and self-adjust when needed. The midwife’s knowledgeable experience, confidence in our plan, and my placing trust in God brought a peace I wasn’t expecting as we looked forward to our successful homebirth.

Ability to Include More Family Members

Since the pandemic was still in full swing, it was not an option to have the older kids with us at the hospital. I didn’t want their first time meeting to be a wave through an exterior window. And although we’ve watched mama cows give birth as a family; I didn’t exactly want them in the room as I delivered either.

A homebirth gave us the option to involve them as much or as little as we wanted. I figured in Laura Ingalls Wilder days, Ma just sent the other kids “outside to play”, so we’d copy them! Q and H hung out downstairs, while I hung out upstairs. They could hear what was going on (hello paper thin farmhouse walls) and came up to check on me every so often. They stayed downstairs during delivery and ran up right afterwards.

I believe Q and H being able to see baby R before she was even cleaned up gave them a reverence for life that’s hard to learn at a young age. They both cried “happy tears” and had such a tender way of looking at and holding her. I’m so incredibly thankful for those moments.

P.S. The kids are always quick to share “mama roared like a bear” when asked what they thought about the experience. It will probably bring family laughter for a while until they have their own kids and understand more.

Empowerment to Achieve Birth Plan

Between God’s help, Jason pressing on my hips, and counting specks on the floor; labor was manageable. I wish I could say it was the smoothest, most uneventful birth ever, but there was one little hiccup towards the end. Other than not getting my “birthing room” painted! Lol

As labor progressed, the midwife and nurse stayed in our bedroom, listening for cues. There were no constant interruptions, checks to see how dilated I was, connected cords, etc., which is what we wanted. We learned a standing/squatting position was most natural. The midwife agreed and was in favor of it. (The hospital was not impressed with this request.)

When I was ready to push, they joined us in the bathroom. Now, I fully expected to push between two to four times and be holding my baby. That’s how all the others went. So, when I had been pushing for over 10-15 minutes, with no advancement, I got worried. And it’s not like they were faint pushes, they were, “I’m gonna set a new deadlift PR kinda pushes”.

After a split second visual exam, the midwife determined baby R’s shoulder was hung up on my hip bone. She quickly worked with the nurse to rearrange how I was standing with Jason’s help ANNNNNND three leg shaking pushes later, R entered the world. A successful homebirth!

I’m so thankful for God’s presence in the room and his blessing. From what I’ve heard from others in the medical field, a situation like that in the hospital would have led to alternate measures. Praise God for his watchful eye over us!

Faster Recovery Time with Successful Homebirth

Being able to clean up in my own home and plop into my own bed was so relaxing. Especially after hearing, “9 pounds, 7 ounces”. Ummm, excuse me? I didn’t know I could grow giants! The midwife and nurse stayed for a few hours. Afterwards, Jason went downstairs to get some food and the kids went to Papa and Grandma’s for a sleepover.

Our rest that night wasn’t interrupted by anything but R’s hungry cries. It was so relaxing and peaceful to be in our own space. The delicious, healing food we had access to certainly helped. As did the whole food supplements to help my body replenish and recover.

The midwife came back the next day, at one week, two weeks, and six weeks to check on things. Again, no traveling anywhere, no arranging child care, just a relaxing visit with a friend at home filled with laughter.

Even with having two other children at home, homeschooling, and having two family businesses; I recovered much faster. Despite being geriatric and having fibroids, I was back out in the garden, making meals, and enjoying every bit of precious baby R.

I feel so fortunate our journey ended with a successful homebirth. God turned a pregnancy shock amidst a health concern (more on that here) into something truly beautiful. For those reading whose journey ended differently, I’m so sorry! I’ve prayed over you while writing this.

And in case you’re wondering if we’d ever do it again, the answer is “Yes, in a heartbeat!” Had I known how peaceful it would be, I would have done it with the older two as well.

If you’re pregnant, or know someone who is, with questions on homebirths, please reach out! It’s not as scary as it seems.

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If you’ve ever asked yourself why it’s worth switching to healthier products, you’re not alone. I wrote a blog post called How to Shop for Healthier Personal Care Products and Minimize Toxicity . In it, I break down how loosely regulated the cosmetic industry is and how that leads to questionable ingredients. I also walk through how to use the Skin Deep® database system to research ingredients and products.

When I realized the products I was using on my skin (and my baby’s) could actually be harmful (ie: absorbed into the blood stream and organs), I dove into finding natural alternatives for skincare and makeup.

If you’re like me and want to hit the ground running, this post is for you! It took me a few years to find clean replacements for everything, and I’ve pulled them all together here in one big list, organized by category.

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) and/or treatment(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

First Things First

I try really hard not to use anything I haven’t looked up on Skin Deep®. I aim for products with an overall score of 1-3. If the product I’m using isn’t listed, then I look up each ingredient individually, write down their scores, and average them to get my own score. It doesn’t take that long – I promise! 

EWG VERIFIED products make it even simpler. These have already been checked and evaluated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and meet their standards.

Lastly, don’t be discouraged by higher price points (i.e.: beauty counter pricing vs. retail store). Just as organic, minimally processed foods are more expensive, so are natural personal care and makeup products. Because these products affect our health, we don’t mind spending a little more and budget accordingly.

Natural Personal Care Products

Natural Makeup Products

How to Switch to Natural Personal Care & Makeup Products

Information Overload! I get it. especially when you think about how many products we use every day. That alone makes it tempting to procrastinate or just ignore the whole thing. Thankfully, Skin Deep® offers a helpful tip page that works as a quick cheat sheet. 

I started with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner since everyone in the household uses them. After that, I researched facial lotion because it’s the first layer on my face each morning and something I use daily.

When I had a handle on those, I started looking at different makeup brands. I tried the ones I could find locally first, and then broadened the search to online. Some brands offer sample sizes and/or have independent consultants, which are great ways to try things and see how your skin reacts before purchasing.

Interested in getting more bang for your buck while switching to natural personal care and makeup products? Take a look at your physical health and eating habits too! I’ve found the more I heal my insides (gut health), the better my skin and hair look, which means fewer products are needed.

Go back to the basics and check out my posts on Gut Flora and the Gut Lining to see why healing from the inside out is just as important. Remember, it’s not just about using natural products – it’s about protecting and strengthening your health!

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Go figure, my daughter would be the catalyst for doing it. After watching a PBS show on the topic, she asked her dad “When can we do that?” I didn’t see the show myself; however, there are quite a few places online with instructions on how to do it, what supplies to use, tips, etc.

I used the following sites as a baseline.

Wellness Mama – How to Make Beeswax Candles at Home

mommypotamus – How to Make Beeswax Candles

They were so much fun to make and the whole family was able to help. Great for gifts or just having a healthier alternative for your own home. Enjoy!

Health Benefits

No added chemicals – Making yourself, you know exactly what’s going in the candle and what will be released into the air while burning. I used therapeutic grade essential oils, from brands I’ve researched and trust, to scent mine. Other than the beeswax and coconut oil, that’s it!

I don’t need to worry about harmful chemicals, additives, fragrances found in most store bought candles. Many sources relay that commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. Health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and allergy symptoms to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and even cancer can be possible side effects. In addition, paraffin wax, which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned (both are known carcinogens) is the most common type of wax used.

Purification of air – When beeswax is burned it creates and releases negative ions into the air. These negative ions attach themselves to things like dust, mold, and odors that naturally float in the air, thereby “cleansing/neutralizing” the air.

Supplies Used

There are so many variations of the following supplies. Since it was my first time making candles, I wanted clean ingredients, but I also didn’t want to spend too much money. I’m happy with what we used and how they turned out!

Half Pint Mason Jars – Enough for roughly 24 ounces of wax divided evenly – I found working with jars around the same size easier. I tried to stay within a 2-ounce variance, mainly because I didn’t have much guess work with how many jars I’d be able to pour. Wide mouth is better.

Beeswax Pellets – 1 lb. bag – I used a few different kinds. Mainly from Sky Organics. I also got some from Hobby Lobby. If you don’t want yellow, you can find white pellets, which are usually bleached. Since I wanted the most natural, I didn’t mind the soft yellow color. Generally speaking, bees have a 2-mile range around the hive, so organic vs non-organic is up to the user.

Wicks – I used these Eco Size 10 Natural Cotton Wicks There are different sizes/thicknesses, if using larger jars you may need to adjust what kind you use. There are also organic varieties and wicks with stickers on the bottom, negating the need for hot glue, but they’re more expensive. 

Coconut Oil – ½ cup – Organic if possible.

Essential Oils (Optional) – Approximately 25-30 drops therapeutic grade (i.e.: look for ones with information on where the oil was harvested from, where it was distilled, type of distillation). I used lavender for one batch and a Christmas blend for the other. Beeswax has a naturally subtle sweet smell on its own, so essential oils are purely personal preference.

Hot glue gun/glue sticks – Any size will do.

Tips

Beeswax can be messy to work with and cools quickly, which means it can be difficult to clean. I have a separate stainless-steel bowl, glass Pyrex measuring cup, and spatula set aside for projects of this nature. Nothing expensive, but if it doesn’t get 100% clean it’s not a huge deal.

You can always reheat the bowl on a low heat and use a paper towel to wipe out the inside immediately after. Just don’t use anything that you really like or needs to be washed.

Prep the jars ahead of time. Place a little dab of hot glue to the bottom metal part of the wick and insert into the center of the jar. Getting as close to the center as possible is important to ensure an even burn.

How To Make

Create a double boiler. I filled a stock pot with a few inches of water and brought to a low simmer over medium-low heat. Plop the stainless-steel bowl right in once simmering. 

Add the beeswax pellets and melt. (I didn’t stir as any beeswax left on the instrument would just harden.)

Add the coconut oil and melt. (See previous comment about stirring.)

Remove from heat once melted.

Add any essential oils.

Pour wax into prepared jars.

Slide clothespin over the wicks to keep them centered in the jar.

Cool at room temperature for around 24 hours.

Remove clothespin and trim wick to just under a ½ inch.

Leave jars plain or decorate with a little ribbon, twine, or stickers!

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One such thing for us was bedding options for the kids. Through our natural health journey, we learned about the various chemicals/VOC’s a new mattress can off-gas. More information on that can be found on EWG’s website here. 

Chemicals used in mattresses can cause respiratory and reproductive problems, worsen pre-existing health conditions, and are possible contributors to cancer. My husband has worked in environments using chemicals and metals most of his life. To this day – he still struggles to properly detox them even after following a few detoxing protocols and going through the GAPS diet to heal the gut. These things are not to be messed with! 

Seeing as our kids would be spending around 10-12 hours sleeping in their beds (I wonder what that’s like) we figured this would be one way to decrease their exposure to all sorts of nasty chemicals. The “new mattress smell” may go away after a couple days, but when trying to pinpoint how long the off-gassing would continue there was no definitive answer other than: unknown. 

When we first started doing research about alternative options our eyes bugged out of our heads at the price tags!!! Not too shocking, but having a smaller budget meant we couldn’t afford to purchase an organic mattress, even though it seemed like the best option. If budget allows for organic, here are some tips and definitions from Wellness Mama’s “How to Choose an Organic Mattress (+ My Top Mattress Reviews)” blog post:

“Terms like “natural” and “eco-friendly” are unregulated for mattresses. They also don’t mean that the mattress is made of natural materials. A mattress must be 95% organic to meet USDA organic mattress standards and be labeled as organic. Some mattresses may use organic cotton or organic wool for the top layer but check before assuming an organic label means an entirely natural mattress.

If a mattress is certified organic, it is certified by a third party. Look for terms like:

GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard. Mattresses with this certification must use at least 95% certified organic fibers for all fabric used.

GOLS – This stands for Global Organic Latex Standard and is the first third party standard for organic latex. It specifies that the latex used must be at least 95% organic latex.

GREENGUARD – An independent certification that requires environmental chamber tests for over 360 chemicals. This certification specifies that a mattress is low in VOCs, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals and that it is safe for children and the elderly.

If you’re buying a mattress that contains both cotton/wool and latex, it is good for it to have all these certifications.”

As I mentioned, we needed something less expensive, which meant we had to loosen up some of the criteria. We wanted to be able to test the mattress before buying it, so we looked for someplace local that stocked a better alternative. Thankfully we found one place that was in our price range and made with less chemicals. 

Here’s what we ended up getting: Green Choice Keystone Mattress from Denver Mattress. Although it’s not certified GOTS or GreenGuard and/or organic, we felt it was a better option. 

Once we got it home, there were two other things we did to help decrease the off-gassing. We opened the mattress in a room that wasn’t used much and let it air out for at least a week. I have to mention that around 9 years ago (pre-health journey) Jason and I bought a foam mattress that I’m sure was loaded with everything – and it stunk SO BAD – for quite a few days and continued to linger for a while. With the Green Choice mattresses there was a slight smell for one day and then nothing. I feel that says a lot. 

In addition to airing it out, I diffused Young Living’s Purification essential oil in the same room for 1-2 days. Although I have no scientific data this does anything other than make things smell nice; we felt it may help disperse things and decrease the length of off-gassing. Afterall, some oils are strong enough to kill mold, so didn’t hurt to try. Please note that some people may be sensitive to the oils used in Purification, so use with caution. 

Since we were concerned with the mattress, we went a couple steps further and got these:

~ Gotcha Covered Waterproof Mattress Cover, which is 100% GOTS certified organic cotton jersey knit

~ Threshold Organic Cotton Solid Sheet Sets, which are made from 100% organic cotton and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified

Overall, we’re happy with the choices we made. The mattresses are comfy (aka – we don’t mind falling asleep with them – at least I don’t – Jason has a hard time fitting on a twin size, lol)! The mattress cover is not noisy at all and the sheets are soft; both have washed well too. We can’t prevent them from encountering harmful chemicals all the time, but I’m sure their little bodies appreciate the help when they get it! 

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As I was reading labels from “healthier” brands; I was dismayed to find:

• a large majority of the ones labeled natural still had the ingredient fragrance
• they still used more than 15/20 ingredients
• many of those ingredients I couldn’t pronounce or identify what they were

Not knowing which ingredients I should completely avoid, other than fragrance, I started doing online research and found EWG’s Skin Deep. I’ve really enjoyed using their database. Here’s how I use it. Through looking up each ingredient on Skin Deep, I narrowed it down to 2 different face lotions. They fit in my budget (being a new stay at home mom meant it was pretty small, lol) and I could get them at a local retailer. 

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) and/or treatment(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

Dabbling in the Kitchen

At the same time, I started dabbling with making homemade diaper rash cream and baby lotion. I just wasn’t comfortable using anything store bought for my baby, especially since she was sensitive to pretty much everything. Overall, it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought!

About a year later, I was confident in my baby recipes and getting good results. I decided to splurge a little and add a few more ingredients to my “apothecary cupboard”. Soon after, I started making different homemade face and body lotion recipes from various bloggers.

trial & error

My first batch turned out very hard; like I could hardly get it out of the jar. I then tried one with aloe vera gel in it. After 3 attempts I still couldn’t get the gel to emulsify well. However, it was the first time I tried whipping the lotion and I really liked the result.

Then I noticed my skin was getting oilier, which meant the lotion was too thick. I tend to have combination skin, so I knew finding the right blend of ingredients would be important. 

I did some more research and discovered a chart listing the comedogenic rating of commonly used beauty ingredients. Basically, some ingredients are more prone to clog pores than others. After doing more research to confirm the information seemed correct I switched up my homemade face and body lotion recipe again. 

This time I was very happy with my results! I love the texture, smell, it was super easy, and most of all my skin has improved. I use it on my face and body. Even the hubby has used it. In fact, I’m finding I don’t even need to use it as much anymore because my skin seems to be balancing out and not getting dry as fast! 

Ingredient Information

Coconut Oil – A very common household ingredient. I just use the one we have for cooking. It’s an organic virgin coconut oil, expeller pressed and unrefined, which doubles as a great moisturizer (contains antioxidants, which are helpful in reducing wrinkles). Coconut oil is also full of fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation. 

Jojoba Oil – This oil is special because it closely resembles sebum, which is a waxy substance produced by the skin glands. So, to start with it’s very similar to our natural skin and easily assimilates. Since it’s waxier it won’t clog pores like an oil, and doubles as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Vitamin E – Also known as tocopherol. It’s a little sticky. Known for reducing free radicals (damaging substances from the environment), wrinkles, brown spots, and very dry skin. I prefer to use one with no other added antioxidants (I kept finding bottles of this with added Vitamin C, sometimes soy, etc.) and always combine it with other ingredients. 

Beeswax – A natural wax produced by honeybees. It’s used as a bonding/stiffening agent with the other ingredients. Naturally hydrating. You can buy this as pellets or bars. I find the pellets melt quicker and are easier to measure. I stick to the yellow variation since that’s what’s natural, but if the color bothers you look for white wax (make sure it’s not bleached). 

Optional ingredients:

Frankincense Essential Oil – Aids in preventing wrinkles, rejuvenates and heals. Although not mainstream, also used to fight certain cancers and tumors. Anti-inflammatory, immune boosting. Skin recommendations: Sagging Skin, Wrinkles.

Geranium Essential Oil – Known for regenerating and healing skin. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, helps cleanse oily skin, revitalizes skin cells. Skin recommendations: Acne, Clogged Pores, Stretch Marks, Wrinkles. (Interestingly enough, I don’t like the smell of geranium by itself, but LOVE it mixed with other essential oils.) 

Lavender Essential Oil – Helps promote tissue regeneration and can speed up skin healing. Antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, combats extra sebum on skin. Skin recommendations: Acne, Dry/Chapped Skin, Clogged Pores, Eczema/Dermatitis, Sagging Skin, Stretch Marks, Wrinkles.

Note on Essential Oils – I am not a certified aromatherapist; however, I’ve been using essential oils in various ways for 3 years now and am confident in the brands I use and where I get my information from. Always test a drop on your skin first to see how you’ll react. I almost always dilute with a carrier oil. Please do your own research and make sure the essential oils you’re using are unadulterated and from a reputable source. The information on the essential oils listed above was taken from the Essential Oils desk reference, 7th Ed book.

Homemade Face & Body Lotion

Try this simple DIY homemade face and body lotion with basic, healthy ingredients. Your skin will thank you!

• 3.5 tsp Beeswax
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp Jojoba Oil
• ⅛ tsp Vitamin E Oil
• 4 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
• 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops Geranium Essential Oil

1. Fill a shallow saucepan with about 1.5 inches water. Warm up over low heat. 

2. Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a glass pint size mason jar (or similar sized glass jar) until liquid form.

3. Mix the Jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil, and any essential oils in a separate container. (You don't want to heat the essential oils or they lose their properties).

4. Remove glass jar from stove once melted.

5. Add the remaining ingredients and mix right away. (It doesn't take long for the beeswax and coconut oil to harden again – make sure your other ingredients are ready to go)!

6. OPTIONAL: Whip the oils for a minute or two using an electric beater. This gives the lotion a fluffier texture. If you decide not to whip, it'll be a little harder to remove lotion from the jar (I just use the back of my fingernail). 

7. Pour lotion into a glass jar and let harden. (Essential oils can leach certain substances from plastic jars, so I always use a tinted glass jar with a lid). 

_{I like to make this homemade face and body lotion in smaller batches (just under 2 oz.) so I can tweak ingredients if need be. This recipe lasts about 3.5 months if I use it twice a day on my face. The recipe can easily be doubled to make more!} 

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The post Simple Homemade Face and Body Lotion appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.

Along with makeup came picking out my own personal care products. I still recall the basket I put everything in, and the discussions with friends over which products worked, what the new trends were, how to get the look for less, and which box dye was the right color for the season (it changed often y’all!).

As I said earlier, healthier personal care products never registered, and the one thing my friends and I never talked about, was the effect of all the chemicals we were dousing our bodies with.

And why would we? The beauty industry certainly doesn’t highlight possible side effects. And many of us assume there’s nothing wrong with the synthetic chemicals and preservatives we use daily.

Besides, they would have to let us know if it were harmful, right??? Wrong!

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) and/or treatment(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

The beauty industry is not very regulated. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services: 

“The law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market, but there are laws and regulations that apply to cosmetics on the market in interstate commerce.”

“Companies and individuals who manufacture, or market cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. Neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. The law also does not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with FDA.”

Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? I’ve never had a noticeable medical reaction to my makeup or shampoo.” And I hadn’t either. Sure, I might’ve developed a rash from a certain face lotion or felt itchy from one brand of body soap, but nothing to make me think healthier personal care products were needed.

It wasn’t until our first daughter was born with several environmental and chemical sensitivities, that I realized the effects of everything I’d been using – and it needed to change.

An organization I use consistently for reviewing both household and healthcare/beauty products is the Environmental Working Group.

For beauty products, they offer Skin Deep®. You simply enter the name of the product, brand, or ingredient you want to review. Individual products contain a list of ingredients, any concerns with the ingredients, the rating of each ingredient, as well as an overall rating for the product. Ratings/scores are based on a 1-10 scale with 1 being the best.

Skin Deep® shared this information while explaining why they started:

Personal care products are manufactured with 10,500 unique chemical ingredients, some of which are known or suspected carcinogens, toxic to the reproductive system or known to disrupt the endocrine system. Although some companies make products that are safe to use, others use dangerous ingredients, like coal tar and formaldehyde, both of which are human carcinogens, and lead acetate, a developmental toxin.

The following is a brief explanation of how they come up with scores:

“Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.”

EWG VERIFIED is a mark, that companies receive after adhering to Skin Deep® standards. This helps consumers quickly identify which brands offer healthier personal care products.

Think about how many products you use on a daily basis and how, what may seem like a little amount, quickly adds up. Multiply that by how many days a week you use them, multiplied by months, years, etc. All of these products we apply topically to the skin.

Skin is meant to be a barrier to keep harmful things out, but it also acts like a sponge, absorbing whatever is put on it. Furthermore, many things absorbed by the skin, continue traveling, which can allow them to get into the blood stream and/or organs. What we put on our skin matters!

Following are some examples of products I used to use every day. I’m not sharing to cause panic, make anyone feel guilty, or belittle any brand. My intention is simply to help open your eyes and give you something to ponder.

Some of health concerns listed with these products are: Cancer, Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity, Allergies & Immunotoxicity, and Use Restrictions.

Shampoos:

Pantene Pro-V Volumizing Shampoo   Biolage ColorLast Shampoo Scores of 5 and 6 respectively. Numerous health concerns.

Body Soap:

Caress and Dove Scores of anywhere from 3 to 8. All with health concerns. 

Makeup:

Maybelline Mascara Physician’s Formula Blush Clinique Foundation Scores of 5 to 8. Again, with health concerns. 

I am certainly no expert in the law, chemistry, medicine, or otherwise! But I have learned to become an “expert” in researching which products I feel comfortable using and listening to how my body reacts to said products. 

When I first started switching to healthier personal care products in 2014, I didn’t notice a huge change. My hair didn’t suddenly looked model good and my face didn’t become radiant or blemishes free. HOWEVER, I certainly noticed a difference when I tried using my old products again as a test. 

For example: with eye makeup my eyes itched and watered, with foundation my skin felt sensitive in places it never did before, with shampoo and conditioner I started breaking out wherever the ends of my hair laid, and the body wash…ugh the body wash… I ended up showering all over again with the natural soap to get rid of the severe itching and burning sensation. 

The way my body reacted to the old products was enough to grab my attention and take things seriously. If you or someone you know struggles with sensitivities, look up what you’re using on the Skin Deep® website and see if there is something better. You might also find, that even though your product has a good rating, your body is reacting negatively to a certain ingredient. 

Information Overload!!!!!!!!! I get it. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and considering how many products we use it’s also easy to procrastinate or ignore. Here’s a helpful tip page from Skin Deep®. Focus on one item at a time.

I started with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner since everyone in the household uses them. Then face lotion, and finally, various makeup and hair care products.

Here’s a list of my own personal favorite healthier personal care products here.

Interested in getting more bang for your buck while switching to healthier personal care products? Take a look at your physical health and eating habits too! I’ve found the more I heal my insides (gut health), the less products I need.

Go back to the basics and check out my posts on Gut Flora and the Gut Lining to find out why healing from the inside out is just as important. Remember, it’s not just about using something natural – it’s about protecting and increasing your health!

Stay Connected!

Encouragement for Faith & Everyday Life

Life can feel full with faith, health, home, and all the small things in between. The newsletter is a simple way to stay connected through new blog posts, encouragement, occasional shop news, and free tools that support intentional, everyday living.

A glimpse of the free tools

The post How to Shop for Healthier Personal Care Products and Minimize Toxicity appeared first on Blooming Rock Homestead.