If you could replace all your toiletries with products you could make yourself what would they be?

Most of us (women and men included) use vast amounts of products on our skin and hair during the routines of the average day in order to make ourselves look and ultimately feel better. I personally do not think there is anything wrong with this as a personal choice (although some may disagree). I have been in and around the skincare and cosmetics industry most of my life and I love it, in all its chemical and pseudo natural glory – and am not ashamed to admit it!

However years of working in product development for Neal’s Yard Remedies with Romy Fraser taught me that natural and pure products could be just as, if not more effective than their chemical counterparts. However one of my bugbears was that without synthetic additives like silicones, products, especially shampoos, conditioners and face creams were not as nice to use and did not feel like those we are used to nowadays. I guess that and the not knowing how is what stops most people who really want to from making their own skincare products.  The recipes you find online and in most natural skincare books are very basic indeed and not really good enough to make most switch to making their own.

So I have decided to put together my own book of recipes that are as simple and natural as they can be without compromising on effectiveness and texture.  Here is a list of products that I personally use and will be included in the book, please add anything you feel is missing and I will add that too.

Bathroom Basics: Shampoo, Conditioner, Showergel

Skincare Basics: Cleanser, Toner, Moisturiser, Eye Cream, Lip Balm

Face & Body Treatments: Body Scrub, Body Lotion, Face Scrub, Face Mask

Obviously this is not for everyone. If you live on a diet of takeways and ready meals rather than cooking from scratch every day then it is unrealistic to expect to find making your own toiletries quick and easy.  However, if you plan ahead and treat it in the same way as preparing healthy meals then you will be fine!

Please add your suggestions to the comments below

Its a little known fact that I have a bit of an obsession with honey – it goes in pretty much everything I make. Its so fabulous for cleansing, moisturising, in masks and scrubs as well as in drinks and on oatcakes with peanut butter!

I made a lip balm a few weeks ago which everyone loved. Its started out as a basic formula but I couldn’t resist shoving a bit of honey in at the end.I think it was about 20% in the original batch but it was scribbled on a notepad minus the honey so I have reworked it here for you. The ingredients add up to 100g so they can be easily translated into percentages and scaled up or down:

HONEY BEE LIP BALM

Ingredients

45g Almond Oil
18g Shea Butter
14g Cocoa Butter
14g Beeswax
9g Honey

5 drops Honey Flavour (optional)

Melt the Beeswax, Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter in a bain-marie or bowl over a pan of hot water on the hob. Add the Honey and stir gently until everything is liquid. Remove from the heat and add the flavour if using. Keep stirring the mixture gently as it cools to mix in the Honey as this will not totally dissolve with heating. As you mix you will notice the mixture getting thicker and the honey will start to blend in. You can help this along by placing the bowl in iced water or put it in the fridge for a few minutes.  Once it is a thick but pourable consistency, pour into a clean 10g jars to set (makes approx 10)

I have the good fortune to hang out once a month on a Friday with a fabulous group of women  The Creation Team

Yesterday was our monthly meeting and summer BBQ which was hosted by the fabulous Judith Morgan and included a blessing of her garden office which is now officially known as the Abundance Shed.  After saying a few words we were asked to pick an angel card for ourselves, if you don’t know these are little cards with just one word on them.

I picked Authenticity.

This was quite appropriate as I have been having a huge number of conversations recentlywith friends and colleagues about my need to be authentic in everything I do.

Authenticity to me is being the real you, whoever that is, and sticking to your guns about it. For me its about being authentic to yourself and not  to how you think you should be. Let me clarify:

Sometimes we have to make compromises in our business and personal lives which leads us to feel that we are not being “real”. We sometimes feel we have to put on a persona to fit in with our business profile or niche of what we think people expect us to be. For example I am teaching people about making natural beauty products but I have bright pink hair (which is obviously not natural)- does that mean I am not being authentic? I don’t think so.

In being yourself you will attract those to you who find you interesting and like you. Those who make judgements based on you not fitting into a perceived stereotype will fall away or not find you in the first place.

Be Authentic, Be Real , Be Yourself