10 Essentials For Your Natural Bathroom
December 3rd, 2012Let me tell you something about Virginia. They love bathrooms here. When we first moved from Boston we looked at a bunch of houses that had more bathrooms than bedrooms. Right. 3BR/4bath. Craziness coming from our old 3BR place that had only one – and that one bathroom didn’t even have a tub.
So here we are, more toilets than people in our family, and I’m enjoying some of the perks. No lines. Plenty of space to blowdry (as if a mom of a toddler ever does that). And lots of space for my collection of bathroom goodies!
Here are some things you won’t find in my bathroom:
Bacteria-obliterating mouthwash, artificially colored/flavored toothpaste, antacids or decongestants.
Here’s what you will find.
Neti pot and salt
Neti is a traditional yogic method of cleansing and purifying the body. Whether you’re into yoga or not, lemme tell you something. This is THE best way to clear out congestion and actually prevent infections from forming. It takes some practice but once you go neti, you’ll never go back. Neti salt is a special product – don’t use table salt! And if you haven’t already heard, it’s advised to boil the water you use prior to pouring it through your nose, just in case there’s a brain-eating amoeba in there.
Sesame oil
After using the neti pot, nostrils are clean as a whistle but tend to get dry from the salty water. In the cold weather especially it’s good to moisturize them with some sesame oil. Actually, it’s wonderful as a moisturizer for your whole body. No fancy lotions needed! And it can also be used for oil pulling (a method of swishing oil in your mouth then spitting out the oil to remove impurities).
Essential oils
Some people are really, really into essential oils. I’m not one of them. But I do use peppermint oil constantly. Have a headache? Dab it onto your head wherever it hurts. Congested? Dab some on the underside of your nose and you’ll breathe sweet relief. Baby has a cold? Put a few drops into the humidifier. Or mix with sesame oil and rub onto baby’s chest under his clothes. Like Vick’s Vapo Rub minus the petroleum.
I also occasionally use Frankincense on my skin (though my hubby hates the smell) or lavender oil in my bath (as if I ever take a bath!)
Annmarie Gianni skincare products
I struggle with my skin. Just not one of those people who can use warm water and a washcloth and have a lovely complexion. And I’m really not into the ingredients found in most products out there. Annmarie Gianni’s skincare line smells amazing (important as noted above about the Frankincense oil!) and has the most amazing natural ingredients. I wholeheartedly recommend this line of products and believe they are worth the extra coin. And yes, this is an affiliate link because I like these products so much I’m happy to tell everyone about them.
Chickpea flour
Sometimes if my skin is very oily or if I have a big zit I use chickpea flour. It has a very drying quality. Can be used sort of like a scrub and washed off, or dabbed on a wet spot and left to dry.
Homemade, natural deodorant
I’ve been using this stuff since April when I started having a reaction to my “normal” deodorant/antiperspirant. Everyone wants to know if it works. Well, yes and no. Yes it keeps moisture and odor away better than wearing nothing. No, it doesn’t plug my sweat ducts and keep my body from its natural process of sweating to cool off and eliminate toxins. So I don’t wear tight t-shirts or like, silk blouses in the summer. I’m ok with that. At least my armpits aren’t itching like crazy anymore! Want the recipe? It’s here.
Healthy period protection
I have yet to try the Diva cup but have heard great reviews. Hmmm. I’ll try it someday, but for now I go with the tampons that are least problematic for the earth and my body. Organic means no pesticides up the woo-ha.
Shampoo for days it matters and days it doesn’t
I like this Shikai stuff from Whole Foods. For a sulfate-free shampoo it creates enough suds that I feel like I’m actually cleaning my hair. Good stuff. But to really go natural, you can just add a few tsp. baking soda to water. Maybe a few drops of essential oil for scent. Pour it through your hair and wash. It cleans, but it’s not something I use if I care what my hair looks like that day. Just a nice way to reduce the toxic load, y’know?
Ok, what about you?
I’d love to hear what products or homemade concoctions in little tupperware containers are kickin’ around in your bathroom!
