OT - Cleaning the Natural Way - You, Your Mask, Your Home

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:56 am

WOO HOO JENMARY!!!!!!!

So glad you had immediate good results!!!!

I sorta lightened up last night, but may have counter-acted it.

I had poured the excess grapeseed oil into a travel bottle. I took the "mix" and poured it into the same travel bottle, diluting it. I then topped off that bottle with Castor Oil, thinking I was "diluting" it with something good for the acne. Shook well, and re-poured into the 4 oz pump bottle.

Last night I spent more time scrubbing off the oil with the wash cloth, and felt like I'd gotten "cleaner". This morning, scrubbing in the shower (yes, I'm trying to be gentle with the wash cloth), I still felt kinda "oily". But I cold rinsed, got out, and the face was matte, and seemed okay. Then I noticed some "dry" patches, and had to slather oil on them, so now I've got oil all over my face... Oh well. It's not BAD, and it's not making me breakout. Just need to keep practicing, I guess.

I could re-dilute my current mix with some jojoba and almond oil. I've used up the grapeseed. Might try that tonight.

BTW, I think Tea Tree oil reminds me of industrial solvents found in gas stations. I definitely think "diesel" everytime I smell it. Don't know why, but I do.

Cheers,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:05 pm

Had a funny feeling about the Seventh Generation soaps. I've used their laundry and dishwashing soaps over the years, and after reading up on soaps on http://www.soapsgonebuy.com and Dr. Bronner's website, I became suspicious.

Check this out - MSDS on their "Free & Clear" Diswashing Liquid:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/upload ... r_dish.pdf

2nd ingredient down: Sodium lauryl ether sulfate

Okay, scratching THAT ONE from the list....

Ditto the Lavender scented version:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/upload ... vender.pdf

Going to check into some other "natural" brands as well.

Just thought I'd share.

BTW, here's the MSDS on their laundry powder:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/upload ... derNCS.pdf

Hard for me to tell what it's ingredients are from this. I'd say, right this minute, I'm not feeling alot of 'transparency' from the Seventh Generation folks. I see smoke and mirrors. Not real happy....

Cheers,
B.

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:35 pm

Just gotta love disclaimers on MSDS sheets:

"The information on this Material Safety Data Sheet is provided by Seventh Generation Inc. free of charge. While believed to be reliable, it is intended for use by skilled persons at their own risk. Seventh Generation Inc. assumes no responsibility for events resulting or damages incurred from its use."

Does that give you a warm fuzzy?? (Emphasis added by moi)

Kajun

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:26 pm

Oh yeah, really feeling that LOVE from Seventh Generation right about now... HEY! Think they also run a brick & mortar DME I could get screwed over by?

LOL,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:46 pm

socknitster wrote:I'm eager to try it and save money--I've been using Method products which I love, but this sounds similar or better and a whole lot cheaper. I am about out, so perfect timing if I can find the ingredients. I know I've seen borax around. I'm not sure where I'll get the washing soda. Maybe a drug store? Hardware store? Should I call around?

I found it a grocery store that caters to a fairly diverse market. So, it's NOT TJ's, but they are only one of two chain groceries with a dedicated organic section that is large enough to have separate aisles for cleaning supplies, food, cosmetics/body, herbs/vitamins and a frozen section. Both are local chains - QFC & Fred Meyer.

I'd call around - save the gas I spent this weekend. Have no idea where you will find it in Indiana. Did NOT find it at TJ's, Lowe's, Safeway, Walgreens, or WalMart. Have not checked RiteAid, Albertsons or Bartells.

Decided grated Naptha was worth it and am having her ship that. Didn't take me long to grate it, but I didn't like inhaling the vapor/particulate, even in front of an open window, and my right arm is already sore. Don't need more soreness there.

BTW, anyone got any "home remedies" for carpal tunnel like pain? I have avoided going to the doctor for 7 months now, and the pain woke me up again last night.... sigh...

Cheers,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:56 pm

socknitster wrote:CLIFF CLAVEN!! That's me, the female Cliff Claven of cpaptalk.com. Take what I say with a GRAIN OF SALT!!!!

You can't have my nickname!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, several years ago, I was dubbed "The Cliff Claven of Cultural Resources." I don't think it was a LOVING nickname, either... I worked in a department called "Cultural Resources" and I'm a bigmouth know-it-all. I know, you're all real shocked to learn that...

Hee hee hee!
B.

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:50 pm

ok....I lied again. I went to whole foods and got more stuff. Along with a bottle of wine, but never mind that. lol
I got lavendar, ylang ylang, and grapeseed. I almost got the grapeseed in the supliment isle for $15....but then checked the food isle and found it for $5. lol Oil is oil...if I can eat it I can certainly put it on my face.

So I will let ya know how it goes tonight with some new additions. I had actually read somewhere that the EVO was not as oily as the castor....that is why I had less of the castor. But it is now almost 6 pm and my face still looks passable. Not as oily as normal but still more than I like it, and the grey pores on the nose and cheeks are back...though not as bad.

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:27 pm

Just found a difference in the grapeseed oil....the one in the supliment section was amber colored....the one I got is green. I thought the bottle was green, but no its the oil. I will let you know how it goes. I only put a few drops of the lavendar and ylang ylang. Think it needs more than that or does that sound about right?

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:39 pm

OK, seventh generation: I am totally pi**ed! There aren't any ingredients on the label really, but it says stuff like "natural dish liq" and "vegetable base" vs petroleum base. It does say that the surfactant is coconut based (?). So, I guess it is POSSIBLE that the sodium blah blah sulfate is derived from coconut, but it seems specious to me. I wish I knew more about the chemistry of these things.

Jenmary: I wouldn't worry about the grapeseed oil being a diff color. It varies from yellow to green depending on brand even with cooking oils. It is my hi temp cooking oil and neutral flavored oil of choice. For everything else I use EVOO. Grapeseed oil is supposed to have good fatty acids like EVOO and flax, I think. I have been buying it for about 10 years (again, with the doing stuff before it was cool . It used to be hard to find, but not anymore. And you are right, it is the same stuff, exactly, no worries!

I'm jealous. I looked at lavender and ylang ylang today but decided not to buy thinking I saw cheaper prices online, then when I got home I discovered all the sites I had discovered had HUGE shipping cost. So, I'll just go back and buy locally. I did buy some really nice lemon oil. Smells like fresh cut lemons, not pledge so it is really lovely. It was only $3 so the miser in me let myself have it. I already washed this evening after mixing it into my oils. What a lovely scent. I put in about 5 drops in about 6-7 oz of oil. Not overpowering, just lovely. Definitely made the tea trea oil smell better!

Babs, lets just be Cliff C. together. A shared moniker for people who love tidbits of oddball information and passing it on, even if we can't always remember the details!

Homemade soaps: I'm familiar with QFC and FRed Meyer, having shopped them when my sis lived in Seattle and I visited so I will look at similar stores here. And I'm thinking Ace Hardware might have some of it too because they have some oddball stuff. I'm not sure I want to make my own laundry soap, but a spot cleaner would be useful. I got set in chocolate out of a pair of light khaki shorts using TJ's next to godliness hand soap a couple of days ago, in less than 3 minutes with very little effort. Sometimes the old fashioned soaps just work better!

OK, Christinequilts, Apple Cider Vinegar: I got the unpasteurized stuff from the health food store (with mother--not clear, cloudy). Now what do I do with it? How do you prepare it for use on your face? Do you use it for anything else? What do I mix it with? Do I use it as a toner? So curious!

Right now I'm waiting for a batch of peach mead to cool off enough to pitch the yeast so I can go to bed! Otherwise I would have been in bed 2 hours ago. Yes I'm making mead from scratch. It is like beer made from honey, if you haven't heard of it. Think honey flavored champagne. Very floral and lovely. It will be ready in time for fall--with ripe peaches, lemon zest and cinnamon thrown in for good measure--yummo!

Jen

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:18 pm

Just researched grapeseed oil......great stuff! It is also supposed to get rid of stretch marks. I will be trying this on one side of my belly to see if that claim is true. lol

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:00 am

Babette:

Thanks so much for posting the link to Soaps Gone Buy!!

I've been using Fels Naptha bar soap for years (ok, decades) for spot removal. It removes 99% of stains, and you can use hot water. I'm experienced with hand-washing, but am going to try the mixtures for my front-loader machine.

ALSO, Fels-Naptha soap is the absolute BEST thing for CLEANING WINDOWS!
I suds up a micro-fiber cloth (retains much liquid), soap up the windows (outside), then use another cloth with lots of clean water to rinse - or just dump on clean water. You can squeegie it, but it is not necessary - the glass WILL NOT STREAK!!! I love it. For inside, I'm more careful with the rinsing part.

I've not found anything that Fels Naptha bar soap won't clean. It is a staple in my kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room - everywhere there's a faucet! Safe for silk too.

One of our grocery stores carry the bar, but don't stock much; I buy all but two, so that they'll keep reordering. The bar does last a long time.
I've not tried making 'flakes', but I just let a bar disolve in a container of hot water. Thanks for the source of flakes; I may try my blender first and see what happens.

The Fels-Naptha is safe for silk, yet wil clean white sidewall tires.
Although this bar no longer contains Naptha, naptha is perfect for cleaning wool carpets, which I had to do by hand when a youngster, helping my mother clean the wool carpeting in the Living Room.

Looking forward to using the mixture on my plants & lawn!

Thanks again. I've been away from the Forum for awhile, and was pleased to find this thread. [/u]

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:15 am

YAY JENNMARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad we got you over to The Oil Side.

I think my technique is improving with this. I'm getting more oil off my face now. Face feels "dewy" this AM, and I resisted the urge to put more oil on after I got out of the shower. So hard to break the after shower routine of toner, gel, moisturizer...

I diluted my OCM mix again. I found Apricot and Avocado oils last night, and poured out my pump bottle back into the "Mother" mix bottle. The pump is 4 oz, and I poured in two ozs of a combination of apricot, avocado, and MOSTLY jojoba oil. I then poured back in 2 oz of the "Mother" mix. I think this is working better. I can't smell the tea tree oil now. I think Jen may be on to something there about it being an irritant. After last night and this morning, my face is markedly less "pinky/red". I will never been the Great White Hope, but at least I don't look windburned.

Also found - at my favorite high end chain grocery Metropolitan Market - a line of skin care called "Abra". Bought their Cellular Detox Lotion (body) and am greatly enjoying that on my body today. I read all the labels, and this one seemed to have the LEAST multisyllabic chemical mumbo-jumbo.

http://www.abraorganics.com

http://www.abraorganics.com/dirltns.html

http://www.abraorganics.com/nwsltr.html

Also read all the "green" dishwashing liquids' labels and settled on Planet Ultra Unscented. http://www.planetinc.com/udl.htm

Lessee what their "plant based surfactants" really are....

DON'TCHA JUST HATE THOSE COMPANIES THAT DON'T REALLY SPELL THEIR INGREDIENTS OUT??????????

http://www.planetinc.com/certification.htm

Okay, NO LIST OF INGREDIENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may be contacting them... grrr....

I've used both Planet and Seventh Generation products for years. But until now, didn't know about SLS and why I wanted to avoid it. So, I will continue to pursue the SLS-free products.

Stay Cool out there, People! It's a hot one!
B.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:40 am

I thought I'd bump in here and pass along something I recently learned about face creams/'moisturizers'.

Avoid anything that contains Mineral Oil and other Petroleum products.
They do NOT penetrate the skin, but lay on the surface and actually clog the pores.

The only 'off the shelf' product I found was "Garnier Nutritioniste" products; the ingredients are all natural sources.

Just FYI

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:48 am

Good tip Offerocker!

BTW, have you looked into our links for the Oil Cleansing Method? We're using food grade natural and organic oils for the most part. Jen and I are new to it but loving it!

Cheers,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:01 am

OOO! Found another site selling "green" cleaning products for yourself, your mask, and your home!

http://www.vegangoods.com/

LOL,
B.