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I missed the documentary, unfortunately, but maybe I’ll be able to purchase it one day.
I used to wax. Can you believe that? I used to wax everything. Myself. I’m cheap like that. I reused my wax too. Yes, you can do that if you get the kind that doesn’t need strips, like Zip wax (that’s the kind that works best anyhow). It took all day, but I didn’t have to do it again for a month. My legs (and various other body parts) were smooth as a baby’s butt for three weeks, and when the hair finally did make an appearance again, it was as soft, fine and blond as baby hair.
Now that I’m a mom, I no longer have time to lay out an entire day once a month to dedicate to hair removal. In the beginning, I could hardly find five minutes a day to shave. I spent the first half of my momhood very hairy indeed (what does it matter anyhow? I’m not dating anyone, and it was winter!). Now I’ve found the time.
As part of my son’s bedtime routine, he takes a bath. While he is playing with his plastic fish and splashing, I throw my feet in the tub, grab my razor, and real quick shave. My legs still aren’t ever as smooth as they are when they are freshly waxed, but at least I’m not running around looking like some auburn Sasquatch anymore.
Also, if I can squeeze it in, I do a sugar scrub on my feet. It feels awesome, and I deserve it. You do too! Of course, I make my own sugar scrub.
Beauty products are so expensive. And the conventional ones (read, reasonably priced ones) are filled with so much nasty junk that you probably shouldn’t be putting on your skin. In fact, there’s a ton of research that shows that most of those chemicals are not only dangerous, but that they actually make whatever condition you’re trying to remedy (for example, acne, dry skin, fly away hair, etc.) worse in the long run. That’s like drinking some magical concoction that actually makes you thirstier after you’re done drinking it! Oh wait, that’s anything with caffeine in it. Okay, that’s like eating some magical food that actually makes you hungrier after you’re done eating it! Oh wait, that’s anything with high fructose corn syrup in it. Okay, that’s like putting on lotion that actually makes your skin dryer after it wears off! Exactly.
Whats the solution? Well, you could buy expensive organic products after doing lots of research to find out if they are really as natural and organic as they claim to be (check out the Cosmetic Safety Database to see how safe and effective your products are), or you could take cheap products mostly found in your kitchen and use them. I’ve found that cheap kitchen products have been the most effective beauty products I’ve ever used, so every now and then, I’d like to share my discoveries with you.
Today, I am sharing my recipe for a sugar/salt scrub.
You will need
- Sugar or salt (I like sugar, because if there’s any cuts or sores on my skin, salt will sting, but both work fine)
- Olive oil
Optional Ingredients
- Essential oils
- Vegetable glycerin
- Caffeine pills
- Any edible oil
- Food coloring
- Baking soda
- Oatmeal
- Coffee grounds
Okay, are you ready for some complex instructions?
Mix together olive oil and sugar until you have a consistency like wet sand. Use as you would any store bought sugar or salt scrub. Store in a water tight container. I keep mine right in my shower.
If you would like, you may add some essential oil for fragrance. You may add some glycerin for extra softening power. You may add ground up caffeine pills for firming power, or you may add food coloring to make it pretty.
You can replace the olive oil with any oil you would eat. Coconut and almond oils are nice and already smell good. Avocado oil is popular as well.
For a finer scrub, you can use baking soda instead of sugar or salt. If you have sensitive or itchy skin, oatmeal is a good replacement for salt. A lot of people use strait coffee grounds as an exfollient too, but as there are no coffee drinkers in my house, I’ve never tried it.
Of course, you can combine any of these ingredients countless different ways. You want an oatmeal and baking soda scrub with Olive and Avocado oil? Go for it! Be creative and find what works for you.
Its cheaper than most conventional beauty products, its safer and more effective than most conventional beauty products, its greener than conventional beauty products, and the best part is, you know your child isn’t going to die if he eats it. You won’t even have to call poison control. Awesome.
