Originally, castile soap was an olive oil based soap made in the Castile region of Spain. Today, “castile” refers to any soap that is made from vegetable oil rather than animal fat and synthetic substances. Liquid castile soap is natural, biodegradable, and versatile product with numerous effective applications. I know 12 great uses for castile soap, are there any I missed? I would love to hear your ideas!

1. Hand soap and everyday body-washing. Get wet and pour 2-3 drops of soap onto hands or washcloth. Lather up, scrub down, rinse off, and tingle fresh and clean.

2. Shampoo

Castile soap shampoo recipe 1:

• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/2 tsp olive, grapeseed or jojoba oil
• ~5 drops essential oil of your choice

Dissolve the soap in the hot water. Stir in the oils. Enjoy your new natural shampoo.

Castile soap shampoo recipe 2:

• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 tsp olive, grapeseed or jojoba oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Whip until smooth. Use immediately and put any leftovers into the refrigerator and use the next day or two.

3. Baby bath
Pour 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap in running water for a natural, gentle, and safe baby bath. As with any baby wash, be sure to keep it out of baby eyes.

4. Bubble bath
Luxurious castile soap bubble bath recipe:

• 1/2 – 1 cup liquid castile soap
• 5-8 drops essential oil of your choice
• 2 ounces of coconut oil

Pour the bubble bath mix into the running bath water. Relax!

5. Shaving

6. Pet shampoo

7. Laundry
Use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load. Adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better.

8. Household cleaner

1 part castille soap to 40 parts water for light cleaning, 1 part castille soap to 10 parts water for heavy duty cleaning.

9. Dishwashing detergent
Natural automatic dishwasher detergent recipe:

• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup white vinegar

Blend all ingredients together. Store in a squirt top bottle. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes, shake well before use.

10. Veggie/fruit wash

11. Toothpaste. I’ve heard that pure liquid castile soap can be used for brushing your teeth! Has anyone tried this?

12. Backpacking. Because castile soap is so versatile and biodegradable you can take one small bottle with you and use it for everything without fouling up the environment.

“Aubrey de Grey is a man of ideas, and he has set himself toward the goal of transforming the basis of what it means to be human.” MIT Technology Review

Think twice about what you’re rubbing into your skin or scalp if your products include any of the following ingredients:

1. Cocoamide DEA (diethylalomine) TEA, MEA,– detergent in most shampoos, moisturizers and more Studies also show that DEAs (including cocamide DEA) directly inhibits fetal brain development in laboratory studies by blocking the absorption of choline, a nutrient required for brain development and maintenance.

2. Propilene Glycol - industrial antifreeze – in deodorant, shampoos, shaving gels, and moisturizers.

3. Sodium lauryl sulfate and flouride garage floor cleansers, detergents – in shampoos and toothpastes.

4. Benzaldehyde (in perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, Vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent).

• Narcotic
• Sensitizer
• Local anesthetic
• CNS depressant
• Irritates the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs and GI tract
• Causes nausea and abdominal pain
• May cause kidney damage

5. Benzyl acetate (in perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants)

• Carcinogenic
• Linked to pancreatic cancer
• Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects

6. Benzyl alcohol (in perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, Vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener)

• Irritates the upper respiratory tract
• Causes headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and drop in blood pressure
• CNS depressant
• Death in severe cases from respiratory failure

7. Ethanol (in perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover)

• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
• Irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract
• Causes initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision and ataxia
• Causes central nervous system disorder

8. Ethyl acetate (in after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid)

• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste List
• Narcotic
• Irritates the eyes and respiratory tract
• May cause headache and narcosis
• May cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys

9. Linalool (in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant)

• Narcotic
• Causes respiratory disturbances in some cases leading to death
• Causes central nervous system disorder

10. Methylene Chloride (in shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover)

• Banned by the FDA in 1988
• Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
• Carcinogenic
• Causes headaches, irritability, fatigue and tingling in the limbs
• Causes central nervous system disorder

Are you sure that organic cosmetics is safer than the conventional varieties? Not necessarily. When shopping for organic cosmetics there are specific ingredients that should not be on the label. These are:

11. Grapefruit Seed Extract. It derives its antimicrobial properties not from grapefruit seed, but from toxic chemicals, primarily benzethonium chloride, and to a lesser extent from triclosan and parabens.

12. Cocamidopropyl Betaine. It is toxic to the immune system and can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions.

13. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Anytime you see something that is hydrolyzed there is a hidden source of MSG that is absorbed into your bloodstream when it comes in contact with your skin.

14. PEG – Studies have shown that any ingredient that contains PEG in its name can be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane.

Unfortunately, these hazardous chemicals are going to remain quite legal in the use of personal care products for many years to come, as manufactures care about their convenience and profit, not about your health. But you do not have to expose yourself to toxic chemicals! Protect yourself by learning the truth about the products that you use (you can find a lot of useful info at Cosmeticsdatabase), and switch to products made with safer ingredients.

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!”

Audrey Hepburn’s favorite beauty tips that she often quoted in public were written by Sam Levenson. Levenson wrote “Time Tested Beauty Tips” for his grandchild. Audrey read it to her children on her very last Christmas Eve.

In this Philips Design Probe, human body is explored as a platform for electronics and interactive skin technology. Stimulated by touch, an electronic tattoo traverses across the landscape of body, navigated by desire:

Reference

1. Buy a humidifier. Humidifiers give off get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from drying out. For best indoor comfort, health, and beauty, a relative humidity of about 45% is ideal.

2. Winter sun, combined with snow glare, can damage your skin.30 minutes before going outside, apply a sunscreen lotion to skin that may be exposed to maintain a good protection from the UV rays. Choose a product that combines oil-based moisturizing cream with sunscreen.
Related post:
How safe is your sunscreen

3. Protect your beauty from the wind and cold: wear scarves, gloves, hats and hoods.

4. Moisturize and protect your lips with natural lip balm with SPF 15 or higher. Don’t lick your lips, as it makes chapped lips even worse.
Related post:
Natural home remedies for healthy and attractive lips

5. Hot water removes the essential oils of the body that maintains the balance of a normal skin. Take warm rather than hot showers and stay in the water a shorter amount of time. As well, wash hands in lukewarm, never hot, water.

6. Use a creamy moisturizing cleanser or a mild soap when bathing. Do not rub your skin with a towel, instead, softly pat it dry. Apply moisturize while skin is still damp to seal in moisture.

7. Use moisturizer that’s oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion. Moisturizers that come in ointment form contain 80% oil.

8. Avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners, as they strip skin of protective natural oils. Use mild, milky cleansers, toners with no alcohol, and hydrating masks. Pay attention to elbows, hands and feet, which tend to be drier than the rest of the body.
Related posts:
Homemade masks for natural beauty of your skin
Homemade foot care recipes

9. Exfoliate at least once a week using a gentle natural scrub. This will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture. It’s best to scrub skin when it’s dry.
Related post:
Homemade body scrub recipes

10. Nourish you skin by adding a few drops of jojoba oil or almond oil into your bath.
Related post:
Homemade baths: aromatherapy milk oil and sal bath recipes

11. Hydrate your skin from within by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which are dehydrating.
Related post:
Some more reasons to drink water

12. Avoid blow drier. Hot air dries out your hair and scalp and can irritate your skin as well. If you can’t imagine your life without blow drier, buy ionic ceramic hair dryer.  Ionic ceramic hair dryers offer less blow dryer related damage, and reduce dryness, frizziness, and flyaway hair related to static electricity.
Related posts:
Natural home remedies for damaged hair and dry scalp
Natural homemade shampoo recipes

13. Omega-3 fatty acid may moisturize your body from the inside and soothe super dry skin. Good sources of Omega-3 are: flaxseed oil, walnuts, and cold water oily fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines.

14. Make sure you get enough vitamins A (can be found in liver, cheese, eggs, cold water oily fish, carrots, red peppers, mango, melon and apricots), C (parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, oranges, lemons, and Brussels sprouts) and E (olive, soya, and corn oil, nuts, seeds, and wheat germ), which are powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals.

15. Exercise regularly. This keeps you fit, stimulates blood circulation and rejuvenates your body!
Related posts:
How to make exercise a habit
Living the active life

Vitamin E anti-aging face mask recipe:

• 2 capsules – Vitamin E
• 1 tbsp – Kefir or plain yogurt
• ½ tbsp – honey
• ½ tbsp – lemon juice

Mix the ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Turmeric anti-aging face mask recipe:

• ½ tsp – turmeric powder
• ½ tbsp – honey
• ½ tbsp – sour cream

Mix very well. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. First, rinse off with lukewarm water. Make sure to clean well your eyebrows and the opening of your nostrils. Now, turn the water ice cold, and rinse off a second time to close the pores.

Rejuvenating mask recipe:

• 1 tbsp – grated cucumber
• 1 tbsp – Kefir or plain yogurt

Mix the ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Facelift mask recipe for oily skin:

• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp – powdered milk
• 1 tbsp – witch hazel
• Juice of 1 lemon

Mix the ingredients until smooth. Apply the mixture on your face and neck for 15 minutes. Use the leftover mixture along with warm water to remove the mask.

Anti-wrinkle banana mask:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 mashed banana
• ½ honey
• ½ sour cream

Mix the ingredients. Apply on face for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Anti-aging aloe mask recipe:

• 1 tbsp- aloe vera juice
• 1 tsp – mayonnaise
• 1 tsp – honey

Mix very well. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off: first, with warm water, then, with cold.

Anti-aging apple mask recipe:

• 1 apple
• 1 tbsp – olive oil
• 1 tsp – honey

Bake the apple in an over or in a microwave. Mash it and mix with other ingredients. Apply the mixture on your face for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

• Almond oil, coconut oil and castor oil also have the ability to tighten the sagging skin. Take some oil and massage it on your skin on regular basics.

• Try to apply apple, pineapple, grape or lemon juice on your face for about 10 minutes.

• Make fruit ice cubes to use for the face.

• Eat lots of fresh fruits and raw vegetables that will provide vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants and keep your internal body replenished. Stay away from refined sugars and junk food.

• Dietary supplements for tightening a sagging skin involve vitamin C, vitamin E and MSM (methylsulfonyl methane).

• Keep the skin hydrated and smooth by drinking ample amount of water.

• Exercise regularly! Exercise that gets your heart rate high enough for 20 minutes or so (enough to make your skin flushed and sweaty) is a great way to rejuvenate your body.

• Here is a simple toning exercise that you can do everywhere, several times a day: Squeeze your buttocks as hard as you can for a count of three, then release. Repeat 10 times.

• Practice face yoga.

• Get massage or learn self-massage.

• Get fresh air.

• Get enough sleep.

Look gorgeous!

8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Metabolism is active.  Great time for beauty care! Clean your skin, moisturize and apply a day cream for your skin type.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Ideal time for hair care: haircuts, hair color, hairstyling. It is easy to conquer even dry, flyaway hair.

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The best time for facials! At this time, you are also less sensitive to physical pain: epilation, eyebrow threading, or beauty injections.

9 p.m.
Remove your make-up. Your skin needs relaxation and a breath of fresh air. Prepare a warm relaxing bath. Use a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells. Apply a night cream.

11 p.m. – 4 a.m.
Regeneration of skin cells and activation of anti-aging processes. Regeneration of cells is eight times more active during deep sleep than during any other time of a day. For the sake of your beauty, go to bed till 11 p.m.

Now, about the time when beauty procedures become almost ineffective:

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
At this time, your skin is very sensitive and vulnerable. Do not experiment. Wait till 6 p.m.

After 11 p.m.
Have not applied your night cream yet?  Do not waste an expensive product now: your skin is sleeping already, and the cream will be useless.

1. Sit erect in a comfortable position. Slowly move your eyes up and down, as far as you can, without moving the head or neck. Let your eyes see as far up and as far down as possible without causing strain. Repeat 10 times. Close your eyes and relax.

2. Next, slowly move your eyes from side to side, as far as you can, at eye level. Repeat 10 times. You will able to move your eyes farther and more easily with practice. Close your eyes and relax.

3. Keeping your head straight, look up to the top left-hand corner, then move your eyes across and down to the bottom right, then move them up to the top right-hand corner, and then across and down to the bottom left. Finish by moving your eyes back up to the top left. Repeat five times. Close your eyes and relax.

4. Look up to the position in the middle of your eyebrows. Hold for a few seconds and then move your gaze downwards, towards your nose.

5. Move your eyes slowly and effortlessly round in circles, alternating between clockwise and anti-clockwise motions. Repeat five times. Close your eyes and relax.

6. Hold your finger under the tip of your nose. Then start moving it away, without raising it, until you have fixed it at the closest possible distance where you can see it clearly. Then raise your eyes a little and look at a distant point on the horizon. Repeat five times. Close your eyes and relax.

7. Close your eyes as tightly as you possibly can. Hold this contraction for three seconds, and then let go quickly. This exercise causes a deep relaxation of the eye muscles, and is especially beneficial after the slight strain caused by the eye exercises. Repeatedly blink your eyes for about five times.

8. Rub your palms together and gently cup them over your closed eyes. Imagine the blackness getting darker and darker. Relax for a few minutes. It’s an ideal way to finish off the eye exercises. Palming also has a beneficial, relaxing effect on your nervous system.