Eliminating the "dirty dozen" from your personal care products can be a tough chore that leaves your head spinning with ingredients like imidazolidinyl urea and thimerosol.  Your challenge this week is to check the label on at least one of your personal care products.  Does it contain any of the ingredients listed in the Green Guide's dirty dozen?  If so, start thinking about how you can replace that product when it runs out -- and ask yourself if you really need to use it at all!

One of the most fun ways to ensure your bathroom cabinet stays chemical-free is to skip buying commercial products altogether!  Making your own beauty products is simple, inexpensive, and eliminates any worry that your new facial cleanser contains scary cancer-causing agents.  And when you make it yourself, there's no added packaging to be tossed into a landfill when you're through.

_honey_on_a_spoon1.jpgSimple Facial Mask & Scrub*

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • dash of ground cinnamon

Instructions:

Mix the ingredients well in a small cup or bowl.  Smooth mixture onto face, avoiding eyes and sensitive areas, and scrub lightly for a moment.  This can be a little drippy, so be sure to apply it while over a sink or in the tub! Let the mask sit on your face for 5 to 10 minutes, scrub lightly again, and rinse with water.  Pat face dry with a towel and enjoy how soft and moisturized your skin feels!

*As with any new skin care product, always do a spot test on a small area of your skin first.

Did you try this recipe?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought -- or share DIY beauty tips of your own!