It seems we’re all striving for simple, frugal living these days. And we’re always looking for ways to save time and money, decrease our stress, and protect our health.

We all know we can recycle, drink tap water and stop using chemical cleaning products Those are the basics. But what about the feminine issues that we often have a hard time making changes with; the things we put off because it seems like a hassle or too expensive?

Just like switching to cloth or reusable feminine products took a few minor adjustments, it can be just as easy to adopt these following simple, frugal living ideas, as well:

Hair Care

Normal shampoo and hair care products are full of chemicals and additives we can’t even name, many of which have been linked to cancers and various other health or environmental problems. But organic shampoo can be expensive. And the resources involved in producing, packaging, and shipping organic shampoo is still extensive.

The solution is actually very simple. First, women can adopt an easy-to-manage cut or style that requires fewer or no products. Next, we can transition into washing our hair less often – remember the days when women only washed once a week? It worked because they weren’t stripping their hair of its natural oils, which causes the scalp to produce even more. This also keeps the scalp and hair follicles healthier, just as nature intended.

And we can switch out our regular products for simple, natural products instead. Many women have great success with “no poo” – washing with water only, or water and baking soda. Others use small amounts of liquid castile soap (at about 1-2 drops per ounce of water a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s will last ages). And try rinsing with watered-down apple cider vinegar (approx. 2 parts water to 1 part ACV) as an alternative to conditioner.

Lastly, when you must use products opt for those organic versions but use them in smaller amounts.

Skin Care

This is perhaps the easiest area to adopt simple, frugal living practices. Skin care should not be a big messy affair! There are four essentials to healthy skin: a healthy lifestyle with well-managed stress and plenty of sleep, a healthy diet full of lots of fresh fruits and veggies and plenty of water, gentle cleansing and gentle moisturizing as necessary.

My favorite product for moisturizing: Coconut oil! It’s rich in the same vitamins and minerals found in expensive wrinkle creams, is well-absorbed by your skin, and is even reported to help with things like age spots and healing. And it smells good! Use organic virgin coconut oil in small amounts under your makeup or before bed at night.

And hands-down the best thing to use to clean your skin is warm water and a wash cloth. Gentle washing with a cloth increases circulation and removes dirt and excess oil. If you feel it’s necessary, baking soda is a fantastic way to gently exfoliate and leave your skin feeling clean and fresh. As for removing eye makeup, use the same organic virgin coconut oil described above to remove makeup and moisturize around the eyes.

Natural Deodorant

The ingredients in conventional antiperspirants are often called into question, and rightfully so. But least often spoken of is whether it’s a good idea to stop our body from sweating in the first place; it is after all a very important way to eliminate toxins from our lymphatic system and being that those lymph nodes are so close to our breast tissue, quite possibly putting us at risk for cancer.

Whenever possible (at least once a week), skip the antiperspirant and allow your body to do its job. If you don’t sweat often or much, or you’re going to be in a cooler climate (such as during winter or in an air conditioned office) choose a natural deodorant to mask odors instead. Freshening up throughout the day or using cloth shirt guards for excess sweat is also an option.

And when an antiperspirant is a must, choose one that uses mineral salts or alum instead of one that lists any form of “aluminum.” And especially avoid conventional aluminum-based antiperspirants after shaving, as small unnoticeable nicks may allow more chemicals into the bloodstream than normal.

Natural Fertility

This topic is a biggie, but probably most important. Birth control pills have been linked to breast, ovarian and uterine cancer, stroke, heart disease, and so much more. There is also the dangerous affect of synthetic hormones making their way into the water supply simply by flushing the toilet.

Unfortunately the topic is way to big to cover in a few paragraphs. I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of the book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health. Knowledge and awareness are important parts of this area of simple, frugal living.

Feminine Products

And you ladies already have this covered, right? Choosing non-disposable feminine products, such as GladRags or the Moon Cup, supports your simple, frugal living efforts by reducing your waste and saving you money. And by avoiding synthetic and dangerous products and ingredients you’ll be decreasing your risk of infections and allergic reactions.

Of course all of this is just the beginning. If you’re interested in more ideas, click here for additional ways to incorporate simple, frugal living ideas into your life.

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Tara Wagner writes SustainableBabySteps.com, an online resource for people wishing to go green one step at a time. Visit the site for ideas and articles for every area of your life and subscribe to Going Green for updates and additional information and inspiration on simple, frugal living.