If you take a look at the beauty products on your sink and in your shower, do you even recognize any of the ingredients? Most of our beauty products are made of tons of artificial ingredients and chemicals. Since “going green” and using natural products is so popular now, it’s time to make some changes in your beauty routine, too.

Organic and all-natural beauty lines are expensive, though. If you truly want to use natural products, it’s time to take a look in your kitchen. Lots of eco-friendly beauty lines contain food ingredients, and you can go straight to the source. Here are some things to try.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal works as an awesome natural face scrub, and it will exfoliate your skin beautifully. Just whip up some instant oatmeal with water, and don’t over-cook it because you want the oats to be a little coarse. You can add a few drops of honey, and spread it all over your face (it should be a paste-like consistency). Leave for 15 minutes and rinse. Your skin will be softer, smoother, and more hydrated.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a versatile natural beauty product. You can use it as a face wash, or put it on cotton balls and use it as a makeup remover. It’s also a great conditioning treatment for your hair. Just work olive oil into your hair, wrap with a towel, and shampoo about 20 minutes later. Your hair will be soft and shiny. You can also use a tiny (very tiny!) bit on your hair every day before going out. It will help smooth flyaways, improve the looks of split ends, and add shine.

Lemon Juice

Dip your fingers in lemon juice, and any stains from nail polish or every day nail abuse like washing dishes will be gone. Your nails will be left looking shiny and bright. You can also use lemon juice as a conditioner in the shower. After your normal shampooing, rinse your hair with a cup of lemon juice for healthier, more manageable hair.

Salt and Sugar

You can use salt and sugar to exfoliate your hands and feet. Mix it with olive oil or a little honey, and rub into your skin; it will be left smooth and moisturized. Just don’t use it on your face because it’s a little too harsh for skin that sensitive.

Cucumbers

What they say is true – cucumber slices on the eyes is a wonderful beauty treatment. Cut thick slices of cucumber and place over your eyes for about fifteen minutes (perhaps along with an oatmeal facial). Cucumbers reduce redness and puffiness in your eyes.

Honey

Honey is another great beauty product that can be used in many different ways. It works well to condition your hair. Just apply some after shampooing and rinse (it won’t be sticky). You can also use honey in many other natural beauty treatments, such as by adding it to an oatmeal facial, an olive oil conditioning treatment, or an exfoliating scrub.
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Georgia Williams is a fashion expert and writer who often blogs about everything from style tips to getting great deals on cosmetic brushes.
Photo Credit: bour3

Bottled water in America is a multi-billion dollar industry. Americans spend billions of dollars on bottled water, yet just about all of those people have a source of water right in their homes that costs a fraction of the price. Why do we spend so much money on bottled water when we can just turn on the faucets in our kitchen sinks? Water is essential to our bodies; it keeps us healthy and alive. But is one type of water really that much better for us? Some people are actually scared to drink the water in their homes. They use it to bathe and cook with, but they just won’t drink it. Why not? Is tap water bad for you?


Tap Water in a Developed Country

When you compare tap water across America to tap water in undeveloped countries all over the world, it’s hard to consider our tap water “bad.” In some other countries, it truly is bad to drink the water, and contaminated drinking water can kill millions of people every year. When you compare our tap water to water sources elsewhere, you see an example of what unsafe drinking water actually is. In those countries, they need bottled or filtrated water. Here, we don’t necessarily need bottled water, but we seem to prefer it and consider it safer and healthier. Is it really?


Bottled versus Tap


Bottled water advertisements and labels tell us that the water is completely purified, and they make us think the water they bottle comes from the most natural of places, like mountain springs and glaciers. The truth is that bottled water often comes from the same places as tap water does; the only difference is that it’s filtered a few more times. The extra filtration doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. In some lab studies, tap water was found to have no higher concentration of bacteria or germs than bottled. And for people who think bottled water just tastes better than tap – in many, many blind studies, people have consistently been unable to differentiate tap water from bottled.


Chemicals in Tap Water

Most people think that tap water is bad for you because it contains a lot of chemicals. They’re partially correct. Tap water does contain chemicals, but it doesn’t contain “a lot” of chemicals. Chemicals like chlorine and fluoride are used to treat the water and kill any germs that may exist in it before it’s delivered to your home. In large amounts, chlorine is toxic. However, the levels of chemicals like chlorine that are found in tap water are not enough to harm you. Another concern is lead, which sometimes enters tap water when pipes are corroding. Lead is dangerous, but again significant amounts are not present in tap water.


The Verdict

In the end, tap water is not bad for you. Water is good for you, no matter what. However, there have been some rare cases of tap water contamination. If you’re worried, you can perform a home test of chemicals in your drinking water. Alternatively, you can purchase a carbon filtration system that will purify your tap water and eliminate your need to buy bottled water ever again.

Chelsea Smith is a Health and Nutrition major at the University of Texas who loves to write about her passions and interests. She recently did an article on the benefits and nutrition of nuts.
Photo Credit: Tim Bayliss Photography