Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (21 page)

HOW TO

1.
Place the beeswax and the oil in a bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water and warm until the beeswax has melted.

2.
Apply to shoes with a clean rag while the wax is still warm.

3.
Buff with another clean rag.

SHOE POLISH

As almost all shoe polishes contain horribly toxic ingredients, the best thing you can use to keep your kids’ shoes gleaming is olive oil. Just pour about ½ teaspoon of oil onto a clean, dry rag and buff up until the shoes shine.

CLEANING TENNIS SHOES

The best thing for cleaning up an old pair of tennis shoes is to make a paste of baking soda and water. Scrub the canvas, toes, and soles by dipping a toothbrush or old nailbrush into the paste. Rinse with water and leave to air dry outside in the summer, and on top of your dryer in the winter.

Baby Skincare Products

Most of the mainstream baby skincare products that we were raised with have that ubiquitous “baby” smell—a scent that conjures up images of pink, fluffy bunnies and daisy-filled meadows. The truth is that the “meadow sweet” scent you are filling your baby’s nostrils with is likely to contain a cocktail of toxic chemicals. It’s vital that you start recognizing that smell as totally fake. In the same way that apple-flavored candy tastes nothing like an actual apple, there is nothing in nature that is anything like that baby scent.

As a society, we are obsessed with cleanliness and we’ve taken it a bit too far. We obviously want everything to be clean and sanitary, especially around our babies. However, our fixation with antibacterial products is not healthy. Most antibacterial products—wipes, sprays, body lotions, and hand sanitizers—contain yet another cocktail of toxic ingredients that you would be wise to avoid. It’s far safer, more effective, and satisfying to make all your own products. I promise that your baby will still smell like a little angel, and you’ll still be able to keep harmful germs at bay.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I went shopping the other day, planning to buy a basket of organic baby products for a friend’s baby shower. The first shocker was how expensive every single one of these products was. The second shock was how
many
products there are for you to choose from. I know that these well-intentioned companies are trying to sell us everything they can, but when you really think about it, what do you actually need? The following recipes will cover everything you’ll need for a baby or child, and you will save a fistful of cash by making your own.

Diaper Cream

This is an extremely effective, gentle diaper cream.

Yields:
approximately 2 oz. of cream

Application:
use as often as your baby needs, to avoid chafing and diaper rash

Storage:
2-oz. dark glass jar in a cool, dark cupboard or the fridge

Shelf life:
1 month in the cupboard, 3 months in the fridge

1.
Gently heat the oils and beeswax in a small bowl set over a pan of boiling water. When the wax has melted, remove from heat.

2.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then stir in the vitamin E oil and the zinc oxide.

3.
Pour into your glass jar.

Baby Wipes

I recommend avoiding scented baby wipes, as the “fragrance” could be toxic. Making your own is terribly easy and cost-effective.

HOW TO

1.
With a sharp serrated knife, cut the paper roll in half so that you end up with two toilet paper–size rolls. You may need to use a sawing action with your knife to cut through the layers.

2.
Remove the inner cardboard rolls from one of the rolls. (Store the other for a second use.)

3.
Pour the water, soap, oil, and essential oil into the plastic container.

4.
Place the half paper roll, cut side down, into the container.

5.
Pull the towels out from the center of the roll.

6.
Keep the container tightly sealed to ensure freshness.

Baby Bubble Bath/Shampoo

Since a baby’s skin is so delicate, I recommend avoiding most drugstore bubble baths, as many of them contain harsh and toxic ingredients. There are some great natural alternatives, but like many of the nontoxic baby products, they can be really expensive.

You don’t need a separate product for your baby’s body and hair—let’s face it, we’re not talking about much hair anyway! This simple recipe meets your needs and is cleansing yet very gentle—perfect for a baby under 1 year old.