Soapless - 1 Month!

Well, I made it! One month of no soap, shampoo, conditioner, or deodorant. And I don't think I'm going back anytime soon.

No shampoo/conditioner: My hair has more curl. It also has more shine. I've had to get used to the shine. I've always thought this meant greasy, and if your hair was dull and dry, it was clean. There's more frizz, but I wonder if that's because it's SO dry here right now. I haven't had issues with a flaky scalp. I only use baking soda on it 3x a week, so I'm sure that helps. I'm interested to see if I can continue no 'poo once my hair grows out (it's currently shoulder length and usually in the typical mom ponytail).

No soap: No smell! In between showers I sometimes need to do a wipe-down with a wash cloth. But that's more because I'm not showering every day anymore. Another perk - my skin doesn't feel as tight. 

Oil cleanse face wash: I LOVE it. If I could get into doing it consistently, I'm convinced I'd almost always have Lear skin. When I wear makeup or go a few days without cleansing, I definitely get pimples. But when I'm being consistent, my skin is typically clear. And the added bonus is that there's a glow to it andost days I don't need make up! (This is HUGE considering I used to wear makeup every day!)

Homemade deodorant: It took me awhile to make this. I'm not 100% on board with this recipe. I found that it's too oily, so I either have to rub it in or wait awhile to put on a shirt. And it doesn't do a very good job as an antiperspirant. However, it does a GREAT job as a deodorant. No smelly pits! 

So, basically, I'm not going back to conventional bathroom products anytime soon!

What about you? Have you done any DIY beauty regimes? What worked?

Too Much STUFF

There's some exciting things happening for Papa Bear, Baby Bear and me. I can't discuss the details yet, but I will say we have been taking inventory of our life a lot lately. And we have noticed that we have a LOT of STUFF. I don't know how we managed to take what used to fit in a one-bedroom apartment and fill a three-bedroom house. IN LESS THAN A YEAR. But here we are, with more stuff than we could ever need. So, bit by bit, room by room (and let's be honest - "organizer" bin by "organizer" bin) we are on a quest to sell, trade, and donate most of our possessions. 

This quest got me thinking - what's up with all this stuff, and how did we fall "victim" to such consumerism is such a short amount of time? Well, we NEEDED it, DUH. Psh. But seriously, I truly think we should all take inventory of how we contribute to the cycle of STUFF, and how it's impacting our world.

Here's a GREAT (short) film about STUFF: 

Soapless - Week 3

Still frizzy. And still a deodorant bum. But my hair honestly feels clean - even the day after a shower (with the exception of the moments when Baby Bear runs her coconut oiled fingers through it). And I don't feel grimy. I'm loving how my face feels! In general, it is now consistently soft and smooth :)

A friend told me that coconut oil is better for summer skin and sesame oil is better for winter. I ordered some, so after this month is up, I think I'm going to make the switch!