It’s undeniable. Natural and organic beauty products are slowly taking over women’s cluttered dressing tables and showers. It’s a double-whammy: they appeal to more informed, health-savvy consumers and answer the growing demand for effective, environmentally responsible products.
(image from lifehackery.com)
But another thing that’s got women like me interested is revisiting native beauty habits, usually gleaned from our great grandmothers. Many of these routines work on a trial-and-error basis, using the simplest ingredients available in most households — probably why they’ve been dismissed as old wives’ tales.
I’ve decided to put a lot of these old beauty habits to the test, and here are a few things that really worked for me:
The Scenario: I play tennis about thrice a week and I sweat. A lot. And it doesn’t smell pretty, either. I’ve never found a deodorant that kept the body odor or underarm wetness away for three hours straight (which is a big hassle for me while playing, especially in club tournaments). I’ve tried tawas (aluminum chloride), Driclor (burns my sensitive skin) and a number of deodorants from spray form to stick and gel form. All failures.
The Solution: Apparently, if I rub my underarm with baking soda, it cancels out any bad body odor my pits can come up with. And sponging good ol’ cornstarch over it also keep my underarm dry longer than any anti-perspirant I’ve tried (except Driclor, but I can’t bear the stinging from it).
I first read about this old beauty secret from Darlene’s site for By Nature Handmade Soaps.
Ready-made deodorant with cornstarch from gaiaessentials.com
The Scenario:I have fine, limp hair that I’ve worn short for most of my life. Then about three years ago, I started growing it out partly because I was too busy to go to the salon and partly because I wanted to see how it would look. My shampoo takes care of lessening my hairfall and adding body to my flat, straight hair, but my conditioner — although very nourishing — didn’t give the kind of shine and detangling effect I wanted.
The Solution:I can’t quite imagine the circumstances that led to the discovery of vinegar as hair conditioner, but am I glad someone was brave (or crazy) enough to try it. It’s so simple it feels too good to be true: I pour one capful of white vinegar (Datu Puti) into my tabo-ful of water (water dipper) with some drops of grapefruit and neroli essential oils to offset the sour smell. After rinsing my hair of shampoo under the shower, I pour the vinegar mixture all over my hair as a final rinse. (I just soap my face and body afterwards.) Hair is incredibly soft and detangled, not to mention shiny. It only seems stupid until you actually try it.
A word: I suspect the vinegar rinse wasn’t meant to be used daily. Some women experience dryness from using it everyday. Personally, I use it 2 to 3 times a week and it has worked very well.
Some women say apple cider vinegar is an even better hair conditioner. Essential oils are easy to find in malls and department stores these days.
One of the most engaging sites on eco-friendly lifestyle, Riverrest.net is an adovcate of the “No Poo” Movement: using baking soda paste instead of shampoo and vinegar as hair conditioner.
The How-to: Mix a little baking soda with water to make a paste and massage into your scalp. Rinse well then follow with the vinegar rinse for conditioning.
The Drawback: It could clog the drain after some time, but it’s nothing a littleeco-friendly lye (sodium hydroxide) can’t fix. Or pouring vinegar down the drain after the baking soda, followed with some boiling water will keep the drain clear.
Lye or sodium hydroxide (main ingredient of soap) is a great alternative for drain-cleaning and declogging because it is non-polluting. It breaks down easily and separates into harmless components once released in water and moist soil. But take care in handling it because it can burn skin and irritate air passages and eyes. Always use gloves, mask and goggles when using it.