Tagged with 'homemade'

It's that time of year again to break out the camping gear, get the barbecue out of storage, and point the car towards the great outdoors. Unfortunately, that also means bugs, and plenty of 'em: mosquitoes, flies, gnats, chiggers, what have you.

Not much has changed since I was a kid; get out of the car, get slathered with foul, greasy, chemical-laden bug spray, and then repeat the process every few hours, or after you got out of the water. Again. And again. It would get in your eyes, on your hands, which would get on your food, and then nobody was a winner.

There haven't been many advances in insect repellent since the discovery of N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, which we know better as DEET. That stuff works, no doubt about it. It's also toxic to animal and plant life, stains (or even melts!) clothes, and it just all around unpleasant to use. Arguably, the only real innovation in commercial insect repellent is the invention of the squeeze bottle.

If you're thinking that there has to be a product that is better for you and better for the environment, there is: essential oils. It turns out that bugs don't like the aromas of many essential oils, they're 100% natural and you can even make them yourself! All you need are a few oils and other household items you can find – with a little hunting – at your local supermarket or pharmacy.

Essential oils (also referred to as volatile oils or ethereal oils) are generally steam-distilled or cold-presssed liquids containing many of the aromatic oils taken from plants, particularly the oil-rich rinds of citrus fruits. These oils contain many different phenolic compounds that deter many different species of biting insects naturally.

Citronella you may already be familiar with, as it's used in outdoor candles designed specifically to repel mosquitoes. Other popular oils used in natural bug repellents include cedarwood, catnip, rosemary, lemongrass, clove, mint, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and rose geranium, to name a few.

You can make natural bug repellents using water (for spraying) or oils (for spreading).

DIY Water-Based Bug Repellent

To make a sprayable bug repellent, you'll need to add to eight ounces of water about two to four ounces of an emulsifying agent, since oil and water are notorious non-mixers; either witch hazel or rubbing alcohol (or cheap vodka in a pinch). To this, add about 40-50 drops of the essential oils you want to use. Which ones? Well, that may require a bit of experimentation, as different oils repel different bugs, but citronella, cedar, and eucalyptus are among the most effective.

Pour this concoction into an amber glass spray bottle, give it a good shake, and you're good to go.

DIY Oil-Based Bug Repellent

It's easier to make an oil-based repellent, just add the same essential oils to a carrier oil, like coconut oil, mix, and store in a glass jar or tub. It's easily applied to difficult to get to areas, like ankles or behind the ears, and has the advantage of being (somewhat) waterproof.

Please note that essential-oil-based insect repellents are not recommended for children under three years of age.

So why not try making your own natural insect repellent. It's fun, effective, and at the very least, you'll smell great, and your hamburgers won't taste like DEET.

- Dave Meddish for Healthy Goods

It's that time of year again to break out the camping gear, get the barbecue out of storage, and point the car towards the great outdoors. Unfortunately, that also means bugs, and plenty of 'em: mosquitoes, flies, gnats, chiggers, what have you.

Not much has changed since I was a kid; get out of the car, get slathered with foul, greasy, chemical-laden bug spray, and then repeat the process every few hours, or after you got out of the water. Again. And again. It would get in your eyes, on your hands, which would get on your food, and then nobody was a winner.

There haven't been many advances in insect repellent since the discovery of N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, which we know better as DEET. That stuff works, no doubt about it. It's also toxic to animal and plant life, stains (or even melts!) clothes, and it just all around unpleasant to use. Arguably, the only real innovation in commercial insect repellent is the invention of the squeeze bottle.

If you're thinking that there has to be a product that is better for you and better for the environment, there is: essential oils. It turns out that bugs don't like the aromas of many essential oils, they're 100% natural and you can even make them yourself! All you need are a few oils and other household items you can find – with a little hunting – at your local supermarket or pharmacy.

Essential oils (also referred to as volatile oils or ethereal oils) are generally steam-distilled or cold-presssed liquids containing many of the aromatic oils taken from plants, particularly the oil-rich rinds of citrus fruits. These oils contain many different phenolic compounds that deter many different species of biting insects naturally.

Citronella you may already be familiar with, as it's used in outdoor candles designed specifically to repel mosquitoes. Other popular oils used in natural bug repellents include cedarwood, catnip, rosemary, lemongrass, clove, mint, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and rose geranium, to name a few.

You can make natural bug repellents using water (for spraying) or oils (for spreading).

DIY Water-Based Bug Repellent

To make a sprayable bug repellent, you'll need to add to eight ounces of water about two to four ounces of an emulsifying agent, since oil and water are notorious non-mixers; either witch hazel or rubbing alcohol (or cheap vodka in a pinch). To this, add about 40-50 drops of the essential oils you want to use. Which ones? Well, that may require a bit of experimentation, as different oils repel different bugs, but citronella, cedar, and eucalyptus are among the most effective.

Pour this concoction into an amber glass spray bottle, give it a good shake, and you're good to go.

DIY Oil-Based Bug Repellent

It's easier to make an oil-based repellent, just add the same essential oils to a carrier oil, like coconut oil, mix, and store in a glass jar or tub. It's easily applied to difficult to get to areas, like ankles or behind the ears, and has the advantage of being (somewhat) waterproof.

Please note that essential-oil-based insect repellents are not recommended for children under three years of age.

I recommend you give making your own natural insect repellent a try. It's fun, effective, and at the very least, you'll smell great, and your hamburgers won't taste like DEET.

Dave Meddish, Live Superfoods

A little unknown fact about me—I love beauty products! You name it, I have lots of it…lotions, sugar scrubs, salt scrubs, soaps, body wash, lip balms, and the list goes on. I’ve also become very particular about the brand of product I buy, all pending on its ingredients.

While pregnant, I discovered most commercial “products” contain an alarming number of chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins, which are quickly absorbed through the skin and into the body’s blood stream. These chemicals were drying out my skin and I obviously didn’t want to expose my baby to anything harmful.

Now I look for products made with “natural,” and ideally organic, ingredients that smell great and feel so good on my skin. Does SODIUM LAUROAMPHOACETATE, OXIDIZED POLYETHYLENE, SODIUM TRIDECETH SULFATE or CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN sound natural to you? Me, either. (Partial list of ingredients from OIay’s Pore Minimizer Scrub).

My one complaint about many of the “natural” products? Their cost! After a little exploring, I figured out I could make my own beauty products at a fraction  of the cost. Even better, I get to choose the quality of the ingredients and the results have been very satisfying.

Lemon is great for brightening dull, dry skin, so common during the winter months. Another reason to love this recipe is its versatility. You can substitute the peppermint scent for practically any essential oil scent, such as lavender for calming, tea tree for soothing, and sweet orange for brightening your mood. 

This time of year, these homemade items also make great gifts for friends and family. Give it a try!

Here is one of my favorite -- Lemon Meringue Sugar Scrub Bar

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup Shredded Soap (use an unscented type)
• 3-4 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
• 1 cup Organic Sugar

Silicone molds; any shape you want your bars to be.

Directions:

1. 1. In a double boiler, melt your shredded soap. It can take up to an hour to fully melt so be patient. If you do not have a double boiler, microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between until melted.
2. 2. Mix in your coconut oil until combined and add your lemon essential oil.
3. 3. Separate into two separate bowls.
4. 4. Add ½ cup sugar to each bowl, doing one bowl at a time. Mix until well combined. You are looking for a slushy like consistency.
5. 5. Pour into your silicone molds and allow to dry for 1-2 hours before unmolding.

*If your sugar and soap mixture gets too thick, microwave in 10 second intervals until you are able to pour.

Enjoy!

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods