Andy's List of Potions & Goodies

My friend, Andy (photo below) gave me this great list. She has always been a proponent of healthier options especially when it comes to everyday personal items, lotions, and potions. And just look at her - she looks fantastic and as fresh as a twenty year old! This post is a compilation of Andy's favorites as well as a few she hasn't tried yet.

Thank you, Andy for this wonderful compilation! May we all be as beautiful as you! Skin softener:

• Safflower oil. Apply after your shower before drying off. Apply a light amount onto to face, neck and chest for moisturizer. Safflower moisturizers and locks in moisture so do not apply in the morning if you're a makeup user.
• Vitamin E. Apply a thin layer into face, neck and chest ...especially around the under eyes. Great for combating fine lines and wrinkles.

Facial mask: 

• Raw Honey. Apply a thin layer of honey all over face and let sit for 20-30 min. before washing with warm water.
• Also good at healing flaky or raw patches brought on by Rosacea. Apply a very thin amount to affected area and leave it. Reapply after applying your regular skin routine and before makeup.
• Also great as an antibiotic. Must be Raw or unpasteurized for the enzymes, probiotics and antibacterial properties.

Exfoliation:

• Lips: Raw Honey & Raw Sugar - Mix a dime-size amount of honey to a nickel-size amount of sugar and rub into lips. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse off with warm water (or lick it off!)
• Face: Fresh lemon. Slice lemon and rub a slice all over face, neck, and chest. Repeat with a 2nd slice. Rinse with warm water. This brightens the skin, is rich in vitamin C, beta and alpha hydroxy.

Cleansers:

• Eye Makeup Remover: Olive oil or coconut oil. Gently rub into skin, rinse with warm water.
• Face Wash: Coconut oil. Rub a dime-size amount into hands then all over face, throat, and chest. Rinse with warm water. Ramsey's Tip: Follow up with a scrub of baking soda afterwards to remove excess oil, exfoliate, and cleanse pores.
• Toothpaste. Baking soda and cinnamon. Mix together, adding cinnamon to your taste. Dip toothbrush into mixture, brush teeth.

The following potions have not been tested by Andy (or me) yet. Please let us know if you try these and your results!

• Shampoo: 1 Tbsp. baking soda into 1 cup filtered or distilled water. Put into cleaned plastic squeeze bottle, shake to dissolve before use. Rub into hair, concentrating on scalp, and rinse. Ramsey's note: You may need more product in the beginning. This will not suds up like chemical shampoos, but will get your hair naturally squeaky clean. (Ramsey's note: I actually do add about 1 Tbsp. baking soda with my store-bought shampoo to improve the cleansing formula.)
• Conditioner: 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar (get the good stuff with the "mother" in it, Bragg's) mix with 1 cup filtered or distilled water in a plastic squeeze bottle (I use an old shampoo bottle I've cleaned), shake. Work thru hair and scalp. Wait 5 minutes then rinse.

The less chemicals we put into and onto our bodies - the better for our heath and the environment and our pocketbooks! That's a win-win-win. Visit http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ to learn more about the dangerous and safe products to use on your body. 

Be sure to check out these other posts on the Ramsey Farms blog on all natural products:

• DIY All-Natural Lotion
• DIY All-Natural Deodorant (Although I've reformulated this product and will soon post a new recipe)
• DIY Rosemary Bodywash and Hair Rinse
• DIY Laundry Detergent
• DIY Dishwasher Detergent

Again thank you, Andy for some awesome ways to simplify and replace our toxin-loaded chemical products with safe, all-natural, healthier alternatives. I hope you'll share more recipes, tips, and ideas with us again soon.