DIY Ayurvedic Body Scrub – Vata

vata scrub lavender nutmegBody scrubs are ridiculously cheap and easy to make. You can use all sorts of things to make a body scrub: beans, grains, salt, sugar, herbs, flowers, or spices. A body scrub should be edible. If you can’t put it in your mouth, you probably shouldn’t put it on your skin.

If you’re a variable vata person, your skin is probably on the dry side, especially during the winter. We’re going to be making a nourishing body scrub today. Most oils are good for vata. Olive oil is easy to find and is warming. The lentils and nutmeg are ground into a fine powder and are gentle enough for daily use. Ashwaghanda is calming for the skin and helps to keep it from thinning. Honey is nourishing and moisturizing. This scrub has a lovely spicy floral scent, and is very soothing.  Continue reading

DIY Deodorant

Deodorant

Deodorant

Deodorant. Why make it yourself? Well, have you looked at the ingredients on your deodorant label? Even the natural stuff has some funky ingredients. You wouldn’t put these in your mouth, why put it on your body? Consider the amount of time you wear deodorant. 8, 10, 12 hours a day? That adds up to a lot of exposure time to toxic chemicals over the span of a week. Plus, it’s cheap. I like that.

Sweating is a necessary function of the body. Sealing that off that by applying anti-perspirant doesn’t make the body happy. You want a happy body, don’t you? This deodorant soaks up a modest amount of sweat. I’ve found that I’ve stayed pretty dry even in the high humidity of Okinawa. And, my pits smell awesome! So, there’s that. Continue reading