Cosmetics Alternatives



Nail Polish Removal Pads
If you polish your nails, next time you go to remove the polish, use a little square of fleece or other absorbant scrap of fabric.  You won't waste cottonballs and they're washable and reuseable.  Just toss the pieces in with your next load of underwear or wash out by hand.

Sugar Facial Scrub
Sugar is a cheap and effective face/body scrub.  Just put a little on a washcloth or your fingertips, get it wet until it's damp, then scrub like you would a normal cleanser.  Rinse and you're done!  Works well on oily skin.

Dry Shampoo
Sprinkle a small amount of cornmeal through your hair, let sit for a minute or two, then comb out.  This will soak up the oil on your hair and is safe to use in between spikes and on mowhawks.  This works on cats and dogs, too.

A variation of this is to put the corn meal in a container, add a few drops of  lavender oil, peppermint extract, or other pleasant smelling liquid, put the lid on the container, and shake.  Put it on your hair, let sit, comb it out.  This way your head will smell good, too!

DIY Perfume
Simmer a small amount of water in a saucepan with some of the following: flower petals, herbs, peppermint extract, spices, etc.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes or until you really start to smell the non-water ingredients.  Set aside to cool.  Place a few drops of vodka into a clean bottle(a teaspoon or so).  Add aromatic water to bottle (pouring through a strainer to remove the flowers/herbs/etc.) and put a lid on it.  Use your all natural perfume as you would any other perfume.

DIY Deoderant
Find a spray bottle.  Fill 1/2 with rubbing alcohol, 1/2 with water.  Shake to combine.  Spray on your armpits to kill the bacteria that make you smell.

Variation:  In a bowl add flower petals, herbs, peppermint extract, etc. to alcohol. let sit for a few minutes, then add the water.  Strain into a spray bottle.  Use on smelly armpits.

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