Go Zero Waste One Product At A Time

You might have heard of the Zero Waste movement. The explanation is all in the name: reduce your consumption of non-reusable products with non-recyclable packaging so that you, as an individual, don’t add more waste landfill.

It’s a wonderful thing to do for the planet, and it’s a way for one person to lower their carbon footprint so significantly that they can have a positive impact on the world.

But it sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Zero waste. That means no food in plastic packaging. No beauty products in plastic packaging, either. And when you realise that you’ll find almost no beauty products on the shelves without plastic packaging, you have to think outside the box (literally).

Sometimes, that means doing it yourself. Yes: make your own beauty products! Far from being impossibly complicated — as the ingredients list on your usual shop-bought shampoo would lead you to believe — making your own lotions and potions can be simple, and the process can even become a kind of meditation as you mix aromatic essential oils to create your own scents.

And the products themselves will be good for you; made with natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals.

Homemade Zero-Waste Lip Balm

If you want to give it a go, start small to build your confidence. This homemade lip balm is the perfect first product.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of grated cocoa butter

• 1 tablespoon of high quality olive oil

• A few drops of an essential oil of your choice

Put the cocoa butter in a bowl on top of a pan of water (the bottom of the bowl should be just clear of the water). Bring the pan to boil and wait for the cocoa butter to melt.

Once melted, just stir in the olive oil and a few drops of your chosen essential oil. That’s it! Pour it into small tins or glass jars (check out your local charity shops for pre-used items rather than buying new) and leave to set at room temperature overnight.

Which Essential Oil To Use?

There are a vast array of essential oils you could choose from, but the best oils for a lip balm are those that have natural healing and anti-inflammatory properties. You could try:

• Wild Orange Essential Oil — it’s safe for use on the skin and speeds the healing of cracks or sores.

• Geranium Essential Oil — as well as being super soothing for chapped or sunburnt lips, geranium oil is effective for treating cold sores, making it a great addition to a lip balm.

• Patchouli Essential Oil — well known as a skin healer, patchouli oil is powerfully anti-inflammatory and is mild enough to be used safely on the lips.

Recipe adapted with thanks from Going Zero Waste

Purchase Essential Oils HERE

Love and Blessings

Julie xxx

#diybeauty #naturalbeauty #essentialoils #zerowaste