www.womanthismonth.com July 2017 37 Dry Shampoo (Commercial dry shampoos can be pricey and contain things like isobutane, butane and propane.) Source: wellnessmama.com • 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or organic cornstarch OR for dark hair • 2 tbsp arrowroot/cornstarch • 2 tbsp cocoa powder • Five drops of essential oil of choice (optional) • An old make-up brush to apply Put the drops of essential oil into the arrowroot or cornstarch and mix with a spoon. Store the mix in a small jar or old powder container. Apply with an old make-up brush to the roots or oily parts of your hair. Black Forest Chocolate Cake Facial Mask Source: Rodalesorganiclife.com Top Tip: Cherry juice is useful for lightening skin and clearing up dark spots. Cocoa powder is antioxidantrich, so it helps neutralise harmful free radicals and repairs skin cells. Good for all skin types. • 3 large ripe cherries, pitted • 1 tbsp kaolin clay • 1 tbsp almond milk • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder In blender, purée cherries, clay, almond milk and cocoa powder until smooth. Spread mask all over damp cleansed facial skin. Keep on for 10 minutes. Rinse face with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Follow with your favourite toner and moisturiser. Cover and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to one week. DIY Natural Deodorant Spray Adapted from Vegan Beauty Review on peta.org • 2oz. witch hazel • 12 drops favourite essential oil (sweet orange is recommended) Add the witch hazel and essential oil to a spray bottle. Put the top on and shake well before spraying under your arms. DIY Flaxseed Scrub Adapted from Vegan Beauty Review on peta.org • 1 tbsp flaxseed meal • 2 tsp granulated vegan sugar • 2 tbsp sweet almond, coconut, olive or jojoba oil Add all the ingredients to a small jar and mix until well combined. Apply a small amount of the mixture to your face and gently scrub in a circular motion. Wash off with warm water and follow with your favourite vegan toner and moisturiser. cleansers and eye shadows, and has been linked to occupation-related nasal and nasopharyngeal cancers, allergic skin reactions and harm to the immune system. Other chemicals found regularly in skin care products are toluene, which can cause foetal developmental damage; propylene glycol and triclosan, both skin irritants; and artificial fragrances. Sunscreens containing benzophenone, PABA, avobenzone, homosalate and ethoxycinnmate can cause cellular damage and cancer. According begoodorganics.com, the average woman uses 12 products in a day, which amount to 168 ingredients, or around two kilograms of chemicals over a year. Many of them are untested, or, worse still, tested on innocent animals, and have been scientifically proven to cause autoimmune diseases, thyroid function disruption, respiratory issues, skin disease, liver, brain and immune system damage, development problems, male and female reproductive hormone dysfunction and foetal development issues. It’s not just about humans. Humane Society International, a global animal protection organisation working to ban animal-tested products from the international market, estimates that approximately 100,000-200,000 animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice) suffer and die for cosmetics every year around the world. Other animal welfare groups put the figure much higher than that. The website http://www.hsi.org/ states that, typically, animal tests for cosmetics include skin and eye irritation tests, where chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of laboratory animals. These tests, including repeated oral force-feeding studies that last for weeks or months, can cause the animals considerable pain and distress, including blindness, swollen eyes, sore bleeding skin, internal bleeding and organ damage, birth defects, convulsions and death. But don’t despair yet. There are ways to ensure that what you put on to your skin is wholesome and cruelty-free. One option is to patronise brands that do not test on animals – Bath&Body Works, The Body Shop, Aveda, Lush, Paul Mitchell, dermalogica, NYX and Urban Decay are a few that are available in Bahrain (though you may wish to check the policy of their parent companies). Made right in Bahrain, OrganiCare, offers all-natural, vegan and organic personal care and beauty products with a clear ‘no nasties’ policy. But if you really want to go the whole mile, it’s not very difficult to make your own basic personal products. That way you know exactly what’s in them. Scary Fact: Labels on products can be incomplete and misleading. Manufacturers of beauty products don’t have to list all ingredients, thanks to loopholes in regulatory laws.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==