• Spring Clean

    Article by Ey@el

    Original en français

    To celebrate the equinox, I'd like to share a couple of homemade recipies to rejunevate your skin, whiten your teeth, and blacken and strenghten your eyelashes with one single magical ingredient known and widely used since times immemorial: activated charcoal.

    Activated charcoal is pure carbon resulting from the carbonisation of ash/poplar wood or coconut shells. A special treatment gives it a high capacity to capture and retain toxins such as heavy metals and poisons. In addition to its detoxifying and antipoison properties, activated charcoal may also prevent hangovers when drinking too much alcohol, clean up your digestive system, relieve bloating, lower bad cholesterol and purify water. As a cosmetic ingredient, it removes stains from your teeth, cleanses your gums, reduces body odours, acts efficiently against pimples, insect bites, itching and even snake bites. It also has anti-ageing properties.

    Solid Toothpaste

    Ingredients

    • 13,3 g calcium carbonate (precipitated chalk)
    • 5 g stearic acid
    • 1,3 g mild surfactant
    • 7,3 g coconut oil
    • 5 g vegetable glycerin
    • 1 g activated charcoal
    • 14 drops spearmint (or peppermint) essential oil

    Instructions

    Melt carbonate, stearic acid, surfactant, coconut oil and glycerin in a double boiler. Stir well until you get a smooth mixture. Remove from heat and add charcoal and essential oil. Transfer to a small silicone mould or jar. Let stand for 30 minutes in the freezer and wait 48 hours before using.

    NOTE: Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid usually found in vegetable fats and oils (shea butter, cocoa butter, palm oil). It is used to add texture to the mix, which otherwise would crumble.

    Just wet your toothbrush, rub it against the toothpaste to pick some up, then brush as you normally would. A small quantity does it and note that it won't foam. After a couple of weeks you should notice your teeth are whiter (of course, do not expect to have a perly white smile as shown in commercials). Should keep at least 6 months.

    Exfoliating Detoxifying Mask

    Ingredients

    • 0,6 g activated charcoal
    • 3 g olive kernel powder
    • 40 g white clay
    • 38 ml rose water (or any floral water)
    • 10 drop tea tree essential oil

    Instructions

    Mix powders together and progressively add floral water until you obtain a smooth moist consistent paste. Add essential oil then transfer to a small 100 ml jar or airproof container.

    NOTE: Use on a clean wet face as a scrub to rub off dead skin or as a mask by applying a thick layer and keep 10 minutes before rinsing off with clear water. Should keep for a month. Probably longer is stored in a cool place.

    Cake Mascara

    Ingredients

    • 1,5 g bee wax
    • 1 g candellila wax
    • 3,75 g castor oil
    • 1,25 g shea butter
    • 1-3 drops liquid honey
    • 1,2 g acacia gum
    • 0,45 g cellulose fibres (optional)
    • 1,2 g activated charcoal
    • 1 drop vitamin E
    • 1 drop natural rose fragrance (optional)

    Instructions

    Melt wax, oil and butter in a double boiler. In the meantime, mix acacia gum and cellulose fibres with a few drops of honey to get a sticky mix. Incorporate to oily mix then add remaining ingredients, stirring well to obtain a smooth paste. If too thick, put back on heat before transferring to a 15 ml jar or a couple of eyeshadow tins. Let stand for an hour in the fridge to accelerate hardening.

    NOTE: Just wet a lash or mascara brush, rub it against the cake to pick some up, then apply on lashes as you normally would. Don't forget to clean the brush with soap and water before and after use to avoid bacterial contamination. This is very important since this mascara doesn't contain any preservative (and zero risk to irritate your eyes). Charcoal is used here for its black colour but also its protective effect (it's a major component of the famous khol used in India by women and men alike to protect their eyes from pollution and prevent eye infections); castor oil is known for its strengthening effect and to promote growth; cellulose fibres are used to extend the length and thickness of eyelashes.

    If this recipe reminds you of my natural shoe-shine, it's because that's how I got the idea to create it. Unlike regular tube mascaras from organic brands I've tested, this one won't smudge or dry out. It won't leak and will keep your lashes soft. You may have to apply several coatings to obtain your desired effect whether for a natural or sophisticated makeup. You may also use it as an eyeliner with the proper brush (I personally prefer my DIY liquid eyeliner) or eyeshadow and even use it on your eyebrows if they're dark enough. I can't tell you how long it keeps, but provided you always keep your brushes clean, it should last very long since there is no water in it.

    Last but not least, I forgot to mention at the start of this article that all cosmetic recipes require that you disinfect your equipment, containers and work surface.

    Ey@el

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