Homemade Self -Tanning Lotion with Only 2 Ingredients

SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!


Some of us don’t have the extra cash to spend $$$ on bronze in a bottle and weren't lucky enough to be born with a deep, bronzed skin tone.

If you want to save money and avoid commercial sunless tanning products, I suggest you learn how to make your own homemade sunless tanning lotion.

You can make them at a fraction of the cost of their store-bought counterparts and you know exactly what is going into them. There are many different options and variations to sunless tanning lotion recipes, but the cocoa powder recipe works the best. I've tried the coffee and tea self-tanning concoctions, but they really don't work that well.


The best part about making your own sunless tanning lotion is that:

• You will avoid the weird orange color that sometimes comes from store-bought products.
• You can customize the exact color you want by changing the recipe up just a little.
• It is less expensive than its store-bought counterpart.
• The recipes contain no harsh chemicals.

My Self-Tanning Lotion only requires two ingredients; unscented organic white lotion and 100% organic cocoa powder.

Ingredients:

Organic unscented white lotion

100% organic cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Start out by combining 1/2 cup of unscented white lotion in a bowl with 1/3 cup of pure cocoa powder.
2. Use a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.
3. Adjust the recipe to match your desired color. The lotion will appear darker in the bowl than it will on your skin. Keep adding a little bit of cocoa powder at a time until you reach your desired shade.
4. Smooth the tanning lotion over your entire body evenly.
5. Apply daily for a gradual deep tan.

Tips:

• Store homemade lotion in a Tupperware container or in an empty jar that once held lotion.
• Choose a moisturizing lotion for added benefits.
• Exfoliate before application

The lotion will look very dark when you make it, but it does not show up that darkly on your skin. If you’re afraid to make it too dark, just use the standard 1/2 cup lotion and 1/3 cup cocoa and keep adding layers until it is as dark as you want it. You will be able to see the color as you apply it.

Have you tried an at home self tanner before and seen results?  Do you have any other at home remedies that have worked for you?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Happy Tanning!

Laurel xoxo

Homemade All Natural Dryer Sheets

Why should we worry about conventional dryer sheets. These unrecyclable petroleum-derived “sheets” are saturated with hormone-disrupting synthetic fragrances.  The chemicals used in fabric softeners are very pungent and strong smelling - so strong that they require the use of  heavy fragrances ( 50 times as much fragrance) just to cover up the smells.  They are made to stay in your clothing for long periods of time, which means that the chemicals are slowly released either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb.  Even choosing “unscented” products is dangerous, as most companies use a masking fragrance to cover up the original fragrance, which unfortunately makes them doubly toxic.

There are also many chemicals found in our sweet-smelling fabric softeners and dryer sheets that can cause serious health effects such as:

• Central nervous system disorders
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blood pressure reduction
• Irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract
• Pancreatic cancer
• Asthma symptoms

There is also no regulation on these chemicals, since the contents are treated as trade secrets by the manufacturers and companies are not required to list everything.

The truth is, most of us won’t feel the effects of these chemicals today, however they can affect you gradually over time, and infants and children whose systems are still developing, are particularly at risk.

Not only is this laundry solution seriously smart, it is also awesomely eco-friendly. For only pennies, you'll have dryer sheets that can be used over and over and over again. What makes these dryer sheets better than their store-bought counterparts is they can be personalized with your favorite scent and are free of any toxic additives. Along with leaving your clothes feeling soft and fresh, they'll smell clean and ready for wear. And once you try them, you'll wonder why you never made them from scratch in the first place.


Homemade All Natural Dryer Sheets

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of organic vinegar (the smell will not transfer to your clothes)
8 drops tea tree or other essential oil
Sealable container
Cotton cloths

Directions:

1. Start by cutting your cotton cloths into smaller sections.  You can use inexpensive dish towels from the dollar store, but old tee shirts or linens would work wonderfully too.

2. Mix together the vinegar and essential oil in a small bowl. Vinegar is a natural softener, and the essential oil gives your clothes a gentle, natural scent. Pour the mixture over the cloths until they are dampened but not soaked. Keep in a securely closed container.

3. To use, simply remove a sheet from the container, squeezing any excess liquid back into the jar, and toss into the dryer. To reduce static cling in clothes, reduce the heat temperature of your dryer. When clothes are dry, simply place the sheet back in the jar for use later.


I welcome your comments and suggestions - Thank You!


Laurel xoxo