We're currently living in pretty unprecedented times so it's inevitable that some of us may be thinking a lot about how this pandemic should change the way our society functions. If anything, we should take COVID-19 as a lesson and a message from mother earth that we've not been treating her in the best way. Our actions have an impact on the natural world, and if we fight against nature, it will fight back. So, if you're one of the lucky ones that get to stay at home and you're feeling a bit lost and unsure of what to do with all this spare time, then why not do something that will help build towards a better, more mindful future, even if it's only in this very small way. Try out some or all of these plastic-free DIYs that can be done using many ingredients you may already have laying around the house. You'll not only be helping reduce your plastic footprint but also stay occupied during lockdown!
Bath bombs
Bath bombs are another favourite skincare/self-care product of mine that I have spent way too much money on in the past. Of course, you can buy them plastic-free from shops such as Lush but I know many people that choose to purchase bath bombs covered in plastic wraps because they tend to be less expensive. So, give this super quick and easy homemade bath bomb recipe ago to make your own custom bath bombs and treat yourself to a relaxing bath during this stressful time!
What you'll need (makes 4):
300g of Bicarbonate of soda
200g of Himalayan salts (or Epsom salt)
4tsp of Citric acid
1tsp of Cornstarch
10ml of coconut oil (or olive oil)
10-15 drops of essential oil (I used both eucalyptus and peppermint oils to help with muscle aches and pains)
Dried flowers (optional)
Bowl
Soap moulds (or any small round pot such as ramakins)
What to do:
In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together.
Once the dry ingredients are completely combined, slowly add in the oils. If you do this too quickly, the wet ingredients will activate the citric acid and the mixture will start to fizz. You will know when the mixture is ready to fill the moulds when it clumps together and resembles damp sand. An optional step would be to put some dried flowers in the bottom of the moulds before putting in the mixture.
Pack in the mixture into the moulds very tightly until it feels firm. Then leave overnight for the mixture to dry out. You will know they are ready to use when they pop out of the moulds without crumbling!
Beeswax wraps
Beeswax wraps are some of the most useful 'plastic-free' alternatives to have in your home. They're great for wrapping sandwiches for your packed lunch, storing foods in the fridge, or even folding into a pouch for an on the go snack, the list is truly endless. The only problem is that they can be a little bit pricey and especially in this current climate, price is pretty important. As we all want to save a bit of money, pass the time, and hopefully do something good for the planet, here's a quick and easy way to make your own homemade (much more affordable) beeswax wraps!
What you'll need:
Beeswax (Candelilla or soy wax for a vegan alternative)
100% Cotton Fabric
Parchment Paper
Baking Tray
Scissors
Grater
Iron
What to do:
Cut out pieces of 100% cotton fabric to the desired size and shape. I'd suggest using scrap fabrics such as an old cushion cover or old bedsheets. Here I used an old Ikea cushion cover that I was no longer using.
Place a piece of fabric on top of a larger sheet of parchment paper with an upside-down baking tray underneath, so that you are not ironing straight on to your surface.
Grate on a block of beeswax until the surface of your fabric is completely covered in small chunks of the beeswax.
Sandwich the fabric and beeswax with another sheet of parchment.
You can then start ironing! Make sure the iron is up to the max heat and push the melted wax around your fabric, making sure all the corners and edges absorb the melted wax.
Once your fabric is completely saturated in wax you can leave it to dry. This should only take 5-10 minutes.
You now have your very own beeswax wrap that can be used to keep all sorts of foods in your kitchen fresh as a daisy!
Body Butter Bars
Body butter bars are probably one of the most simple DIYs out there that it probably isn't even worth giving you a step by step tutorial. I'm still going to do it anyway because well, it's lockdown and I'm bored. I love using body butter in bar form because it's a whole lot more convenient than a body butter out of a pot and they're great to travel with. But they can be fairly expensive, a lotion bar from Lush can be £9! If you want to cut down on plastic but don't have the money to start buying all your fancy skincare products from expensive shops like Lush then this DIY is definitely for you! Making these yourself also means they are completely customisable to your preferences or needs! Some ingredients you might want to consider using are:
Shea butter - contains oleic acid (a saturated fatty acid) that is easily absorbed into the skin making it a very effective moisturiser
Cocoa butter - contains stearic acid that makes it very good at self-preserving, so your product will be fresher for longer!
Eucalyptus oil - great for easing joint pain as it has very powerful anti-inflammatory properties
Argan oil - packed full of oleic acid, linoleic acid and vitamin E making it great for extremely dry skin or conditions such as eczema
Sweet almond oil - contains vitamin E and A and omega-3 fatty acids giving it anti-ageing properties and reducing damage to skin cells
Coconut oil - packed full of vitamin E making it an amazing moisturiser for those with eczema or psoriasis
What you'll need (makes 4):
60g Beeswax (Candelilla or soy wax for a vegan alternative)
60g Coconut oil (or oil of your choice)
200g Shea butter (or cocoa butter)
Soap mould (or silicone cupcake cases)
Couple drops of essential oil of your choice (optional)
Dried flowers (optional)
Glass or ceramic bowl
Saucepan
What to do:
Place a saucepan with a small amount of water on the stove and bring the water to a gentle simmer.
Pop the beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil and essential oils into a bowl and place onto the saucepan.
Now, wait for all 3 ingredients to melt completely. The beeswax will take much longer than the butter/oil to melt. If you become impatient (like I did) then you can cut the beeswax into smaller chunks once it softens up, so it melts a lot faster.
While your mixture is melting, you can put some dried flowers in the bottom of your soap moulds. This serves no real purpose except that it looks pretty, so it's great if you're planning on gifting the bars!
Once the mixture has melted completely you can pour it into the soap moulds, be careful because it's going to be very hot!
Leave them to set for a couple of hours in a cool spot and you'll have your very own body butter bars!
Mimi x
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