With our skin being our largest organ, and our soft armor against the world, we ought to be mindful about what we allow to come into contact with it. I used to grab products off the shelf for their beauty claims, beautiful packaging or great price, completely unaware of toxic contents they contained. Over the years, however, I began to discover questionable ingredients in the products I was using which convinced me to change my attitude and **really tune into what I was putting *in and on* my body.**

<center>![Powder](http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PowderBlend_STEEMIT_O7A6689.jpg)</center>

So often the messages we receive about these toxins is, *just a little bit won't hurt.* But what happens when the *little bits* begin to add up and we're subjecting ourselves to harmful chemicals for decades? **I decided I didn't want to find out.** Our bodies are made up of intricate and interconnected systems and for me, the time had come to start respecting this vessel I was given. I began taking more care with which products I was using, and even made a few of my own.

Naturally, when our twins arrived, Matthew and I knew that we would have to scrutinize every product we used. While we had to nix a few of our ideas, simply because they were not feasible with twins in a tiny house, we made a concerted effort to keep our babies exposure to toxins as minimal as we possibly could.

Sometimes, we stumble onto really great products only to discover later that they were even better than we imagined. **A friend of mine had given me a natural baby powder while casually mentioning how she had discovered the dangers of using talc baby powder.** I was completely oblivious, but when I dug a little deeper I learned that long-term exposure to talc could put you at risk for for both lung and ovarian cancer. I was in shock but felt slightly vindicated for being hyper vigilant about baby products.

<center>![Lavender](http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/marco-secchi-586948-unsplash_STEEMIT.jpg)*Photo by [Marco Secchi](https://unsplash.com/photos/kQ1HaRaHEWU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/@marcosecchi?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)*</center>

When the powder ran out, I searched for it high and low but couldn't find it anywhere. I settled for another natural product but found that the ingredients were more slippery and slid straight off their skin and into the diaper. I felt like I was shaking dollar signs out of the bottle instead of baby powder; baby boutiques have learned they can charge premium prices for even the simplest products. **So I decided I would make it myself instead.**

I compared the ingredients of the two natural powders and discovered that the one I liked had simple and easy-to-find ingredients. All I needed to do was figure out the quantity of each ingredient I needed combine. As I searched for a recipe to create the perfect blend I discovered that these ingredients were even better than I imagined.

<center>![Powder Ingredients](http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ingredients_STEEMIT_O7A6674.jpg)*These are all of the ingredients I used. I saved the shaker from the last baby powder I had bought and reused it.*</center>

### Baby Powder Recipe

* 1/2 cup Arrowroot Powder
* 1/2 cup Tapioca Starch
* 5 Tbsp Kaoline Clay
* 12 drops infused Lavender Oil

So what makes these simple ingredients so good? Well, let me tell you! Also keep in mind that these are just a few of the benefits I found along the way:

### Arrowroot Powder

This naturally absorbs moisture which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. Arrowroot is also anti-inflammatory in addition to being an immunity booster. Ingesting arrowroot can help aid in curing bladder inflections which makes me believe that it's healing properties would also be beneficial when used topically as a diaper powder. It's ability to sooth pain is why you will find arrowroot cookies advertised for teething babies. Traditionally, arrowroot came by it's name for it's use in healing wounds caused by poison arrows. 

### Tapioca Starch 

Tapioca starch is derived from the cassava plant which has a long history of medicinal uses, in addition to it's culinary applications. This natural starch has absorbent qualities which make it ideal for keeping moisture away from skin. The root was given as a treatment for bladder inflections and applied directly to the skin by folk healers to speed up healing wounds and sores. The properties of cassava also promote skin health and help boost the immune system.

### Kaolin Clay

Possesses absorbency properties which are known to soak up excess oil and moisture. The beauty industry also utilizes kaolin clay in facial masks for detoxifying skin and keeping pores clear. White clays are known for being suitable for sensitive skin, aiding in soothing rashes, redness, and irritated skin. The texture of kaolin is very silky smooth as well.

### Lavender

In addition to smelling wonderful, lavender has been used to treat anxiety, fungal infections, and wounds. Other notable benefits of using lavender oil are as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have also seen rapid healing effects from using lavender oil to treat wounds.

With each ingredient being loaded with healing and preventive properties I felt good about combining these elements for bum care. We had experienced a few incidents of irritation on their sensitive skin and in one case little H had such bad diaper burn we chose to wash his bum under a tap and gently pat dry at each change. His skin had become so raw that the act of wiping would send him into heavy sobs. Penaten was recommended to us but not only would it cover the irritation poorly, it was also inhibiting the skin from being able to properly breathe and dry out which in turn prolonged the healing process. We switched to powder and saw a drastic improvement with in a few short days.

![Baby Powder Test](http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/WristPosder_STEEMIT_O7A6705.jpg)

When I mixed the powders together I would apply some to my wrist and rub to see how it felt. I wanted to make sure the combination was smooth enough not to cause irritation but not so slippery that it wouldn't adhere to their skin. I adjusted the kaolin clay to add some softness to the application. If you want to make your own powder I would suggest testing the powder on your own skin to make sure you are satisfied with the application. 

![Lavender Cotton Ball](http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Infused_Lavender.jpg)

Some recipes recommended using a blender to break up the lavender oil clumps but that felt like it was going to be way too much work and clean up for me. Instead, I put 12 drops of lavender oil on a cotton ball and stuck it in a jar with the bulk of the powder. Before I transferred the powder to the shaker bottle I removed the cotton ball and shook it up. The powder smelled great. I am keeping the lavender cotton ball in with the bulk powder in the meantime.

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### Dry Shampoo: An Unexpected Benefit

One of my secrets to keeping my hair healthy is to only wash it every 3 to 4 days. When I initially started doing this my hair would become oily very quickly and I would remedy the greasy appearance by adding some hair spray and back combing (before I was more considerate of my beauty products). After a while though, my hair began to adapt and wouldn't become oily until the third or fourth day without a wash.

When you wash your hair often your scalp begins to produce excess oil in desperation to coat the strands of your hair from root to tip. When you give your hair the oil it needs by combing it through each day, your scalp will slow down the oil production. My hair dressers often compliment me on the health of my locks.

One day I was getting ready to head out when I realized I was on day four and oil had accumulated at my roots. I looked like a real greaser. There was no way I would have time to shower before heading out so I took a chance and shook some baby powder into the roots of my hair. I let the powder sit for about 5 minutes before running a brush through my hair and giving it a good shake over the tub. **Magic!** It worked, and my hair looked refreshed and had a lovely scent too.

Some beauty sites recommend using white powders for lighter hair and cocoa powder for darker hair. I found the baby powder shook out well enough that you couldn't spot any noticeable remnants but I may try to cocoa powder in the future.  

Have you made any DIY baby or beauty products? How did they work for you?

#### Please keep in mind that information given here is intended for research purposes only and that you should always do your own research before using any products for medicinal purposes.

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**Sources:**

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.htmlhttps://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/arrowroot.html

http://foodsanddiseases.com/cassava-tapioca-medicinal-uses-properties-and-health-benefits/

https://beautymunsta.com/beauty-benefits-of-kaolin-clay/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265922.php

### Unless otherwise stated, all photos are the original work of Mrs. Canadian Renegade.

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