![\"Besides](\"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Besides-the-coconut-oil-all-of-this-was-purchased-in-Hyogo..jpg\")
<\/a>I decided to attempt to make deodorant myself. Then I would be bound to like the way it smells, and if I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t, I could guiltlessly try again. I found a recipe that I could create from what was already in my pantry, and, as it turned out, it is the most effective deodorant I have ever used.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I was then determined to make and replace as many household products as I could. I am, slowly but surely, taking ownership of the way I smell, and never again will I need to worry that something will be unavailable when I move to another country. Some of these products are more successful than others, but they are definitely worth trying.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Many homemade household products use essential oils as ingredients. They are an expensive initial investment, but a tiny bottle goes a long way. Just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t use any 100-yen shop oils, as they are bound to contain impurities and could be harmful if used on your body. Instead, I praise the quality of Hyogo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own Kodera Herb Garden<\/a> essential oils. The farm\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s owner takes sustainability very seriously, and the oils are guaranteed to be of the highest quality. Kodera essential oils are sold in Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, at the farm in Kodera<\/a>, as well as online<\/a> (I also highly recommend their dandelion coffee<\/a>).<\/p>\n Here are some recipes for personal care. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be intimidated by the high price tags of the ingredients; they are extremely versatile and can replace many other household products. Links are provided for products that are difficult to find in grocery stores or drugstores. 1\/4 c <\/i>coconut oil<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 1\/4 c arrowroot powder (<\/i>\u00e8\u2018\u203a\u00e7\u00b2\u2030 kuzuko. Cornstarch also works)<\/i><\/p>\n 1\/4 c baking soda (<\/i>\u00e9\u2021\u008d\u00e6\u203a\u00b9 juusoo)<\/i><\/p>\n 10 drops <\/i>tea tree oil<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n Heat the coconut oil on your stovetop just until it melts, then combine with all other ingredients.<\/i><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n When used as a solvent for deodorant, coconut oil serves two functions: it blocks the production of bacteria and soothes skin. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, but any higher and it liquefies, so store your deodorant in a watertight container, or in an old deodorant container kept in the fridge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shaving Cream<\/b><\/p>\n 1 bar soap (any will do)<\/i><\/p>\n 1\/8 c <\/i>rosewater<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 1\/8 c <\/i>liquid castile soap<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 1 1\/2 tsp olive oil or coconut oil<\/i><\/p>\n Melt the bar of soap in a double boiler (or a metal bowl over a small pot of boiling water). Add remaining ingredients.<\/i> <\/p>\n Toothpaste<\/b><\/p>\n 1 Tbsp baking soda<\/i><\/p>\n 3 Tbsp coconut oil, <\/i><\/p>\n 1-2 tsp <\/i>xylitol granulated sweetener<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 10 drops (or more) <\/i>peppermint oil<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n Mix all ingredients. Adjust to taste.<\/i> <\/p>\n Clarifying rinse<\/b><\/p>\n 4 c water<\/i><\/p>\n 1 c apple cider vinegar (<\/i>\u00e3\u201a\u0160\u00e3\u201a\u201c\u00e3\u0081\u201d\u00e9\u2026\u00a2ringosu)<\/i>\u00e3\u20ac\u20acOR 1\/2 tsp citric acid<\/i>\u00ef\u00bc\u02c6<\/i>\u00e3\u201a\u00af\u00e3\u201a\u00a8\u00e3\u0192\u00b3\u00e9\u2026\u00b8 kuensan<\/i>\u00ef\u00bc\u2030<\/i><\/p>\n Mix and pour over hair.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Apple cider vinegar is very good for you, especially if you drink it, but the smell on your body through a day can be off-putting. Citric acid has the same detangling and buildup-removing effect on hair without the smell.<\/p>\n Hair gel<\/b><\/p>\n 1\/2 c water<\/i><\/p>\n 1 tsp agar powder (<\/i>\u00e5\u00af\u2019\u00e5\u00a4\u00a9\u00e7\u00b2\u2030 kantenko)<\/i><\/p>\n 5 drops essential oil of your choice<\/i><\/p>\n Dissolve agar in boiling water, and continue boiling until there is 1\/4 cup of liquid. Remove from heat, add essential oils, refrigerate.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell you how pleased I was when I discovered this recipe. Hair products for curly girls are impossible to find in Japan. And yet, with agar in every supermarket\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dessert section, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not! This gel works well for defining curls but not for hold. Use oil (preferably coconut, olive or grapeseed) to smooth flyaways<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bug repellent<\/b><\/p>\n 2 Tbsp olive oil<\/i><\/p>\n 10-25 drops of any combination of these essential oils: <\/i>peppermint<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>lemon,<\/i><\/a> <\/i>lemongrass,<\/i><\/a> <\/i>lavender<\/i><\/a>, <\/i>Kodera\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Mushi-Yoke blend<\/i><\/a><\/i><\/p>\n Combine all ingredients. *Never use essential oil directly on the skin. Always thin it out with another agent first.*<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This repellent is meant for skin, but for the house version, use 1 cup of water instead of the olive oil. Spray on screens and concrete, but avoid tatami, hardwood and wall paint. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s pretty effective if used about once a week.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Face powder<\/b><\/p>\n corn or arrowroot starch <\/i><\/p>\n optional: cocoa powder, alcohol<\/i><\/p>\n Combine ingredients and store in an old powder container. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have one, Muji does.<\/i> If you prefer a pressed powder, add rubbing alcohol or vodka to the mix and let it dry thoroughly before using.<\/i><\/p>\n I only recently started using skin makeup after feeling conscious about my age. I asked around and was recommended Bare Mineral\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Skin Veil many times, but when I read the ingredient list, I realized that my friends have been paying upwards of 3000 yen for corn starch. Upon experimenting with cornstarch alone, I was very happy with the translucent results, but for people with darker skin, adding a little cocoa powder may help with matching skin tone.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nDeodorant<\/b><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThe end result of this shaving cream will be semi-hard, and will require a shaving cream brush for application, but it will also be the best shaving cream you will ever use.<\/p>\n
\nTo be honest, this really wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for me. Commercial toothpaste\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s burning-clean sensation and froth is difficult to replicate at home. However, if you can live without the mouthfeel, this recipe is actually quite effective at cleaning teeth.<\/p>\n