I've discussed the benefits of using coconut oil as a topical acne remedy, but I wanted to share something else that may be helpful for people suffering with acne.  After doing some research I've discovered that many toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) which has been linked to acne.  SLS can also be found in soaps and shampoos.  Many studies have been conducted on SLS and they have discovered that it does in fact act as a skin irritant, which can exacerbate or even cause acne breakouts.  Not only is it bad for your skin, but it is also a carcinogen (cancer causing) substance.

With all of that being said, I want to share a recipe for homemade toothpaste using coconut oil that is much safer than store brand toothpastes and it does not contain anything harmful, like SLS.

After doing some research I realized that there are a lot of variations of homemade toothpaste recipes. Rather than sticking to any of the recipes I came across while researching, I decided to wing it and come up with my very own coconut oil toothpaste. I've always been a fan of cinnamon toothpaste over minty toothpastes, so I thought I'd give cinnamon coconut oil toothpaste a shot. All I needed to make my toothpaste was three simple ingredients: coconut oil, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. I use Spectrum virgin coconut oil that is organic and unrefined. The coconut oil comes in a solid form, but liquefies once it is slightly warm. I buy ground cinnamon in bulk from my local health food store. I just use regular baking soda, which I purchased at the dollar store. Here's how I made my cinnamon flavored coconut oil toothpaste...

• Get a small bowl to mix the ingredients in, you will also need a spoon.
• Put 4 tablespoons of the coconut oil into the bowl.
• Add in 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
• Mix well with spoon until it is well blended. It should be nice and smooth once well-mixed, there shouldn't be lumps. If it is lumpy you may need to add more coconut oil.
• Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix well. If you don't prefer a strong cinnamon taste add 1/2 of a teaspoon instead.
• Mix all ingredients until they are nice and smooth and form a consistency similar to regular store bought toothpaste.
• Store your mixture in an air tight container in the cupboard or medicine cabinet.

I really love the light flavor of my cinnamon coconut oil homemade toothpaste. Keep in mind that since there is no sodium lauryl sulfate in this recipe (that's what gives regular store bought stuff that foamy sensation) it will not foam up like some toothpastes that you might be accustomed to. That does not at all mean that it is not doing it's job. It works amazingly well! My teeth always feel clean and refreshed after brushing with this simple homemade toothpaste. In fact, I had a dentist visit yesterday and my dentist mentioned how healthy my teeth were. When I told him about my homemade toothpaste that I have been using, he was surprised but told me that it's working great so I might as well keep using it. I definitely don't plan on going back to the old store bought stuff with all those harmful nasty ingredients. One of the other main benefits is the baking soda helps to whiten teeth while the coconut oil has natural antibacterial properties that help keep your gums and teeth healthy.

A few recipe variations and additions for homemade toothpaste...

While doing research I did come across some neat ideas for coconut oil toothpaste, but they take a little more effort and my goal was to keep it cheap and simple. Here's some of my other favorite takes on coconut oil toothpaste...

• Try adding in a little sea salt to your mixture, it helps keep gums healthy.
• Not a fan of cinnamon? No problem, just add 15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil to the above mentioned recipe to give it that minty fresh flavor.
• Want that foamy feeling like store bought toothpaste but don't want all the added harmful ingredients? Well, just add a teaspoon or two of natural castile soap to get that foamy sensation that you get with store bought toothpastes.
• Add some Stevia natural sweetener to your coconut oil toothpaste to help balance out the salty taste that it may have. Just one packet should work.

Finding a good powder foundation for my face has become somewhat of an art for me. I spend hours looking at labels and reading ingredient lists before deciding on purchasing a makeup product that I'll be applying to my face. Part of this is due to the fact that I don't want to run the risk of breaking out. Obviously I'm a huge fan of natural remedies for treating and preventing acne, but just recently I came across the idea of making my own all-natural makeup products as well. I'll be honest, I'm not a big makeup person, but I do wear mascara and foundation powder on a regular basis. I try to avoid liquid foundation because it really exacerbates my acne and clogs up my pores resulting in major breakouts. I've found that loose foundation powder works great for my particular skin type (combination breakout-prone). It covers up blemishes and evens out my skin without being too heavy. If I need extra coverage I'll even mix a bit of my loose powder with a few drops of water and then apply it so it is actually more like a liquid without the heaviness.

Tonight I decided to make my own all-natural foundation powder. Homemade makeup just sounds genius to me! I wasn't expecting it to work out well, but I was really surprised to find that the powder I made actually is comparable to powders that I purchase for $15 or more! Not to mention it's completely natural and homemade, which means it doesn't have any harmful chemicals or irritants! Major bonus!

If you're interested in making your own face powder, here's how:

Ingredients:

• Pure corn starch
• Natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• Natural ground cinnamon

You'll need a small container with a lid to store your powder.  I just used a small bowl with a tight fitting lid.  To make your powder you'll first need to start with a base of about 3 tablespoons of cornstarch.  Add small amounts of cocoa and cinnamon until you get the right tone for your skin.  I can't give exact measures because it really depends on your skin tone.  Darker skin = more cocoa powder and cinnamon, light skin = less cocoa powder and cinnamon.  Also, if you have a tan complexion you may want to note that the cinnamon has a slightly reddish tint and the cocoa is more of a brown undertone, so mix the two until you get something that matches well with your coloring.  When you think you have the right color, simply test it out on your cheek.  If it's not quite right, keep playing with the mixture.  If you find that you've made it too dark, just add a little more cornstarch to lighten it up.

Apply the mixture as you would any other loose powder.  Make sure you mix it really well to get rid of clumps.  You can even use a sifter if you want a really fine powder, but honestly it goes on fine either way.  I use a regular powder brush (I looove my Eco Tools powder brush!) to apply my homemade face powder.

Total cost:

• $1.67 for the cornstarch
• $3.00 for the cinnamon
• $2.99 for the cocoa

That's a total of  $7.66 for several months supply of foundation powder! Not to mention you have plenty of ingredients left over for multiple batches, most likely six months or more!  Taking into account that most high quality mineral foundations run upwards of $20 for a small container, I'd say this is definitely the smart way to go! I would choose homemade makeup over store-bought junk any day!

*For those with acne prone skin, this foundation powder is an excellent option. Not only is it a healthier option, but the cinnamon is great for treating and preventing breakouts because it has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties!

Applying a face moisturizer should be part of every good skincare routine.  People who struggle with acne and breakouts might be a bit more selective about what lotions they use on their face.  Some face lotion on the market may claim to be hydrating and healthy for your skin, but if you take a look at the ingredients on the label you'll likely see several things that are downright horrible for your skin.  Preservatives, parabens, artificial fragrances and dyes, alcohol, SLS, and phthalates are all common chemicals found in over the counter face lotions. These chemicals are not only terrible for acne prone skin, but they are damaging to normal skin as well.

Rather than spend money on a store bought face moisturizer, why not make your own healthy all-natural DIY face moisturizer? This simple face lotion recipe can be made with just three ingredients.  Not only will it keep your face hydrated, but it will also help keep acne breakouts at bay because the coconut oil and aloe have natural antibacterial and healing properties!  So, this really is a multipurpose DIY face lotion that you can use year-round.

To make your homemade face lotion, you'll need:

• Organic Coconut Oil
• Organic Jojoba Oil
• 100% Aloe Vera Gel

Step 1:  Add 1/2 cup coconut oil and 5 tablespoons of jojoba oil to a blender (a smoothie-sized blender works great for this).  Blend together for several pulses until it's mixed well.

Step 2: Add in 2 tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel to the mixture and blend again until all ingredients are mixed together well.

Step 3: Spoon the mixture into your clean and sanitized containers.  Store at room temp. 

*For larger quantities simply double up the ingredients used. 

This all-natural DIY face lotion can be applied morning and night after cleansing.  If you want to get creative you can also add several drops of essential oils, like lavender, lemongrass, or tea tree oil to amp up the acne fighting properties and add a pleasant scent.