We talk a lot about the food we eat, but what about the stuff we put on our skin? Recently I have become more and more interested in homemade hygiene products. The problem is, the natural products in stores tend to be way out of our price range. Fortunately, though, natural hygiene products are very easy to make and surprisingly effective. The hardest part for me was getting started. It took me a while to build up enough ingredients to make a product. Just like with eating a healthy diet, you need to stockpile a good base of natural ingredients. I bought one item per week until I had a good collection. Here are 5 essentials to get going:

• Coconut Oil: Organic and unrefined is best.
• Shea Butter: You might cringe at the cost of this stuff, but it’s amazing how far it goes. I bought some a few months back and use it every day, and have barely even used 1/4 of it.
• Almond Oil: If possible, fortified with Vitamin E.
• Essential Oils: I have lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, sweet orange, and peppermint, which are all reasonably priced and very practical.
• Beeswax Granules: Again, a bit on the pricey side but they last forever!

You’d be surprised how much you can do with just those five ingredients. Here are five recipes for hygiene products to make at home on a cold winter day:

Homemade Natural Lip Balm (via Free People Blog)

Easy Lotion Bars (via Wellness Mama)

Homemade Deodorant (via Everyday Paleo)

Homemade Natural Bath Salts (via Healthy Green Kitchen)

Homemade Baby Body Wash (via Kitchen Stewardship)

Have you ever tried out homemade hygiene products? How did they turn out?