Don't waste your lotion.

No one likes knowingly waste things but what are you unknowingly wasting or even knowingly wasting? You've heard it before, there is still lotion left in the container when you have squeezed/pumped all you can out. Do you cut open your containers to get that last little bit out? Most likely no, even though you've probably know there is more in there. Just how much is left in there? Is it really worth the trouble? There is probably more than you think in there and depending on the kind of container your lotion (or whatever really) is in it's pretty easy. Yes you can't just squeeze the tube or push the pump but are you always so busy and need this stuff instantly that you can't grab a pair of scissors or blade of some sort and do a little cutting and scooping? If you run out of your lotion during the week or a time when you are busy like needing to use it right after your morning shower quickly before work (I'm told this showering thing is daily and a morning routine even for some, I have no experience with this though) then just set it aside and grab a new one. When you have time cut into your old one and use it or if you don't have a need for it when you have the time put it into a large mouth container for later use. Here are some visuals from my latest lotion tube opening. I was quite shocked at how much was left in, enough for my whole body minus my back.

I probably could have squeezed out a tad bit more but then it would get all crumpled and since this is a metal tube the crevices are harder to get the lotion out of so I cut into it at this point.

I unfolded the empty part and used a pair of scissors to cut all the way across. Opened up the bottom part that would have lotion left in it and carefully reached in and took lotion out with a finger and put it on my leg for later use (so I could take a photo and show you how much I got out).

At this point I got a q-tip and used it to get the smaller quantities in all the nook and crannies. 

I even opened up top portion and found enough in there to use on one arm.

So how much does this actually get you? As I said above, enough for my whole body minus my back and I was suffering from quite dry skin this day and this is a thick and very rich moisturizer that doesn't go a long way like a thinner one might. 

This is what I got out. (please ignore my insanely pale leg).

So quit being lazy and open up those empties and really get your moneys worth. I have heard people say that companies know consumers can't get every last drop out so you aren't actually wasting money. 1 I do not believe that and will not even if I hear it from the CEO, it's is always about the money. 2 If that is true guess what FREE LOTION!!! 3 Again even if that is true why toss out perfectly good product? Really why? What good reason could there be for tossing it out?

Lotion

I said I would write about the lotion I use and make and so now I am.  I just kinda made this out of stuff I had and not from a specific recipe I found anywhere. I did read this article on Oils for skin types on Care2 and I also read a post on Allie's Answers about Using Oils to cleanse your face and I just kinda experimented on my own from there.   I don't measure anything and change things up with every bottle I make but it seems to work just as well as the bottles of lotion I was buying before, if not better, I don't tend to break-out like I use to.  

My bottle right now contains Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, and a bit of Vitamin E oil.  Like I said it works great for me at the moment, but I can already tell I am going to have to change things up for summer.  I started with just oils and I quickly realized it wasn't moisturizing enough so I bought Cocoa Butter to add too it.  This is the first bottle that I have added Coconut Oil to and I was a bit worried it might cause some blemishes but it didn't.  I think I might try some Shea Butter but I am not sure how that will mix in with the oils.  I also added Peppermint Essential Oil to the last bottle, has a nice cooling effect when applied, great for the summertime. 

These mixtures are not like bottles of lotions you buy at the store, you don't really get moisturizing effects out of them when applied to dry skin they are better used right out of the shower on damp skin to lock in the moisture.  I don't tend to suffer from extremely dry skin so I can't say it will work for someone who does.  I would assume if you have dryer skin or are looking for something more moisturizing straight out of the bottle Shea Butter might be your answer but I have not gotten myself any yet because it is not the cheapest stuff and what I have now is working fine for me.

Next up on my DIY beauty list is a sugar-coffee scrub, I already made sugar scrubs that were wonderful for a few friends at Christmas time and it will pretty much be the same but with added coffee grounds. Research has shown coffee rubbed on the skin can tighten skin for short periods of time and reduce the appearance of cellulite, what girl wouldn't love that, smells great too.  Seeing as I drink two cups of coffee a day I am not lacking on used grounds, usually they just go into my compost or under my pine tree but I am looking forward to doing something else with them.   

Green(er) Make-up

I stopped wearing make-up a few months ago, I never wore that much. Eye liner and mascara a few times a week, sometimes some powder but I never found one I really liked. I then went looking for "green" make-up and I didn't have much success. About a month ago I went looking again and found some. I still rarely wear make-up, but sometimes it's nice to put it on and well do nothing because I never have anything to really do. The stuff is not perfect but it is better than what I had been using, E.L.F., Maybelline, and stuff like that.

What I got was Organic Wear eyeliner, concealer, and face powder. I really like the eyeliner, its very smooth and nourishing feeling and looks great. The powder is light in feeling and look, my husband actually remarked that it looked really good, as in he couldn't tell I was wearing it and the stuff I had been using apparently you could but he never told me that, men!! The concealer is pretty good, nothing special but works fine. For mascara I went with Lavera, seems a bit messy and gooey when in tube and on brush but goes on well and is very moisturizing. It's not water proof and does tend to smear a bit if you are prone to that but I wear it so infrequent that it's not an issue for me. It really feels like it is moisturizing my lashes instead of making them brittle and hard.

Since I am on the subject I will also share what I use to clean and care for my face. I am currently using mostly Burt's Bees products. To cleanse I regularly use Garden Tomato Complexion Soap with a face brush. I also use on occasion Citrus Facial Scrub, which I LOVE the smell of and it makes my face feel so soft and smooth and the Pore Refining Mask, is more fun than anything else. I don't notice much of a difference after I use this but it does not do any harm so I keep use it. I try to use both those once a week but usually its more like twice a month. I also use Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum and Herbal Blemish Stick. Both work very well I highly recommend them. I use the Serum on my forehead and my crow's feet, definitely has helped on my fore head and a bit on my eyes. The blemish stick is my best friend. I have always suffered from adult acne and this has helped tremendously. I take the roller ball off and use my finger to apply but other than that it is perfect. For lotion I use Jason's Aloe Vera 70% all over body lotion.