DIY Sustainable Self-Care
Written By: Jacqueline Omdara, Research by: Sophie Campbell
University of Waterloo Campus Compost is a student-led group aiming to reduce waste on campus and to advocate for reducing waste at home. Our 2021/22 goal is to maintain online advocacy while re-starting on-campus operations. Even as UWCC advocates for zero waste initiatives on-campus, we also recognize that zero waste initiatives on a individual scale is important too. Combining self-care and sustainability, UWCC wants to share a couple DIY self-care sustainable products to try at home!
Self-care is important as it has many short-term and long-term benefits. It reduces stress, improves concentration, minimizes frustration, and increases energy levels. It creates a healthy relationship with yourself and leads to beneficial long-term health effects. There are non-product-based care that is also crucial to self -care such as exercise, talking to someone, mediating, and having a hobby! When we talk about sustainable self-care products, we are specifically recognizing the type of packaging, presence of chemicals/micro-plastics, and where the materials are sourced. Nevertheless, steps that can be taken to improve include natural products, sustainable product sourcing, and zero waste products.
Enjoy some of the simple and easy sustainable self-care recipes below! (Credit for all recipes: Kathryn Kellogg at GoingZeroWaste.com).
Recipe #1: Sugar Face Scrub
Ingredients:
· ½ cup sugar
· ~3 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 tablespoon honey
· Lemon zest*
· Juice from ¼ lemon*
· Optional: rosemary, green tea, rose petals
Mix together & store in refrigerator. Use 1 tablespoon of mixture per use.
*Lemon reduces shelf life so you can omit it or add it right before you use the scrub.
Recipe #2: Matcha face Mask
Ingredients:
· 1 tablespoon matcha powder
· 1 teaspoon honey
· 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel
Mix together, then apply to a clean, dry face.
Leave for 20–60 minutes, then rinse face with warm water.
Recipe #3: Charcoal Face Mask
Ingredients
· 1 teaspoon bentonite clay
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1 teaspoon activated charcoal
· water
Stir dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon then add water to create a paste.
Apply to a clean, dry face. Leave on for 15 minutes, then wash with warm water.
More Self-Care Products to Try Yourself:
Lip Balm Options:
1. Cocoa Butter + Olive Oil (https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/zero-waste-lip-balm/)
2. Candelilla Wax + Shea Butter + Coconut Oil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX4fvPNd8B0&ab_channel=ZeroWasteClub)
3. Beeswax + Cocoa Butter + Coconut Oil (https://www.greenelephant.co.nz/how-to-make-lip-balm/)
4. Coconut Oil + Almond Oil + Olive Oil + Beeswax (https://www.greenify-me.com/2018/03/diy-zero-waste-lip-balm.html)
References
Healthcare, B. M. I. (n.d.). What is self care and why is it important? BMI Healthcare - part of Circle Health Group. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/health-matters/health-and-wellbeing/what-is-self-care-and-why-is-it-important.
Kellogg, A. K. (2020, April 11). Sustainable and cheap - 15 self-care ideas. Going Zero Waste. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/sustainable-ethical-and-cheap-15-self-care-ideas/.
Lawler, M., Zapata, K., Staff, E. H., Haupt, A., Lucey, K., Phillips, Q., Revelant, J., Millard, E., Landau, M. D., & Lawler, M. (n.d.). What is self-care and why is it critical for your health? EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/.
Osmanski, S. (2019, May 14). 9 beauty ideas that are zero-waste and do-it-yourself. Green Matters. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.greenmatters.com/p/diy-zero-waste-beauty-ideas.
World Health Organization. (2019, May 15). What do we mean by self-care? World Health Organization. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/self-care-interventions/definitions/en/.
