Old fashioned Natural Alternatives to Common Drugstore Products

In today’s economy, more and more people are trying to get out of debt by reducing their spending on everyday luxuries.  For many of us, that means going without our favorite brand of expensive shampoo or facial cleanser from the drugstore. 

But people lived for millions of years without these products, and developed healthy natural alternatives.  We can learn a lot about our past and about going back to our natural ways by using these olden-days alternatives to today’s expensive, chemical-packed products.

Here are a selection of necessary items, like cosmetics, cleaning supplies, deodorant and toiletries, that have cheap and simple alternatives that can be found right in your very own kitchen.  Try these out… your credit card (and your health!) will thank you.

Old Fashioned Beauty Supply Alternatives

Baby or talcum powder – Use corn starch straight from the box.

Deodorant – Rub fresh lime or lemon slices under your arm, or sprinkle with baking soda.

Astringent – Rub cut lemon directly onto your face, or add lemon juice to a cotton ball, then apply.  Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Mascara remover – Rub your eyelashes with olive, corn, or sesame oil, then wipe clean with a cotton pad or face towel.

Facial mask – Apply either cooled cooked oatmeal or raw egg whites onto your cleaned face. Allow to dry for 15 minutes without moving your face, or cracking the mask.  Rinse off with a warm damp washcloth.

Exfoliator for dry hands, elbows or heels – Combine sugar and olive oil to make a paste, then rub on rough places for five minutes.  Rinse well, then pat dry.

Hair clarifier/ rinse – Pour one cup of vinegar in a glass, then fill with warm water. Pour over your hair in the shower.

Moisturizer – Use olive or sesame oil in place of body lotion.

Suntan Oil – Use vegetable, olive or sesame oil in place of suntan oil.  It won’t have any sunscreen protection, but will moisturize your skin.

Toothpaste – Dip your toothbrush in baking soda.  It will clean and whiten your teeth.

Denture cleaner – Soak dentures in vinegar overnight, then brush with a toothbrush.

Old Fashioned Healthcare Alternatives

Canker sores – Use your fingers to place a pinch of alum directly onto the canker sore.  It will sting briefly.  When the stinging resides, rinse the alum out with water (don’t swallow).

Sunburn – Add one cup of baking soda to bathwater and soak for 20 minutes, or massage plain yogurt into damp skin.

Constipation – Drink aloe vera juice or eat raw almonds.

Antacid – Drink baking soda in water (follow package directions).

Old Fashioned Household Product Alternatives

Glass cleaner – Combine vinegar and water.

Fabric softener – Add white vinegar to the washing machine in place of fabric softener. 

Toilet bowl cleaner – Vinegar will easily clean off rust stains.

Air freshener – Add cardamom to a bowl of distilled vinegar and set in a warm corner, or you can simmer orange or lemon peel, cinnamon, and/ or dried apples on the stove.

Silver polish – Combine three parts baking soda and one part water, make a paste and rub onto silver with a clean cloth, then wipe off.

Oven cleaner – Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the oven, spray with hot water and let soak overnight.  Scrub away the residue in the morning.

Metal cleaner – Rub metal, with a slice of lemon or fresh lemon juice, then wipe clean.

Furniture polish – Combine two parts olive oil mixed with one part lemon juice, polish as

usual.

Scouring cleaner – Mix salt with lemon juice or vinegar to make a paste, then use in place of Comet.