June 2017, page 21 | Arcadia News

June 2017

20 JUNE 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Sara Lemons Vaules I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day! Now it’s the men’s turn. Honor the fathers in your life for Father’s Day by sharing this article to get them into chem- free shaving! Before the advent of razors, hair was removed using two shells to pull the hair out or using water and a sharp tool (ouch!). Around 300 BC, copper tools were developed and the razor was invented. Alexander the Great strongly promoted shaving during his fourth century BC reign because he believed it looked tidier (Wikipedia). Although men are thankfully not forced to shave anymore, with the added increase of shaven heads it is even more important to use clean, chemical-free products. The skin absorbs roughly 60 percent of substances it touches. That percentage increases with freshly shaven skin (and increases even more if there are minor cuts or abrasions). There are wonderful homemade and store- bought shaving cream options! Here’s one that is both easy, effective and maybe a nice Father’s Day gift! Ingredients: • 2/3 cup Shea butter • 2/3 cup coconut oil • 1/4 cup olive oil or grapeseed oil • 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender and chamomile are very soothing, peppermint is more awakening) • 2 tablespoons baking soda • 2 vitamin E capsules (optional) Directions: Melt 2/3 cup of coconut oil and Shea butter together. Turn off the heat and stir in 1/4 cup of olive oil or grapeseed oil. When melted, add in 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Pour it into a container. Give it a good stir, and set it in the fridge to harden. Once it has solidified, remove and let soften slightly. Add the 2 vitamin E capsules, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda to an electric mixer and beat until super light and fluffy, looking like it could be used to frost a cupcake. Apply generously whenever you’re shaving and rinse when done. Store in a cool, dark area. It should keep for a month! For the less adventurous, there are great options to purchase. Williams Shaving Soap has been around a long time and at $3.50, is definitely budget-friendly. Another product to consider is the Lavender Moisturizing Shave Cream from Avalon Organics. Always check products to consider through the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) for safety ratings. Lastly, you can always consider just plain ‘ol coconut oil as it is moisturizing and naturally antibacterial. Enjoy! — Sara Lemons Vaules is the founder of Lemon and Light, which offers consulting, products and strategies for moving with ease into an organic, chemical-free lifestyle. Father’s Day: The Chem-free living shave! CHEMFREE LIFE MONDAY – FRIDAY 3:00 – 6:00 PM MONDAY – FRIDAY 3:00 – 6:00 PM HAPPY HOUR HAPPY HOUR ENJOY SELEC T APPE TIZER S, WINE AND BEER 4 455 E. C a m E l b aC k R oa d 6 02.429.8 020 Th E h E n R yR E s Ta u R a n T. C o m : @THEHENRY_15 : /THEHENRYRESTAURANT FOLLOW US