Personal Care Products

UPDATED 2013

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After figuring out that many grains and other foods were trying to kill me, I devoted my time to researching foods, calling and emailing companies and trying not to have allergic reactions (now, we are adding healing into the equation).  Before doing this, I didn’t realize I was still poisoning myself by using my “tried and true” personal care products.  Corn allergy can be overwhelming at the beginning (and in the middle) but there are safe products available.

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My daughter and I are very sensitive to corn and corn derivatives, even in small amounts and even if “the protein has been refined out of the product.”  Below were my “go-to” products before I began making my own.  They have all been confirmed corn-free through multiple emails and phone calls with different companies during the years of 2010-2012.  You will want to email the companies to confirm their current status.  Most of these products were also gluten/wheat free, dairy/casein free, rice free, soy free, egg free, BPA free, chemical free, fragrance free, etc.

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Deodorant

I make my own deodorant (when I wear any…).  Are you surprised?  I was unable to find a commercial deodorant that worked for me.  Currently, we are avoiding coconut oil (unless we use it to make soap) so I would substitute olive oil in the place of coconut oil in the recipes.  Please share in the comments sections below, if you have a been able to find a pre-made deodorant works for you!

• Here is a link to the first recipe I used.
• Here is a link to the recipe we’ve been using for the past four months.

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Toothpaste

Lately, Yipi and I have been using filtered water and a little homemade soap OR straight organic EVOO as our toothpaste.  It seems to be going very well for us and we are not reacting.  If I notice any build up on my teeth, I will use a small amount of baking soda with a drop or two of olive oil to gently brush.  Works like a charm.  Other corn-avoiders are having luck using the products listed below (email the companies before trying each product to verify the safety of the ingredients).  We do have a few bottles of  Toothsoap lying around the house that we occasionally use.

• Squigle toothpaste
• Vita-myr
• Toothsoap

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Toothbrush/Dental Floss

Dental floss is usually coated in wax, the wax is usually derived from corn.  This isn’t always the case, good luck at getting the information from the company.  I decided to buy POH after much discussion on the Delphi: Avoiding Corn Forum.  The toothbrushes do a great job to get my teeth clean and they don’t cause any pain, HUGE plus for me!  The stiffness ranges from super soft to “sweet giblets” firm.  The toothbrushes and floss are extremely affordable, as low as $1.00 per toothbrush, and the shipping is not ridiculous… and the colors are purty too!

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Shampoo / Soap

We’ve been using my Simple Soap recipe as a shampoo and soap and we love it.  It is not drying and does a good job of cleaning and cleansing my hair.  I was using the following routine but started to react to the flax seed gel:

• Simple Herbal Hair Care routine
• Flax Seed Gel

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In the past I used the Earth Friendly Dishmate as Yipi’s shampoo, but I’ve found it to be a bit drying, also we have begun to react to smelling the Earth Friendly Dishmate.  I now use the Simple Soap as her shampoo.  Some corn-avoiders use the shampoo from GFSoap and others use the bar shampoo from Tropical Traditions.  I believe some individuals are using the KissMyFace Olive oil soap, however I’m not sure if they are using it as shampoo.  The olive oil soap by Bariani is corn-free but a little slimy (in my opinion), the only hitch is the wrapping paper.  It may be biodegradable which usually means corn.

• Gluten Free Savonniere Shampoo
• Gluten Free Savonniere (GFSoap) has multiple soaps that are corn free but unfortunately other allergens prevent me from using their soap.  I cannot use palm oil and have to be careful with olive oil.
• Bar Soap and Shampoo from Tropical Traditions
• Soap Bar from Bariani (email the company to see if the wrapping paper is biodegradable)
• Kiss My Face, Olive oil bar soap

Making soap is rewarding:

• It’s a very easy process
• It is substantially cheaper than anything I can purchase via mail order or in store
• And it is safer than anything I can purchase in store.  I control the ingredients.

The Simple Soap recipe is by far the easiest recipe to make and is a better soap than my first attempt of making soap.  I definitely prefer cold process over hot.  Making liquid soap is equally just as easy.  I will post a recipe for liquid soap very soon!

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Conditioner

We were using the conditioner from GFSoap.com but I discontinued using it because it was too expensive.  I do not think we reacted to it at the time I discontinued use.  Now I just use a little olive oil and make sure to include a lot of healthy fats in my diet.  This has helping tremendously in the dry hair/scalp front.  I have a recipe on the blog for conditioner.  Don’t. Do. It.  There’s your warning.

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Leave/in Conditioner

When I use leave-in conditioner (which is a very rare occurrence , I mix filtered water, Jojoba oil and an essential oil.  It keeps my hair from becoming overly dry throughout the day.

Styling Pomade/Cream

We no longer use what is listed below.  We simply use olive oil as we began reacting to shea, coconut oil, flax seed and aloe vera juice (I know…crazy!).

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I blend shea butter (gfsoap), coconut oil (tropical traditions-gold standard), jojoba oil, aloe vera juice, and flax seed hair gel (flax seed from MRH)  together to create my styling pomade/cream.  This is definitely for thicker hair.  It works really well.  For thinner hair, you can also use a little jojoba oil if you have curly hair that is a bit frizzy.  It will help to tame it.

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Lotion/Moisturizer

We no longer use what is listed below.  We simply use olive oil.

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Shea butter and jojoba oil can also be used as lotion.  Shea butter, by itself is quite heavy and should probably be applied at night.  Jojoba oil absorbs into the skin quickly and can be used during the day.  Make sure you find a jojoba oil that does not use a de-gummer in the manufacturing process.  Other corn-avoiders are having luck using the follow products (email the companies before trying each product to verify the safety of the ingredients):

• Shea butter from GFSoap (pre-whipped)
• Shea Butter from Mountain Rose Herbs (half the price of GFSoap but not pre-whipped)
• 100% organic, pure jojoba oil is GREAT for the skin
• 100% organic, EVOO is also GREAT for the skin
• Lotion from GFSoap.com
• Unscented lotion from tropical traditions
• Unscented moisturizing cream from tropical traditions

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Hand Soap

All of the handsoaps available for purchase at Walmart, Publix, Kroger, etc. have corn derivatives or chemicals, or both in them.  We were using the pump handsoap from Tropical Traditions, but decided to make our own.  I will be posting our liquid soap recipe soon.  Gluten Free Savonniere (GFSoap) has a hand soap but I do not tolerate castor oil at the moment.

• HandSoap from Tropical Traditions (just coconut oil)
• HandSoap from GFSoap (coconut, olive, castor oils)

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Make Up

I don’t wear make up often, my little Yipiyuk would lick it off….ewww… and I am sure I would react to it.  Whenever I become brave and a bit healthier, I will attempt to use the products by Bellaphoria and Signature Minerals.  Read the ingredients.  Not all are safe.

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Sanitary Napkins (Men stop reading….that’s your only warning)

This maybe TMI, but it needs to be said.  I can’t used paper napkins or tampons.  It.  Ends.  Badly.  So, I use cloth pads.  Here are a few websites to check out, if you want to know my symptoms and why then shoot me an email.  I’ll tell ya!

• Pleasure Puss (currently using)
• Lunapads
• Glad Rags
• Party in my Pants
• New Moon Pads

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Paper products

We opt for organic cotton towels instead of toilet paper.  Most toilet paper using corn derivatives in the manufacturing process and are also covered in a thin layer of corn starch to prevent sticking (or whatever they claim). This is the last area I want to rub corn.  Some corn-avoiders have found TP that works for them.  Here is a discussion from Delphi.