I am a sucker for baby powder. I cannot live without it, literally. I’ve used baby powder all my life. After each shower, I lather my body generously with baby powder. Just LOVE the smell of baby powder. Who doesn’t love the smell of babies, yeah? And who doesn’t love the dry feeling under the armpits and thighs after a cooling shower? I also use baby powder as loose powder on my face.
But is baby powder safe to use?
All the while, I thought it was. Mum used baby powder to dust our tushie after each diaper change. In fact, mothers since the dawn of time have used baby powder on their baby’s tushies to keep them dry and nice smelling, as well as to prevent nappy rash. Baby powder is a staple on every baby product aisle but in recent years, there have been so much negative articles on the dangers of using talcum powder and baby powder that you wouldn’t want it near your baby or yourself anymore.
Baby powder has fallen out of favor in recent years due to it’s main ingredient, talc, being listed as a possible carcinogen. Many commercial baby powders contain synthetic fragrances which can be irritating to baby’s sensitive skin.
Some of the reported dangers of using baby powder / talc powder include:
1. Breathing issues and lung damage.
2. Talc powder is associated with ovarian cancer and women who use powder on their genitals have more than a 40 percent increased risk of cancer, according to The Huffington Post.
3. Cornstarch used in talc powder can worsen a yeast infection of the skin, creating a really bad diaper rash that will have to be treated with anti-fungal cream.
So scary, right?
These reasons are scary enough to prompt me to make my own baby powder using only organic and natural ingredients. And it’s SO easy and fast to make it at the comforts of your home. It takes 10 ~ 15 minutes at most to prep a 50g bottle of baby powder.
You’ll need:
1. Organic arrowroot powder or organic corn starch. Be sure to get only organic powders and not GMO powders. Some recipes use kaolin clay and bentonite clay. But I am not 100% sure of the safety of these clay powder, thus I’m sticking to organic plant powders.
2. Pure essential oils. You can choose the fragrance of your choice. For my first batch made two weeks ago, I used tea tree, peppermint and grapefruit essential oils from Melaleuca. For my second batch which I made yesterday, I used tea tree, peppermint and lavender essential oils. I use about 6-7 drops of each essential oil. You can use more if you wish.
3. Funnel
4. Sterilized bottle.
Instructions:
~ Pour the powder into a bowl.
~ Drop the essential oils onto the powder.
~ Mix well with a clean spoon.
~ Pour the baby powder into a bottle using a funnel.
~ Shake well before each use.
~ The powder will turn slightly lumpy over time as there’s moisture from the essential oils. But not to worry. The powder is super soft and does not harden. Pour the powder onto your palm before use. Using your finger tips, press on the soft clumps to break the the powder before applying on your face and body.
This homemade baby powder is safe to use and does not cause tightness and dry feeling on your body and face. My homemade baby powder is super smooth and moisturizing on my dry and sensitive skin.
If you intend to apply the baby powder on your baby, you can try adding something soothing and mild like dried chamomile flowers and calendula flowers, powdered in the blender or food processor.
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