So, picture this: you’ve just moved to a new country and can’t find your go-to body products. No worries, though! You can make your own toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, moisturizer, and body scrubs using natural ingredients that you can find pretty much anywhere. Plus, it’s way cheaper than those fancy supermarket brands, especially if they have to be imported.
If you’re on a tight budget and you’re in a place where you can’t buy your usual stuff, or if you just prefer natural creams instead of ones loaded with chemicals, then you might want to give these easy-to-find and easy-to-make products a shot.
1. Moisturiser
When you’re travelling, it’s tough to go a day without moisturizing. Especially when you’re out in the sun, exploring, hiking, checking out tourist attractions, biking between towns, catching waves, diving, and chilling on beaches, your skin can get really dry. So it’s super important to keep it hydrated and healthy.
So, coconut oil is like super versatile, you know? And one of the things it’s good for is moisturizing your skin. When you’re shopping for coconut oil to use as a body moisturizer, just go for the regular kind instead of the fancy cold-pressed one. And hey, if you want to save some cash, you can skip the pricey organic version.
2. Toothpaste
It’s not gonna break the bank for the backpacker who’s in it for the long haul, but if you’re camping on a deserted island or trekking far from civilization and run out of toothpaste, it’s good to have a few easy and natural recipes up your sleeve.
So, there are these cool natural toothpaste recipes that use baking soda. It’s a bit rough though, so I only use it once in a while. All you gotta do is mix a tablespoon of baking soda and coconut oil in a little dish to make a paste. Just use a small bit and whip it up whenever you need it. Easy peasy!
Here’s another everyday toothpaste recipe that uses bentonite clay as the base. All you have to do is mix the clay with coconut oil until it forms a paste, then add a little sea salt to give your teeth a good scrub. Just a heads up, though, these homemade toothpaste options don’t taste great. But don’t worry, you can either suck it up or add some essential oil to make it more bearable. However, finding essential oils might be tough in certain countries and they can be a bit pricey for travellers on a budget.
You can make a toothpaste alternative by mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (the 3% stuff, which is the weakest you can usually find). It’s super easy and can make your teeth look whiter and brighter. If you’re in a place where it’s hard to find hydrogen peroxide, just bring some from home.
3. Mouth Wash
You can easily whip up some homemade mouthwash when you’re on the go, just by adding a little bit (like half a teaspoon) of baking soda to a small glass of water. It’ll help neutralize and freshen your mouth like a boss!
4. Oil Pulling
So, here’s a cool and cheap way to detox your body: oil pulling! All you gotta do is grab some coconut oil, put it in your mouth, and swish it around for about 10-15 minutes. Then, spit it out, rinse it with water, and brush your teeth. The oil pulls out all those nasty toxins, so make sure you don’t swallow any of it. Easy peasy!
5. Face and Hand Scrubs
Here’s a super easy and budget-friendly option for a DIY face scrub that you can whip up on the fly. Forget about those pricey and chemical-filled scrubs – all you need is some baking soda and water. Just mix them in a ramekin until it’s nice and creamy, then gently massage it onto your face to give your skin a little exfoliation and glow. You can even use this as a gentle body scrub too.
It’s also recommended to use a hand scrub. Using a hand scrub while travelling is beneficial because it removes dead skin cells, keeping your hands smooth and soft. It helps maintain hygiene, especially when frequent hand washing and sanitiser use cause dryness. Many hand scrubs contain moisturizing ingredients that prevent dryness and cracking, ensuring your hands stay hydrated.
Additionally, a hand scrub can provide a quick refresh, making your hands feel clean and revitalized after exposure to different environments. Incorporating a hand scrub into your travel routine ensures your hands remain healthy and well-maintained. Fortunately, a quick internet search can help find the best hand scrub for your skin type.
6. Hair Mask
So, instead of spending a ton of money on those fancy store-bought hair masks filled with all sorts of chemicals, you can simply use coconut oil. It’s a great alternative and will keep your hair moisturized!
So, here’s the deal. Grab some coconut oil (if you can, warm it up a bit). Slather that stuff all over the ends and lengths of your hair. Then, cover it up with a shower cap or cling wrap to lock in the heat (this helps the oil really get into your hair). You can leave it on overnight or just chill with it for like 30 minutes to an hour. After that, rinse it out, shampoo, and condition as you normally would. Easy peasy!
7. Shampoo
When you’re on the go, like backpacking, camping, or doing outdoor stuff, your hair can get super greasy and gross. But here’s a neat little trick to get rid of all that dirt and oil, especially if your roots are extra oily: just mix some baking soda with a bit of your regular shampoo. Easy peasy!
So, with this mix, just massage it into the roots for a few minutes, giving more attention to the scalp instead of the actual hair. Oh, and don’t forget about the hairline and nape too! After rinsing it out, just shampoo once more with your regular shampoo. And then, you can focus more on the lengths of your hair too.
8. Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoos are like a lifesaver when you don’t have time to wash your hair the usual way. Basically, you sprinkle some powder on your roots to soak up the oil and voila! Your hair looks and feels fresh without stepping foot in the shower. They’re perfect for busy folks, travelers, early birds catching flights, or even when you’re out camping. But hey, I gotta warn ya, these babies can be a bit pricey for what they are, and the can doesn’t last forever.
So, if you’re looking for a cheap option, you can try using cornstarch powder. Just sprinkle it on your roots, give your hair a good rub, and comb it through. And don’t worry, you can even use your hands if you don’t have a comb. Just make sure you don’t end up with any weird white patches on your scalp, neck, or shoulders.
It’s better to do it before you get dressed, but once you’ve used cornstarch a few times, it gets less messy. If you have dark hair, you can add some cacao powder or just comb through it extra well to make sure your hair doesn’t look white or grey.
9. Deodorant
I’ve been in so many random cities and far-off islands where all they had were food carts and vendors walking around. It’s pretty chill, but if you forget to bring deodorant, things can get pretty uncomfortable, especially if you’re doing adventure sports or hiking and end up sweating like crazy.
Good ol’ baking soda to the rescue once again! Just give a little pat under your arms with some dry powder and it can help balance out the sweaty smell by neutralizing the pH.
So, here’s a cool idea: why not make your own paste mix for your pits? It’s super effective and you can keep it on your bathroom shelf or toss it in your backpack. All you need is some coconut oil, arrowroot powder or cornstarch, and a touch of baking soda. Mix it all up, and then just apply it with your finger. Easy peasy!
10. Hand Wash
Travelling with soaps or hand wash in your backpack can be a hassle, but it’s usually when you’re on the road that you need it the most. Picture this: You’ve been hiking all day, finally, reach your campsite and bam! Dirty hands and no soap. Ugh, the struggle!
So, you can use a mix of baking soda and water as a hand wash/exfoliant. It’ll scrub away all the dirt and give your hands a nice clean feeling. Plus, it’s super effective, cheap, and really simple to whip up.
So, there are a bunch of other homemade options you can give a shot. Some of them use more ingredients and might be a tad pricier than the ones I mentioned earlier. Plus, they’ll take a bit longer to whip up.
There are way better smelling and tasting and more complex homemade skincare and beauty recipes out there than the ones I mentioned earlier. But hey, I specifically listed these because they’re so darn easy to make, super cheap, and you can easily fit all the ingredients into a travel bag or backpack.
If you’re chilling at home with some free time and feel like getting creative with homemade beauty products, just hop online and you’ll find tons of websites with DIY lipsticks, soaps, and all sorts of cool stuff.
