Whole Beauty (Artisan Books, 2018), by Shiva Rose, is a beginning guide for readers to learn natural recipes and daily rituals for beauty practices. Rose encourages readers to begin on her path in order to grasp techniques, but she also encourages creativity and listening to intuition with the goal in mind to branch out on their own paths. Ritual is at the heart of her book and her practices. Readers can learn to honor themselves and enhance their well-being by drawing attention to details and the time commitment it takes for a successful beauty ritual.
• 3 tablespoons organic baking soda
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons glycerin
• A few drops of stevia or 1 packet of xylitol (which also fights tooth decay)
• 20 drops of peppermint or cinnamon oil
• Glass jar with lid
I am wary of overexposure to fluoride. You will be getting some naturally, as it is in the tap water, so having fluoride in your toothpaste is often redundant and could be harmful if not monitored. I like this tasty and refreshing DIY toothpaste, and my daughter Charlotte Rumi Rose loves making it with me. Coconut oil is known to be an antibacterial agent, and it helps fight tooth decay. To increase the whitening effect, you can add a drop of hydrogen peroxide to the paste.
1. Mix the baking soda, coconut oil, glycerin, and stevia or xylitol together (it helps if the coconut oil is a little warm)
2. Add the peppermint or cinnamon oil.
3. Transfer to the glass jar.
4. To use, dip your toothbrush into the jar.
5. Stored out of direct sunlight, it will keep for 6 to 9 months.
More from Whole Beauty:
• Homemade Lustrous Lakshmi Hair Mask
• Homemade Shimmering Body Oil
From Whole Beauty by Shiva Rose (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2018. Photographs by Ngoc Minh Ngo.