ungredients

When trying to make something out of organic materials, I found that I was easily able to think of things to make, but I had a hard time finding ways to make them 'art'; to have them say something. I started from the idea of making a commercial product known to be bad for our health and the environment, and remaking it with organic materials. I looked at recipes for soap, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, cosmetics, hair spray, air freshener you name it. But many of these recipes were complicated, or to be made on an as-needed basis. But I did find a simple recipe for something I use every day: lip balm.
On the tag for the lip balm, I have listed the 'ungredients' and the 'ingredients.' The ungredients are the chemicals, petrol based oils, parabens, and unnatural dyes which can be found in your average tube of Chapstick. The ingredients are the natural products I used to create my lip balm.
Cosmetics, aside from being bad for your health, often use chemicals which are not biodegradable, and petroleum derived from crude oil. Also, cosmetics are not recyclable and many women (myself included) toss the plastic containers, brushes, and tubes in the garbage to sit in landfills.
By making your own cosmetics you can save money, keep your body healthier, reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable planet.

(I will definitely continue to experiment with making my own cosmetics and household cleaners.)