Traditional Bombs

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about natural cosmetics? In my opinion it is something that used to be a way of us people taking care of, treating and pampering  ourselves  already generations ago, an old tradition that is to say. This tradition we almost lost when the beauty industry started to offer us artificial products and means of beauty treatment, but luckily it survived.

Estonians transferring this tradition through generations doesn’t come as a surprise. I have met so many people practising different skills that they have learnt from their parents and grandparents that I have started to think that such a habit, such a message should spread everywhere.  And thinking of it from the viewpoint of natural cosmetics, it is probably the most natural a natural can get if you find the ingredients from your nearest food store and your own garden. Just as your grandmother did.

I got to see how transferring the tradition turns also into a creative business when I participated a workshop about natural cosmetics with my colleagues.  We were learning how to make bath bombs from daily ingredients, and it was just great fun! Mixing soda and citric acid with some oils and scents such as herbs or spices gives you limitless possibilities to prepare yourself a unique treatment as you wish. At a low cost, environmentally and especially bodily friendly!

in the middle of bomb making

Consider these claims and compare them with industrial cosmetics: Are they as affordable? Or do they have the same spirit of being ecological and supporting sustainable development?  Natural, self made cosmetics have many advantages that the industrial ones don’t.  They can be suitable for allergic persons who otherwise wouldn’t be able to use cosmetics, and they can bring the joy of body treatment also to places where no classy spas or specialized beauty boutiques can be found. I see that as an adequate evidence of the importance of transferring the tradition.

choosing the herbs

For sure you can also end up making a mess when you get carried away by scooping funny feeling pulp with your hands and imagining all the different combinations of ingredients you could possibly have in your bombs and pastes –but do it together, share and change the cosmetics you have created (and clean up together)! Share the habit, transfer the tradition!

There is one danger with natural cosmetics, though. You might just end up eating the things you were supposed to treat yourself with.