- Resource Information
Abstract
“PFAS (High Fluorinated Substances) is a group of over 4,700 chemicals that are water and dirt repellent. They are used as surface treatment in many products, such as clothing, shoes, food packaging and frying pans. They are available in fire foams, beauty products, furniture fabrics and electronics. All PFAS are created by man. The first ones started to be used as early as the 1950s, but new uses have made the emissions accelerate in recent decades. It is only recently that we have begun to understand how dangerous and widespread these substances are. In the early 2000s, reports came that PFAS could be found worldwide, from the blood of factory workers to polar bears far away in the Arctic. This led to PFOS being banned in 2008, and PFOA being banned in December 2020. However, several of the substitutes are suspected to be equally problematic but are still allowed. And new, completely untested PFAS substances continue to emerge in the market. The EU’s new strategy, it looks like a PFAS ban in consumer products could become a reality, but such processes can take a long time. We want a stop for PFAS in Sweden as soon as possible.”
Source: https://naturskyddsforeningen.se
The Swedish Society of Nature Conservation
In this activity, students can learn about the many chemical products found in most cosmetic products, as well as how to protect their health and the environment by making conscious choices what to put on their skin – our largest organ and make some products from the Natural Kingdom. At the same time, learners will be able to develop basis skills such as simple calculations, association of concepts, green and ecological skills.
The exercise will serve as an inspiration to experiment with natural ingredients to make cosmetic products scents and natural herbs and oils for body and soul and for a deeper understanding of hidden chemicals in everyday life and how we all can help to minimize them.
This activity can be developed individually by learners or as a pair activity (2 learners) that shall be focused on the positive use of natural products on the body.
Learning Outcomes
Description of learning outcomes: The learners will learn how to avoid certain chemicals and to use natural material on their body
- Define PFAS
- Recall the names of PSAS
- Relate to natural things on the skin
- Identify and select ingredients for the cream
- Identify herbs for the skin
- List the steps to make a cream
- Apply the recipe to make a cream
- Identify EU Eco label for cosmetic
- Explain the importance of using eco friendly products to protect the environment
- Design other things from the Nature
Other Instructions
RECIPE SKIN CREAM: without herbal oil
20 g beeswax
5 g cocoa butter
1/2 dl sesame oil
1/2 tbsp flaxseed oil
45 g coconut oil
You can change the oil to olive oil and you can use herbal oil
- Grate the beeswax into pieces and place in a small saucepan.
- Heat water in a large saucepan so that it gets really hot but it must not boil. Immerse the small saucepan with the beeswax pieces in the hot water bath
- Melt the beeswax. It melts at 63 degrees
- Add the cocoa butter.
- Gently stir in sesame oil, coconut oil and flaxseed oil.
- Stir until everything has a custard-like consistency without lumps. It takes a while. Then the ointment is ready. If you like it softer add coconut oil.
- Pour the ointment into well-cleaned glass jars of handy size. Lasts for 3 – 4 months but longer if kept cold. The ointment is good for normal to dry skin. It can be used on the whole body, even as an oily cream for the face. It has a faint scent of coconut. If you want to give the ointment more fragrance, you can use some organic essential oil as an additive.
Beeswax cream
It contains as much water as oil
50 ml of herbal tea
40 ml of herbal oil
20 grams of bees wax
- Boil herbs with water, see above herbal tea
- Heat the herbal oil
- Crumble the beeswax in the herb oil and let it simmer.
- Heat herbal tea to 70 degrees
- Pour the tea into the oil mixture. Whisk constantly until cool
- If necessary, add essential organic oil
- Pour into jar
- If it solidifies too quickly and cannot be poured, reheat and try again
RECIPE BEESWAX CREAM
It contains as much water as oil
50 ml of herbal tea
40 ml of herbal oil
20 grams of bees wax
- Boil herbs with water, see above herbal tea
- Heat the herbal oil
- Crumble the beeswax in the herb oil and let it simmer.
- Heat herbal tea to 70 degrees
- Pour the tea into the oil mixture. Whisk constantly until cool
- It is possible to add essential organic oil
- Pour into jar
- If it solidifies too quickly and cannot be poured, reheat and try again
RECIPE DEODORANT
3 tablespoons potato flour (or other starch; arrowroot)
1 tablespoon bicarbonate
2 tablespoons coconut oil (organic and ” virgin “)
- Melt the coconut oil in a hot water bath. Coconut oil melts at about 40 degrees.
- Mix the potato flour and the bicarbonate in a separate bowl.
- Pour in the liquid coconut oil and stir so that it becomes a smooth batter. Pour into jars.
- Stir once every half hour during the first two hours so that the deodorant does not layer.
You use the deodorant by touching your finger a little and lubricating under the arm. Bicarbonate is bactericidal.
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English