
Natural Deodorant
I can tell you from personal experience, that once you switch from antiperspirant to deodorant, you won’t go back. Yes, you will sweat, a lot -especially initially, while the built-up of toxins such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are excreted from your body, but your body will thank you. Yes, you will still sweat – and that’s a good thing. Natural deodorants cover the smell, not sweat. The natural bacteria that lives on our skin is the cause of the smell, that’s where baking soda works its magic by neutralising the odour but allowing your pores to breath.
Create your own deodorant
Try this easy recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Bicarbonate of Soda
- 1/4 cup Arrow Root Powder
- 6 to 10 drops of essential oils, such as Tea Tree Organic Essential Oil or Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions:
- Mix baking soda and arrowroot.
- Pour in coconut oil until blended. Add essential oils, if desired.
- Place the mixture in an empty glass jar or recycled deodorant bottle
- To use, apply to your pits.
I prefer to use Fractionated Coconut Oil because its liquid at room temperature and I am not left with a hard mass stuck in a bottle in winter.
If you have sensitive skin, reduce the amount of bicarbonate of soda or leave it out as it can cause irritation on some skin types. It’s recommended doing a skin test first.
When making your own natural deodorant, feel free to experiment with different bases, powders, and oils. Shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil work well as bases, but you don’t have to have one if you prefer an all-powder formula. Just combine equal parts baking soda and arrowroot and then add your preferred essential oils and shake to mix. Store in an empty spice jar with a shaker top.
Remember that deodorant is not one-size-fits-all. Try each deodorant for a couple weeks, as it takes your body time to adjust. Know that it might take a few different tries and some time before finding the right natural deodorant for you. But once you do, you’ll never go back
Why make the Change?
5 Toxins in Deodorants & Antiperspirants
- Triclosan: Classified as a pesticide by the FDA and a probable carcinogen by the EPA, Triclosan is an antibacterial linked to antibiotic resistance, skin irritation, allergies, and thyroid issues.
- Propylene glycol: The active ingredient in antifreeze, propylene glycol is also used to soften products. Metabolized in the liver, studies have shown that it can cause damage to the central nervous system and heart.
- Parabens: These are synthetic chemicals that cause hormonal imbalance. Parabens are linked to birth defects, organ toxicity, and an increase in hormonal-related cancers including breast cancer.
- Synthetic fragrances: The word fragrance, or parfum, can mask hundreds of other chemicals, including phthalates. Phthalates are linked to a higher risk of birth defects in women with high levels of phthalates in their blood and urine.
- Aluminum: A metal and neurotoxin, it’s linked to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and breast cancer.