Photo by Kyle Jones, Flickr
You may be thinking, “why on earth would I want to make my own deodorant”? Well I’m glad you asked! I can think of a few reasons:
1. Commercial deodorants may be hazardous to your health.
There is all sorts of conflicting research out there linking aluminum (found in most commercial antiperspirants) to Alzheimer’s Disease, breast cancer, and as a common skin irritant. And while you could spend hours upon hours researching the “yes it’s bad” to the “no it’s not,” I figure that it doesn’t take much time or energy to just play it safe.
2. Homemade deodorant is cheaper.
Who doesn’t like to save money? In fact, this is one of the ways I convince my husband to try some of these “crazy” recipes with me. We love finding ways to stretch our dollar and save it for something way cooler than deodorant.
3. It is easy to make!
I am constantly amazed at how easy natural care and cleaning products are to make. It took me several years of not being able to commit to that “way out there” sort of life. I figured I’d have to be some sort of chemist to make these things. But the truth is that nature has provided so many amazing “ingredients” to keep us at our most beautiful and fresh. Huh? I always figured people just lived a life of super-stink until our genius scientists came up with the commercial stuff. Nope!
4. It works.
The following recipe really does the trick. I made my husband put his nose in my pits several times. No stink! Now keep in mind that this is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. For some people this scares them away. And while there may be a short “detoxing period” where your body is adjusting, most people find that they sweat less after switching to this stuff. And when you do sweat, no odor. Pinky swear.
So what do you have to lose? Give it a try! But do me a favor, give it at least a week (I always try 3 – 4 when switching to natural products) before giving a final verdict. Our body’s natural oils are usually pretty messed up from all of our harsh cleaning/beauty products. It may take your body a couple of days to readjust to a more normal balance. Some people experience an itchy sensation for the first few days but it usually goes away (and may go away by using less baking soda).
Homemade deodorant recipe
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup baking soda*
- ½ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 5 – 7 Tbsp of coconut oil
Directions:
Mix everything together in a small container. If it’s warm where you live, the coconut oil may make this a little more runny than a traditional deodorant, and that’s okay. Just use your finger tips and spread a little under your arms until it’s invisible. A little goes a long way! (Seriously.)
*One last note about the baking soda: For some people (like me!), the baking soda can be a little harsh on the delicate skin under the arms. I found mixing in more coconut oil and about half of the baking soda works better. But you’ll want to test a little bit to see how your skin reacts. Also, especially at the beginning, give an hour after shaving before applying or you may find that it burns slightly.
About Robin Konie
Robin is a dancer, educator, movement therapist, and (most importantly) a nature-lovin'-back-to-basics kind of mom. She has has a passion for play, creativity, and healthy living.
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