This post may be a little TMI (too much information) for some, but I really wanted to share my wonderful, amazing, awesome, discovery.
I am going to start out by saying that I am not one to talk about personal hygiene let alone my underarms, but I thought this post would be very helpful to many women and (hopefully) young girls, especially those who are looking for natural alternatives in the deodorant department.
When I was a teen, I remember how irritating it was dealing with certain issues like shaving, dark underarms, deodorants not working, etc. I mean, I still deal with the same issues, but I think I've figured things out over the years.
For one, antiperspirants are a crime against humanity.
Oops, did I just say that! Yes, you heard that right. They are loaded with toxins, the main offender being aluminum, which blocks your body's natural ability to rid itself of toxins through sweating. To top it off, you're adding more toxic load to your body by using products like these, and doing more harm than good.
Commercial deodorants and antiperspirants also contain other harmful carcinogens that may cause long-term health problems with continued use. As you know, deodorants are used on a daily basis, so it's scary to think that we're exposing our bodies to these harmful toxins day in and day out.
Okay ladies, here's another one. Please hear me when I say that sweating is a GOOD thing.
What makes it bad is when it mixes with bacteria on the skin, which causes odor. Please, please, please, make moves toward eliminating antiperspirants from your household. You are supposed to sweat naturally.
Yes, it may sound gross, but it really isn't.
I'm not saying to completely stop using any type of deodorant, just look for ones that are naturally derived and free from chemically-derived ingredients. Look for ones that contain essential oils, coconut oil, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and other safe ingredients. There are so many alternatives and options available these days, or you could even make one yourself (at the end of this post, I'm sharing my homemade deodorant recipe).
I recommend the The Think Dirty app if you are interested in shopping for cleaner alternatives. It's a good resource to use when shopping around because it allows you to learn about the ingredients in beauty and personal care products and choose cleaner options.
To clarify, deodorants are used for preventing odor by killing the bacteria that causes odor, while antiperspirants block sweat by basically plugging up pores. Most products claim that they do both, so watch out for that.
The more the claim - you can bet - the more the toxins!
A bonus to switching to purely natural deodorants is that I have noticed a huge difference in the color of my underarms. I'm not saying that my underarms were black or anything, but they were enough for me to cry wolf. I'll be sharing my method for whitening underarms in a future post, but one of the main factors in the change of my underarm appearance was indeed switching to a natural deodorant. It made a huge difference. I am now confident enough to flaunt my underarms! Woot woot!
So, what is this super amazing discovery of mine that I wanted to share with you?
Well, with my move toward a cleaner lifestyle several years ago, I started exploring different types of deodorants (natural ones) and found one that was made from a natural mineral salt. The product is called Crystal, and it's completely natural and EFFECTIVE. The way it works is that, once it's applied, it forms a barrier on the skin that prevents odor-causing bacteria from forming.
Well, let me just say that this product is extremely effective at protecting the skin from developing any odor - not perfect, but close to it. The one that I use is the Crystal rock*. It literally is a clear crystal rock. All I do is wet it with a little bit of water, then rub it on and let it dry.
Okay, so that's not the end of the story.
A year or so ago, I decided to try their other variety, Crystal Essence deodorant, which is basically the same thing in liquid form and with essential oils and extracts. I thought, hey, since it's the same thing, why not try it out. I tried it for a long time, and it did work "okay", but didn't work as well as the Crystal rock did. I would still develop BO, which is no bueno!
So, since I was already caught up in the whole process of trying to find something that was close to a normal deodorant stick, what I decided to do was try another natural deodorant that I had been seeing all over social media - Schmidt's. I tried the Lavender + Sage scent. Although I really loved what this company stood for, I found the product to be quite thick, and it didn't work as well as I thought it would.
Warning: TMI again.
I found that it did not hold up as well as the Crystal rock did. My body rejected it or something because I was getting BO within the 24 hrs that I had applied it. Not kidding! I was sad that Schmidt's didn't work for me, because like I said, I really love the scents that they have to choose from.
Moral of the story: It seems that different formulas react to my body differently.
So, anyway, after being disappointed in that failed attempt to try something that closely resembled a normal stick of deodorant, I decided to go back to my tried and true Crystal rock, but change one thing.
I decided to also apply tea trea oil as well.
Breakthrough! The combination of the crystal rock and the tea tree oil work so amazingly well together that I have not experienced BO like I did with the other two deodorants that I tried.
And ... why did I not think of this sooner ... ? Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial, so it prevents bacteria from forming. I apply undiluted 100% tea tree oil after I rub the Crystal rock on my skin, and - TADAAA!
The perfect deodorant. It works so well for me that I think my deodorant-searching-days are over.
I forgot to mention that in the past, I have also tried a homemade deodorant using baking soda and coconut oil, which worked well for several months. I'm not sure why I stopped. I think it was more of the matter of convenience that it was lacking, which is why I stuck with the Crystal rock. The Crystal rock dries completely clear and never leaves any residue.
I do recommend the Crystal rock deodorant + tea tree oil if you're interested in my method that has worked well for me.
The best part is that the rock literally lasts for years and years and stays completely new the entire time. It's amazing. For those of you who are interested in purchasing the Crystal rock and tree oil, I'll leave links at the end of this post so that they're easy for you to find!
While I'm at it, I decided to create a homemade deodorant recipe for those of you who are interested in something resembling a traditional deodorant stick.
I know how hard it can be to get used to something different, so this will help to ease the transition. It's also a great way to save money as natural deodorants are pricey!
Here is some useful information about the ingredients that I've chosen for my natural deodorant recipe and why I chose to use them specifically. That's the good part about homemade recipes, you can always tailor it to you and get the exact benefits and results out of them, naturally.
Coconut Oil
• Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties
• Moisturizing to the skin and low molecular weight allowing it to penetrate the skin on a deeper level
Baking Soda
• Natural deodorizer
• Natural exfoliant
• Neutralizes pH
• Absorbs moisture and oil
• Antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties
Arrowroot Powder
• Absorbs moisture and oil
• Natural thickening agent
Tea Tree Oil
• Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
• Natural antiseptic
Lavender Oil
• Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties
• Natural disinfectant and deodorant
• Detoxifying
• Calming
Homemade Natural Lavender & Tea Tree Oil Deodorant Recipe
Supplies
• 1/4 c coconut oil*
• 1/3 c arrowroot powder
• 1/2 c baking soda
• 20 drops lavender oil*
• 20 drops tea tree oil*
• 1 empty deodorant container and 1 glass jar
Yield: Makes 1 deodorant stick and 1, 4 oz. jar
Add all ingredients except essential oils together in a bowl, and mix until well combined.
Once ingredients are all well mixed, add essential oils. Mix well by using a spoon to press the ingredients together to evenly distribute the oils throughout the mixture.
The consistency will begin to resemble that of deodorant, and when pressed, will bind together to form a solid.
Fill the emty deodorant container with the mixture and press as you go until you reach the top.
And you're done! The consistency is just like a regular deodorant stick, but be aware that since it does contain coconut oil, it tends to get softer when exposed to warmer temperatures. You can pop it in the freezer for a few minutes to make it retain its shape.
Add any remaining mixture to an empty jar, which you can use to refill your deodorant stick when it runs out, or use out of the jar.
I hope you get to try out this recipe. It's so easy to make and is completely natural, safe, and effective. If you get to try it out, I'd love to hear about your experience.
What are your thoughts about these natural deodorant options? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!
Disclosure: Links that are marked with an * are affiliate links.
