Author: justinaaudra

Once I began using a natural hair care routine, I was eager to continue finding healthier alternatives for my other products. In my general research about green health and beauty products, I had come across many recipes and brands related to natural deodorants. Up to that point, I had been using some of the most chemically laden deodorants on the market. This mostly came from being an extremely sweaty teenager, which led me to always look for the highest percentage of active ingredients I could find when choosing a deodorant. During my teen years, it felt like I tried every possible different kind of deodorant in the search for one that would actually control my sweat. I never felt like I found one that was up to the task.

I was someone who struggled daily with hiding pit stains. I avoided wearing light colored shirts with sleeves for fear that my sweat would make an appearance. Even when the temperature seemed relatively mild and I didn’t feel too warm or stressed, I would often start sweating out of nowhere. If I was nervous or it was hot out, I could expect to have sweat literally dripping out of my armpit pores and rolling down my arms. This was usually accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Knowing that others could see and smell my sweat ramped up my anxiety and only made me sweat more.

As a last resort, I had actually begun using an overnight deodorant which claimed to contain a chemical that was meant to close up the pores in your armpits over time, eliminating sweat from that part of the body completely. By 2015, through use of the overnight deodorant, my armpits had basically stopped sweating all together. Part of me was pleased by this, as it meant I could wear more diverse types of clothing without worrying about sweating. But there was a piece of me that was concerned about the fact that I had somehow biologically altered my skin’s way of functioning through the use of this product. How could a chemical that did that possibly be safe to put on my body? I realized I needed to find a natural alternative that would nourish my skin while still providing the sweat and odor control I wanted to maintain.

During my natural deodorant research, I found many recipes for DIY deodorant, as well as numerous reviews for companies which specialize in manufacturing natural deodorants. Many of the DIY recipes and some of the manufactured deodorants contained coconut oil and/or baking soda, which I had already discovered were not ingredients that my skin responded well to. This helped me to narrow down my choices a bit, and in the end, I discovered a DIY moisturizing and deodorizing routine that worked.

The replacement “active ingredient” in my spray deodorant is magnesium oil. This oil is said to have odor minimizing properties and is also nourishing to the whole body. Magnesium can be absorbed through the skin and is important for healthy functioning of the human body. The specific benefits of magnesium oil continue to be up for debate. Some sources claim that it can relieve stress and help with health issues such as migraines and insomnia, but research on the extent of these benefits is limited. At the very least, it is a natural substance which can serve as a safe replacement for the potentially dangerous chemicals that are often used as active ingredients in manufactured deodorants.

Another important fact I discovered in my research: For the first few weeks after beginning to use a natural deodorant, your armpits may actually be smellier and sweatier than usual as they adjust to being toxin-free. I found that an armpit detox routine helped to minimize these side effects and shorten the time it took for my armpits to adjust.

If you are looking for a healthier deodorant but don’t want to take the DIY route, I would recommend switching to any aluminum-free deodorant. Aluminum is one of the main harmful ingredients in most major deodorant brands, so even just eliminating that one ingredient would be a step in the right direction. You will find that many chain stores carry aluminum free deodorants, including Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and Hannaford.

Below is the recipe for the armpit detox I used, as well as the recipe for the spray deodorant I use each day.

Armpit Detox Paste

Supplies/Ingredients:

1 small bowl

Non-metal measuring spoons

1 washcloth

1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

(I used Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar ‘With the Mother.’)

1 tbsp bentonite clay

(I used the Molivera Organics brand on Amazon. Note: Do not use metal tools or bowls with bentonite clay, as this will disrupt its detoxifying molecular properties.)

1-2 tbsp water

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine apple cider vinegar and water. Then add bentonite clay using a non-metal measuring spoon.
2. Mix all three ingredients together with your finger or a nonmetal utensil, adding more water in small amounts until desired consistency is reached (it should be thick and pasty).
3. Spread mixture on armpits and leave on for 5-25 minutes. I would recommend starting with 5 minutes and increasing the amount of time slowly, letting your skin get used to the apple cider vinegar. It is highly acidic and may irritate your skin at first.
4. Remove gently with a warm, wet washcloth. Pat dry.
5. Repeat once daily for at least 2 weeks, continuing until you no longer experience heavy sweating or strong odor (most people take between 2 and 6 weeks-I stopped daily treatments after 2 weeks, but continued using the detox paste once a week for a few weeks).

DIY Spray Deodorant

Supplies/Ingredients:

1 small spray bottle

(I bought small brown glass spray bottles on Amazon, but you could also use an old travel size spray bottle after it’s washed out.)

1 small funnel

Measuring spoons

6 drops of aloe

(I use the Amara Organics Cold Pressed Aloe, found on Amazon.)

1 tbsp magnesium oil

(I use Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil, found on Amazon. I would recommend testing the magnesium oil on your skin before trying it in a deodorant to make sure you are not allergic or sensitive to this ingredient.)

Witch Hazel-amount will vary depending on the size of your bottle

(I use Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel, found on Amazon.)

3-6 drops of an essential oil or two of your choice for scent

(I use Art Naturals Lemongrass and Sweet Orange essential oils, found on Amazon.)

Directions:

1. Measure out the magnesium oil and pour over funnel into open spray bottle.
2. Add essential oils if desired. Leave this step out for an unscented deodorant.
3. Fill rest of bottle with witch hazel.
4. Put on spray top and shake bottle to mix ingredients.
5. Before applying deodorant, apply 3 drops of aloe to each armpit by squeezing onto your hand and then rubbing into armpit. I’ve found this step helps to minimize irritation from the deodorant, since it lacks a moisturizing ingredient. You could also try mixing  some aloe into the deodorant itself to save some time, but I haven’t tried that myself.
6. Spray onto armpits each morning and let dry. I usually do 2 sprays on each arm pit, but you may need to adjust the amount based on your wetness and odor needs and how sensitive your skin is.
7. The spray usually takes about 10 minutes to dry. I do a few things while waiting and then do a quick “touch test” to check for dampness before putting on any sleeved top or dress I’m going to wear.

Note: Since switching this spray deodorant, I have felt good about how it controls odor and wetness. I still occasionally get some dampness under my arms, but it happens rarely, and I almost never have issues with odor. However, due to my use of the overnight deodorant, it is hard to say if the effectiveness of the spray is due to the spray itself or my potentially damaged sweat glands.

Edit: I initially forgot about the one exception to the success of my spray deodorant, which is on the hottest days of summer. I have found that I have more wetness and sometimes a bit of odor if I am outside in very hot weather for a few hours or in a building with no air conditioning (like the school I work in). During the summer, I usually put my spray into a plastic sandwich bag and keep it in my purse so that I can reapply as needed. I generally wear sleeveless tops and dresses during the summer, so I can just spray it on and let it dry as I continue to go about my day.