Archive for Deodorant
This Deodorant Stuff is The Pits
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I was growing up, I had “pit problems.” What in the world is pit problems, you ask? Well I used to get these horrible welts (you can even call them boils…I know, gross) under my arms. The process would always be the same. Soak, soak, soak in hot water and apply medicine (more chemicals- I used to use this icky black paste called, “Boil Ease.”) Eventually after a while, it would go away…then another would return under the same arm or under my other arm. Ugh! It was so frustrating. I hated wearing sleeveless shirts because of my “ugly underarms.” I also had problems with excess sweat. I never really thought about what caused these problems, I just dealt with treating them.
Breast Cancer Expansion
When I went organic and started delving into the hidden ingredients in personal care products, I was shocked at what I found in my deodorant/anti-perspirant. I had been using a well known woman’s brand (extra strength variety) and it contained: parabens, talc, artificial fragrances, aluminum, and other chemicals. Many of these ingredients are linked to skin problems, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s Disease. No wonder I had recurring infections under my arms and who knows what else it could have led to. These toxins leach into the breast tissue through the lymph nodes. Aluminum particles have even been found in breast cancer tissue samples. How scary! Everyone uses deodorant, but this problem is especially relevant for women….why? Because women are the ones getting breast cancer at alarming rates. This is why I highly recommend for everyone to stop using aluminum based deodorant or anti-perspirants. There are many other risk factors for breast cancer, but this is one you can control. I had amazing results when I made the switch to organic deodorant. The boils and irritation disappeared.
Choices, Choices, Choices
There are many nontoxic deodorants on the market…so many that it can be a confusing task to choose the right one. A good rule of thumb is to get sample sizes of a deodorant so you can see if it works with your body. Here’s something you probably didn’t know: what may work for someone, may not work for you. We all have different body chemistry. So while a review of deodorant may be a useful tool to figure out if you want to try a particular brand, you still won’t know the truth until you swipe it on yourself! Having said that….here is my review for Pit Putty!
Pit Putty Deodorant Review
Pit Putty is made by Bubble and Bee, a fabulous little company who produce certified organic body care. See my previous review of some of their most popular products. I tried Pit Putty 100% Organic Deodorant. I live in South Florida and started using Pit Putty during the heart of the summer. That’s sweatin’ time for real. What I really like about PP is that it has all organic ingredients and comes in a deodorant stick (much like commercial deodorants.) It’s easy to apply. Just swipe it on lightly a few times and rub in (it becomes a bit powdery.) At first it worked splendidly. Then after a few weeks, I began to see it working less….and less…I was a bit sweaty and my funk was coming through. That’s a little embarrassing to admit, but it was! (Remember though, even though this variety of PP didn’t work well for me, it just may well work for you.)
Second Time Around
Bubble and Bee has a guarantee that if the variety of PP you chose does not work, they will send you a different one! And that’s exactly what Stephanie (the brains behind Bubble and Bee) did. So when you get a deodorant from B&B, you know they will not rest until you’re satisfied. She sent me another Pit Putty, this time in Spearmint and Tea Tree. I’ve always loved spearmint since I used to chew Wrigley’s Spearmint gum
as a child. It’s also a deodorant stick. When I applied it, I immediately smelled the refreshing minty aroma. I’ve been using it for the past month and here are my results: dry, fresh underarms! This formulation worked with my body chemistry! This really proves that you have to try out different products until you find one that matches you. Of course, on really hot and sticky days, I have to reapply for additional coverage. Overall, I was very satisfied with this deodorant.
Put Your Fears to Rest
Many women experience fears about switching to organic deodorant. Y’all think you’re going to sweat too much or that it won’t be strong enough. Believe me, you may sweat a little (that’s your body’s way of releasing toxins) but you will be very satisfied with organic deodorant’s overall performance. When you make the switch, you’re treating your body to a safe, nontoxic alternative and avoiding harmful petrochemicals. If you have any further questions about choosing an organic deodorant, feel free to send me a message. I’ve tried many deodorants and can guide you to some wonderful, effective products.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Crystal Deodorant is the Pits
Posted by: | CommentsHappy Monday, Toxic Beauty fans!
I was doing some research recently and read about how even mineral salt or crystal deodorant is not good for you! Apparently the type of alum in the deodorant is the same type found in commercial, toxic antiperspirants and deodorants. This aluminum is the same aluminum that has been linked to cancer and Alzhemier’s Disease.
The Beauty of Homemade Deodorant
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s up Toxic Beauty readers? I was planning a post on nail polish remover, to go with my post earlier this week about toxic nail polish…but I just had to share this with you. By now, you all know my favorite deodorant is made by Real Purity. It is truly one of the most pure and safe deodorants you can buy. I recently ran out and was wondering what to do. I’ve always wanted to try to make my own homemade deodorant, but I still hadn’t taken the time to do the research. With barely anything left in my Real Purity bottle, I had a deodorant emergency! I needed something quick and it’s tough to find an effective safe deodorant in most stores. I decided to give the homemade variety a try. I found many recipes, but nothing clicked with me until I found one that was so simple I had to try it! It took me about 5 minutes to mix it all up. I applied it later that night and again in the morning. After almost 12 hours, it was still working. I did not sweat and I did not have any odor at all! You cannot get any more natural than when you concoct your own beauty recipe. It only has 3-4 ingredients, 2 of which you probably already have in your pantry. I have already shared the virtues of the third ingredient with you in previous posts. So without further adue, here is the simple deodorant recipe:
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 6-8 tablespoons coconut oil
- 10 drops of lavender or fennel essential oil
Combine the baking soda and cornstarch in a small container. Little by little, add the coconut oil until you have a paste. Finally, add the essential oil of your choice. Apply to underarms with your fingertips.
Many essential oils have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, making them an ideal addition to your deodorant mixture. Baking soda has so many uses, especially odor absorbing while cornstarch has been used for years to absorb moisture. Coconut oil is especially beneficial for so many reasons (see this post for more on coconut oil!)
So after one day, this at home mix proved to be better than most commercial, aluminum filled toxic deodorants on the market today. Be safe with your deodorant and save money in the process. Do you have any simple homemade deodorant recipes you can share? And if you try this recipe, I’d love to hear your results. Thanks for reading and until next time, stay natural, stay beautiful…Robin.
Update: I had been using this deodorant for a week. It was the best deodorant I have ever used…no odor, no sweat…simply amazing! Until after the first week…I started getting bumps on my underarms! So I decided that maybe I got the formulations wrong or put too much baking soda in it. I now see that making your own beauty products is a trial and error, learning proccess.
I decided to turn to a fellow natural beauty blogger, Michelle Singh. She has a great blog: greengirlorganics. She recommended using cosmetic grade cornstarch (I bought mine from the grocery store) and using less essential oil. She also recommended a few natural deodorants by Miessence and Weleda. Thanks, Michelle!




