Happy 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. Now you might be saying, GEEZ, what can I use then!? I have a solution for you. I have been using Real Purity deodorant for some time now (over 2 years) and I am so satisfied with it’s performance and protection. It keeps me dry and fresh throughout the day with all natural ingredients. It is the one product I would take with me on a desert island. Yes, I am serious! Visit my favorite online beauty store to read the ingredients and many customer reviews raving about this wonder product and to get your own.

On another exciting note…Tomorrow is the big day!! On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 I am making my radio debut on Blogtalkradio! I will be interviewed by Charly Leetham from stretchyourmindandbody.com. This is a chance for me to share my message with others and I would like to thanks Charly for this great opportunity. I will be sharing some tidbits about my upcoming ebook, so I hope you can call in…if you can’t make it, the call will be available for later listening.

Click here to read the press release and learn how to call in to the show.

Toxic Beauty Goes Down Under

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

What’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!

   I recently read a blog post about how to stay dry during the upcoming summer months. Specifically, about how to keep your underarms dry. Now I know it is about to get really hot and most people get uncomfortable being all sweaty and sticky. I’m not a big fan either. So someone came up with using botox in the underarm to stay dry. Apparently it lasts for 4 months and works really well. But I have a problem with this. Who knows what the long-term effects of this chemical is and as I have mentioned before in earlier posts, you are supposed to sweat. It’s the body’s way of getting rid of toxins that we are constantly taking in. What goes in, must come out. If the toxin path is blocked, where do they go? They are retained and absorbed into the body. I believe this is what causes disease. This concerns me greatly. People shouldn’t be afraid of their own bodily functions. This summer, let the sweat flow! Or if this idea makes you shudder, use a great effective natural deodorant made by Real Purity. No toxins, no problems.

What do you think of using Botox to stop from sweating? Comments are welcome!

   Like many people, for years I used deodorant without thinking about the ramifications.   I assumed it was safe because it was available to me. When I found out what it contains and how it affects you, I was astounded!

  Aluminum is a toxin found in most commercial deodorants and anti-perspirants. National health organizations have reported a link between aluminum and diseases such as brain disorders and cancer. Because the deodorant is applied to the underarm, the toxin goes directly into the lymph nodes and breast tissue. This is a very scary thought. Why do they put aluminum in deodorant if it contributes to disease? After over 2 years of organic living, I’m still asking myself this today.

   So as you walk down the deodorant aisle of your favorite discount store, you are bombarded with hundreds of aluminum filled toxic products. What to use?? Stay tuned to find out!   

  I used to have a sweating problem. Yes, I admit it, as embarrassing as it may be. I even went to a dermatologist to see if I could get a prescription strength deodorant. I used it for a while, but it was severe and dried my skin out (it had a high aluminum content, the principal drying ingredient and a very dangerous toxin, as well.)  But for years prior to that, I used regular deodorant like anyone else. I never thought that maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t be stopping myself from sweating. Now I know differently.

   Sweating is the body’s natural way of releasing toxins. When sweating is inhibited, the body retains the toxins, potentially causing lymph node and sweat gland problems. It never occurred to me that my body was trying to release toxins as I was overweight, ate very poorly and used toxic beauty products. Only until I educated myself did I realize that sweating is good!