For years, deodorant was something I applied every day without
question because that’s what society has told us to do since our
underarms started perspiring and giving off odor. Then one day a few
years ago I did indeed stop to think about what was in my deodorant, and
I freaked out! I saw something that looked like this:
- Active Ingredient: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex 15.4%
- Inactive Ingredients: Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil; Stearyl Alcohol; Cyclomethicone; C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate; PPG-14 Butyl Ether; Hydrogenated Castor Oil; Hydrogenated Soybean Oil; PEG-8 Distearate; Fragrance; Hydrolyzed Corn Starch; Behenyl Alcohol
After
several years of trying to find a good all-natural deodorant that didn’t
make me stink or break out in a rash, I finally decided to make my own.
It turned out to be one of the easiest and most beneficial recipes that
I’ve ever created. These days, I only wear my homemade deodorant.
All-Natural Coconut Deodorant
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cool Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/8 cup cornstarch
- 1/8 cup arrowroot powder
- Optional: Essential oils of choice (optional)
- Optional: 1 Tbsp baking soda (some people are sensitive to this ingredient; please see below)
Directions
Combine coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and arrowroot in a mixing
bowl. When well combined, add in a drop or two of your favorite
essential oil. (I use this deodorant without the essential oils and it
works amazingly well!)
Lastly, pour into an empty deodorant
container, or simply pour into a small Mason jar and refrigerate for 15
minutes. Remove from the refrigerator and use as needed.
If using a Mason jar, you'll have to chip out little pieces and rub
them onto your armpit. The deodorant will melt and apply smoothly upon
contact with skin. I've found that one batch of deodorant lasts me
several months. Also, no need to store in the refrigerator unless your
home is at a temperature at which coconut oil is liquid at room
temperature.
***UPDATE
Some people can have an adverse
reaction to baking soda because of its pH level and this can lead to a
slight rash, which is why I've noted this ingredient as optional,
assuming you know it's OK for your body. If you'd like to include the
baking soda for its odor-whisking properties, simply use 1 tbsp of
baking soda. The deodorant works just fine without it!
source:mindbodgreen