Homemade Deodorant: Make your armpits happy!

The first time I heard the phrase “homemade deodorant” I’m pretty sure I laughed. And rolled my eyes. And had all sorts of “she’s crazy!!!” thoughts going through my head. I mean, seriously – homemade deo? How weird can you get? Deodorant is one of life’s essential products that should only come from the most trusted chemist.Funny how things change.

Deodorant…a troubled start…

The first time I made my own homemade deodorant I’m pretty sure I laughed then, too. But it was more of a “wow, I’m the crazy one now and it’s AWESOME” laugh.

But truthfully, my first experience with homemade deodorant was painful. Like, really painful. I have super sensitive skin and the stuff just burned. For hours.

I was told that some people have this problem and to give it time for my skin to adjust. So like a ninny (ha! who says “ninny”? Apparently I do.) I kept torturing my sad little arm pits with the homemade deodorant from… you know where. After a solid month I finally gave up and went back to my less-effective and more-expensive “all natural” store-bought deodorant.

Total failure.

That’s why I’m so excited to share this homemade recipe with you… in case you also have sensitive skin and need a little TLC from your homemade deodorant. It’s still very similar to most of the online recipes you’ll find, and it’s still very effective, but hopefully this deodorant won’t make your pits burn. We want happy and non-smelly armpits, right? Right!

Why homemade deodorant?

Like so many other cosmetics, several of the ingredients used in most deodorants and antiperspirants are not so good for you. Like these:

Aluminum – This is the primary ingredient in most stuff you’ll buy at the store. It’s a metal which has been linked to breast cancer in women and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. No thanks.
Parabens – This synthetic preservative is found in so many personal care products. The largest concern is that these chemicals will disrupt our delicate hormonal balance. Paraben exposure has also been linked to birth defects and organ toxicity.
Propylene glycol – This is a petroleum based material. In large quantities, studies have shown that this stuff can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver, and heart.
Phthalates – Another class of chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health issues including birth defects.
Triclsoan – This chemical is actually classified as a pesticide by the FDA and a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Do you really want to put this stuff on your body? I didn’t think so.

Homemade deodorant AND happy armpits!

This homemade recipe is simple and all the ingredients are recognizable and safe. This is also a pretty frugal way to go about your arm-pit needs.

Keep in mind that this is NOT an antiperspirant. But that’s a good thing. You need to sweat. It’s one of the ways your body naturally detoxes. Besides, antiperspirant just clogs your pores to keep the sweat from coming out… but your body will keep trying to detox. That’s why antiperspirant leaves those “pit stain” on your favorite shirt. It’s like your armpit threw up the chemical junk. Gross.

In fact, I found that I sweat a lot less after I stopped wearing antiperspirant (which was long before I was a hippie and started making homemade deodorant). And I have no stains on my shirts. Awesome.

So are you ready to try homemade deo? What do you have to lose? Most people who make the switch to homemade deodorant love it and will never go back. You could be one of them, too!

UPDATE: I actually prefer my deodorant stick recipe for sensitive skin. Just a heads up. 🙂

Homemade Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

You’ll need:

1/3 cup coconut oil (like this)
2 Tbs baking soda (You can even use less if you have super sensitive skin…)
1/3 cup arrow root powder (you can get this at most health foods stores or here).
10 – 15 essential oils (optional) (Learn how to get my favorite essential oils at wholesale prices here.)

a small mixing bowl and spoon
a small container for your finished product (I love these tiny mason jars)

Directions:

Mix the coconut oil, baking soda, and arrow root powder in the small mixing bowl. Use the back of the spoon to help “cream” the ingredients until you have a consistency similar to deodorant.
Mix in essential oils. This is an optional step, but I think it makes it more fun when making deodorant. You can choose whatever oils you want. Some love lavendar or patchouli. My favorite deodorant contains 10 drops of sweet orange and 5 drops of cinnamon.
Put mixture in a small deodorant container (I use my cute little spatula for this step). To use simply swipe two fingers gently into the mixture and rub on your underarms. Wait two minutes before dressing to avoid any smearing on your clothes.
Note: Coconut oil melts when temperatures get warmer. Some people like to keep their deodorant in the fridge during warm months. I don’t bother since I can still use it… even if it gets a bit melty during those hotter months.

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