If you've been tempted for a while to look for a natural alternative for your deodorant, you have two options. You can buy a ready-made (cream) deodorant if you're not a DIY fan, or you can make your own at home. Read on for details and the recipe!
Why should you replace your regular deodorant with natural deodorant?
In hot weather, during exercise, or even in stressful situations, the body starts to sweat, which is a perfectly natural and healthy process. However, most deodorants contain antiperspirant aluminum compounds and sometimes ingredients that are toxic in the long term.
While a natural cream deodorant does not contain toxic ingredients (such as aluminum compounds, parabens, petroleum derivatives, artificial colors, and fragrances, and synthetic preservatives), it does not prevent sweating, it simply neutralizes its smell by preventing the growth of odor-causing bacteria. In addition, it cares for the affected skin, prevents unpleasant odors, washes out easily and does not discolor clothes.
More benefits of a homemade natural deodorant:
You can control the intensity of the scent of your deodorant, as well as the scent itself.
You can vary or substitute ingredients depending on your sensitivity to an ingredient.
Related: Natural Homemade Lip Balm Recipes
You can reduce your single-use plastic waste by making your own natural deodorant.
Deodorants available in drugstores usually come in plastic containers, ending up in landfills or incinerators if they cannot be separated at the end of their lives. Whichever option you choose, both are seriously damaging to the environment.
The former, for example, because the plastic itself never breaks down; the latter because incineration releases harmful fumes into the air, including smoke that is harmful to health and the environment.
Plastic that is released into the wild can have a variety of environmental impacts:
- It can destroy habitats.
- Provide alternative habitats and breeding grounds for organisms.
- Animals may ingest and thus die from plastics.
Believe me, it may seem like a small thing, but changing your deodorant can be an excellent step towards a zero waste lifestyle!
DIY Natural Tea Tree Lavender Deodorant
Here's the recipe you can make in minutes, with ingredients you can easily buy at grocery stores, or drugstores.
You'll need:
- 1/4 cup baking soda (if you're sensitive to it, use cornmeal or starch),
- 1/4 cup white clay,
- 3.5 tablespoons coconut butter,
- 4 drops lavender essential oil,
- 4 drops of tea tree essential oil.
Why these ingredients?
The fatty acids in coconut butter are antibacterial and anti-fungal, effectively killing unpleasant odor-causing bacteria.
In addition to its many benefits, baking soda naturally reduces sweating and prevents the bacteria responsible for unpleasant odors from multiplying.
Related: How to Make a Face Mask Without Honey
White clay, also known as kaolin, is one of the purest clay. It is also excellent for dry, sensitive skin. Clay provides elasticity to our skin and is also beneficial for excessive sebum production. It kills fungi, bacteria, and viruses (so it can also be an effective partner in the treatment of inflammations, infections, acne and acne-prone skin).
Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties, so it is excellent for preventing bacteria and fungi from multiplying, preventing unpleasant odors from developing when using deodorant.
Lavender essential oil gives the deodorant a soothing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and wound-healing effect.
How to make tea tree lavender deodorant:
- In a medium bowl, mix the baking soda and white clay.
- Add it to the melted coconut oil.
- Stir until you have a homogeneous mass.
- Drizzle in the essential oils.
- When ready, pour into any jar you like.
- When ready to use, apply a pea-sized amount to cleansed skin surface, spread thinly and allow to dry.
- Store in a cool place.
It's good to know that the paste is more fluid and soft when warm, but will harden again when it cools.
Related: DIY Massage Oil Recipe
DIY natural deodorant without baking soda
Natural deodorants are not for everyone, as many people can be sensitive to deodorants containing baking soda. If you find that using a cream deodorant containing baking soda causes redness or irritation, it's best to give it away to someone with less sensitive skin.
So, how do you make natural deodorant without baking soda?
Instead of baking soda, choose a zinc oxide version of the recipe above. It's gentler on the skin than baking soda and prevents unpleasant odors. Zinc oxide is not irritating to even the most sensitive skin, so it's rightly the base ingredient in baby lotions and powdered bath bombs.
Good to know!
When you first try natural deodorants, you can expect a 'detox' period that can last up to 2 weeks, and you may experience some redness or body odor. To make the transition easier, start by using your old deodorant one day and the new, natural version the next. Don't be alarmed if something doesn't work the first time: be patient, because making the transition and finding the right product is not always easy!
By the way, it's recommended to do an allergy test to see if you are sensitive to any of the ingredients. The easiest way to do this is to put a small amount of one of the ingredients on your wrist (except essential oils, which should never be applied undiluted). If you experience any reaction on your skin - red patches, itching, rash - choose a different ingredient or recipe.
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