Healthy & Beauty // All Natural Deodorant

For years and years I swore by Dove Clinical Protection deodorant, I was convinced this formula gave me an odor-free body. True my sweat didn’t smell and my armpits rarely sweat unless I decided to wear silk in 95-degree weather, although I tended to sweat everywhere else profusely especially at the gym. I had no idea how to pronounce the ingredients but who cares, my pores were clogged, I didn’t sweat and my armpits smelled like “chamomile.” Except they didn’t smell like chamomile, they smelled like something far different, every few months the skin on my armpits would peel and the words “ask doctor before use if you have kidney disease,” were haunting me. Just for the record I don’t have kidney disease, but my body was on overdrive as is trying to filter out the heavy metals and toxins that are seemingly unavoidable. I also started researching the best and easiest chemicals to part ways with: fluoride, titanium dioxide (still trying to rid my beauty cabinet) and aluminum.

In July 2014, my husband and I decided to give up our aluminum deodorant and for the first time in years really smell ourselves. It’s an odd experiment and few will understand your olfactory experiment; most will scoff but you will find a few who understand your deodorant dilemma. The truth is you don’t need aluminum in your deodorant and you shouldn’t be using it.

There was a period of detoxing– we couldn’t stop sweating, our armpits rejected the new formulas and there were a few times we are tempted to turn back. I carried my deodorant around with me, applying every 30 minutes for fear someone could smell my body odor, or worse I would smell it. Along the way, I tried over 10 different brands, slowly settling on two: Herban Cowboy Blossom and Weleda Citrus Deodorant. Strangely enough, for the first time we are really smelling ourselves and we don’t actually smell that bad. My friend fondly refers to this moment as an olfactory high-five: accepting how you smell instead of masking it.

Strangely enough, it’s a liberating moment, and in my case, less expensive. Here are a few tips to help you navigate your aluminum-free journey:

1. Spend time researching labels. Some formulas are not gluten-free and still have questionable ingredients. Take a photo of the ingredient list, research the ingredients to see if they are safe.

2. Create a deodorant cocktail. I use Herban Cowboy and Weleda together, and if I need a touch up, I’ll reapply Weleda throughout the day. If you don’t have an allergic reaction, try mixing two of your favorites. Weleda works well layered over Herban Cowboy.

3. Give your body time to detox. Your body is meant to sweat and will need to adjust to your new beauty routine. Give yourself 12 weeks to complete detox.

4. Incorporate chlorophyll into your diet, to help further detoxify your body and remove body odor add chlorophyll to your water.

5. Exfoliate your armpits once per week using a body scrub.

6. If possible opt for glass. Most deodorant is only available in plastic containers, check to see if it’s BPA-free. It’s difficult to find, but an extra star for Weleda’s glass containers.

7. Drink more water. Your body needs help detoxing.