Switching to a natural deodorant was one of the first things I did when I started to live a toxic-free life. It was around the same time I transitioned into a low waste lifestyle and I haven’t looked back.
Commercial deodorants are so dangerous and so toxic to our bodies and to the environment.
Ingredients like Aluminum and parabens are the most known chemicals lurking in your deodorant. But why are they so bad?
Aluminum actually prevents you from sweating. Which at first glance, you might think is a good thing. But you need to sweat. Your body is designed to sweat. It does this by clogging your pores and trapping everything inside.
Other ingredients such as artificial colors, triclosan, propylene-glycol and more have actually been known to cause things like severe skin irritation and even breast cancer.
So what are your options? Go truly au-naturel and quit using deodorant? Or keep using commercial brands that are clogging your pores and putting you at risk?
Well, neither of these are great options but there is another! Switch to, or make your own!
But perhaps you’ve been burned in the past. I’ll be the first to admit that not all natural deodorants work. I’ve tried many and some left me smelly after a few hours and some I didn’t even notice have a smell at all.
So why bother making your own?
Not only will it save you money and last a LOT longer than store-bought but it actually works! Now I can’t speak for everyone in the world but this recipe has been such a game-changer for me. I even had my mom and my boyfriend smell my pits several times and they can both agree that this stuff works.
I also wanted to make my own to cut back on the plastic waste that comes with traditional store-bought tubes. I can get a lot of these ingredients in bulk and can store it in a reusable jar. Score!
There are tons of natural deodorants I’ve tried and loved, I just wanted to take it one step further by making my own to eliminate excess waste.
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DIY all-natural and Zero Waste deodorant:
I’ve taken a few hints from recipes I’ve found all over the internet but I’ve modified this recipe to make it my own and make sure that it worked for me.
I tried to keep the ingredients to things you would already find around your house with the exception of shea butter. Not a lot of people have this lying around but it’s totally worth purchasing as it can be used for so much!
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp shea butter (find it here)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (find it here)
- 3 tbsp arrowroot powder (find it here)
- 1 tbsp baking soda (find it here)
- 15 drop essential oil of choice (I use tea tree for its antibacterial properties)
Recipe notes:
Some people with sensitive skin don’t like baking soda because it can give a burning feeling. I’ve found that a tbsp of baking soda is just the right amount for me. I do have sensitive skin but it’s not terribly sensitive.
You can always add less or omit it altogether. Baking soda is mainly used in deodorant to help balance the pH levels of the body and for its antibacterial properties which can help you be overall less smelly.
But many DIY deodorants have done without it so if you’re sensitive, try without.
Directions:
1. In a double broil melt the shea butter and coconut oil until just melted
2. Remove from heat and quickly stir in remaining ingredients
3. Transfer to a jar or glass air-tight container and let cool. It will most likely need to cool for several hours in order to solidify.
I encourage you to give this recipe a try if you’ve been wanting to switch to a natural deodorant.
If this is your first time using a natural deodorant you may experience a “detox” phase in which you might be a little smellier than usual. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work, your body just has to adjust from years and years of being clogged and having sweat trapped inside. If you stick with it, your armpits should adjust.
In fact, I noticed that after about two weeks of steadily using this recipe I was actually sweating less than I had before!
I really can’t say enough good things about this recipe so you’ll just have to try it yourself!
Not into making your own? Check out my favorite all-natural deodorants here.
Other posts you might like:
15 things to make instead of buy
I hope this post encourages you to get a little crafty and try your hand at making your own DIY zero waste deodorant! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Do it for your health and for the health of our planet.
As always please don’t forget to share this post and follow me on Instagram for daily low waste living inspiration!
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