Think about it. We take this toxic and chemical laden substance and rub it directly into our skin each day. Then it absorbs into our pores and into our lymph nodes, breast tissue and blood stream. Although there is no conclusive evidence that deodorant causes cancer the same parabens found in a regular stick are found in breast cancer tissue. Read this article about a doctor who advises his patients against using it because of the possible cancer link.
So if you want to limit your use of regular deodorant what should you do? Well you could make your own (search google for recipes). Or you could use a natural product like Crystal which uses mineral salts that prevent bacteria from growing. Or you could try a range of natural substances and see what works. I've read that hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, witch hazel, or baking soda can be used. (Although I think the baking soda can burn your skin if used for a long period.) I might lose some friends by saying this, but I'm on day two without using deodorant! Yesterday I sprayed hydrogen peroxide on and didn't seem to have a problem. Today I used peroxide and tea tree oil. We shall see what happens.
Also (this may lose me even more friends) my husband never wears deodorant and doesn't ever smell! I think its genetic for him. Trust me if he smelled I'd make him take care of it, but he doesn't. He used to wear deodorant all the time and seemed to have more of a problem than when he stopped using it.
I wasn't sure what was in deodorant but I felt it better to try making my own for my family. I will make my first batch this weekend and from then on.
ReplyDeleteI have been using a "natural" deodorant for about 2 weeks now, but only when I'm home because it smells too mannish for me and doesn't do as good of a job as my antiperspirant does, so when I go in public (once or twice a week), I use the antiperspirant. Baby steps! :) I need to make my own, I think, and figure out how to NOT make it smell crunchy.
ReplyDeleteI tried going without and that didn't work...I tried a bunch of different natural deoderants and they didn't work...until I found Tom's of Maine Apricot deoderant. For some reason- it works! :) I'm sure my family and friends appreciate it as much as I do.
ReplyDeleteEven if you can't find a completely natural stick to use making sure that it's simply a DEODERANT and not an ANTI-PERSPIRANT is important!
I think about it alot!! Especially when I am trying to scrub my armpits in the shower and the deoderant still doesn't want to come off!! Yuck!! this cannot be healthy :)
ReplyDeleteThe best deodorant...you will never smell!
ReplyDelete1/4 cup coconut oil
6 T. baking soda
6 T. arrowroot powder or cornstarch
If you have sensitive skin, decrease the baking soda by half. Melt the coconut oil and blend all 3 ingredients together. Store in a glass jar. It will harden in cool weather but just scrape it with your fingernail and it will melt as soon as it touches your skin. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial and bacteria is what causes you to smell. You will never have to wash your shirts again because they smell. Everyone who has tried this, LOVES it!
I use an Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural deodorant. It works great and doesn't have any of the nasty stuff. I think it works better than what I used to use, too.
ReplyDeleteYou can check it out here:
http://www.churchdwight.com/Conprods/Deodorant/index.asp
Lori - that's a great recipe:) I'll give that a try - I was just looking at the ingredients on Mederma, which I use on my face for acne scars. I actually LOVE the results, but I saw that there is an ingredient on there that ends with "parabens" so now I'm questioning that too! I wonder if it's a derivative of the same "parabens" from antiperspirants?
ReplyDeleteI also use Tom's of Maine deodorant (lavendar). The ingredients are natural and it works well. I usually put on an extra coat before I go out for a run but other than that it seems to work as well as the "regular" chemical laden stuff. The lemongrass scent smells like fruit loops :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great input ladies! :)
ReplyDeleteSnowflakes - I believe all parabens are no bueno….but I could be wrong. Your safest bet is probably to stay away from them completely if thats possible.
ReplyDeleteI used Tom's as well and it didn't work for me. A friend also used it and stated she started smelling after awhile. We live in FL where it gets hot and muggy. I think it needs to be applied a few times a day for it to work for us down here. Nature's Gate worked great for m. Kiss My Face made me break out bad. My husband tried it and he broke out as well. I tried plain coconut oil and that did not work either. I'm going to try the above recipe or go back to Nature's Gate. Anyone who has other recipes, please share. :-)
ReplyDeleteAbout 10 years ago, I tried just about every natural deodorant out there, all were failures for me. Finally, I tried just plain baking soda...and success!! I have been using it for 10 years, I have filled up a little sock to act as a powder puff of sorts. (a little trick I picked up as a drafting teacher) It may burn a little after shaving, but it doesn't last long. I have found it must be done regularly to keep the stinky bacteria at bay. If I skip a day - I have found it takes a few days of reapplication before I feel 100% stink-free. Anytime I decide to try "real" deodorant again - I am smelly. I have great confidence in knowing I am not rolling on poisons and it's super-cheap to boot! Thanks for your blog!
ReplyDeleteI have thought about this, I am afraid I question too many things now, our 5 year old is fighting brain cancer, and I see too many other little ones fighting cancer so I do question, thanks for bring this up and I love all the alternative suggestions people have made!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings
I haven't ever thought about this, but I sure am now... I'm going to try these natural ideas. Sorry to be gross, but do they just stop the odor or do they absorb some of the sweat, too? That has been one of my biggest issues ~ I often feel like I perspire more than the average woman & I hate seeing those little embarrassing underarm stains!
ReplyDeleteHeather @ Catfish Kisses
Hey Heather! If it says "antipersperant" then it stops the sweat (which usually has aluminum salts and is linked to cancer), but if it says deodorant then it only helps with the smell. Sorry. :(
ReplyDeleteI know this is an older post, but I wanted to chime in and say that Lori Alexander's recipe above has been working really well for me. I had tried using Tom's of Maine with no success, and a lot baking soda causes me to break out so I can't use it plain.
ReplyDeleteI use less than half of the baking soda and cornstarch because I have sensitive skin and I don't smell a bit! I'm going to add some essential oil the next time I run out. :)