Beauty

[BellaCarro]

There have been many reports of baking soda doing some serious harm to sensitive underarm skin. Couple an alkaline ingredient with sensitivity to or overuse of an essential oil and it spells trouble. Some who have tried this method have had their underarm skin discolor significantly. There is a really great blog called LisaLise and she has given some great info on the subject. I'll find the link and try to post it via iPad. I'm only able to post the blog. It is lisaliseblog.com. You can finds many, many posts regarding baking soda deodorant as well as safer DIY recipes. But, please do read it before making, buying, applying any DIY deodorant with baking soda. Reactions to the ingredient are the norm rather than the exception.

[AngelPuppy1]

I started trying to find a more natural deodorant and/or antiperspirant product since I have so many skin issues. Irritations and itching, etc. I have tried all kinds of regular stuff -- all the stuff that says for sensitive skin, etc.

Then, I found a few products that are sort of natural. I tried the crystal stick. While I like the concept and I like that once dried, it does not feel sticky or nasty in any way, it did not keep me from smelling. That's the truth of the matter.

I tried a couple other products which didn't have the so-called questionable chemicals in them and ended up having odor issues.

My latest one I am trying is Kiss My Face. It is a solid clear gel. So far, this has worked pretty well and no odor!

[FUTURE]

AngelPuppy, thanks for the rec! I'll have to try that one!

[JenJ]

On 3/27/2015 sidsmom said:

I love giving my 'homemade deodorant testimony"!! I've been using this recipe for almost 4 years! And it's not about cost, but really just about DIY'g!

I use a recipe of:

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup coconut oil
5 drops of tea tree oil
Optional add'l extract oil for fragrance

This makes enough for 2-3 small jars...which lasts close to 5 months!! The 'looseness' of your mixture can vary from season to season...ie. It will be creamy in the summertime & very hard in the winter, but I've never had it stain any of my clothing...it melts right into your skin. So easy & cheap...and a much, much better alternative than anything you can buy.

Here's a link to an excellent YouTube video & a visual of what I use. Try it for a while...you'll be hooked!

Homemade Deodorant: How-To

The recipe I use is similar but with the addition of Arrowroot powder and I use different essential oils (last mix I used lime, orange, and lemon...it was heavenly and worked beautifully).

Schmidts makes a great deodorant which is similar to this recipe. It can be ordered online (Schmidts Beauty) and several Whole Foods and Sprouts stores are now carrying Schmidts.

[Crisso]

Hi All!

I had found this article in a newsletter I get almost daily and it got me thinking. There has been quite a bit written about the "evils" of regular deodorant - how the ingredient Triclosan is bad for your health and the environment, for example. I won't go into the details here, but there are certainly different viewpoints on this and one must do the research. In some ways, the story is similar to "the paraben story".

In any event, I recalled a thread where posters were discussing their alternatives to the regular deodorants and when I saw this, I thought "why not'. I was surprised to see some of the essential oils suggested in the article, because while I could see that they might help with smell, they can also be very irritating to the skin.

Baking soda seems to be the common denominator in almost all of these DIY deodorants. I was wondering about this as well. Thanks so much Bella for your info and the link - I was hoping you would see this thread and respond! I only got home a little while ago, so I haven't checked the link out, but I definitely will. AngelPuppy, I was curious about Kiss My Face and will look into that as well.

Thank you others (too lazy to type all your nics ) for your suggestions. FUTURE, I too gave up on Tom's Of Maine for the reason you mentioned.

[soonersis]

I've been using Milk of Magnesia for years (apply with a cotton ball or pad). I used to combine it with aloe vera, but now I just use the MOM and it works fine by itself.

[Crisso]

On 3/29/2015 soonersis said:

I've been using Milk of Magnesia for years (apply with a cotton ball or pad). I used to combine it with aloe vera, but now I just use the MOM and it works fine by itself.

Interesting... What is it about MOM that helps?

[soonersis]

On 3/29/2015 Crisso said:

On 3/29/2015 soonersis said:

I've been using Milk of Magnesia for years (apply with a cotton ball or pad). I used to combine it with aloe vera, but now I just use the MOM and it works fine by itself.

Interesting... What is it about MOM that helps?

I don't know how it works, just that it does. I first read about this in the newspaper in the People's Pharmacy weekly column. I try to be careful about what I put on my body as well as in it, especially something that is used everyday. I decided if this worked, and since it can be taken internally, it would be safe to use under my arms.

[KMBSAB]

I've made mine, coconut oil, arrowroot, baking soda and TT oil. I've been using it for about a month now with no problems. Super easy and cheap for the amount you can make.